Thank you!
It has been lovely to see so many family members at our recent events, including the trio of Sports Days, the various Stay-and-Shares and our performances (such as the G2 MPA Showcase, the Lunchtime Concert, the G3 Big Sing, the G5 Band Concert and 'The Litter Muncher'). In the final week of the school year, there are still several opportunities for parents to share in school activities, such as the Preschool End of Year Celebration (Tuesday, 10 June, 8:30am in the QET) and the Friday Assembly - featuring the birthday quiz for those that have summer birthdays, as well as farewells to students and staff moving on from ISA (Friday, 13 June, 1:05pm in the QET).
A huge thank you to the family members who volunteered their time, effort and culinary skills in providing the amazing Staff Appreciation Snack/Lunch last Thursday. It was a lovely gesture that came at just the right time. Thank you, also, to those parents and carers who have been able to volunteer their time to help with the various field trips and sports days that have taken place in the final weeks of the school year.
End-of-Year Transitions
This time of year is a time of transitions: students moving from one grade level to the next; students and families moving on from ISA; and teachers leaving ISA for new adventures and new challenges. Let's look at each in turn.
Within the Preschool and Elementary School, a great deal of time and effort is put into making the transition from one grade level to the next as smooth as possible. For example, the parents and carers of Grade 5 students were invited to a transition coffee morning to learn more about Grade 6. The Preschool children have been introduced to life in the Elementary School, making several visits to Kindergarten and even joining KG-G2 lunch and recess times. This coming Monday (9 June), all children in the Elementary School will have the chance to meet the teachers who will be teaching them in the next grade level during the 2025-2026 school year.
Each June, a number of our families move on from ISA. To those that are leaving ISA this summer, we wish you all the very best at your next school. Transitions away from a familiar and comfortable home like ISA can be challenging, especially when the next assignment is unknown, or when there are concerns over the changes in school and friendships. It is my hope, however, that all of our families, both returning and leaving, will look back on the 2024-2025 school year with many fond memories. Families that are moving away from ISA at the end of the school year are kindly reminded that we need notice and confirmation as soon as possible so that we can complete all of the necessary transfer forms in a reasonable manner during an especially busy period at the school.
This year in the Preschool and Elementary School, we unfortunately will be saying goodbye to two staff members who have made significant contributions to the education of our students and who have enriched the lives of everyone who worked with them. These two hugely impactful teachers are Jilly McIntyre and Lucy Thompson. Jilly has been a beloved and highly respected Preschool Keyworker / Early Years Practitioner (as well as a truly exceptional ISA Summer Camp team member and Yearbook advisor) and will be dearly missed by children, families and colleagues alike as she begins the next chapter in her life. It was always a joy to watch how children of all ages lit up whenever they saw Jilly in the corridors, classrooms and outdoor spaces throughout the school. Lucy has had an enormously positive impact on the educational experiences of children across the school. Not only has she inspired and supported the learning journeys of her Grade 5 students, she has also played a leading role in coordinating the professional learning of staff in all divisions of the school, as well as curriculum development in the Elementary School. In addition, Lucy could be found coaching football teams in the Middle School and High School, as well as introducing children of all ages to the sport of squash. Both Jilly and Lucy have left an indelible mark on the Preschool and Elementary School and, most importantly, the lives and aspirations of the many ISA children that have been lucky enough to be in their classes, clubs and teams. We wish them both all the very best in their new adventures.
Looking ahead to 2025-2026
There will be a few changes to the teaching teams in the Elementary School from August, brought on in part by changing demographics and also by Lucy’s departure from ISA. The classroom teachers will be allocated as follows for the 2025-2026 school year*:
Kindergarten: Natalie Dalziel
Grade 1: Jory Bolton
Grade 2: Rachael Cheyne & Lynne Stewart
Grade 3: Lulu Davies & Adele Hughes
Grade 4: Debbie Cooper & Claire McMahon
Grade 5: Graham Brace & Francesca MacAlpine
*Please note that the children have not yet been assigned to specific teachers.
Dates of Interest
10 June - Preschool End of Year Celebration (8:30am, QET)
10 June - Grade 1 trip to Drum Castle
11 June - Veg Growers’ Club Plant Sale (3:00pm, front of school)
13 June - Grade 5 Moving On Ceremony (8:30am, QET)
13 June - Final assembly** of the year (1:00pm, QET)
**The final assembly will include the Summer Birthdays Quiz and farewells to students and staff who are moving on from ISA.
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