20 December 2023
From the Acting Principal
One more day to go of the school year and we can call it a wrap for 2023! Today is the Grade 6 Big Day Out, followed by the Leavers Dinner organised by the parents. We wish the Grade 6 students a great day and evening as they relish in the celebrations of finishing primary school.
Thank you to all students and families for making 2023 another successful year. Your efforts, energy and engagement throughout the year are very much appreciated.
Thank you to our many volunteers who contribute to our school in a variety of ways. We are so fortunate and appreciative to have community help and support to enable our students to have as many opportunities as possible. We hope to see you back next year!
Staffing 2024
As communicated to families last week, Kristy Hay has been appointed to the Principal role at Cambridge Primary for Term 1, 2024 while Courtney is on leave. Kristy is the current Principal at Swansea Primary School and is excited to be joining our team for Term 1 next year.
Here is an outline of our staffing for 2024.
Kinder A | Liv Dobson |
Kinder B | Clare Houston |
Prep A | Annaleise Horne |
Prep B | Jodi Freeman & Eloise Walker (W&Th) |
1-2A | Josh Howard (M, Tu), |
1-2B | Mark Kingston |
1-2C | Greta Edwards |
2-3A | Belinda Jeffery (M-W) & Kate Bugg (Th & F) |
2-3B | Sam Burdon & Liv Dobson(F) |
3-4A | Hayden Lodge |
3-4B | Emma Birchall |
4-5 | Erin Fenton, |
5-6A | Adam Macdonald |
5-6B | Tess Buxton (M-W) & Clare Eddington (Th & F) |
Support Teachers | Ali Cato, Merrin Pike + Jodi Freeman |
Specialist Teachers | Sally Sari (Art & Music), Ryan Thomas (HPE), Tom McGee (Instrumental) & Anita Wedd (LOTE) |
Team TAs | Prep ESS – Rachael Stokes |
School Support Roles | Psychologist – Jennifer Galvin Molina |
Literacy Coach & Intervention | Narelle Stevens |
Admin | Shelley Spong, Anthea Arnold, Michelle Downham & Tina Mason |
Canteen | Julie Barwin |
EFAs | Debbie Pouwelse, Kim Williams, Gregg Abbot & Lawrence Woulleman |
More Staffing
There will be a number of staff not working with us next year. We are very grateful for their contribution to our community:
- We would really like to take the time to thank Trish Epping for her work with us over the past 12 months. We really appreciate her contribution to the Kinder team in 2023 and wish her all the best in 2024 as she takes a position at Richmond Primary School.
- We also would like to thank Abbey Moss for her work in the Speech Pathologist role in Term 4.
- Andrew Castles is leaving us for a position at Guilford Young College. He will also be continuing his role with DECYP at Clarence High School. We are very grateful for the contribution and impact to our Band program that Andrew has had. He will leave big shoes to fill! We wish Andrew all the best and know that GYC are very fortunate to have him on staff.
Redevelopment
As Courtney mentioned in his End of Year Assembly speech, a builder has been chosen and we are now in the process of signing off on that. The builders are working to formulate a plan for building works, and this will be communicated to families as soon as we can. When you come back to school next year, expect to see some fencing up and our school starting to look like a construction site!
Finally, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday break. Enjoy the break and time with family and friends, hopefully with some beautiful Summer weather!
I look forward to seeing you back next year, refreshed and recharged, ready to go for 2024!
Alison Cato
School Association
When my girls started school, I knew I wanted to give back. I wanted to get involved. I’m not good at asking people for things, am not terribly creative so found fundraising a little too intimidating. Instead, I thought I’d join the “Parents and Friends”, the School Association.
I was just astounded at what happens behind the scenes at a school. I presumed money was in abundance, providing all the school essentials and then some. I presumed that if extras were needed, particularly classrooms, it was just a matter of ticking boxes. I presumed that government and council worked together, and it just happened.
I soon learned that fundraising was not just important, but vital. With the help of a wonderful fundraising team the School Association had the pleasure of assisting with school camps, surf lifesaving programs and the band. We bought park benches, sandpit boxes, puddle suits and play equipment. We discussed levies, policies and ideas. We debated ways to do things differently and found out why things are done the way they are. It was fascinating, engaging and thought provoking.
As the school grew, the classrooms did not and so some seven years ago, I wrote my first letter to start some change. There were many, many more letters to come. I spoke at council meetings, I met with aldermen, I met with politicians. It took time. It took effort. It took hard work and dedication, but I never gave up and in 2021, we were rewarded with over $15 million in extra funding to expand our school.
Since then, I’ve attended fortnightly meetings to progress the build, with talented architects and dedicated staff from DECYP and Cambridge Primary. It’s been an interesting project to be a part of. Whilst I had hoped to have the build begin before I left, I am pleased to see Stage One will be started in the new year. I hope it won’t be too much longer before we can engage with council to develop the much-anticipated gymnasium, something the school and community can both enjoy.
These last seven years have been such hard work but also incredibly rewarding. I have met and worked with some amazing people. All the volunteers and staff who selflessly give their time to make the school a better place.
I must say a special word of thanks to Mr Howard. He has been an outstanding mentor and leader. He has offered support and guidance and deserves as much of the success in achieving this build as I do. He has been encouraging, dedicated and appreciative every step of the way. The school is incredibly lucky to have him.
Thank you to all the members of the School Association both past and present for their efforts. Thank you to every single person who has helped out in any way, big or small. I am so incredibly proud of Cambridge Primary. It has been the greatest privilege to Chair the School Association, but as Milly heads off to high school next year my time has come to an end. I’m leaving a job that has meant so much to me. I am proud of what I have achieved, humbled by the success and most of all forever grateful for the experience. Thank you.
