Dear Craigslea Community,

As Term 1 draws to a close, it’s incredible to reflect on how much we have achieved in our first 10 weeks. It feels like only yesterday we welcomed our students back for the start of 2025, and already we have so much to celebrate.

Celebrating Our Community
Last Monday, we embraced the rich diversity of our school at our Harmony Day assembly. It was heart-warming to see our students proudly sharing their cultural heritage with their peers, both during the assembly and in buddy class activities. At Craigslea, we truly celebrate that we all belong.

Cross Country Carnival Update
Unfortunately, due to the weather, we had to postpone our Cross Country Carnival. However, we have rescheduled this much-anticipated event for Thursday, 3 April. Fingers crossed for perfect running conditions!

Opportunities to Connect
Next week, families have two fantastic opportunities to engage with our students' learning experiences:

• On Monday morning, instead of assembly, we will host our first Show & Shine for 2025. Families are invited into classrooms from 9:00 am to see student learning in action.
• On Tuesday, we will hold our Term 1 Parent-Teacher Interviews in the hall. Strong partnerships between home and school are essential for student success, and we look forward to continuing these connections throughout the year.

Principal Leave
I will be taking long service leave to visit family overseas from Monday, 31 March through to Monday, 28 April. During this time, Mrs Erin Wiles will be Acting Principal, and I know she will continue to lead our school with great care and dedication.

Term 1 Learning Round-Up: A Fantastic Start!
This year, we introduced exciting new programs to enhance student learning:

• STEM – Our year 4 – 6 students have enjoyed their weekly STEM lessons as they work collaboratively to problem solve a sustainability issue.  I look forward to seeing their projects come to life next term.  Congratulations to Ms Jacob on the great start to STEM learning.
• Expansion of our Arts and Japanese programs - Our early years students are really enjoying their Japanese learning with Sensei and being immersed in Japanese culture.  They are also enjoying engaging in Dance with Mrs Doyle.
• Bounce Back Program – This initiative has brought a consistent approach to social and emotional learning, equipping our students with valuable resilience and well-being skills.
• SEAL Team Initiatives – Our Student Engagement and Learning (SEAL) team introduced a new way of working, including the launch of 'The Igloo', a regulation space where students can take a break and receive support. Additionally, a SEAL role focused on enrichment and extension has been created to ensure all students are engaged and challenged in their learning.  The work of our SEAL team to support students and our teachers as a positive impact on student connection, engagement and belonging whilst progressing academic learning.
• Visible Learning – We continue to develop Learning and Bump It Up Walls across our school, helping students articulate and track their learning progress in English. It has been fantastic to hear students speak confidently about their learning and their next steps.

The impact of these initiatives is already evident, with a noticeable reduction in disruptions to learning and fewer student behaviour incidents. It has been a great start to the year!

Year 1/2 Play Precinct Upgrade
Thanks to our hardworking P&C, the long-awaited upgrade to the Year 1 playground will begin on Tuesday, 21 April (the first day of Term 2). This 10-week project will transform the space into an exciting and engaging play precinct for our year 1 and 2 students. Temporary access changes will be communicated shortly.

J Block Renovation
Renovations of J Block (Year 1 building) are scheduled to commence in Week 2 of Term 2. During this time, Year 1 classes will be relocated. Mrs. Wiles will provide detailed information in Week 10 to all year 1 families.

Stop, Drop & Go
We are pleased to announce that funding has been allocated for a Stop, Drop & Go zone. While we are still in the early planning stages, further updates will be shared as the project progresses.

Specialist Timetable Adjustments for Term 2
In Term 1, we trialled one-hour specialist lessons to maximise learning in these areas. After gathering feedback from students and teachers, we have decided to return to mostly 30-minute lessons in Term 2.

Strong Partnerships with Our P&C
Last week, we held our 2025 P&C AGM. I extend my sincere thanks to our 2024 P&C team for their dedication and warmly welcome our 2025 team. We look forward to another year of collaboration to support our students.

Thank You & Easter Wishes
A heartfelt thank you to our entire Craigslea community for your ongoing support throughout Term 1. Your engagement and encouragement have made this an incredibly positive start to the school year.

I would like to wish everyone a safe and joyful Easter break—I look forward to seeing you all when I return from leave.  Term 2 will commence on Tuesday 22 April.

“People working together in a strong community with a shared goal and a common purpose can make the impossible possible.” – Tom Vilsack

Yours in Learning,

Melanie Rehm