Unfortunately, I am writing this newsletter from home where I am resting as a result of a Covid infection. As you can imagine, I am incredibly disappointed to be missing the lovely events of our final week of School however, I have no doubt our Bairnsdale team will bring it together, as they always do. What I can do is share all of the important acknowledgements, changes, and announcements as we finish our final day of the year …
Digital Technology
We are very proud of our students; Stephanie, Rustan, Patrick, Theodore, Reuben, Omar, Blake and Evan, who competed in the Digital Technology Lego League Challenge in Melbourne earlier this term. It was a wonderful experience for them and their success in placing ninth out of 15 teams was a credit to them. We thank Sharen Cameron for her work with these students and to Kim Maxwell and Amber Smith who accompanied them on their trip.
Junior Rotary Awards
Todd Cook and I listened with pride to five of our Year 6 students – Stephanie, Angus, Frankie, Benjamin and Taylor – as they shared their experiences at the Junior Rotary Awards evening. Completing the award takes time and effort and I commend their commitment in achieving this, along with their parents who supported them in the process. Benjamin Reynolds impressed all who were there with his performance on the trumpet playing, ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’.
Christmas Appeal
The generosity of our Community is evident once again as our office fills with gifts for the Christmas appeal. Understanding the gift of giving is an important element to the Christmas season. Thank you kindly for your support in providing children in our community a gift to wake up to.
After School Care
We have secured the external provider ‘In2Learning’ to deliver our After School Care program from next year. In2Learning came highly recommended by our friends at St. Anne’s as it is the provider that campus has been working with for the past few years. We are thankful for the many staff that have worked in our After School Care program and look forward to In2Learning providing a safe and happy program for our after-school students. For more information contact In2Learning Director Juliana Arenas on grammar.bairnsdale@in2learning.com.au or visit https://www.gippslandgrammar.vic.edu.au/after-school-care
2023 Campus Captains
This week I announced Rustan Bazley and Piper Jankowiak as our Campus Captains for 2023. During the process of interviewing the Year 5s I was very impressed with their genuine regard for each other and their thinking around leadership projects for next year. I look forward to working with them to achieve their goals in leadership. Here are some words from Piper and Rustan: “We look forward to working together next year and want to acknowledge the support of our classmates. We are grateful to have been given this opportunity by the school. We are looking forward to working with our peers to make the school a better place, with compassion and collaboration.”
2022 Caitlyn Fischer Award
Each year at our Year 6 Valedictory we announce and present two significant awards. Caitlyn’s parents Mark Fischer and Ailsa Carr joined us to present this year’s Caitlyn Fischer Award to Frankie Prior for her commitment to ‘being the very best you can’. The criteria include being inclusive, genuine, diligent and a great friend with a great heart. Congratulations to Frankie in receiving this award.
School Sport Victoria
School Sport Victoria provides an award for an individual student who has excelled in the sporting arena. Chelsea Rawlings was the recipient of this award for 2022 due to her outstanding sporting achievements at school. She has represented the school at multiple sporting events, demonstrated leadership and encouraged her fellow peers. Congratulations Chelsea on receiving this award.
Staff movements for 2023
Next year Joy Hay-Smith will be working for four days and Fiona Sutherland will take Grevillea on a Thursday each week. Mrs Sutherland is also looking forward to sharing her literature skills with a Literacy Enrichment group each week. I will share more details at the commencement of 2023 as to our timetable, our curriculum focuses and further staffing.
Farewells
It is the time of the year for farewells to staff who have chosen a different direction for 2023. I sincerely thank Libby Crowe for her commitment to our students, parents, and staff. Libby has made a huge impact on our community as our Foundation teacher, as our colleague and as our friend. We wish her and her husband Dan wonderful times ahead as they travel around Australia.
We also farewell Jan Vercoe from the ELC where she has worked diligently to support and care for our three-year-old students. Jan has been highly professional in her approach and our students have benefitted greatly. We wish Jan and her partner Dean terrific times ahead as they too intend to travel.
We have enjoyed the talents of April O’Connor’s cooking in our tuckshop this year. It has certainly been a busy place as a result of her delicious menu. Unfortunately, April has chosen to step back a little and will be leaving us at the conclusion of the year.
We always knew we’d only have Amber Smith as our Gap Assistant for one year before we farewelled her to the next stage of her life. We thank Amber for her attention to detail, her versatility, and her warm and kind nature. We wish her well as she begins her Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Teaching (Secondary).
Thank you once again for your commitment to our campus and to Gippsland Grammar. We have had a successful year in so many ways and I look forward to working with you all in 2023 to the benefit of our students – your children.
My best wishes to you all for a happy and heartfelt Christmas.
