FROM OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
To say that we were excited for the students to return this week would be an understatement, and what a week it has been! All of our staff have worked relentlessly to get our wonderful and engaging learning spaces ready for the children. Now that parents/carers can come back into classrooms, I’m sure that you will agree they have all gone over and above. Our Education Facilities Attendants Brett, Linda and Barry have done AMAZING work to get our grounds and learning spaces looking as good as they do! Thank you also to our support, teaching and admin staff for making LPS such a welcoming and wonderful place to return to.
One of my favourite things about returning to a new school year, besides the new shoes and fresh haircuts, are the stories that the children can’t wait to share with us about their break. From family fishing trips, new babies, broken limbs and lots of camping/swimming, it has been so wonderful to hear all about how diverse everyone’s break has been, and to also see so many the smiling, eager and excited faces on day one. Thank you to our wonderful LPS parents for preparing students for their first week at school in 2021.
This year we welcome 9 new students to our school, and 5 new staff members. Mr Peter Stephens joins us on 3/4 White, Miss Peggy Cato joins us on 1/2 Black, Mr Shaun Worker is on 5/6 Blue, and Mrs Megan Hoult joins us as our new Literacy Coach/AST while Mrs Sheehan is on Maternity leave. In addition, Mrs Libby Ashlin is returning as our School Business Manager, after being in another position for the past four years. I am excited to welcome you all to our school and I know you will love it as much as we all do.
I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank our outgoing SBM, Mel Langridge for her contribution, passion and commitment to ensuring that our students and staff always have everything they need to succeed. Mel has accepted an acting promoted position within Learning Services and will return to us in another admin role when this is complete.
This year we are very excited to introduce a new initiative to our school called the Kitchen Garden Program. Mrs Deb Morgan is coordinating the program and it has already been a huge hit with our students. Students spend 80 minutes a fortnight on the old Music building which, over the holidays has been renovated into a wonderful new classroom kitchen space for all students ,K-6. “Our goal is to give every learner the opportunity to experience pleasurable food education with a sustainable ethos at the centre of all activities. The focus is to have ‘hands-on’ experiences in cooking, gardening and participating in healthy eating together so that skills and positive food relationships can be adopted for life. Health and safety practices will be explicitly taught so all students become familiar with the safe manual handling of kitchen and garden equipment."
Mrs Morgan and some of her first Kitchen Garden classes
Next Saturday and Sunday (13th & 14th February), Mrs Morgan is holding a working bee at school from 10am – 3pm to help get the garden get back into shape and revive the old shed. If you think you can help, please look out for more information on our social media sites and SeeSaw, or just come along on the day to help out!
Warm regards,
Kel Innis
Principal
