As we end Week 4, I acknowledge the wonderful teaching, learning and leading happening in your school.  The challenges remain constant – the covid cycle, chronic staffing shortages, disruption of classes and programs and the churn of work that must be done. Yet, there IS much happening in schools that we need to catch and celebrate. How remarkable are your teams! ? ! ? Your leadership teams, teaching teams, support and administrative staff are doing an amazing job and YOU are leading from the front. Take time to acknowledge what you are collectively achieving each and every day. Celebrate your achievements with your communities too. Often, they just do not realise how much goes into the granular detail of the magic you weave in your schools.

Many PPC’s have started meeting face to face and the attendance at these meeting has been incredible. Such a cathartic voice of ‘how good is it to be back together – in person! For some of our newly appointed Principals it is the first time they are meeting colleagues in over two years. Face to face Professional Learning has recommenced too. The Executive and I have attended a number of PPC meeting and have many locked in for the remainder of the term. We are of course cognisant that as we head into the winter months, we may again need to adjust our sails. The forums – including State Council if deemed necessary due to COVID and influenza will go online or take a hybrid model where possible. We do however hope to be hosting State Council in Sydney in Week 7.

We remain aligned with community advice given by NSW Health and respond to school and community specific needs. The health and safety of all is a priority.

Over the past four weeks, I have had the absolute privilege to speak to and work with some of the most remarkable principals in our schools. Some celebrating good news stories and upcoming events, some giving their all on Reference Groups, Standing Committees and Working Parties offering their time and expertise to the Association, some speaking to me about their upcoming retirement, celebrating a career move and a new opportunity, some sharing the challenges they are facing in their schools and their communities. What I know for certain and time and time again I see it, hear it and feel it is that every Principal across NSW knows their purpose. They know their ‘why’ and they deliberately gather the right people and the right resources to get the job done. The Principalship of NSW is in the very best of hands - dedicated, articulate, measured and focused leaders.

Continue to focus on YOUR wellbeing colleagues – in modelling that daily you set your teams up to do the same. We have come this far together in the most disruptive time of our professional lives – we have a way to go. There are mountains to climb, rivers to cross and chasms to traverse…. And what we KNOW for certain is that TOGETHER we WILL.

Smile – here comes week 5!