Dear Parents/Carers

Here we are at the end of 2023 with our final newsletter! I can hardly believe it as it feels like 2023 has really just started. What an amazing year we have had! I am so proud of the students for their participation, effort and hard work. It has been really pleasing to read the reports and see the effort across the school. There has been a wonderful range of activities, camps, excursions and incursions and I congratulate the students on their achievements. These activities would not happen without the amazing work of our staff and support staff across the school. They all work extremely hard for your children and I want to express my gratitude for their work, dedication and care. It takes a whole village to raise a child and our school staff together with families are a living demonstration of this quote.

As we approach the end of year we have a range of celebrations for our Kindergarten - Year 2 children, Years 3-6, Year 6 Thanksgiving and Years 7-11 Presentation Day. These are wonderful events where we get to reflect and acknowledge the work across the school. These events really are a beautiful way to finish the year and I look forward to seeing parents at these events.

We received sad news about the passing of Bishop Jamieson who is the namesake of our Jamieson House. He was instrumental at the time the school began and also wrote our school prayer. We will remember him over this part of the end of the school year and will continue to bring glory to the Jamieson House in his memory.

As Covid caused people to cease travelling over the last few years it is great to see some staff now able to travel and recharge their batteries. We have a number of staff that are on leave next year and I wish them God’s blessing for their leave and look forward to their return. To those staff on maternity leave we wish you every happiness and the safe arrival of your babies.

Staff on leave for 2024:

• Israel Carmody – Leave
• Helen Jolly – Long Service Leave
• Denise Logue – Leave
• Holly Mason – Leave
• Kerryann McKee – Long Service Leave
• Alison Robins – Maternity Leave
• Sophie Trent – Leave
• Tamryn Dearlove – Long Service Leave
• Dee Fee – Long Service Leave
• Helen Jones – Long Service Leave
• Jan Knox – Long Service Leave
• Jessica Walmsley-Fish – Maternity Leave
• Angela Westwater – Leave

We also acknowledge the wonderful work of staff that have contributed to Frederick Irwin Anglican School and wish them every success with their future plans. Staff leaving at the end of 2023:

• Stephanie Atkinson
• Shane Benfell
• Ammon Bennett
• April Carmody
• Tammy Cowan
• Leah Ellery
• Lisa Hopkins
• Chelsea Hunter
• Naoko Kimata
• Taylor Parry
• Maddy Perkins – we wish her all the best with the safe arrival of her baby in 2024
• Juliet McCauley
• Samuel Schimming
• Ben Simpson
• Sebastian Steed
• Roz Thompson
• Erin Woodage
• Carrie Zdybel

We have achieved many great things in 2023 such as; whole school founders’ day, the opening of the Kwobadiny Sports Centre, renovations across the school, expanding both Primary Schools and made further improvements to pastoral care and academic offerings. We are excited for 2024 and look forward to sharing more great things in due course.

Thank you parents for your support, kindness and partnership in educating your children. We are proud of our students, families and staff and continue to look forward to next year. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing you at many of our events and chatting with you all – this brings me such joy. I wish you God’s blessing for Christmas and pray for a safe and happy new year.

“Fort to us a child is born. To us a son is given and his name shall be called wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6

God bless

Tracey