Principal's news
Dear mums, dads, carers and colleagues
Gosh it has been a very busy week, headlined with the Annual Awards assemblies, the Year 6 Dinner Dance and tonight's Christmas Concert. Next week we will have the swimming fun days and Year 6 Graduation.
2024 Christmas Concert
Thank you sincerely to the P&C and staff for their wonderful work preparing the Christmas Concert tonight. This has been the largest group we have had visit the school since the last Christmas concert before COVID. By my estimations, we had well over 2000 people on the school oval to watch the children and classes perform. I was able to be up close for the entire concert and was able to watch the faces of both the performers and their parents and family. The smiles and connection between parents and kids was phenomenal. The cost for our P&C to put on an event like this is just under $6000 - and it was worth every cent of the investment.
We thoroughly enjoyed two hours of class performances, a staff performance, raffles, fireworks and a visit from Santa.
Year 6 Dinner Dance
It is always a great sign that the students enjoy an event when they don't want to leave. And this is how it was on Wednesday evening at the Annual Year 6 Dinner Dance. The kids always dress up to arrive in style - and in some cases - very loud style. We enjoy a few speeches, some fun awards called the 'Nearly Important' awards and then a disco to finish the night. The photo booth ran non-stop allowing the groups of friends to capture the moments together.
Thank you to our teachers and our P&C for creating and conducting this event for our students. We were once again, repaid in the smiles of the graduating students.
Annual Awards Assemblies
We acknowledged the excellence of students in Prep to Year 5 this week at the awards assemblies. The recipients are shown later in the newsletter. Once again, the most pleasing aspect is the pride and smiles of family members shown in the photos taken after the ceremony. Congratulations to everyone who was recognised this week.
Whooping cough case at our school
I was notified by the Gold Coast Public Health Unit on Thursday that a case of Whooping Cough has been diagnosed for a member of our school. I have no details about year levels or classes, and given the number of students beginning vacation early, identifying this through our own records is not possible.
Please read the letter from the Gold Coast Health Unit, follow the health recommendations and contact your doctor if you are concerned.
Uniform price rise
I was notified by the uniform company this week that they intend to increase the prices of uniforms from the start of 2025. The new costs are shown later in the newsletter.
We understand that the increased costs of living are making it a daily challenge for families to make ends meet. In an attempt to help, our school gives uniform items away to families in need - free of any charge. Just last week, hundreds of shirts, shorts, dresses, jumpers and tracksuits were given away to families. I noticed tonight that only a few tracksuit tops remain. Please contact the school office if you would like more information.
If you would like to donate a pre-loved uniform to the pool, please contact the school office.
Year 3 writing celebration
I was most pleased with the level of pride and enjoyment shown by the young authors of 3J and 3M this week. They invited me to the writing celebration where, alongside many parents, I was entertained by the written talents of students. Thank you to the students who shared their work with me and to Mrs Johnson and Ms McLean who have lead this learning so well.
Have a lovely weekend
Kind regards
Vic