As we start Week 9 we are well and truly into planning for 2023 and finalising classes, staffing, presentation days, year 6 farewells, planning for SDD’s, not to mention, attending to and planning for your own family and friend celebrations. Certainly, t’is the season.

Sharon Hawker |Principal Canowindra PS shared photos of her town. The devastating flood waters in the main street and the rainbow of hope. Never underestimate the strength of our Principalship – I stand in awe and admiration. Please, I ask you reach out to me if there is ANYTHING I can do to support you – be it one of our flood impacted school communities or one of our schools being impacted by the relentless wave of COVID.

This year has NOT been all we imagined – we have continued to live with the pandemic and natures mood with recurrent flooding – all which have taken their toll – our next concern in the water laying in low lying areas – a mosquito haven. Mosquito’s carrying Japanese Encephalitis have been identified in communities and DoE Health and Safety have responded accordingly to support schools and communities.

YET, we HAVE indeed experienced a MILLION bright spots that are worthy to note. You yourself, your students, your staff, your colleagues, and your community. Think about it – reflect on your many, many, achievements. We sit in such privileged positions as leaders in or schools. WE have faced some of the most challenging situations with relentless and determination. Every decision, every effort, and every action, we have held the wellbeing and the learning of the student at the heart. The pace at which you have led and sheer amount of work that has come across your desk is noteworthy. Society, and the world HAS changed. We have continued to adjust our sails and demonstrate more agility than ever before. Every one of us has faced complexity like never before and here we are – week 9 term 4 2022.

Personally, I ask you THANK your Administrative, Executive, Teaching and Support staff who step up to lead with you on a daily basis – thank THEM on behalf of the State Executive for making it possible for you to attend PPC Meetings, Conferences and State Council meetings each term. The work you do and your contribution at a local and state level is invaluable. The work we ALL do matters.

It's time colleagues, in just a few days YOU become the priority – your family and friends deserve the best version of you. You need to take the time to REST | RECOVER | REFLECT | REBALANCE | RECALIBRATE | REJUVENATE. Plan how you are going to ensure this happens. You need to be the architect of your holidays. Step out of the ‘routine of school’ and into a space where you are nourished.

Have a fabulous week 9 … you have continued to lead this year with such clarity, strength and courage - let’s finish strong – remember to look after yourself as we come t the end of the 2022 school year – don’t ‘drag yourself across the finish line’ into the festive season. You owe it to your family and friends to show up with a battery that still has charge.

We can face 2023 with hope and optimism – whatever it brings, we will be ready – together we will as we have.

THANK YOU for your brilliant leadership of your schools and communities – you are the difference.

Kindest regards
Robyn