As this will be my final contribution to the school’s newsletter, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has been a part of the amazing Drysdale Primary School Community and supported the school over the last ten years. The Potato Fair on Friday was an excellent measure of how we operate as a community. It was a huge team effort all focused on improving the school for the children who are educated here.
Over the last ten years we have made Drysdale Primary a school in which everyone can succeed. We are very well known and celebrated for the strength of the inclusion program. We do look after children with additional needs exceptionally well. What really sets Drysdale Primary apart is that we also look after all the other children too. For example, we have a much higher than average number of children participating the Victorian High Achievers Program. We do our best to ensure that every student is the best that they can be.
I would also like to thank Neil Searle who was the School Council President in 2013. Neil shared a vision for what we could achieve and provided a lot of support and encouragement through the first half of our journey.
Finally, I must acknowledge my wife, Carole, who has supported me through the 29 years of being a principal both here in Australia and in English schools before that. She is very understanding of the demands of the role, a massive support and very wise. Being a school Principal is an unparalleled opportunity to make a difference for so many young people. I have loved the challenges and seeing how the children have grown and succeeded.