Head of Primary

2020 – The year that was!

Wow, how this year has flown by! It seemed like just the other day I was welcoming this year’s Prep students and parents to the school for the first time. By the time you read this article the academic year will be finished and Christmas soon upon you.
Can I say we have had the most unusual year imaginable!

With COVID, quarantine, working from home and then all the strict COVID regulations and plans throughout this year, we have had to adapt, be flexible and just make it happen!

I wish to take this opportunity to thank the amazing teachers for their tremendous effort, dedication and support, this year!

Apart from all the ‘usual’ fun class teaching, sporting carnivals and great events, here are some features and highlights for the year:

  • We welcomed Mr. Cully as the new Headmaster
  • New staff included Mr. Ashley & Mrs. Lisa Edwards
  • New TA’s are Tanya Green Yr 6, Sue Martin Yr 3
  • Two, full classes per Grade again all the way through Primary School
  • A splendid, very informative and enjoyable Back to School BBQ evening
  • A great Primary Swimming Carnival
  • A fun Grade 6 Camp
  • iPads used extensively in Yr 5 and Yr 6
  • Face Book used more readily as an information / communication tool
  • Drop Off Area process monitored by staff and the Yr 6 leaders really worked well this year
  • Different bell song of a morning and afternoon
  • LoKop, Friendship Groups and Learn for Life program increased in the school
  • On line subscriptions and resources (e.g. Literacy Planet, Reading Eggs, Maths Pathway) were increased and improved
  • Scholastic Book Sales was very well promoted and supported
  • Mrs. Kerr has done a wonderful job promoting books and reading during Book Week.
  • Book Week activities and parade was awesome
  • Lots of new wonderful class resources like Library books, class readers and teaching aids were purchased
  • Student Leadership of Captains, Vice Captains, Class Ambassadors, Sport, Library, Chapel, Art & Music Captains did a wonderful job this year
  • Prep Readiness Testing and Orientation Day enabled staff, Preppies and Prep parents to become acquainted with one another and the ‘Parklands Way’
  • Yr. 6 Graduation Ceremony took place in the Auditorium
  • Yr. 6 Transition Day allowing students to experience Middle School staff and venues
  • Prep Transition Week was a great opportunity for Preps to get to experience ‘big’ school.
  • Pro Soccer, Cricket, Basketball, Softball and Netball coaching plus lots of different sport training (athletics, Cross Country) offered a morning or during Structured Playtime
  • Yr. 6 Table Tennis training and a Hand Ball competition was offered
  • Students enjoy playing in second half of morning tea and lunch time
  • Duty staff monitored games/soccer played on oval, during structured play
  • Top oval, fields and Baskerville Sports Centre used for training and HPE
  • Remembrance Day was held in classrooms
  • Awards Day ceremonies to place in the auditorium (unfortunately without parents)
  • End of Year activities, Class Parties and Circus Day all went off without a hitch and were enjoyed by all.

In preparing for 2021, can we please ask that you allow the teachers, who only want the BEST for and who know your child here at school, to place them in the care of the right teacher next year? This ‘student placement process’ is taken very seriously and is extremely inclusive and involved taking into consideration factors like: academic ability & rigour, student & teacher personalities & character, social / behavioural and emotional factors, friendships, gender ratios etc.!

In the New Year, students will receive an informative “Welcome Letter” from their new 2021 class teacher notifying them as to which classroom they’ll be in. Thank you for not putting in any requests for staff or students and for your understanding, support and assistance in this regard.

Staffing for 2021

– Miss McNabb has resigned and Mrs. Hannah Swanborough has been appointed to the Yr. 2 position.
– Miss Needs has resigned and Mr. Simon Ashley has moved to Yr. 5.
– Mrs. Melissa Wilson, a regular supply teacher, has been appointed to the Yr. 3 position, vacated by Mr. Ashley.
– Mr. Lewis has resigned and will be replaced by Mr. Chase Werner
– Mr. Holman (Yr 6 Teacher) will assist Mr. Jakins and take on the role of Assistant to the Head of Primary
– Mrs. Jones will be moving to the Grounds Team and Mrs. Kissick the Yr. 5 TA, (who was taking a year’s leave) will be returning to Yr. 5.

Teacher Aides for 2020 are as follows:

Prep F – Nicole Lowe, Prep H – Rachel Baskerville, Yr 1 – Angela Marsh, Yr 2 – Christine Hollenberg, Yr 3 – Sue Martin, Yr 4 – Elke Morgan, Yr 5 – Michelle Kissick, Yr 6 – Tanya Greene.

REMINDER:

  1. Student need to be in the CORRECT Uniform daily, which include WHITE, LEATHER Upper sneakers with their sport uniform.
  2. NO hat NO play! Students without a hat will sit out of play.
  3. Structured Play starts at 2.30pm so students can be collected from the Undercover Area by a guardian any time from 2.30pm.
  4. The End of the Primary School Day is at 3.10pm.
  5. Students need to be collected from the Undercover Area by a guardian or older sibling and cannot leave on their own.
  6. Students not collected by 3.30pm will be taken up to Student Services where they will be supervised until collected.

Thank you everyone for your flexibility, understanding and support in making it through 2020! We wish you everything of the best for the Christmas Season and an enjoyable, safe holiday!

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday the 27th January 2021 for a fantastic New Year.