Towards the end of each year we usually hold a Thankyou Assembly – an opportunity to thank the many parents and friends who have contributed to our school across the year. For this year, of course, that was another casualty of our COVID restrictions. Our staff and  leadership team would like to thank every family whose support and understanding we have relied upon over the course of this year. Your strength and resolve have supported your children and their teachers to continue to flourish in the face of difficult circumstances.

Even though many school events and excursions have been curtailed, this has been another busy and productive time at UPS. The support of our parents and friends has made possible many initiatives and activities – both classroom and whole school based. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed in any way to making possible all we have achieved this year.

To every sports team coach, manager, jumper washer and supporter, thank you! To parents who have supported excursions and sleep‐overs, thank you! To every parent who has helped in classrooms, with reading, art and craft, cooking or just sharing your knowledge, thank you! To every parent (and grand-parent) who has supported our assemblies and other school events, thank you.

We would also especially like to acknowledge parents who have given up their time to serve on our Governing Council and its sub-committees.

It is thanks to these committees that we have been able to improve facilities, including: the two new gardens along Cremorne St; the new playground on Campus 1; the renovated toilet block on Campus 1; the new garden beds behind the Peppertree building.

We have also run parent information sessions including: Developing great readers; Transition from primary to secondary; Healthy relationships, sexual development and emotional wellbeing.

We have raised over $12,000 which will go towards an upgrade to the green playground in 2021, through events including: Pancake Day; Sausage Sizzle; Fit Mum’s Club; Mother’s Day and Father’s Day fundraisers; Ice Cream Day; School Disco; Wine Sales; Footy Pie Day.

Governing Council: Amanda Cech (chair), Luke Thomas (deputy chair), Richard Strever, Sophie Morrell, Suzanne Dickie, Lisa Pritchard, Manuel Kopsaftis, Scott Illingworth and Andrew Burton.

Education and Wellbeing Committee: Jaclyn Thorne, Maria Kassapis, Andrew Burton, Liz Jarvis, Tanya Hudson, Luke Thomas, Simone Meyer, Marie Beanland and Emma Stone

Finance: Lisa Pritchard, Beth Haslam and Amanda Cech.

Facilities: Will Snow, Pier Stamatogiannis, Ewan Thompson, Mark Rodda, Luke Foster, Adam Hudson, Con Kassapis.

Community and Fundraising: Sam Kopsaftis, Bianca Harms, Stacey Tsonis, Penny Michael, Michelle Wasiewicz, Elly Stewart, Fiona Firth, Kaylah Kopsaftis.

Out of School Hours Care: Scott Illingworth and Kelly Tredwell.

Sports Committee Lucy Appleton, Luke Hudson, Ewan Thompson and Darren Beanland.

and team coaches/ managers:

Basketball: Luke Thomas, Stephen Clark, Emma Overmaat, Ellie Wilkin, Kate Bowman, Liz Jarvis, Jess McLachlan, Charlotte Cousins, Ewan Thompson, Sam Bridgwood, Miriam Doull

Soccer: Emma Stone, Stephen Poskett, Daniel Puopolo, Patricia Flaquer, Darren Beanland, Stephen Clark Ben Whelan, Zoli Borbasi, Kirsty Turco, Carlo Turco, Jeremy Appleton, Alex James

Netball: Lara Strever, Rowan Edwards, Fiona Firth, Karl Forsyth, Meredith Forsyth, Lisa Sangster & Evie Sangster, Annie Trengove, Moni Almond, Prue Lukey, Barb Sampson

Cricket: Andrew Collett, Michael Sampson, Darren Beanland, James Burchnall, Amanda Cech, Marco Lippis, Ben Whelan, Raman Dhillon, Rob Esvelt-Allen, Alex James, Michelle Dicker, Michelle Vuaran

Auskick Football: Jayce Richardson and Luke van Kempen

Many thanks, once again to every one of our parent community. Your contribution is greatly valued and appreciated by us all. We look forward to a less encumbered 2021 and to a full suite of opportunities to which families can contribute and enjoy. Our teachers and SSOs have worked hard and we know they do appreciate the kind words and thoughts that accompany this time of the year.

We wish you a safe and happy festive season and a relaxing holiday period with your family.

We look forward to seeing you again when school re-commences on Wednesday 27 January 2021.

Please note that admin staff and leadership team will be back on Monday, January 18. Teaching staff back, officially, from Wednesday, January 20.