How wonderful to see so many smiling faces back in classrooms on Monday. Something strange must happen in the mid-Year holidays as students always return exhibiting huge growth spurts!

This term, we farewell Ms Kristen Joyce as she takes some extended leave. We wish her a restful and restorative break and thank her for all she has contributed to both her class and across our sector this year. Year 2J have given a very warm welcome to Ms Vicki Murphy as she takes over the reins for the remainder of the year. Vicki is well known to our students as a regular relief teacher, so the transition has been very smooth for all.

We have much on offer this term across the Early Years, both inside the classroom and out! Elsewhere in this newsletter, you will see information about the MSReadathon that we are encouraging students to participate in during the month of August. This is such a great opportunity for our Early Years students to further their experience with literature in a fun way. The Camp Quality Cancer Education Project Team will be presenting a puppet show “The Caped Crusader” to our students on Tuesday, 10 August. We will have a significant presence at the community Delicious and Delightful Festival later in August, as well as a dramatic performance on site by the Shake N Stir Theatre Company. Optiminds teams are eagerly awaiting the release of the ‘challenge’ they will work on to present at the end of August. On top of all this, we welcome many new faces to our community as our Pre-Prep Transition program, Shooting Stars, begins next week!

In addition to these extra-curricular activities, teachers have continued to plan engaging lessons utilising high impact teaching strategies to deliver the curriculum. We look forward to a wonderful term ahead.

Katrina Walton

Assistant Principal Early Years