06 Feb 2019
Welcome to the 2019 school year at Pottsville Beach Public School, it is always wonderful to see our students return with such enthusiasm and excitement ready for another year of learning. A very warm welcome to our new students, staff and families, we look forward to getting to know you and we trust that your first few days have been positive as you settle into a new school community.
On the staffing front we welcome Josh Bird, David Mercer and Jade Finselbach and add permanently Eleanor Collier and Tamara Keyes. In the coming weeks David and Josh will provide the community with some background information about themselves. We bid farewell to Mrs Di Sharp after a long and successful career into retirement.
Our 2019 Kindergarten year commenced school on Thursday and was huge success with no parents crying! Best Start interviews will commence in the coming days. I know their buddies are excited to help through the transition to school.
Access to the school over the next few weeks will be complicated as the building site focuses on landscaping around the building project. Every effort is being made to minimise the impact on the school and playground space. Over the holiday period the northern car park was resurfaced and a new concrete footpath added. The pickup zone has moved to the opposite site of the car park which will allow more parents to line up inside the carpark then previously and reduce the number of cars waiting on Cudgera Creek Road.
Our parents have hit the ground running with the uniform shop and canteen in full operation. A big thank you to our parents who have given of their time and energy to ensure these services are available. The extra hours the uniform shop was opened was greatly appreciated and ensured that all our students were available to be in uniform on their first day.
This Thursday we will hold our annual swimming carnival in Murwillumbah (have I ever mentioned a lack of infrastructure in Pottsville?). All parents are welcome to come over and support their children and sports house. We may even give you a stopwatch! Swimming is an integral part of Australia’s DNA and when you live near the beach an essential skill for all students to master. I hope to see you there.
In the last week of the school holidays one of our students was recognised by the Cabarita Beach Pottsville Beach Lions Club at their annual Australia day awards ceremony. Billy E received an “Aussie mateship” award which is recognition of his outstanding citizenship at a social and educational level. Billy epitomises what the values of mateship mean to Australians. Well done Billy.
Mark Downward
Principal
