2021 has been a rewarding and productive year for our school and community, as we have continued to work together to build relationships and overcome challenges to achieve common goals.

None of these goals can be achieved without the support of our community partners and we greatly appreciate the wonderful assistance we have received from Mona, Red Cross, Parkside, PCYC, The Smith Family, The Salvation Army, The Federal Group, TechnoBeat, Gagebrook Community Centre, A Sporting Chance, BGH Breakers, UTAS - Children's University and our volunteers.  We couldn't do such amazing things on a day-to-day basis without our amazing champions of the community.  We are so lucky! Let's show our appreciation.

We have continued to foster opportunities to build learning partnerships with our families through such programs as LiL and LIFT under the wonderful guidance of Ms Field. We thank our wonderful families for working alongside us. What could be more powerful than parents, children and teachers learning together?

Our Kitchen Garden program this year has continued to have a strong focus on Science, Sustainability health and wellbeing. During the year our taste buds have been tantalized by delicious meals our students have prepared with produce from our Kitchen Garden Program.  Our cooking programs have also provided an opportunity to foster leadership and entrepreneurial skills as students take on the responsibility of preparing menus, collating orders and serving meals.

This year we have continued to foster opportunities to enhance our students learning and have seen significant gain in student writing and reading. This has resulted in us building fantastic story tellers and writers and expressive readers. We have utilised such programs as Talk for Writing, Fountas and Pinnell intervention and Reading Doctor to engage all our students and ensure that we have an inspired and innovative learning community.

Aim high, dream big.  Our students have been supported with opportunities to participate in a range of sporting programs. Through the fantastic generosity of volunteers and organisations, students have participated in Futsal, the After School Sporting Chance program and Netball through the support of BGH Breakers.

At Herdsmans Cove we have a growth mindset. This means we develop resilient learners who will try anything, take risks with their learning, not be afraid of mistakes and are inspired to take on learning challenges!

Our achievements have resulted from quality teaching and learning, strong relationships and attention to our values as a community.  A continuation of these practices will enable Herdsmans Cove to further develop its status as an excellent school.

I would like to wish all students, staff and parents a safe and happy Christmas and a successful New Year.

Carolyn Brown, Principal