Forrest Newsletter 2025 Term1 Week 10
- Message from the Principal
- Farewell from the Deputy Principal
- Harmony Day 2025 – Everyone Belongs
- Cross Country
- South/Weston Swimming Championships
- Kid’s Lit Competition
- Dates for your Diary
- Key Dates for 2026 Enrolments
- Deakin Preschool 2026 Information Session
- Forrest Primary Kindergarten 2026 Information Session
- Forrest P&C Thank You
Message from the Principal
As we move into the next two weeks with some public holidays included, on behalf of the Forrest team we wish you a wonderful break and some quality time with your children! Thank you for your support and help throughout the team, especially on the last two major events of the Cross Country and Harmony Day. On the Tuesday morning of the first day back (29 April) we are having a whole school ANZAC Day assembly in the hall. It starts at 9:15 and you are welcome to attend with us.
Kindy Pick-up Arrangements
In Term 2 the arrangement for kindergarten pick up will change. As students have adjusted to the primary school environment in Term 1, they will be no longer be walked out to the asphalt by teachers. Students will be released from their classroom at 3pm and make their own way to their pick-up location. Students can be collected from Junior Pick-up (the kindergarten end of the front carpark), the back carpark or the asphalt. Students attending the FOOSHC will continue to be collected from their class.
Please note that pick-up locations are supervised from 3:00 to 3:15pm. Students still waiting in these areas at 3:15pm are brought to the front office by staff for late collection. Our front office is closed by 3:30pm.
Please ensure your child is aware of their pick-up location and if you have concerns, please speak to your child's teacher.
Uniform
We have noticed over the last few weeks an increasing number of children wearing ‘short shorts’, particularly girls, and a range of colours for jumpers. Our school colours are red and yellow with grey being an alternative for the bottoms and dresses. We would love your support in attending to this over the break so your children can come back to school and feel part of the ‘Forrest Family’ please.
Bus timetable changes
We advocated this term for the route 2022 and 2025 buses to come to Forrest first and then on to Telopea in future as currently our children were waiting until after 3:30 to be collected from school. Action Buses have made this change to the timetable which will be published on their website during the school break. My understanding is it doesn’t affect any other times on the route, just ours and Telopea's.
Staffing update
As you should be aware hopefully, today we say farewell to Laurel who has secured the principal’s role at Charles Weston School. Laurel will be an amazing principal there; she led Forrest with elegance, foresight, inspiration and a deep love for the children and building community. We will all miss her dearly. Her replacement is Georgina Sofatzis, who has experience in the IB and is an experienced deputy principal in our system. Georgina will join us mid-way through next term.
We also say farewell to Polly Wilson who retires today! Polly has given a lifetime of service to children and supported them in their foundational steps. She leaves a superb legacy as our preschool assistant. Polly will be replaced by Anu Yapa who has worked for us in different roles across the school this year.
Caitlin Thomas is taking leave this term to explore new opportunities but will return to us in term three. Caitlin will be replaced by Karen Tozer, an experienced teacher in a range of systems and a former literacy and numeracy coach across the Education Directorate.
Tara Durnin will be the acting executive for the Years 1 and 2, and Small Group Program teams until Georgina joins us. Tara is incredibly excited by this opportunity, and we are excited about the ideas and support Tara will bring to the team. Tara’s class will be taught by Lisa Smith, an experienced teacher from NSW who has extensive experience of the MultiLit literacy resources we are rolling out across the school.
Marathon
A huge thanks to the kind and generous families who are sponsoring me in the marathon this Sunday to raise money for Run DIPG, a charity that supports families and research into diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, the deadliest of all childhood cancers. If you see me running, please shout out loudly as I’m usually so focused on staying upright I might not hear you!
Farewell from the Deputy Principal
Dear Forrest Community,
As I say farewell, I find myself reflecting on what a privilege it has been to serve as Deputy Principal at Forrest Primary School for the past two years. It has truly been an honour to be part of this vibrant, compassionate, and committed community.
I am incredibly grateful for the relationships I’ve built—with students, families, staff, and the broader school community. Every conversation, every shared success, every challenge we’ve worked through together has shaped me both professionally and personally.
It has been such a joy to watch our students grow in confidence and character, and to work alongside such passionate educators who put children at the heart of everything they do. I am especially proud of the work we’ve done together.
While it’s never easy to say goodbye, I’m excited to be taking on the role of Principal at Charles Weston School. Though I’m stepping into a new chapter, I will carry the spirit and values of Forrest Primary School with me.
Thank you for your trust, your kindness, and the many memories I will treasure. I look forward to seeing Forrest Primary School continue to thrive and shine in the years to come.
Kind Regards
Laurel Rodrigues
Harmony Day 2025 – Everyone Belongs
On Monday 7 April, our school celebrated Harmony Day. We began the day with a Harmony Day Parade, where students were invited to wear national dress, an outfit representing their heritage, or the colour orange to symbolise harmony. The parade was a celebration of the many cultures that make our school such a special place. A highlight of the morning was the dragon dance performed by Mr Yu and talented Year 5 students!
After the parade, we enjoyed Harmony Day food sharing, where students had the chance to sample food from cultures around the world. Harmony Day gave us the opportunity to reflect on, discuss, and recognise how our differences make Australia such a great place to live. The day was about inclusiveness, respect, and fostering a sense of belonging for everyone.
Thank you to the teachers, students, and families who all came together to make this such a memorable and special day.
Cross Country
On Wednesday April 2 we had our whole school cross country. Students in Kindergarten and Year 1 participated in their races at school and years 2-6 students went to Stromlo Forest Park. Well done to all students who participated and congratulations to Phillip for receiving the most house points. A big thank you to all parents and carers who helped out and attended on the day. Information about the South/Weston Cross Country carnival will be sent out next term.
Congratulations to the following students who placed first in their event.
7 years – Layla E, Luka C
8 years – Ruby T, Isaac A
9 years – Annabel N, Ben L
10 years – Madison N, Max T
11 years – Hannah C, Tate K
12/13 years – Abigail H, Jordan S
South/Weston Swimming Championships
On Friday April 4, 28 students represented Forrest Primary School at the South/Weston Swimming Championships held at the Australian Institute of Sport Aquatic Centre. It was a wonderful day of competitive swimming. Forrest placed 4th out of 24 schools in the overall point score!
Congratulations to all Forrest students who gave it their all on the day. We hope you enjoyed it. A special mention to Archie in 4L and Hannah in 6DU who placed first in the following events.
Archie – 1st place 10 years 50m freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly
Hannah – 1st place 11 years 50m freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly
Good luck to all students who qualified for the ACT Swimming Championships which is on Tuesday May 6 at the AIS.
Kid’s Lit Competition
Congratulations to our Kid’s Lit team who competed this week on Tuesday at Merici College, after hours of preparation during their break times with Ms Kowalski in the library.
Team 4- 7th
Team 1- 27th
Term 3- 30th
Team 2- 31st
Dates for your Diary
Key Dates for 2026 Enrolments
29 April 2025 – Online applications for 2026 enrolments opens with the bulk round of enrolments.
6 June 2025 – Bulk round closes. Apply by this date to receive an offer from 28 July 2025
7 June 2025 onwards – applications from this date can expect an offer later in the year
To complete online enrolment form for 2026 enrolment (all years) on or after 29 April 2025:
A.C.T. Government Enrolment Helpline: 6205 5429
A.C.T. Government Education Website: https://www.education.act.gov.au/
Deakin Preschool 2026 Information Session
Forrest Primary Kindergarten 2026 Information Session
Forrest P&C Thank You
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