I am so proud of our Year 7 students! Last night, they presented their projects on alternative energy sources to family and friends. I was proud of the way each one of them was able to think outside the square, stretch their minds and draw together lots of different thoughts and ideas and challenge us with possibilities. I think those are the skills the employees, managers, workers and thinkers of this next generation will need. Thank you to the students and to Mr Blackeby, their teacher, for showing me how it is done. You guys are an inspiration.

Over the next few months we are going to experience a lot of disruption in entering and leaving our school grounds. As you know, we have been building some new classrooms and facilities out by our current Year 3 and 4 classrooms. That work is running a month or so behind, but is going well and the rooms will be ready for the start of our 2020 school year. However, we will still need access to that site for tradesmen well into next term. This access will be a little tricky and you will see why as I explain the next development that will be taking place over Term 4 and the holidays ready for next year.

The second large works project we currently have underway is the Drive Though Drop Off/Pick Up road that will link the entry to the Church car park on Nelson Road, through to the Service road in front of our school on Wright Road. All of our parent surveys over the last few years have indicated that parents would like us to try to help resolve congestion around the back car park. We asked traffic and civil engineers to have a look at our situation and come up with ways of helping traffic flow. We have also been working with traffic officers from both the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (State government) and Salisbury Council. We have been paying off the house at 130 Nelson Road and you will notice that it was demolished last week. This has given us the opportunity to follow the recommendations of the traffic experts. You will see work commencing almost immediately on the 130 Nelson Road site and the small piece of Wright Road service road in front of our Nature Playground. We will do as much as possible in that area to avoid impact on school traffic and families, but there will be a lot of disruption as work continues up into the church car park. Below is a recent photo with an overlay of the drawings of the drive through drop off/pick up zone. You can see that these are significant works that will help improve traffic flow.

I would ask for your patience and understanding as we make our way through these challenging times. There will be times when these restrictions in access will be very frustrating, but please remember that it is all for good reason and we will look back after it is all done and be glad it is over, but also enjoy the benefits of the new developments.

I wish you all a safe time over the school holiday break in the next couple of weeks and hope you find some extra opportunities to spend time with your family.

Have a great few weeks with your kids,

Mark B

2 Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”