Good afternoon,

I would like to start this week by saying a huge thanks to everyone for your support and kind words this week. I have been inundated with kind cards and people genuinely interested in how I have been feeling. I have enjoyed the friendly banter and laughs (at my expense of course) while doing my morning duty and I think this has all contributed to helping me through a rather frustrating week! The latest update is that my surgeons have a plan and I should have surgery in Week 7. I will continue to balance work from home and school until it is sorted, and I would also like to thank our entire staff for stepping up to help out wherever they can. Spare a thought for Melanie and Cormac who have had to listen to me in the car to and from school the last few days!

A busy week here at school as our teachers are now finalising assessments, writing reports, organising class lists all while keeping our students engaged, learning and happy at school for this last month. While it is very busy, this is my favourite time of the year. There is a buzz in the air, and everyone is excited for the Christmas period. Can I please ask parents to continue talking to their children about how they treat each other, especially as they become tired towards the end of term. The partnership between parents and staff has served us well this year and I am very proud of how our students have upheld our school values of Kindness, Honesty and Respect!

As you are all aware, we are now busily preparing for our End of Year Christmas Concert to be held on the oval, Tuesday the 7th December at 5pm. This should be a relaxed and enjoyable night and I am looking forward to seeing you all there. If there is a reason your child can’t attend, can you please let your teacher know as soon as possible as these concerts are complex to arrange. We would love to see all our students there to send the year off in style! We will be sending out more information closer to the event.

On Friday the 26th November, we will be officially opening the Basketball Courts after school. There will be a basketball game with teachers, parents and staff, a free sausage sizzle, small opening ceremony, some music and time to have a shoot around on the new courts.

Please fill in the attendance form so the P&F know how many buns to buy!

Please note that children cannot attend without an adult as staff will not have duty of care at the event, so please do not drop your children off and leave them at school.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine.

Geordie Thuijs

Principal

Merit Awards are being presented during next week's assembly. This will be held at 8.50 am in the undercover area.

The following students will be receiving their awards, parents are welcome to attend.

Tatiana O in 5R is the recipient of our MJR Award this week!

'Tatiana is so caring and is a true W.E.S.T.I.E. She welcomes people, encourages everyone to do their best and when she makes an accidental mistake she apologises immediately. Tatiana always includes others, she is amazing!"

A reminder to all our Year 5 students to please ensure that you hand in your Graduation Polo orders before the 15 November 2021. We cannot guarantee any late orders. Thankyou!

This week some classes were invited to participate in a Zoom virtual International Jamboree Celebration 2021.

This program gave students a chance to exchange cultural information about Australia and Indonesia and at the same time, enhance our language and interpersonal skills. Our Indonesian students are still at home, so it was great for them to see our students and benefit with live interactions through this virtual educational program.

Over Zoom, we introduced ourselves in Indonesian and saw presentations about various Indonesian traditions. Our Year 2 and year 6 students also introduced some of our cultures to their students (traditional food and games).

A BIG terima kasih from our school to Santa Laurensia Elementary School, Alam Sutera, Indonesia for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful Indonesian exchange. We'll aim to have everyone who missed out this year participate next year 🙂

• Kindy 2022 Orientation 9 - 10.30am Monday 15 November 2021
• Scottish Dancing - 3.10 - 4.00pm Thursday 18 Nov 2021
• Year 3B assembly - Friday 19 Nov 2021

The St Vincent de Paul Society conducts a Christmas Appeal each year and this year instead of making food hampers they are asking for donations of gift cards or gold coins.

We will be having a free dress day on Friday 26th November with the theme "Christmas Inspired" and a gold coin donation.

For any families wishing to contribute a gift voucher to the Appeal - please leave with Tracey and Katherine in the office. We ask that no gift vouchers be sent to the classrooms please, to make our school donation easier to manage.

Our school canteen is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Please follow Kingston's Kitchen on Facebook for updates.

https://www.facebook.com/Kingstons-kitchen-101214291627431

Menu and ordering details can be found at QuickCliq.com.au

Welcome to the school P&F where everyone is welcome to join.

If you would like to find out what is happening at our school, please join our P&F Facebook page:

(https://www.facebook.com/groups/stberniespandf).

Term 4 Monday 11/10/2021 - Friday 10/12/2021