THE TWILIGHT FAIR WAS MASSIVE

My first fair at Winters Flat gave me an amazing insight into the collective goodwill this community has to offer. At the outset I would like to acknowledge the work of Fiona who in the weeks and months leading up to the night was able to coordinate infrastructure, catering, entertainment and cleanup – all compiled into a single blue clipboard! She was ably assisted by other members of the fundraising committee; Katie W, Shera, Rhani, Karen M and Bianca, who worked as a great team to liaise with the wider team of family and staff volunteers to ensure the fair was the great success it turned out to be.

Melissa and Liz were the dynamic duo running the Silent Auction and there were so many more parents and carers working behind the scenes making, baking, and on the night serving and staffing the stalls and attractions, not to mention the working bee team who did a big clean-up the week before with Blair coming back for one final sweep the night before. There was also the team who gathered together at the end of the night to ensure we were cleaned up and packed up.

Special thanks to Lisa Kearns for coordinating the craft makers, Marcus and his team of pizza makers, and to all the parents and carers who put in hours of work beforehand, on the night and then packing up when it was all over.

To MCs Cameron Frost, Lisa Mills, and stage manager Justin Marshall, to Stephen Breheny and Son Quba for generously giving their time and adding a hint of Havana to close the show. Also, to all the students who performed on the night.

Special thanks also to our staff including Jane and Kay who prepared the delicious Dahl and rice, the teachers and support staff; Helen, Keenan, Karen B, Peta, Bianca, Jennifer, Morgan, Bronwyn, Marg, Anne and Fiona along with family members Sam and Arlo who assisted with stalls, infrastructure and entertainment. Karen M who did so much beforehand, kept the floats afloat and stayed on until late in the night.

Finally I extend my thanks to our students: the senior learning community who created their own stalls and activities as well as the many who came with friends and family to enjoy our special night.

Congratulations everyone it was brilliant!

The final figure isn’t quite in but our estimate is about $7,000 raised.

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2020 STAFFING

Yesterday was step up day - an opportunity for students to meet their teacher and the students who will be in their class next year:

Prep/Year 1 – Fiona Johnston (JLC)

Year 1/2 – Bianca Alvarez Harris (JLC)

Year 2/3 – Helen Weir (JLC)

Year 4/5 – Keenan Lucas (SLC)

Year 4/5 – To be confirmed (SLC)

Year 6 – Karen Brooks & Jennifer Thoma (SLC)

Specialist programs

French – Katie Kilgour

PE – Sam Milner

Science/Technology (STEM) – Peta Firth

Performing Arts – Suzanne Kinnersly

SA Kitchen – Jane Grylls

SA Garden- Terry Willis

Art teacher Juliet Jefferys is on leave from Winters Flat during 2020 and this coincides with construction of the new Modular Art space. We will deliver the visuals arts as a rotational classroom program during the first half of the year, after which our fabulous new space will be ready.

Visiting teacher Michael Ring will continue to support staff during Term 1.

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2020 SCHOOL CAPTAINS

Our School Captains for 2020 are Iestyn Cotterell and Milly Karimi Sarab and Vice Captains are Lila Duthie and Louis Wood. We had some outstanding nominees who pitched to the student group yesterday and I am encouraging each of the unsuccessful candidates to take up the Care Crows leadership roles on offer next year.

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SCHOOL COUNCIL FAREWELL AND THANK YOU

We are saying farewell to the following members of council who have represented parents and carers here at Winters Flat.

Melissa Cater (Dan Year 2), Kylie Pascoe, (Eoin Year 6) and Katie Wilson (Sylvie Year 6).

Melissa joined the council in 2018 and has worked tirelessly on a number of sub-committees as well as being instrumental in achieving improvements for the school, including the Junior Landcare grant this year which has contributed to landscaping and habitat development for the endangered Eltham Copper Butterfly. She has worked extensively on revamping the school website and helped establish the Community Engagement sub-committee. Her work ethic and drive to act with integrity and represent the needs of the school community has been very much appreciated.

Kylie has been a member of council since 2016 and was the editorial voice behind our Facebook posts. She has brought energy and enthusiasm to the role and is always sourcing new ideas to make Winters Flat PS more innovative and exciting. She has been the editor of Flat Chat and with her flair for sharing news with our community, she collaborated with Melissa to update the school website. She also ran the school banking program and along with Melissa was a founding member of the community engagement sub-committee. I thank her for the hard work and travel miles she has accumulated on our behalf.

Katie has been School Council president since 2010 and has fulfilled her role with incredible generosity and energy. Katie has been a strong advocate for the school and represented our cause in a very proactive manner. In the time she has served as school council president, she has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organize and participate in fund raising events on behalf of the school, with significant donations of goods and services.

Katie was a member of the fundraising, sustainability and wellbeing sub-committees of school council. In each of these areas she brought wisdom and insight with our students as her first priority. She was instrumental in our quest to become a 5 Star Resource Smart sustainable school and lobbied on our behalf to get better facilities during the protracted building program. The school community owes her a huge debt of gratitude and we thank her for many years of dedicated service on our behalf.

On a personal note I would like to thank Katie, Kylie and Melissa for their support of me over two years of leading our wonderful school.

If you’ve thought about joining the school council please be aware that nominations will be available early in the New Year with elections due in March. The Department of Education and Training offers training for new and existing school councilors throughout the year.

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GOODBYE AND BON VOYAGE KIM

We are saying farewell to our wellbeing coordinator and chaplain Kim Collins as she heads off to New Zealand to participate in further training and to explore and gain new insight and experience in indigenous education and cultural recognition.

Kim has been a counselor, advocate and friend to many of our students and our staff. We thank her warmly for her guidance in supporting them. She has had an active role in driving school wide wellbeing initiatives and staff professional learning. On behalf of our school community we wish Kim all the very best in her next big adventure.

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CASTLEMAINE MAIL:  NEWSHOUNDS – “MOST INNOVATIVE PAGE 2019”

I attended this year’s presentation on Saturday on behalf of our Newshounds where we were presented with “Most Innovative Page”. Congratulations to the mini media groups of student writers and thanks to Rosie Annear for her guidance.

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Suzanne Kinnersly

Principal