Dear Parents and Caregivers
As we approach the middle of the year, I can only think – what a term we have had! We have been very busy in so many areas of the school, some, largely unseen by many. One of things we have been doing throughout the term is creating a new website for Crafers Primary School. This has been a significant undertaking, perhaps a little underestimated, but we have thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to present our school, our children and families, and our work in a way that is truly representative of what a great school we are! Many staff have contributed and we have worked together with a photographer and website builder so it has been a genuinely collaborative undertaking. We have also learned a lot about the intricacies of space, font and layout amongst other things. I urge you to have a look and see the beautiful photos of our school community and read the accompanying information – there may even see something you didn’t know about before. If you have been in to the Office recently, you may have seen the accompanying ‘café book’ we have made. This was great fun and left us with a healthy feeling of pride in our school and our small publication. We have sent these, and a copy of Yearbook, to our nearby Preschools to share some of who we are and what we do! Of course, we couldn’t stop there so we have tried our hand at banner design. Keep an eye out in coming weeks for some new fence highlights!
We have been more than pleased to be hosting Assemblies again and seeing some more faces around the place. Generous volunteers are beginning to trickle in and listen to reading in the Junior Primary and our uniform shop volunteers continue to brave the cold and keep the supply of all things warm coming for the children. I know there are plans brewing with more possibilities in Term 3, including the return of our knitting club with Mrs McGregor, so please pop in and see Carol and Cynthia if you are interested in helping out or accompanying the children on upcoming excursions or camps. As you will appreciate, there are definite requirements with which we must, and want, to comply as they help to keep our children safe and supported.
Our children, well…they have been doing a great deal! First and foremost – learning. With Mid-year Reports being sent next week, you will get a snapshot from both teacher and student perspective. John and I have really enjoyed reading these reports as they give great insight into the children in different spaces, with different people. It’s been very clear that the children have embraced challenge and triumphed and importantly, they have enjoyed themselves. As I read about their learning, I think how far we have come in education and how rich and diverse the learning is now – how lucky!
One of the highlights this term has been a reconnection with Stirling District Preschool. Our choir, John and Pam braved the weather (on a definite Crafers day) and walked into Stirling to sing for the children. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all as a performance but also very much enjoyed by our students who were revisiting their old Preschool and teachers. We appreciated the opportunity to perform and Sue (Preschool Director) said it was certainly appreciated at their end.
As you would know from previous newsletters, the term has been rich with SAPSASA opportunities of all kinds. We have had some wins and some losses but no matter what we have had good grace, cheerful reflection and a try again attitude. This brings me to our Pedal Prix team. They are having a ball! They are also committed and determined and I feel this is one of those fine examples of ‘one of those’ sayings, We get out of something, what we put in to something. The recently aired segment on BTN (ABC children’s news program) was a hit; it was shared at our recent Principal’s day and I received a number of messages from previous colleagues, all over the state to say they had seen it and how terrific the children were – I had to agree, naturally! You can find the link to the segment on our new website. More importantly though, we recently received unprompted and unrequested feedback from another school at the last race. Quite near the end of the race, a race we were winning I believe, one of the tyres punctured. Because of the logistics and rules, it took a little bit of time for this to be known, repaired and racing to recommence – we didn’t win, not the race anyway, but I think the children certainly did win the hearts of their parents and definitely their Principal as the other school described their sportsmanship, their encouragement of each other, their resilience and their determination to make the best of the situation as it unfolded. How wonderful it is to have such genuine ambassadors for our school!
At the end of the term we will be farewelling Ms Kate Staniford as a Contract classroom teacher. Kate comes with an abundance of skills and knowledge, even more heart and the commitment to match. We will certainly miss her contribution but will most definitely be speed dialling for TRT work. Beginning Term 3, we welcome Kit back to staff. Kit has been on maternity leave. She will return to teach two days a week in the 3/4 class.
Kind regards
Chan
