What an extraordinary year this has been! A big thank you to you all and wishing you all a safe and happy break with loved ones.
PARENT THANK YOU MORNING TEA- TUESDAY 19th December at 11:00 am
We are all looking forward to the Parent and Carer Volunteer Morning Tea on Tuesday 19th December. Please join us at 11:00 am in the staffroom to thank the very special parents and carers who have contributed so much this year. Your help has meant we can help students practise reading, teach our children about your unique experiences, help out on excursions, raise much needed funds for the school, organise fun events for students such as discos, sausage sizzles, the cheer toastie truck and so many more things around the school and community. A big heartfelt thank you to you all.
We would like to extend a special thank you to some well seasoned parent volunteers who are leaving us this year with their youngest child finishing Year Six next week. These people have supported the school for many years through Parents’ Club, School Council or in the many events they supported. We thank them all for their contributions over the years!
They include:
- Robyn Leister
- Mandy Hurst
- Angela Kitney
- Jas Sutaria
- Wayne Kitney
- Glen Parry
- Melissa Parry
YEAR SIX GRADUATION
Our Year Six students began their Year Six graduation celebrations on Monday 11th December by attending a special schools only day at Luna Park. Despite some interesting weather, the day was a huge success and a very special day out for the students.
The Year Six students then attended their secondary school orientation programs on Tuesday 12th December this week. The majority of students will be heading to McKinnon Secondary College. Students are also enrolled into Bentleigh Secondary College, Glen Eira College, and a small range of catholic and independent schools. We wish them all the best as they enjoy their last few days at McKinnon Primary School.
On Wednesday 13th December the celebrations then continued with our final assembly for the year. It is a tradition at this assembly that all Year Six students are seated at the front of the assembly facing the students and then get to walk out to a special song they have chosen as the farewell to the younger students for one last time. This was then followed by a much more formal ceremony at the Kingston Town Hall in Moorabbin later that evening. The official graduation ceremony was from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm and we were joined by our School Council President Louise Schirmer as well as a particularly large group of family and friends. The ceremony provided an important opportunity for all students to celebrate their many successes at primary school and to say farewell to their classmates as they head towards secondary school. We would like to thank all members of the graduation parent committee who contributed to making the hall look so special! A huge thank you also to those who organised the after party for students to continue to enjoy their special evening.
The celebrations have not stopped yet. On Monday 18th December Year Six students will be having a big party/special lunch at school. They have chosen music and food and will play a variety of games as well as just have the opportunity to do what they love best- which is just hanging out. On Wednesday 20th December which is of course our final day of school, the students will arrive to a specially decorated Year Six building and participate in a very last countdown just before 1:30 pm.
We would like to also say a special thank you to Diane Murphy, Brendan Lehmann, Catherine Hales, Melanie Kendrick and Thomas Greenwood for ensuring the students were well prepared for the ceremony and for the continual encouragement and support demonstrated towards students throughout the year.
EARLY FINISH ON LAST DAY OF SCHOOL – 1:30 pm Wednesday 20th December.
We finish school at 1:30 pm on Wednesday 20th December. Please remember to collect your children early on this day. Remember if you cannot make it early on this day Team Kids will offer care from 1.30 pm on the final day of the term should supervision be necessary with the early dismissal of students.
COMMENCEMENT OF 2024 SCHOOL YEAR AND DATES
All students will commence school for 2024 on Tuesday 30th January at 9.00 am.
Foundation students will attend on Tuesday 30th for half a day. They will then stay home on Wednesday 31st and attend on Thursday 1st and Friday 2nd for half days. They will attend full days beginning Monday 5th February at 9 am. If you would like to know any dates for the 2024 school year, please remember to check the Compass Calendar.
2024 STAFFING
This year has been an incredible year with so much learning, growth, fun, and excitement. We would like to thank all our staff for the wonderful commitment they have shown to all our students. Staff- you truly influence the next generation and they are all better for you being in their lives. Thank you for your continual dedication and for taking this work so seriously. We appreciate this more than you know.
At the end of this year, we will farewell a few staff who are taking leave in 2024 or moving on to other exciting things. These staff members include Brendan Lehmann, Naomi Sieber, Thomas Greenwood, Maise Barry, Coco Landes and Lucinda Lehmstadt.
On behalf of the school community, we would like to thank these staff members for their dedication and energy in providing the very best for our students. We wish them all well for the future.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 STUDENT SCHOOL LEADERS
Over the past term, our Year Five students have engaged in writing leadership applications, conducting speeches and participating in interviews for their chosen areas. The students have demonstrated extraordinary skills during this time and many have managed their reactions very maturely if they have been unsuccessful.
2024 KEY DATES
Please mark in your diary the dates for Year Level Information Nights the Welcome BBQ and the three-way conferences as they are early next year and will come up very quickly!
Parent Information Night and the Welcome BBQ – Thursday 15th February
In 2024 we are combining the two events to try and get as many people as possible at both!
Between 3:45-4:45 pm- First come along and hear about what is happening in your child’s year level. Listen to and ask questions about important learning areas and key events for 2024 relevant to your child.
THEN…
Step outside and enjoy a sausage and a whole lot of fun at the Welcome BBQ!
All information sessions for all year levels will be after school on Thursday 15th February so please save this important date!
Three Way Conferences – Monday 19th- Tuesday 20th February.
These conferences are an opportunity for you to meet your child’s class teacher and hear about your child’s start to the year directly from them. You will also have the opportunity to speak privately with your child’s teacher for a short time should you need to. Remember to save these dates with more information to come in the new year.
Students Leaving – Download Documents from Compass
If your child is leaving the school please download any reports and documents from Compass this weekend as you will no longer have access after 20th December 2023.
SECURITY OVER THE SUMMER BREAK
If you are at the school over the holiday break, if you notice anything concerning, would you please contact Caulfield Police Station on 9524 9500 or 000.
Wishing everyone a safe, restful and enjoyable summer break. Look forward to seeing you all back in 2024!
Suzanne, David and Andrew