Welcome to Term 2

What a great start to the term we have enjoyed in the Preparatory School. The students have come back extremely settled and ready to continue their learning journey.

A very special welcome to the new families who have joined us from the start of term.

Robyn Strohmayer has joined Mrs Moody’s Year 1 class and Wesley House. Sahaj Bangarh has joined Mr Leith’s Year 3 class and is also in Wesley House. In our Early Learning Centre we have welcomed Skye Cory, Ellie Ge, Frederick Law, Kevin Li, Mitchell Reilly and Oliver Su who have all commenced their Westminster experience this term.

Welcome Back Staff Too!

Mrs Moody and Mr Haines have re-joined us after enjoying some long service leave at the end of last term. Mr Haines took the opportunity to see some of the Middle East by visiting Jordan and Egypt, while Mrs Moody explored the west coast of the USA. Mrs Laity is enjoying long service leave this term and her class is being well cared for by Ms Morisset.

We also welcome two training teachers from the start of this term. Beau Leonard is working with Mrs Dorey and her Year 6 class while Old Scholar Frazer Goodes ('10) has commenced his final placement with Ms Mugford and 3M. Our Dutch training teachers Ms Sarah van de Ven and Ms Niesèt Groen continue the final few weeks of their Aussie experience in 5D and 7W respectively.

Two Departures

Families who access the Out of School Hours Care or Vacation Care service at Westminster would have met Shane Howard. Students who use OSHC have benefited from his care and compassion since he commenced with the school in 2014. During the last holiday break Shane resigned from his position as OSHC coordinator and has elected to pursue other opportunities. Those who know Shane will join me in wishing him well. Over the coming weeks we will commence a search for our next Coordinator. In the interim Joel Steer ('12) and Ally Gradisar will lead the service, ably supported by the regular staff.

Ms Sally Riley has been in the news of late. Firstly because she was a member of the premiership winning AFL Women’s team at the Adelaide Crows. More recently however Ms Riley has accepted an offer to continue her AFLW career with the Gold Coast Suns. Unfortunately for us she feels that is too far to commute to work! Sally faced a real dilemma as while she loves working at Westminster, almost as much as we love having her here, she can’t put her desire to play football at the highest level on hold while the sands of time whittle by. Her phone ran hot with offers from rival clubs, and after much deliberation she has agreed to join the Gold Coast Suns later this year. Sally will be leaving us at the end of Term 3. She has delayed their request for an earlier departure so that she can spend more time with Westminster students. We have plenty of time to wish her well.

Students making a difference

Students with a donation of food in wagons near a car

In the final few weeks of Term 1, Michael Pope (Year 6 Charter) initiated and coordinated a food drive for Foodbank in the Preparatory School. Michael joined our Round Square Committee earlier this year and undertook this initiative as a part of his involvement in this group.

Under Michael’s guidance, our Prep School community brought in 351kg of food which was loaded into Mrs Edwards’ car with the help of fellow Round Square committee members and service leaders Madi Sykes, Charlotte Ward, Chanelle Jayakody, Sophie Bradley and Tim Alver. Mrs Edwards then drove the food to Foodbank where it was weighed. Our donations provided meals for many families in our community.

Michael is to be praised and congratulated on his wonderful initiative and hard work in the service of others. He is an outstanding example of living out the values we uphold at Westminster.

Students with a donation of food near a car

Last term at school the student leaders conducted a fundraiser for Motor Neurone Disease which in part involved some staff sliding into an ice bath, all for a good cause. I would like to make mention of one student who really took on board the important message from this initiative.

Aryan Kohli (Year 4 Wesley) asked his parents for a themed party for his ninth birthday, but he wanted a party with a difference. Aryan with his Mum, Simpie, visited Motor Neurone Disease (SA) and bought merchandise for his friends attending the party. This resulted in $560 being raised for the MND cause.

Well done on this wonderful initiative Aryan!

Diary Dates

Year 1 Excursion Cleland - Friday 10 May
Year 2 Excursion Hendrie St Reserve – Friday 10 May
Women of Westminster luncheon - Friday 10 May
NAPLAN Week commences – Tuesday 14 May
Winter Uniform compulsory from Monday 20 May
Year 2 Excursion Belair National Park – Wednesday 29 May
ELC Excursion to BEEP – Thursday 30 May
First visit day for Transition classes – Thursday 6 June
Metropolitan SAPSASA Cross Country - Thursday 6 June
Queen’s Birthday Public holiday – Monday 10 June
Reception Parent Workshop & Expo –Wednesday 19 June
Sing Sing Sing Concert – Wednesday 19 June
Casuals Day – Thursday 20 June
Year 1 Parent Expo – Friday 21 June
Year 2 Parent Expo – Wednesday 26 June

Grant Bock
Head of Preparatory School