Farewell and Thank You

Being Principal here at Glen Huon Primary School is one of the greatest things I have ever had the honour and joy of doing.

Our school is filled the most incredible people and anyone who knows me, knows how passionate I am about small schools. They are truly special places where each and every person who walks through the doors is truly known. We know each other, we care about each other, we help each other.

My decision to return to being a class teacher next year was of course a very hard decision to make as it means having to leave Glen Huon Primary School but allows me to return to my passion of working directly with children.

Thank you all for your support and for the many special messages and gifts I have received over the past few days since my announcement.

Happy Retirement to Ms Goodwin

After her sneaky Retirement-Reveal in Staff in the Spotlight a few weeks ago, I would like to farewell Ms Lynette Goodwin, who after in incredible 30 years of service with the department has made the decision to retire.

Lyn, your contribution to our school as the welcoming front-of-house face has just been invaluable. Lyn has kept the office running by churning out newsletters week after week, making sure everyone has their validation details up to date and that excursion permissions have been returned. She orders our school supplies, answers the phones, greets visitors and much, much more. Importantly she also has fantastic sense of humour and loves nothing more than having a bit of a lark, which combined with her creativity, results in all kinds of fun, as can be attested by the jingling elf shoes she has been wearing all week.

Without out two ‘Lyns’ in the office, things are going to be quite different next year.

Lyn, you will be greatly missed and we all wish you a very long and happy retirement. 

Goodbye and Hello

We have a number of other staff to also farewell and welcome.

We farewell Mrs Simone Watson who has been our Music teacher for the second half of the year as well as filling in for Mr West on PE while he was away on paternity leave. I am sure that any of you who were at our sharing assembly last week will testify to the fantastic performance by the Marimba Group. Simone, we thank you so much for your contribution to our school this year and wish you all the best.

We farewell Miss Kristen Anstice who has been at our school this year in a Literacy Support role. This year has been a big year of change for us as we have worked to implement the new Phonics Scope and Sequence in Years Kinder -2 and also looked at how this might be supported in the upper primary grades. Kristen, you have worked with so many of our students across the school, and contributed to a growing shift in what and how we teach. Thank you and we wish you all the best for next year.

We also farewell Claire Evans who has been working as a TA at our school, supporting may of our students and building connections.

Thank you to these amazing 3 staff members. Our school and our students have been so very lucky to have your care and skill.

Next year we welcome Ms Tiffany Hutton who will be in our school 3 days a week in Prep on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and in Literacy Support.

Congratulations go to Mrs Kylie Van Klink who has won the Quality Teaching Coach position for 2024. Mrs VK will also be taking specialist Art Lessons for all of next year.

We will also be welcoming Isaac Gee back to our school in Term 3 and 4 as he continues the wonderful work started with Song Room last year, focussing on developing songs with our students that focus on friendship, resilience and wellbeing.

Having our final assembly back in our own hall this year was so special, as it really created a lovely atmosphere, both during and after the assembly.

Congratulations to all our End of Year Assembly Award recipients

Commitment to Learning Awards:

• 5/6: Sam Hook and Maya Gutteridge
• 4/5: Indika Urquhart and Norah Davis
• 2/3/4: Tahlia Corbett and Emily Perkins
• 1/2: Indiana Stevenson and Reuben Kowaluk
• Prep: Ollie Prince and Montanna Page
• Kinder: Harper Freedman and William Holstein

Year 6 Award Recipients:

• Sports Award: Angus Montgomery
• Music Award: Katie Truran
• Drama Award: Iris Duncanson
• Visual Art Award: Hazel Spink
• Japanese Award: Poppy Hutchins
• Growth and Courage Award: Natasha Mackay
• Student Excellence and Academic Award: Lani Watson
• School Spirit and Citizenship Award: Clancy Stagg
• Huonville High School Values and Belonging Award: Tobias Fennell
• Minister for Education Children and Young People Respectful Student Award: Marni Wilcox

Thank you also to our many Award Sponsors:

Lions Club of Huon Inc

Rotary Club of Huon Valley

Bendigo Bank

Huon Valley Council

Zsolt Faludi

Homelands Huonville

David O’Byrne (MP Franklin)

Dean Winter (MP Franklin)

Dean Harris (MP Legislative Councils Franklin)

Minister Roger Jaensch

Senator Catryna Bilyk

Minister Nic Street

This morning the whole school met to farewell our beloved Mrs Lees. She was presented with a book of farewell messages and drawings from all of the children and a gifts from the School Association and the staff. Tania said a few words about Mrs Lees which are included below:

Mrs Lees, how do I put into words the adventures of the past three years?! It has been quite a time…

Putting buckets of water in the toilets to make them flush, leading the school through facemasks, sanitiser and RATs, coming to school in a onesie,  selling snags at Bunnings, juggling budgets, wearing a different brooch nearly every day, trying to build a house after school, making tooth fairy envelopes, using the word ‘whilst’ in nearly every memo to staff,  making sure we have snacks at crucial moments, singing in assembly and lobbying for a fair go for our kids - you have done it all! Not sure how many of those things are in the job description for Principals, but I guess that is what keeps it interesting!

It is hard to feel sad that you are leaving, because we are all so genuinely happy and excited for you! You have made such a brave decision to step away from leadership and back into the classroom to follow your heart. We hope it is everything that you want it to be and more.

We all wish you the very best and we know it is goodbye from Glen Huon, but not from the valley. We will all look forward to seeing you at moderation to see how things are going at sunny Cygnet!

Thank you for your guidance, support, listening, care and respect. Good luck!

The assembly was finished with three cheers for Mrs Lees and a whole school dance party to Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.

We will all miss you very much Mrs Lees!

I began my journey at Franklin Primary School in March 1993, where I was tasked with creating the weekly newsletter. Over 30 years later, I am now doing my final newsletter. During my time at Franklin and Glen Huon Primary Schools, as well as Cygnet Primary School, I have had the pleasure of working with numerous principals and teachers who are dedicated to nurturing and educating children. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the wonderful work of our TAs, who are equivalent to Santa’s Elves, and the invaluable support they provide to the school community.

As we all know, schools would not run as well as they do without the support of parents who volunteer their time and energy. You are an amazing bunch of people.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and enjoy your holidays.

Lynette Goodwin

Each year our Breakfast club uses large amounts of Jam.

A few parents have proposed a summer fruits jam-making session during the holidays.

If you are interested in helping, are able to freeze and store some fruit or have some empty jam jars to contribute, please contact Hayley Bird on 0439633996 or Geo Robert on 0407948297.

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