Newsletter #1 February 2nd, 2024
GHPS IS COMMITTED TO CHILD SAFETY
Learning Today. Leading Tomorrow.
Welcome to our first Newsletter for 2024.
I am delighted and honoured to be the new Principal of Glen Huntly Primary. As I join this wonderful school community, I am thrilled about the opportunity to work collaboratively with all of you to foster a positive, nurturing, and academically enriching environment for our students.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nerida Burns and I bring many years’ experience in teaching and leading in public education. I live locally with my husband, Rohan and have three adult children. I am passionate about excellence in education and have high expectations of myself and others to be the best versions of themselves. I believe that education is the key to unlocking the full potential of every child, and I am committed to ensuring that every student at Glen Huntly Primary receives a well-rounded and exceptional educational experience.
I would like to assure you that my primary focus will be on the welfare and growth of our students. I am dedicated to maintaining the school’s tradition of academic excellence while also fostering a supportive and inclusive school culture where each student feels valued and respected.
I am eager to collaborate with our talented and dedicated team of teachers and staff to create a dynamic learning environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, and a thirst for knowledge. We will work together to identify and nurture the unique strengths of every student while providing the necessary support to overcome challenges.
Communication is vital, and I am committed to establishing open and transparent lines of communication with all stakeholders and I welcome parents and students to pop in and introduce themselves.
I firmly believe that education is a partnership between the school, families, and the wider community. Together, we can create an environment where every student feels inspired to achieve their full potential and become responsible global citizens.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or suggestions. My door is always open, and I am here to support you in any way I can.
I am truly excited about the journey ahead and the incredible opportunities that lie in front of us.
I want to say a huge thank you to staff, students and our families for the warm welcome I received this week. As I have walked through our classrooms each day I have been greeted with happy, smiley faces and many “hello Mrs Burns.”
And a very special welcome to all our new students and families and our new Prep students and Prep families, we are excited to have you as a part of our wonderful school community. We have had a very smooth start to our 2024 year. Our amazing staff have worked very hard over the holiday break and the start of this term in ensuring all our students had warm, welcoming classrooms and learning environments to return to for the start of their new year. I am very proud of our students who have all returned fresh and ready for a new school year – working hard to sort their new school supplies, welcoming old and new friends and building positive starts within their new classrooms and with new teachers for their school year.
The focus for teachers during the first few weeks of term is ensuring all children settle comfortably into their new classes and feel happy and secure. As part of this process, all classes will develop a Mission statement which the class creates together to develop a shared understanding of the expected values and behaviours to be followed within the class community.
This year we welcome several new staff and some others who have returned from leave to join our GHPS Team.
Prep Team
Prep A: Zoe Marini
Prep B: Ryan Bowden
Prep C: Carly Draper
Grade 1 Team
IA: Yasmin Moran
1B: Becky Broxham
Grade 2/3 Team
2/3A: Ash Smart
2/3B: Marie Kasambalis
2/3C: Ash Casas
Grade 4/5 Team
4/5A: Ivana Attwood and Eugenia Sassos
4/5B: Mikaela King
4/5C: Kamilia Krauze
Grade 6 Team
6A: John Jacobs
Specialists Team
Art: Juz De Bruyn
Science: Melinda Oldham
PE and Sport: Sarah Price
Music and Junior Choir: Claire Piscioneri
Band and Senior Choir: John Jacobs
Japanese: Julie Tran
Office Staff
Liz Howard: Business Manager
Laura James-Clark: Office Administration
Education Support Staff
Ruth Kinyua-Smyth
Lisa Oliver
Bindu Aryala
Liz Mahoney
Lili Hancock
Sophi Duryea-Taylor
Pepi Hoskin
There has been a change to how our classes are named. It was decided for administration purposes to name our classes A, B or C rather than by the teacher’s initial.
The new labels in no way reflect the academic level of the students in those classes.
The first meeting of the 2023 school council we be on February 26.
Several school policies have been updated and can be accessed on the school website.
