This week our Year 5 and our Year 6 students will be away at their respective camps. The school camp is a new experience for both year levels as the Year 6 students were unable to attend camp last year due to Covid-19.

There are many benefits in attending a school camp with students experiencing many challenges, including organising their clothing and belongings for the duration of the camp and eating meals that might not be to their liking. 

For many children it will be their first experience of staying away from home without the support of family. I am sure many parents will identify with that late night phone call of - ‘come and get me’ when the feelings of ‘homesickness’ occur. While on camp, the children will need to push through some of these feelings which they will do with the support of their friends and staff members. By the time the students return they will have forgotten about the jitters of the first night away and will be excited to share the stories, some no doubt will be embellished!

Thank you to the parents and staff members who generously put the needs of their families aside to provide such an experience for the students. I am sure we all look forward to their safe return and the highlights of the school camps.

Yesterday, we welcomed our 2022 Preps. This too, is a time when young children and their parents can feel anxious and excited as they embark on something new and unfamiliar - big school! 

Providing opportunities for children to take risks is a great way to build resilience and confidence. Congratulations parents on providing these opportunities for your child!

Do you know it is National Recycling Week? This week creates opportunities for us all to implement positive change that will help protect our planet!

Each day our youngest students are rewarded with green tokens from the Year 5 environmentalist for their effort with recycling. The pride radiates from these young faces as they are acknowledged for their effort. When we choose to reuse, reduce, recycle the reward will be taking action to care for planet earth for the generations to come.

God bless,

Geraldine