Prue Allan
End of Year Presentation Assembly
Congratulations to the following students who were presented with awards at Monday’s End of Year Assembly at Rose Bay High School.
Explore Opportunities Awards
Alice M | PREP A |
Angus C | PREP B |
Hugo P | 1/2A |
Oriana L | 1/2B |
Poppy J | 1/2C |
Ruben J | 2/3A |
Scarlett K | 2/3B |
James K-S | 3/4A |
Sophie M | 3/4B |
Winter H | 4/5 |
Louis K | 4/5 |
Hugo B | 5/6A |
Angus B | 5/6B |
Analyse Thinking Awards
Felix K-R | PREP A |
Reuben C | PREP B |
Jett M | 1/2A |
Elliott C | 1/2B |
Florence L | 1/2C |
Mia F | 2/3A |
Mitchell T | 2/3B |
Ingrid C | 3/4A |
Rob F | 3/4B |
Eli H | 4/5 |
Madison V | 4/5 |
Mikayla H | 5/6A |
Harrison S | 5/6B |
Growing Grit Awards
Arlo G | PREP A |
Mae W | PREP B |
Mabel L | 1/2A |
Thomas B | 1/2B |
Charlie B | 1/2C |
Ella H | 2/3A |
Annabelle R | 2/3B |
Eadie W | 3/4A |
Charlotte | 3/4B |
Jackson P | 4/5 |
Ella T | 4/5 |
Annie D | 5/6A |
Ethan A | 5/6B |
Learn Character Awards
Matilda B | PREP A |
Milla H | PREP B |
Casey N | 1/2A |
Ella M | 1/2B |
Finn C | 1/2C |
Zack W | 2/3A |
Henry R | 2/3B |
Arthur B | 3/4A |
Gabrielle | 3/4B |
Elsa P | 4/5 |
Amos H | 4/5 |
Olive S | 5/6A |
Ned L | 5/6B |
Engage Others Awards
Ruby C | PREP A |
Tony P | PREP B |
Marli S | 1/2A |
Talha T | 1/2B |
Lili R | 1/2C |
Griffyn S | 2/3A |
Freya F | 2/3B |
Darcy M | 3/4A |
Hugh M | 3/4B |
Sienna Mc | 4/5 |
Harry C | 4/5 |
Hugo F | 5/6A |
Flynn H | 5/6B |
Individual Achievement Awards
Ida H 1/2C
Riley I 5/6A
Scientific Inquiry Award
Lola B 4/5
LOTE (Japanese) Award
Madi V 4/5
Creative Exploration in Technology
Nash B | 3/4A |
Jake C | 3/4B |
Austin E | 4/5 |
Ned G | 4/5 |
Lucas A | 5/6A |
Noah S | 5/6B |
Gr 6 Learning Excellence Awards
Finn R 5/6B
Amelie R 5/6A
Gr 6 Excellence in Mathematics Award
Quinten T 5/6B
Gr 6 Excellence in Musical Arts Award
Jessie R 5/6A
Gr 6 Visual Arts Award
Katey M 5/6B
Gr 6 Sportsperson Awards
Sophie C 5/6A
Zachary KS 5/6A
Gr 6 Achieve your Best Award
Ethan F 5/6A
Gr 6 Responsible Student Awards
Thomas M 5/6A
Zoe B 5/6B
Gr 6 Minister for Education, Children and Youth - Respectful Student Award
Emily M 5/6B
Award Sponsors
We wish to thank the following for their sponsorship and donation of prizes:
The Allen Family - Winterlight Enterprises
Catryna Bilyk, Labor Senator for Tasmania
Clarence City Council
Hon. Julie Collins, MP, Federal Labor Member for Franklin
Jonathon Duniam, Liberal Senator for Tasmania
The Hills Family - Imbros Marine and Laboratory Science Supplies
Hon. Sarah Lovell, Labor MLC for Rumney
Minister for Education, Children and Youth
The Rotary Club of Howrah
Hon. Dean Winter, MP, Labor Member for Franklin
Dr Rosalie Woodruff, MP, Greens Member for Franklin
Dean Young, MP, Liberal Member for Franklin
School Terms in 2024
Term 1 - Thursday 8 February – Friday 12 April
Term 2 - Monday 29 April – Friday 5 July
Term 3 - Monday 22 July – Friday 27 September
Term 4 - Monday 14 October – Thursday 19 December
There is a Calendar from the Dept for Children and Young People in the side bar of the newsletter
Office Opening Times in the Holidays
The office will be open on January 31st, February 1st and 2nd from 9.30am-2.30pm for uniform purchases. If you are unable to make it during these times and require items, please contact the office to make alternative arrangements on 6248 5168.
Double your Dollars
A huge thank you to families who supported the Double your Dollars Markets earlier this month. The Gr5s and Gr6s, their teachers and TA’s put in a massive effort to run this great enterprise. As always, both markets were huge successes and the amount raised for The Cancer Council was an amazing $3,374.05!
Christmas Card Competition
Congratulations Emma N in 2/3B! Emma’s snowman drawing won the CPS best design in the Julie Collins Christmas card competition. We are so proud of Emma!
Congratulations!
Congratulations to the Gr5/6 Netball team who played in Grand Final of the Schools Term 4 Roster at Sorell on Monday 11 December. They played well but went down to a much stronger established Richmond team.
Let’s Celebrate!