As you are all no doubt aware, at the end of this year, I am standing down as Head of Department, so this will be my last letter to you.  I would like to thank Mrs Brenda Howden for her support and encouragement during the year and I am looking forward to being a Grade 2 teacher next year.  I would also like to wish Mrs Debbie Macleod, the new HOD, happiness and success in her new position.  I have enjoyed being the HOD and although it has been frustrating at times, it has been a great challenge and period of personal and professional growth for me.

The Foundation Phase play took place during the week of 14 November and it was a resounding success.  The Grade 3 girls in particular, are to be congratulated on their hard work and sustained enthusiasm during practices and performances.  They were the stars of the play and brought the ‘Trip down Memory Lane’ to life!  The Grade 0, 1 and 2 girls added substantially to the show with their delightful songs and appropriate costumes.  Thank you to the staff and mums for all their efforts with the costumes and make up.  Thanks also to Mrs Romy Levin and Mrs Kathy Salgado.

At the end of this year, we sadly say farewell to Mrs Judy Krige who joined us as a Grade 0 teacher at the beginning of the year.  She and her husband are going to be travelling and working overseas and we all wish them both exciting adventures and experiences.  We look forward to some entertaining post cards with snippets of information from her.  We welcome Mrs Morag Williamson as our new Grade 0 teacher in 2012 and hope she will enjoy her time here at APPS.  The remaining Foundation Phase staff will stay the same and we will all be in the same classrooms as this year.

I wish you all a wonderful December holiday and those of you celebrating Christmas, a blessed festive season.  To those of you travelling locally or overseas or staying at home, be safe and return to us refreshed in 2012!

Mrs Sue Sale