2021 has come to a rapid close and the sun has shone down on us, allowing for many fun events and rites of passage: camps, fun days, Year 6 Farewell and Bell ringing, to go ahead. For this we must all be grateful and thankful for the enthusiasm of our teaching staff to find work arounds to the many and varied rules. I personally appreciate the respect that parents have given to the Department’s regulations, which may differ to those of the general community: the school settings, mask wearing and QR codes, remain in place for the school year. The situation will be addressed by Health and Education closer to the 2022 school year and we will keep you up to date.
I will value closer contact with parents in 2022 as we have farewelled so many long-standing families this year. They have become like old friends after 10-15 years association and active engagement with the school. It’s sad to say goodbye but in Winnie the Poohs' words “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard". We look forward to hearing your stories on the journey through high school.
At the same time, we welcome the new cohort of parents who have taken up the P & C reins and a chance to build similar friendships, as you bring your contributions to this wonderful school. An indication of this outstanding school community is the recent charitable collection for the Women and Girls Emergency Shelter at Redfern. Over $3000 in gift vouchers, $2000 in cash and two large carloads of goods were donated. Thank you for your generosity for those in need and to Mr Pozarik for his coordination and organisation.
We’ve all found this disrupted year a challenge: first a full term of home schooling and within a short time three separate outbreaks of COVID. Thanks to the parents who supported the school’s advocacy for sensible changes to the regime minimizing time lost at school for children, and hopefully less stress on families. As we go into 2022 let’s be aware it may be like the words of Le Petit Prince, and old French fairytale “Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.” Let’s all focus on the butterflies so we are resilient enough to thrive in 2022.
You will have heard of the NAPLN results on the news today. Our students have achieved highly and particularly in writing, our target area. Our students individually have had some great achievements with the first ever win as NSW State Debating Champions. Well done to Aisling, Henry and Charlie and teacher Nicole Laurendet. Our Game Changer Challengers were also state finalists with their app to minimise soft plastics in our shopping. We await their final results.
Looking to the year ahead we have included some basic housekeeping information below:
- Purchasing school book packs
- Uniform shop procedures and opening times
- First week arrangements
Friday 28/01/2022, Monday 31/01/2022:
Staff Development Days. Vacation care only available for students. Book into ROOSH
Tuesday 01/02.2022:
All returning students years 1-6; Students assemble in their 2021 class lines; Kinder Best Start bookings
Wednesday 02/02/2022:
New students to Years 1-6; Kinder Best Start Bookings
Thursday 03/02/2022:
New classes assigned; Kinder Best Start Bookings
Friday 0/04/2022:
First full day Kindergarten
Have a wonderful holiday break with close family and friends and stay safe.
Regards
Susan Allen, Principal
