This week's newsletter is a little shorter after last week's bumper newsletter.
Last week families were notified of some staffing changes for 2025 with Mrs Walsh taking a period of leave. After careful consideration around student learning and wellbeing, and working within the 2025 school budget, next year our school will return to two classes with a K-2 and 3-6. Miss Gerathy will remain as the K-2 teacher and Mrs Arabin and Mrs Ranie are excited to be co-teaching 3-6. In addition, both classes will be supported by School Learning Support Officers (SLSO's). Students in Years 2 and 3 will have some transition opportunities over the next two weeks working with students in Years 4 and 5 with Mrs Arabin and Mrs Ranie.
There will be some classroom room changes with K-2 moving over to the current 4/5/6 classroom (E Block) and 3-6 moving to the current K/1 classroom (B Block). This move will enable small group literacy and numeracy instruction to take place across the two rooms in B Block and provide some flexible classroom arrangements.
What will co-teaching look like for 3-6? Mrs Arabin and Mrs Ranie are excited to be teaching 3-6 together for the majority of the week, working together to provide targeted instruction for all students. Having 3 adults (two teachers and one SLSO) working in 3-6 will ensure that all student needs are met and extended upon. It also provides opportunities for lesson demonstrations and observations between teachers. See below for more information about co-teaching and it's benefits (NSW Department of Education, Co-teaching Handbook 2nd edition).
During the school holidays there will be some maintenance upgrades with carpet and vinyl being replaced in the admin block and the staffroom. There will be some asbestos removal taking place in the admin block which will mean that the school will not be open to the public during that period. This will also mean that we need to move furniture from the admin building to prepare for this work. We will be reaching out for some help with moving and packing up for the end of year and will be very grateful for any help.
As we approach the end of the year with everyone feeling the end of year pressures, deadlines and commitments, students (and teachers!) are getting tired, excited, and nervous about the future, please remember to make some time to wind down and recharge the batteries. Let's make time to read a book, go on a walk, watch a movie, or just slow down and chill out, and enjoy these last few weeks of the school year.
