It's Festivale Time!
Dear Minimbah Parents,
Thank you to the many parents who were able to join us at our information evening recently. It is always great to bring the community together at the start of each year to share in our collective mission to develop creative, compassionate, skilful and resilient young people ready to take on the challenges of the future into which they are heading. Using the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme as the framework for delivering rich and deep learning programs, our students work across disciplines, developing their conceptual understandings. You will have been introduced to the programs at the information evening that will engage and challenge the children throughout 2023. Transdisciplinary learning and experiences are key to the success of learning at the primary campuses of Woodleigh, and staff take great pride in developing relevant and significant learning. If you have any questions about learning here at Minimbah, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or our Head of Learning, Jodie Kirchner.
Thank you also to the parents who could join us at the recent Body Safety Information session.
Body Safety Australia begin sessions with students this week. Teaching students about body autonomy and body safety is critical in supporting a safe and inclusive environment in which our youngest people can thrive. If you have any questions about the Body Safety Program, there is information online at www.bodysafetyaustralia.com.au. You can also reach out to the Deputy Head of Minimbah, Kate Bird, who coordinates the program here at Minimbah.
I look forward to welcoming you all to the PFG’ Festivale du Minimbah’, our reimagining of the Minimbah Fair and the first after a hiatus of four years. As with all successful community events, you must be there to ensure a fun evening for all concerned. Please watch out for regular updates from Class Reps and if you can volunteer some time to support one another on a class stall. Pre-purchasing tickets helps the PFG enormously in the lead-up to the Fair. All students will have their moment to shine in class performances. There will be an art auction (class collaborative art-works up for bid). Senior Campus musicians and bands will perform and a staff sing-a-long will round out the entertainment!
Staff News
After leading the teaching and learning programs across both Woodleigh Junior Campuses, Jodie Kirchner, our Head of Learning and PYP Coordinator, will leave us at Term 1. Jodie has steered us through the successful accreditation process, much of which was undertaken throughout our Covid lock-down period. Jodie’s ability to immerse staff in the Inquiry process as we navigated the learning pathway to becoming a Primary Years Program accredited school was incredible. She has carried her role with professionalism and assurance across both Junior Campuses for the past four years, and she will be greatly missed. Jodie has laid a strong foundation for Woodleigh School to continue the growth and development of their multi-campus PYP curriculum and Internationalism in Education. She leaves us to join a team of Melbourne University experts, in the role of Education Programs Coordinator at the Asia Education Foundation. Ahead of Jodie leaving us, we thank her for her work with us and wish her well in her new role in the tertiary sector. Woodleigh School now begins the process of appointing a new Junior Campus Head of Learning and PYP Coordinator. I will let you know the outcome of that process in due course.
Looking ahead:
- School photos are being taken on Tuesday this week (28 February). Please make sure you have organised your orders online through Schoolpix.
- District Swimming Trials – Wednesday 1 March (qualifying students)
- Festivale du Minimbah – Friday 3 March, 3.20pm – 8.00pm
- Team Swimming Sports – Mornington Secondary Swimming School, Friday 10 March, Years 3-6 students
See you all at the Festivale!
ROD DAVIES
Deputy Principal – Head of Minimbah Campus