Before we begin today, I would like to acknowledge the recent tragedy in Bondi. Our thoughts are with the families, friends and communities affected. Moments like these remind us how deeply connected we all are, and how important it is that our schools remain places of safety, care and belonging for every child and family.

In that same spirit, I would like to share that our school has been successful in obtaining a grant to embark on an Anti-Racism Action Project in 2026. As our school continues to grow and welcome new families, this work will support us to strengthen understanding, celebrate diversity and ensure Appin Public School remains a safe, inclusive and respectful place for everyone.

I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge what a truly wonderful, supportive and inclusive community Appin Public School is. As we grow and diversify, we embrace change and value the richness that diversity brings to our school community.

This year has been such an adventure for me, and I genuinely mean that. It is the first of what I hope will be many years here at Appin Public School. From my very first day, I have been made to feel welcomed, supported and included by our students, staff and families. It has been an incredible year filled with achievements, opportunities and moments I am incredibly proud of.

One of our key focuses this year has been strengthening student voice and leadership. We established our Student Representative Council and expanded our student leadership profile through minister portfolios. This work has been so successful that it has led to the introduction of an additional portfolio for our 2026 student leadership cabinet.

We relaunched our school newsletter to better showcase student voice and celebrate achievements in a more interactive way, while also sharing our leadership vision and the important work of our executive team in line with our School Excellence Plan. We also launched our Instagram page and have worked collaboratively to raise the profile of Appin Public School. This work will continue into 2026, including plans to modernise our signage and enhance the overall look and feel of our school.

Our students have excelled across so many areas this year. In sport, academics, debating, chess, public speaking, visual arts, dance, drama, science and STEM, they have embraced opportunities and challenged themselves. We opened our Ninja course and became part of the summer PSSA competition. Our students achieved success at zone, regional and state levels, and even placed within the top five on the world stage in Sphero robotics, an outstanding achievement.

Alongside this, we have shared so many special moments together through incursions, excursions, camp, Hoopla Day, discos, Carols, special assemblies and the Appin Wheels Festival. These experiences are what build connection and create lasting memories for our students.

We have also continued to strengthen transitions across all stages of schooling. We have worked closely with Ambarvale High School to support our Year 6 students as they prepare for high school, and we have built strong partnerships with our local preschools to ensure our youngest learners experience a smooth and positive start to school. Our Kindergarten students have now completed their very first year of school, a wonderful milestone for them and their families.

At the same time, we say goodbye to our Year 6 students as they embark on their next adventure. We are so proud of the young people they have become and wish them every success as they move into the next chapter of their learning.

I would like to sincerely acknowledge our P&C. While small, they are certainly mighty. The work they do to ensure opportunities are funded and costs are kept to a minimum for families is extraordinary. We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated group who work so closely with the school and always have the best interests of our students at heart.

Our Aboriginal program has continued to go from strength to strength. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have proudly shared their cultural learning and growth and celebrated their heritage through their portfolios. This remains a priority for our school, and we look forward to continuing this important work in 2026.

None of this would be possible without our teachers. I can honestly say I have never worked with such a wonderful, committed, caring and fun group of educators. I would also like to acknowledge our executive team, who support me and work tirelessly to drive the school forward. Every member of our staff shares a clear vision and a genuine commitment to improving our school each and every day.

I also want to recognise our support staff and administrative team, who are an absolutely crucial part of everything we do here.

At this point, I would like to ask all of our staff to please stand, and I ask everyone to join me in giving them a well-deserved round of applause. I truly love coming to work, I love working with our students, and I value what every staff member brings to make Appin Public School the success that it is.

To our families and students, thank you for such a wonderful year. Enjoy this precious time together, take care of one another, and I look forward to doing it all again in 2026.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and thank you .  

Mrs Collins