Welcome to Week 3! It has been refreshing for our students and staff to be able to participate in a broader range of educational activities this term. Thank you to our wonderful teachers and staff who have been willing to go the extra mile with planning in a COVID-19 environment.
NRL Gala Day
Last Thursday, 27 Year 5 and 6 students travelled to Jelbart Park, Albury for an NRL Gala Day. The weather was perfect and it was great to be able to offer the students this experience.
Our boys’ rugby league team played four games, all of which were very close encounters against much larger schools. Whilst we only won one of our games, I was very proud of the team’s improvement, resilience and courage throughout the day. Our first game was against Holy Spirit, which was very physical. After three quick tries to the opposition, our team settled, with Isaac putting through a great kick for Cooper to score in the corner. Ryder also put Tom through a gap to score. The final score was 16-8. Our second game was against Trinity and we won 8-0. Tom scored a great length of the field try and Cooper also scored after a great pass from Archie. Our third game was against Lavington Public School who certainly had us for size! Klay showed excellent evasive skills to side step two defenders and score. Tom also scored, with the end score being 24-8. Our final game was against Albury Public School. Ollie had a terrific game, earning best on ground and scoring a try. Cooper displayed some solid defence. We had two tries disallowed in the final minutes, eventually losing 8-4.
We had two girls’ league tag teams compete on the day. Both teams played exceptionally well, with only one very narrow loss being recorded between both sides for the day. The girls demonstrated excellent sportsmanship and enjoyed playing competitive sport again. There were many highlights, but the play of the day went to Georgie, who kicked, chased, crawled and dived to score a terrific try.
For a little bit of fun, the boys and girls had a team building challenge to start and finish the day, involving putting up and taking down the shade shelters. After completing the task with impressive style, the girls needed to help the boys on both occasions. Well done girls! A big thank you to Miss Burton and Miss Ridley for their help on the day, as well as Scott Black who borrowed some tackling bags for us in our preparation.
P&C
We will be having a virtual P&C meeting this Wednesday, 28 October at 7:30 p.m. See below details to login. Please remember that you will need your own registered Zoom account.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://nsweducation.zoom.us/j/65010498448?pwd=aC9YN2h0dDFSZ29OM0lQU1JWbVBXQT09
Meeting ID: 650 1049 8448
Passcode: 776869
2021 Kindergarten Orientation
We are delighted to announce that, from Week 4, we will begin a face-to-face Kindergarten transition program for those children beginning their schooling journey in 2021. Thank you to Miss Hemphill who has now constructed four Kindergarten orientation programs this year! Parents are reminded to ensure they have enrolled their child and provided their child's proof of identity (e.g. birth certificate), proof of address and immunisation record before the program begins in Week 4. Without these documents, your child will be unable to attend orientation events. If your child is not at Greater Hume Children Services on the day of the orientation activity, please bring your child to the school office at the specified time. We look forward to seeing our new Kinder students!
World Teachers' Day
In a challenging year for all, I think we can all agree on the importance of teachers and their role in society. This Friday, 30 October will be World Teachers' Day and I encourage all students to write a brief note or ecard to one of their teachers letting them know just how important they are. The connections and relationships they build with students through learning last a lifetime. The influence of a great teacher can never be erased.
Staffing Update
It was wonderful to have Mrs Young return to work in a part-time capacity last week. She is currently working for two hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings in her Literacy Leader role, supporting teachers and students with learning interventions and best practice in literacy. The students were extremely excited to see her last Monday, with countless students running up to say hello and tell her what reading, MultiLit and spelling levels they are working at.
Staff planning for the 2021 school year is now well underway. Tessa Freeman’s permanent classroom teacher position is due to be advertised and filled in Term 4. Miss Burton, Prue Pincott and I will be on the merit selection panel. At this stage, Mrs Wedgwood, the 3-6 Assistant Principal, has indicated that she will begin working in a part-time capacity in 2021. Kate has been pivotal to the school’s high expectations culture over many years, and I feel grateful to have worked with her closely over the past three years. It is great that we will still have her working part time in the school next year, as we build capacity in other staff members to complete the many and varied roles and responsibilities she holds.
This year, Heather Marsden, our Senior Psychologist, Education has retired after thirty years of outstanding service to NSW Public Education. We would like to sincerely thank Heather for her support of the school, its students, staff and community over many years. She has definitely made Holbrook and our school a better place. I really value the relationship I built with Heather to support the well-being needs of our community. The permanent Senior Psychologist, Education position, which is based at Holbrook Public School is currently being advertised and should be filled by the end of Term 4.
Congratulations to Mrs Henderson, and her family, who is expecting a child in 2021! At this stage, she plans on returning to school in Term 1. Mrs Jessica Trethowan will be returning from maternity leave in a part-time capacity at the start of next year. Mrs Mullavey, our amazing School Administrative Manager (SAM), will be on leave in 2021. She had leave booked this year, but COVID allowed us to keep her which was nice for us. We are currently advertising this position in a relieving capacity through SchoolBiz.
2021 Enrolments
Enrolments are looking strong again for next year, with an anticipated 2021 enrolment of 156 at this point in time. We have 16 Kindergarten enrolments, however, we are still expecting more. If any of our current families know that they won't be attending Holbrook Public School in 2021, please let us know. This helps with our planning and allows us to secure staff early. We've been hovering around the 150s for some time now, which is great, and may lead to an increase in teachers at the school if it can be maintained.
Nathan Fisher
Principal
