Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome to Week 4 of Term 4! I’d like to start by expressing my gratitude to Mrs. Lloyd for her outstanding leadership in my absence while I attended a Principal’s Conference. Thanks to her dedication, the school continued to thrive, and I am excited to bring back new ideas and insights from the conference to benefit our school community.
Thank You to Our P&C Community
A big thank you to the parents and caregivers who attended Monday’s P&C meeting. We appreciate your time and commitment to making Prestons Public School a better place for our children. Here’s a summary of what we discussed:
Spring Fair Success
We are thrilled to announce that our recent Spring Fair was a huge success, bringing in a profit of approximately $15,000! Some insightful reflections from the event included suggestions for a shorter day, fewer school-based stalls, and an earlier planning start to secure rides and activities. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this day memorable and fruitful.
Seesaw vs HERO
During our discussion, we heard feedback from parents regarding HERO. Many are finding it challenging to log in and communicate with teachers through the platform. We are listening to your concerns and are committed to improving communication tools to ensure everyone feels connected and informed.
Staffing Update
With Mr. Edwards currently on leave, we’re pleased to announce that, through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process, Mr. Harris has been appointed as the relieving Stage 3 Assistant Principal. We are confident he will do an excellent job in this role and thank him for stepping up to support our Stage 3 team.
Building Projects Update
Exciting news on the facilities front! Today marks the start-up meeting for the car park fencing project, a much-anticipated improvement for our school. Meanwhile, our plans for the ninja course and yarning circle projects are on hold by the department until the 2025-2026 cycle, but we look forward to sharing updates as they progress.
Student Behaviour and Support Management Plan
Our draft plan for student behaviour and support management was presented at the meeting. The plan will soon be shared with staff and students, with an eventual roll-out on the school website by the beginning of 2025. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to fostering a positive and supportive school environment.
Grandparents Day
To celebrate this day, we invite Grandparents to join us for breakfast and some fun activities on Friday the 8th of November at 8:30am.
End-of-Year Events
As we approach the end of the school year, we are excited to share that our Presentation Day will once again be held at Lurnea High School. This is always a wonderful occasion to celebrate the achievements of our students and to continue to build on our wonderful partnership with our local high schools, and we look forward to a memorable event.
Presentation Day Awards
We are grateful to the P&C for their support of the Presentation Day awards. This year, they will again sponsor an “All-Round Learner/Effort Award” for each stage. The P&C will be invoiced for the medal and book presented to each award recipient. Thank you for helping us recognize the dedication and hard work of our students.
Library Grant and Parent Helpers
Congratulations to our library on successfully securing a $10,000 grant for new books! A special thanks goes to the two parents who have volunteered to help contact the books in the library. If any other parents are available to lend a hand, please contact Mrs. Lloyd; your support makes a big difference.
Second-Hand Uniform Shop
Our second-hand uniform shop system is nearly ready! We’re looking forward to making uniforms more accessible to all families, and we’ll keep you updated on its official launch.
Kindergarten Transition Program
At our upcoming Week 5 Kindergarten Transition Day, our wonderful P&C members, Jaime and Chris, will be present to introduce the P&C and our new second-hand uniform shop to incoming families. This is a great opportunity to welcome new families into our community and ensure they feel connected and supported from the start.
Safety on the Roads Around Our School
Ensuring the safety of our students on the roads near the school is a top priority. Here are some key points to remember:
40Km Zone: Please be mindful of the 40Km speed limit around our school. Slowing down helps create a safer environment for children, especially during peak school hours.
Pedestrian Safety: Encourage children to use the designated school crossing whenever possible. This area is specifically monitored to help ensure students cross safely.
Holding Your Child’s Hand: When walking with younger children, hold their hand while crossing the road to keep them safe and teach them responsible road-crossing habits.
Crossing at Gate 2: Take extra care if you need to cross at Gate 2, as Box Road is our designated Kiss and Ride zone. This area can be busy, so please stay vigilant and cautious.
By following these guidelines, we can all help make the roads around our school a safer place for everyone. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to student safety.
Thank you all for your ongoing support and involvement. Together, we make Prestons Public School an inspiring and thriving learning environment for our students.
Have a wonderful week and don’t forget to ask your child what they are learning at school.
Mrs Van Der Meulen
Principal
At Prestons Public School we work together to improve the learning and wellbeing of every student, every day.