MOBILE PHONES AND WEARABLE DEVICES POLICY
A reminder to families regarding student devices in schools, including mobile phones and smart watches. As outlined in our policy, which is now on our school’s website, this policy has been developed in response to the Ministerial Order banning the use of mobile devices in Victorian schools. This was implemented to provide safe environments for students during school hours. In accordance with this Order, personal mobile phones and wearable digital devices are required to be stored at the administration office. This includes smart watches that are on school mode. Students are required to turn off and hand their mobile device in in the morning before school and collect at the end of the school day unless an exemption has been granted for a serious medical issue.
If a parent or a student has important and urgent information to transmit it will be done through the office. (Please make sure the office has your current contact details).
VENTILATION AND AIR PURIFICATION POLICY
This policy (available on the school website) was written in line with the Department of Education’s recommendation for reducing the risk of transmission of airborne infectious diseases (including COVID-19) through the way they use outdoor and indoor spaces and to decrease the risk of catching or passing airborne infectious diseases to others. Staff open windows and/or doors to allow for cross ventilation, turn on air purifiers, eat lunch and teach outside whenever possible.
This term there are a number of extra curricula activities students can join. They include.
- Art club
- Junior and Senior choir
- Band
- Chess club
- Japanese club
- Library club
- Lego and games club
Here are a few to pop in the diary.
- GPA – February 9, 9-11 in the library (west side)
- Getting to Know you Interviews for parents and teachers – February 21 2.30-6.30pm
- Family Fun Night – February 23 4.30 – 7pm
- Public Holiday March 11 – no school
- House Swimming March 14 – Yr 3-6
- Harmony Day March 21
- Grade 5/6 Lightening Premiership – March 22
- Grade 5/6 camp – March 26,27,28
- End of term 1 March 28, students dismissed at 2.30pm
Take care,
Nerida Burns Principal
BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS
Over the summer break, Glen Huntly Primary School has been a hive of activity, with various enhancements undertaken to improve the overall school environment.
Here’s a summary of the completed works:
Upgrading of student toilets in the Junior Campus, including the installation of new facilities, fresh painting, new floor, and the provision of essential amenities like toilet paper rolls.
Repainting of the Junior Campus playground.
Painting of seven classrooms on the Senior Campus.
Repairing and painting external windows and facades on the Senior Campus.
The oval was fertilized and weeded as were some of the garden beds around the school.
Installation of new whiteboards and TVs in selected classrooms, incorporating modern teaching tools for an enhanced educational experience.
We are delighted to announce that these renovations have been successfully completed, and the school is now looking fantastic.
Additionally, we are excited to share some exciting developments:
The introduction of a dedicated Japanese room and a dedicated STEM Room, complementing our existing science room and expanding the range of educational spaces. A makeover for the music room, with the band and its equipment relocating to a spare classroom upstairs. This change allows the current music room to offer more space for student desks and activities such as dance and choir.
We are committed to providing a dynamic and engaging learning environment for our students, and these improvements contribute significantly to that goal.
The school has planned a twilight community working bee on Friday 15th of March from 4pm to 6pm. The evening will finish with a BBQ sausage sizzle. All families are invited to come along.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to a fantastic school year ahead.
Cameron White Assistant Principal
Congratulations to the following students who received a ‘Student of the Week’ award.
Student of the Week awards will be printed in in the newsletter from next week onwards.
TheirCare News
GHPS Facebook
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Calendar
February
Fri 9 GPA Meeting 9am
Wed 21 “Getting to Know You” interviews
Wed 28 Family Fun Night
March
Mon 11 Public Holiday
Fri 15 Year 3-6 House Swimming
Thu 21 Harmony Day
Fri 22 Yr 5/6 Lightening Premiership
Mon 25 Yr 5/6 Camp
Thu 28 Final Day of Term 1 (early finish 2.30pm)
Fri 29 Good Friday
TERM 2
April
Mon 15 Term 2 commences
Fee payments and Excursion Permissions and Payments.
All Communication notices regarding excursions will be sent through COMPASS.
Permissions are to be given through COMPASS.
Preferred payment method for Fee payments and Excursions is through COMPASS.
This will allow us to always keep all the correct information available to staff whilst on an excursion.
If you have any questions, please contact the office or see Guide below.
CLICK HERE for Parent’s Guide to Compass
Thank you.