09 Mar 2017
Fees and Contributions 2017 (pdf 307 KB)
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
On a Friday morning I often meet with a group of colleagues for a working breakfast, where we workshop current educational challenges and the ideas out forward by the brains trust, certainly assists me to do my job better. This week, I kept a very low profile as others described anticipating a day in extreme heat as they did not have air conditioning in their school.
As part of a government initiative back in 2009 a number of schools were able to install air conditioning into their schools. Schools could only contemplate it if it did not require an electrical upgrade. Abbotsford was lucky enough to be able to start installing air conditioning throughout and the school committed some funds to ensure it was completed. Now every classroom and office area is air-conditioned (when they are working). We have started the year in the midst of the warmest January since 1859. While we all remember the summers of our childhood as being warm, this year it has been inexplicable and out of ten days of school , students have between the rain and the heat only had two good days of running and playing. We have been able to have students sit inside and be rested and hydrated.
While we were able to benefit from a one off initiative, schools across the state are required to install, maintain and replace air conditioning at their own cost. In this school that is a considerable sum and most unfortunately, we are entering a replacement cycle. Three classrooms are awaiting replacement machines, today's intolerable conditioners preventing that from happening. At the same time as our air conditioners are giving up, the interactive white boards in many rooms are going out in sympathy. Once thought to be a luxury both now seem to be integral to students accessing the curriculum. Included in today's newsflash is a note regarding school fees. While they are voluntary, this year they will be earmarked for things which ensure students are able to access quality teaching and learning, in a quality learning environment.
Chris Johnson
Principal