Dear Parents and Carers,

It is my great pleasure and privilege to be writing our final newsletter at the conclusion of what has been an incredible and challenging year at Horsley Park Public School.

Our school is a wonderful example of the excellence made possible through a strong and effective partnership between school and community. I am always in awe of how we all come together and work harmoniously and collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for every child.

Upon reflection of the year’s many achievements, I am proud to be the Principal of a school which always strives. As our school motto states – “Endeavour” and we  endeavour in all the many varied curricular and extra-curricular activities undertaken.

This year at Horsley Park Public School we have seen the resilience of students, staff, parents and families working together as a great community, supporting each other to ensure the welfare of our school community.

At a time when there has been so much uncertainty in society due to the ever changing landscape of COVID-19, teachers and schools provided the stability, consistency and support that our students needed. This is something our school has done so well and will continue to do so as we move forward into 2021. Within just a few short weeks, teachers planning, methods for delivering content, structures and routines and interaction with students and families was turned on its head.

The professionalism with which our staff met these challenges was inspiring. They learnt new technology platforms, found innovative ways to engage their students and worked tirelessly to ensure that the wellbeing of our students was at the forefront of the learning programs we offered. The time and commitment required to make this happen was enormous.

I would like to thank all of our wonderful students at Horsley Park Public School for their continuous effort and hard work across all areas of learning. Our students across the school are to be congratulated for their efforts and the way they adapted to changes in what has been a very different school year. During unprecedented times, our students demonstrated resilience, adaptability and the true meaning of being safe, respectful and active learners. It is this behaviour that inspires us all and makes us so proud.

I would like to acknowledge our incredible, hardworking and dedicated staff and the vital role they play in the success of our great school and commend them for the way they embraced the ever changing circumstances faced throughout 2020. I greatly appreciate their collaborative, supportive, respectful and professional approach to their work each and every day.

A huge thank you to all our parents and caregivers in our school community for their overwhelming support and partnership with us as we worked to ensure the wellbeing, learning and safety of our students throughout 2020. It is the collective partnership we have that creates the success in providing to all of our students, the greatest gift of all……the gift of education.

I would like to acknowledge the wonderful support this year of our hard-working P&C. They have been a basis of support for staff and students in 2020 despite the impact of COVID-19. It is their involvement in the school and the shared sense of the educational enterprise that enabled us to provide our students with many varied school events.

Horsley Park PS is fortunate to have a community that is very giving of their time. We have a number of committed families that have supported our school through donations, volunteering their time and attending school events. I would like to acknowledge their support for the students, staff and community and extend our deepest gratitude for their time at Horsley Park PS. We would like to farewell the wonderful families leaving us at the end of 2020. You will always be a part of the Horsley Park family. I would like to thank the Coughlin, Nguyen, Giansante, Karabatic, Gauci, Bourke, Sala Suivai, Tran, Buttigieg, Vella, Chandra families'of Horsley Park Public School.