This past fortnight has produced a range of exciting experiences.

Firstly, our Stage 2 students (years 3 & 4) and I joined three other small schools from the Hunter at the Great Aussie Bush Camp at Tea Gardens. It was the soggiest, slushiest, and chilliest camp I've ever been on, but that certainly didn't stop us from having a lot of fun. You'll see just how muddy and fun it was later in this newsletter (or check out our Facebook posts from the event.) The thing that impressed me most about the camp was the resilience, persistence and kindness that our children displayed. The activities were designed to extend people slightly out of their comfort zones, yet through the support the children gave each other, including helping those from other schools, each student successfully completed each challenge and activity. The staff from the other schools complimented me on how kind and supportive the Bobs Farm children were to their students, which of course, made me feel extremely proud. It was lovely to see other people appreciating what we've always known about our BF kids - they're great humans!

A special thank you also to the parents who drove children to and from the camp. It was a significant commitment, and we are very grateful for your generosity and time.  Thank you also for the many thankful messages I received. They were greatly appreciated. Of course, THANK YOU also for my yummy little 'camp care package'! What a gracious and thoughtful gesture. 

Last Friday was special for two different reasons. Our two superstar athletes, Lainey and Ella, participated in the Port Stephens Zone Athletics Carnival at Maitland Regional Athletics Centre. This came on the back of their outstanding results at the Small Schools Carnival earlier in the term. Congratulations, girls! We hope you really enjoyed the experience and feel proud of yourselves. Thank you for being such great ambassadors for Bobs Farm School and for inspiring us all to keep chasing our goals. 

The second special event on Friday was a visit from Port Stephens Director of Educational Leadership, Patricia Bowen, and Regional North Executive Director, Tim McCallum. 

Mrs Bowen oversees the 19 Port Stephens public primary and secondary schools, while Mr McCallum oversees more than 300 schools, including Port Stephens. 

Although we've enjoyed welcoming Mrs Bowen previously, it was a real privilege to be able to lead both Mrs Bowen and Mr McCallum through our beautiful school and take them to interact with students and staff in our classrooms. They took time to talk to students about their learning and to see some of the amazing things we do here at Bobs Farm, including intentional play, film creation and participating in a yarning circle. They also had productive and informative discussions with staff on aspects of the curriculum and professional development opportunities. 

Both visitors were noticeably interested in our waterlogged situation and its impact on everyday learning. It will certainly be a topic of further discussions. They admired the children's ingenuity and creativity in making the best of their environment, though, and their positive outlook on school and learning. Mrs Bowen remarked on how settled and engaged the children were and the progress she can clearly see them making.  

I want to express how proud and grateful I am for the staff who have worked so tirelessly to create these positive learning opportunities for our students and the collective efforts everyone puts into making our school look and feel so inviting and welcoming. I also want to congratulate our students on the way you engage in your learning and for helping build a true sense of belonging for everyone. 

It's certainly been another proud time for me as principal. 

Mrs B