Dear Herdsmans Cove Primary School Community,

As we wrap up the academic year and approach the much-awaited holiday season, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible year we've had at Herdsmans Cove Primary School. It is with mixed emotions that we bid farewell to some cherished members of our school family while eagerly anticipating the arrival of new faces.

First and foremost, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to the parents and community members who have dedicated their time, effort and unwavering support throughout the year. Your commitment to our school community has truly made a difference, and we are immensely grateful for your hard work.

This year marks an emotional moment for us as we say goodbye to a group of exceptional staff who have collectively contributed over 50 years of service to Herdsmans Cove Primary School. Sue Riley, Georgie Field, Amberley Jones, Jacqui Bostock, Lily Barwick, Harriet Wilson, Mitchell Webster and Mel McGuinness, your impact on the lives of our students will be felt for years to come. Your dedication and passion have shaped our school into the vibrant community it is today, and you will be dearly missed. We wish you all the best in your future endeavours.

As we bid farewell to some, we also eagerly welcome new members to our school community. We are thrilled to introduce Kendra Dowling, who will be joining us to teach the 3/4 class, as well as Bec Murray and Tracey Parnham, who will be taking on the 5/6 classes. Additionally, we are excited to announce that Michelle Sproule will be joining us as our new social worker. We extend a warm welcome to Kendra, Bec, Tracey, and Michelle and are confident that they will quickly become valued members of our school community.

In reflecting on the past week, we are pleased to share the success of our recent excursion to Oatlands Aquatic Centre and Callington Park. The students had an incredible time and these experiences are invaluable in fostering a love for learning and creating lasting memories. Furthermore, yesterday's Year 6 awards assembly was a magnificent celebration of our students' achievements, highlighting their hard work and dedication throughout the year. Congratulations to all students and families.

As we embark on the holiday season, we wish each and every one of you a safe and joyous break. Take this time to rest, recharge, and create wonderful memories with your loved ones. We look forward to the exciting adventures that 2024 holds for us and cannot wait to welcome our students back for another year of growth, learning, and success.

Thank you once again for your continuous support.

Warm regards,

Tobin McColl, Principal

Our Lil group visited Littlewood Berry Farm for their final excursion with Miss Field on Thursday 7 December.  Families had a wonderful morning at Richmond, as you can see by these beautiful photos. 

On Monday 11 December our Grade 6 students celebrated their "Big Day Out" at Cornelian Bay Park, followed by Bounce and a lunch at Harbour Lights Cafe.  We wish our leaving students all the best as they progress onto high school.  A great day was had by all that attended.

On Tuesday 12 December we had a lovely breakfast to celebrate Mrs Riley's retirement. This was a wonderful celebration to recognise Mrs Riley's amazing contribution to our Herdsmans Cove community.

It was lovely to see so many past students and parents as well as current families to farewell our much loved Mrs Riley, together with her own very special family members.

We will truly miss Mrs Riley at our school and wish her a wonderful retirement with her family.  Thank you Mrs Riley.

We celebrated our whole school Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 13 December, enjoying a traditional feast including baked ham, turkey, with roasted vegetables and gravy followed by traditional Christmas pudding and custard.

Thank you to Mrs Riley on preparing her final Christmas lunch for all staff and students, together with the help of Ms Hudson and Ms Glover.

Our whole school celebrated a wonderful day at Oatlands on Monday, visiting Callington Park for a barbecue and the new Oatlands Aquatic Centre.

Although the bus ride was long, our students' behaviour was exemplary. 
Everyone arrived back at school a little weary at the end of a long day but a fantastic time was had by all.

On Tuesday 19 December we farewelled our grade 6 students at their Final Assembly.  Congratulations to all our award winners and thank you to family members that attended on the day.  We would like to wish all our leaving students every success in 2024 and beyond.

Our Christmas raffle was once again, a huge success.

Thank you to Mrs Riley for organising the raffle and a huge thank you to all our wonderful families and community for their support.

Congratulations to our winners:

1st prize - Leigh

2nd prize - Annalee

3rd prize - Leigh

We wish all our families a very happy Christmas and school holiday break and look forward to seeing students back at school on Thursday 8 February, 2024.