Omicron Has Us Pivoting Again

When returning to School this year, I prepared my presentations for staff and students. I was hoping to gather together to meet for professional learning and our first assemblies and school meetings. I was hoping for the start I had envisaged back in 2020.

Unfortunately, it seems that the pandemic isn't quite finished with us yet. Again, we pivoted, changed our plans, and headed online for meetings and assemblies. Again, it was not quite the start I was hoping for. Throw in the logistical challenge of Rapid Antigen Test distribution and the challenge of developing new systems and processes for managing positive cases, and it's been a bit of a whirlwind, but we're tracking well! I want to thank our leadership team for their outstanding management of these processes, and hopefully, we'll continue to minimise the impact of Omicron on our community.

Despite the challenges, it's been a fantastic start to the year. Staff and students across our three campuses have settled back into school mode and are enjoying their time back on campus. Our Senior Campus is buzzing with the life and energy of more than 600 students, whilst both Minimbah and Penbank are enjoying a great start to the year. It's one of my great joys at work to welcome students to school in the morning, and I've been thrilled by the positive feedback from our new students and their families.

While the first four weeks of this term will be a time for caution and continued adherence to COVID rules, I am really looking forward to Woodleigh returning to a program that resembles, as closely as possible, a 'normal' year. In particular, I cannot wait to attend camps later this term. These memory-making experiences set Woodleigh apart from other schools; they define our style of education, one where relationships and experiences are pivotal to the development of every student at our school. Within these experiences, students develop as creative, compassionate, skilful and resilient young people – ready to thrive. As I mentioned to our Senior Campus students at the end of last year, these are Woodleigh's superpowers, and it will be great to have them back in 2022.

A Welcome to New Staff

At the start of the year, we welcomed many new staff to teach and support our programs across all three campuses of our school. I'm delighted to have brought together such a talented team of teaching and non-teaching staff. Please join me in welcoming our new staff.

Name	Role	Campus
Bridie Connell	English Teacher	Senior
Hannah Watts	English Teacher	Senior
Marcus Butler	Product Design Teacher	Senior
Leila Koren	Visual Arts Teacher	Senior
Emma Craven	Science Teacher	Senior
Jane Baker	Textiles Teacher	Senior
Harrison Robertson	Marketing Trainee	Senior
Aidan Bolch	Sports Trainee	Senior
Will McKenzie	Casual Sailing Coach	Senior
Anika McLean	Visual Arts Trainee	Senior
Samme Mills	Education Support Assistant	Senior
Angela Loo	Provisional Psychologist	Senior/Penbank
Emily Osborne	Provisional Psychologist	Senior/Minimbah
Thomas Hennessy	Land & Animal Management Assistant	Senior
Sue Hastings	Director of Inclusion	Minimbah
Zara Love-Davey	Primary Classroom Teacher	Minimbah
Jonathan Crouch	Primary Classroom Teacher	Minimbah
Karen Fenton	ECC Trainee	Minimbah
Jasmine Richards	Education Support Assistant	Minimbah
Samantha Nutt	Primary Classroom Teacher	Penbank
Mieja Wood	Primary Classroom Teacher	Penbank
Sarina Canning	Primary Classroom Teacher	Penbank
Ryan Johnson	Programmed
Harry Shenton	Programmed
Meghan Clapton	Programmed
Returning staff
Sophie Powell	Educational Support & Teaching	Penbank
Mel Roper	Educational Support & Teaching	Penbank
Sarah Fleming	Drama and Dance Teacher	Penbank

Please have a wonderful 2022. Let's make it the best in Woodleigh's history. I look forward to catching up with you as soon as we can have events running again, at drop off, in the driveway, or at pick up.

Stay safe,

DAVID BAKER
Principal