Week 4 and schools are showcasing a truly positive start to the school year. I have been hearing such good news stories about your summer holidays - great news stories. It is the first post-holiday start that has been full of energy and optimism in three years. The start of each year is always full and exhausting – this year though we have line of sight about teaching and learning. A number of our schools are still in refurbishment and rebuild mode and some schools remain in alternate settings. Infrastructure continue to work to ensure staff and students are returned to their sites as quickly as possible. Our communities too are doing the same. This recovery will continue – we remain staunch in supporting our colleagues as an Association.

MOST importantly, there’s a hum in schools that staff, students, and the community are feeling optimistic and hopeful. New ‘starts’ set the platform for what’s ahead. PRIORITISING and LOCKING in time for YOU is KEY. Set the expectation for your Executive and staff alike. They will follow your lead and together ‘achieving more’ is the goal.

Once we hit mid -term and towards the end there are things that ‘give’ - this is the time we all need to fill our buckets even more. Sleep and recovery as we all know, is vital. THIS is a marathon, and we owe it to ourselves to ensure we run or at least jog / walk across the line come Week 11. Remember your staff will benefit from the model you set up.

In the past three weeks I have been grateful to have spent time in colleagues’ schools at School Development Days as well as visit schools and to take the opportunity to work from schools. THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU ? Thank you too colleagues for those who have emailed and called sharing good news stories, checking in and alerting both the Executive and I to things we need to be aware of and action to take to address things. This type of communication is truly valued and appreciated.