Tuesday 13th December 2022
Hello Everyone,
It’s hard to believe that this is the last newsletter for the year. We have achieved some wonderful results and have had an opportunity, particularly in the second half of the year, to deliver a consistent, uninterrupted program for the first time in quite a while.
Our fete was the best, and our community is reconnecting, stronger than ever.
Our new wellbeing initiatives have helped provide the children with the extra support they have needed as they resumed a full year of schooling.
What a year!!
As the year draws to a close, we still have quite a few events to go.
Yesterday we held our annual Mount Macedon’s Got Talent. We had over 30 students perform for the school. Congratulations to our winners, Eliza and Oscar. This day is a lovely example of celebrating the wide variety of talents that our students have.
Today the children transitioned to their new class. We have spent hours working on the class lists and making sure that every child is with friends. I am doing job interviews this week to fill the roles of grade 3/4 class teacher. I will let you know as soon as this role is filled.
Our Picnic at Hanging Rock has been postponed tomorrow and will be held on Monday, when there will hopefully be warm weather and not predicted snow.
This Thursday our Grade 6 students will be attending Graduation Night at the Trading Post. It will be a night filled with tears, laughter, and memories. When you have taught children for many years it’s hard to say goodbye. I would like to remind our graduating students that they will always be Mount Macedon Primary School alumni and they will always be welcome to come back and share their lives with us. We are so proud of the young adults that they have become, and we look forward to hearing about their future successes.
This week we will farewell several families from our school as well. Once again, all of these families have been with us for many years, and we have built strong connections with each other and with the school. We say a sad goodbye to the following parents whose last child is graduating, or moving on: -
Caryn Anderson and Jamie Treacy
Lisa and Damien Blanch
Sarah and Michael Dam
Jenni and Alex Gadd
Clare and Jake Pickard
Angela and Jay Town
Faye Cormick and Peter Turner
We will miss each of you, and thank you for your commitment to our school, but wish you every happiness for the future.
We are also farewelling four staff members.
Simon Dohler, who will be living and working in the NT for the next two years,
Meghan Anders who is reducing her teaching time fraction,
Sharny Smith who has a graduate position at Newham Primary School and
Sarah McPherson who is leaving us to have a baby.
It is hard to say goodbye to colleagues who are also our friends. As a team, we have spent a lot of time together and have built very strong relationships. They have all been such great staff members and we will miss them.
Don’t forget our final assembly to be held at the school, in the hall, this Friday afternoon at 2pm, where will celebrate Christmas, the year, and farewell those who are leaving us. This assembly will be followed by an afternoon tea in the hall.
School finishes this year at 1.30pm on Tuesday 20th December. At this time, all of our graduating students will ring the school bell to signify that they are moving on to secondary school.
I’d like to finish this year by saying a BIG THANK YOU to every member of our school community- students, parents, helpers, Alan our school crossing supervisor, for keeping us safe, and also the fabulous staff. We have worked together as a true team to achieve the best we could for the students in a difficult year. The commitment and focus that I have seen this year has reminded me that if we keep the students at the centre of everything that we do, then our children will still be winners – no matter what is thrown at us.
I am truly grateful to be a part of this kind, supportive community.
Have a rest, enjoy Christmas, then take a deep breath and let’s head into 2023 with a sense of optimism and positivity.
Kind Regards,
Trish