Welcome everyone to the 2021 school year.

I am very pleased to welcome all of our new students and their families to our Gympie Special School community. We welcome Henry, Isaac, Wyatt, and Kruze into Prep, Arley into Primary, Gorgia into Junior Secondary and Leandra and Taylor into Senior Secondary. It is very exciting to start the 2021 school year with 70 enrolments and 13 classrooms.

Classrooms have been busy as everyone settles into their new groups and establishes new routines. Students are making new friends and getting to know their teachers and teacher aides. As I walk around classrooms each morning, it is exciting to observe students focused on their learning. Our senior students from years 7 to 12 began swimming this week at the Gympie aquatic recreation centre. Our primary students will be swimming in term 4 this year.

This year we have five Year 12 students who will graduate in November. Already we are starting to plan ahead to ensure they have a successful last year of schooling and a wonderful graduation.

2 New Staff Members: We also have two new faces on staff to introduce. Welcome to Jennie Bryant as a class teacher in our Early Years Sector, and Amanda Brady, a class teacher in the Senior Secondary Sector. Both of these experienced staff members bring a wealth of knowledge from their previous placements in other state schools.

Permanent Head of Department- Curriculum: We are very pleased to announce Shellie Pursey as our permanent full time Head of Department – Curriculum. Shellie worked with us last year on contract and was successful in her application for the permanent position. Shellie has been instrumental in working with our staff to increase their knowledge and support them to improve their practice within our school leading to improved student outcomes.

Facebook: We regularly post on our school Facebook page. If you have not yet ‘liked’ our Facebook page, please go onto Facebook today and join our “Gympie Special School” community page. We will be posting news, photos, celebrations, inviting you to events and keeping you regularly informed via our Facebook page. To let us know you have read a post- hit the thumbs up or leave a comment.

Pick Up: Thank you so much for your patience at Pick Up time. We are working hard to move the line of traffic as smoothly as we can whilst maintaining a safe environment for our students, families and staff. Please be mindful during pick up and drop off time that you are not blocking the neighbour’s driveways. We have had several recent incidents of this happening.

Parent/Carer access to school classrooms: If you are visiting the school during the day, or arriving late with your child, please enter and exit through admin. As the first lesson of every day starts at 8.30am, I would encourage all students to be at school prior to this starting time. We appreciate your support in having your student at school on time.

Medications: All medication must be delivered and signed in to the school office by an adult. No medication is to be sent in with students or left in student bags.

Parade: Parade is each Monday at 2.00pm in the performing arts room. Parents and carers are most welcome. We look forward to you joining with us!

I am really looking forward to a fantastic 2021 and working with our terrific staff, students and families.

Learning together,