In the lead up to NAIDOC week next week, I would like to acknowledge the Tasmanian Aboriginal communities as the traditional owners of the land we live and learn on, and to pay my respect to the elders past, present and future. I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding education systems they have for passing on their intimate knowledge, skills and cultural learning for over 40,000 years. We continue to learn about Tasmanian Aboriginal culture and history as adults, alongside our students in many cases, as a result of Tasmania’s more recent ‘history’. I have been thrilled to see this learning in action in all classrooms, as well as our visits on country for all grades 3-6 at Burnie Primary School.

 Our Grade 4 Camp next term, will visit three locations. The first is to a place just north of the Arthur River known as Kings Run, this is an amazing and totally unique learning space. At Preminghana (formally known as Mt Cameron West) and then at Rocky Cape Grade 4s will be learning from the oldest classroom in the world.  We aim for every week to be NAIDOC week where we can celebrate one of the oldest living cultures in the world.

The term break signifies the half way mark in our school year and provides a perfect time to reflect on the learning we have achieved so far this year as a collaborative, creative and innovative learning community. We have been able to do this more formally in Parent – Teacher discussions this week and I have been pleased to see a large number of parents here to continue the discussion about their children’s learning, enhancing the working relationship we have with parents and carers in learning.

Next term we welcome back Miss Meaghan Hosking to the Grade 5H class covering for Miss Stephanie Hanson who will be enjoying quality time with family on her long service leave. We also welcome Mrs Rachael Timms to Kinder to cover Mrs Amanda Hyland who will also be spending quality family time on her period of long service leave in the first two weeks of Term 3.

I would like to wish everyone in our school community a happy and safe term break. A reminder that Monday 22^nd July, the first day of term, is a Student Free Professional Learning Day, and we welcome all students back to school on Tuesday 23^rd July.