Dear Alkimos PS Families

I write my newsletter article as we think about entering the final week of the term- how this has flown by! I’m really looking forward to the activities that are planned during this time- tomorrow’s assembly, hosted by CRs 6, 7, 8, and our traditional Strength in Unity Week, featuring many activities, including tomorrow’s visit from Derek Nannup, and the community lunch to be held on the final day of term, Friday 1 July.  There is more news about Strength in Unity Week elsewhere in today’s newsletter. 

Winter Interschool Carnival    We were fortunate that the weather was generally kind to us last Friday so that our teams could participate in last Friday’s Winter Interschool Carnival. What a fantastic time was had by all. As we’ve come to expect, the reports were glowing about the amazing performances, behaviour and sportspersonship of our senior students- we are so proud! Can I also acknowledge the fantastic multi-sports students who had a great day here with Mrs Waddell. Congratulations to our boys’ soccer team, who brought home the winner’s shield! A big thanks to Mr Wulff and our all of our coaches for supporting the teams on the day and for all of the training sessions leading up to the carnival.

Here’s some great action shots of the day. Thanks Scarlett P for being an excellent official photographer!

Reporting to Parents- Update     As I mentioned in the previous newsletter, and also communicated since by Mr Bagnall on Connect, student achievement reports for Semester 1 are being prepared by teachers. Due to the COVID situation impacting student and staff attendance this semester, the reporting process has been affected. The major change is the date that reports will be made available to you.  

Other than this, there is no change to what is reported to you in Semester 1 reports. This is a point I wish to strongly emphasize as in many, many other schools, there has been significant changes to reporting this semester.

I sincerely thank all Alkimos PS teachers for, as usual, going above and beyond for you and your children, by ensuring that this semester’s reporting remained as consistent and comprehensive as possible. 

Please be reminded of these points concerning this semester’s reporting:

• In the event of your child having been absent to the extent that the teacher is unable to assign a grade for a particular learning area, this will be reflected in the report.
• To enable the maximum opportunity for teachers to be able to assess and grade students, reports will be made available to you in the first week of the July school holidays. You will receive a Connect notification when these become available.

P. & C. Update Our P. & C. Association, under the leadership of hard-working President Nicole Page, continues to it great success. Did you know that the Cookie Dough Fundraiser had raised around $5800?! Wow! Thank you for supporting this clearly popular venture.

Our school community is really fortunate too that the Association has organized a sausage sizzle for the community lunch on Friday 1 July- it’s hugely appreciated by everyone.

Semester 2 Staff Changes    With this semester nearing completion, I wish to advise you of the following changes to Alkimos PS staff:

• Mrs Linda Ridley (Kindy 2) leaves to take up a permanent position at St Francis of Assisi PS. Congratulations and best wishes on for your new appointment Linda. St Francis is very fortunate to have you.
• Miss Cassidy Smith, presently in PP 1 on Wednesdays, will take over Kindy 2.
• We will welcome the return of Mrs Jessica Dann from parental leave, to take up the position in PP 1 on Wednesdays.
• We also farewell our wonderful long-term School Psychologist, Mrs Nicole McCarthy, who will take up a position with the Department of Education’s Service Response Team in Padbury. Nicole will excel in this role, as she has done in the past five and half years here.
• Alkimos PS welcomes Mrs Renee Rees to the School Psychologist role.
• We will also welcome the return of Miss Pip Ramsden from parental leave. Miss Ramsden will resume three days in the week in the Associate Principal role.  Mrs Maclean, who has covered so brilliantly for Miss Ramsden during this time, will continue in the other two days, and resume as our Music specialist for the other three days. Mrs Coleman will continue in as Music specialist for two days.  

 As this is the last newsletter of the term, I hope all students and families take the opportunity to have a good break and be refreshed, ready for our new term that commences on Monday 18 July.

I look forward to seeing plenty of pirates in the school tomorrow!