Dear Parents/Caregivers
DON’T FORGET EARLY DISMISSAL
2:05pm ON FRIDAY 10th DECEMBER
CASUAL DAY FRIDAY 10th DECEMBER
Next Friday we will be having a casual day for our last day of term. This will not be a fundraiser and students may come in appropriate and sun smart casual days just for fun on the day.
CONCERT
Except for 2020, the End of Year Concert has been a major highlight on the school calendar and this year we were very excited to again be able to have concert and our second twilight format, (albeit with restrictions). Students and teachers worked hard and again delivered a wonderful show, which, I am sure you enjoyed if you attended. Thank you to students and class teachers for their preparation and performance and the many staff who supported whole school performances or behind the scenes structural management of the concert. I would also like to acknowledge our fabulous concert speakers who did an amazing job of providing between-act entertainment. I am sure you will agree with me that they achieved that very well. While there were some tech issues with the sound (which were beyond our control as this was provided by a private company), students showed significant resilience and did and amazing job of continuing in spite of any challenges. Please enjoy some of the photos in this newsletter and the rest will be on the rolling screen in the front office.
VOLUNTEERS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 2022
Well, we have certainly experienced another challenging year this year with many of our volunteering programs affected significantly by COVID and required Department for Education restrictions. As a result, we are again unable to have our annual Volunteer Thank You breakfast celebration as well. Volunteers have continued to support the school in a number of ways when they could and for that I would like to say a big thank you on behalf of students and teachers for the difference you have made through the support you have provided. Given we again cannot meet for breakfast, please accept this as a small acknowledgement of your work this year.
You may or may not be aware that the school has a Volunteer of the Year perpetual trophy that hangs in the front office. Each year the staff presents the award to a volunteer who has given positive support across a number of years, and whose last child is finishing in the school. The Volunteer of the Year will be announced at the Yr 6 and Yr 7 Graduations on Thursday.
2022 CLASS PLACEMENT PROCESS
Class placement information for 2022 will be sent out to families on Wednesday with written reports and students will visit 2022 classrooms by the end of next week.
STUDENT AND STAFF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND FAREWELLS
This is our final Newsletter for the year and is therefore a time to recognise and acknowledge the hard work and achievements of students and staff over the year.
Firstly I would like to thank all students for showing our Values throughout the year and working to be the best they can through developing skills in growth mindset, problem solving and hard thinking, showing resilience and perseverance, using their voice more effectively in their learning, and, showing behaviours to a high standard. This year more than ever before students have needed to show resilience in their schooling, and they most certainly have! These skills will hold our students in good stead in the future.
I would like to thank our Year 6s and 7s for their commitment to our student leadership program throughout year and working as positive role models for all other students in the school. These students form a unique group being part of either the final ever group of Year 7s in primary schools or the first ever Year 6 group to commence secondary school in Year 7. I wish all our Yr 6s and 7s the best of luck for a successful future as they move on to various secondary schools. I would also like to wish those students who are moving to other primary and middle schools all the best in your new schools.
Kerry Patterson will be on long service leave in Term 1 next year and we wish her the best as she enjoys her extended holiday.
Losing student enrolments due to the move of Yr 7s to high school has affected the number of classes and therefore teachers we have placed in positions for 2022. We have just been advised that most of our contract staff will be placed in positions again next year. I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Aisha Venner and Zac Schenkel for their contributions to our school this year. We wish Aisha and her husband very best wishes as they await the birth of their baby. While not yet placed in a position we do hope that Zac will be able to return in a position in 2022. At this stage we expect most of our SSOs will continue in some capacity next year.
I would like to thank all staff for their hard work and commitment to the academic and social learning and development of your children or to the administrative management of the school and facilities. They form an incredible team who show the highest professionalism.
I would like to give a special acknowledgement to my leadership team Andrea Hayden, Naomi Pudney and Imelda Jolly for their incredible support in their respective roles.
I would also like to thank our parent community for your ongoing support of school programs, events, staff and again this year, restrictions. Parent support is high at our school and I wish to acknowledge the level of cooperation we enjoy as we work together towards the learning and social development of your children in spite of the COVID restrictions.
TERM 4 HIGHLIGHTS
Despite the interruptions at times, a very busy and productive year is quickly coming to a close. Aside from the daily routines in each classroom, there have been a number of highlights during Term 4 that again reflect the commitment and planning by staff to make programs interesting and engaging for students. Some of the key highlights include:
- Cubby building excursion
- Student Voice in Learning team workshop
- Year 6/7 Student Leadership and Genki Kids programs
- Southern Schools Hiragana Competition
- Once upon a story – Writer’s workshop
- Remembrance Day commemoration ceremony
- K-R Transition visits
- Assemblies
- Year 6/7 Japanese Dinner
- Year 6/7 camp to Wirraway
- Year 6/7 Aquatics
- Transition programs
- World Teachers Day
- End of Year Concert
- Staff working together to plan, assess and moderate student work
- Premier’s Challenges awards
- Excursion to the Marine Discovery Centre
- Excursions to Warriparinga
- Whole school story reading time
- Excursion to Noarlunga Cinema
- Excursion to Southern Table Tennis Centre
- Geo-cacheing incursion
- Excursion to South Australian Aquatic Centre
- Year 6 and 7 Graduations celebration
SCHOOL SECURITY IN THE HOLIDAYS
To help prevent vandalism and other crime in the school during the holidays, we seek your support to please report any suspicious behaviour you may observe in and around the school to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or direct to Police on 131 444. I thank you in advance for doing so.
EARLY DISMISSAL ON FRIDAY DECEMBER 10th
Students will be dismissed at 2:05pm on Friday for the Christmas holidays.
AND FINALLY…..
The Front Office will reopen on Monday 24th January, 2022.
Please enjoy a safe and happy Christmas and holiday season with your children. We look forward to seeing students return safely for the commencement of school on Monday January 31st 2022.
With regards,
Anne Rathjen
Principal