Hello to the wonderful Dayboro State School Community,

Welcome back to Term 4, one of the busiest and most exciting terms of the school year. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces yesterday and be welcomed back today by so many polite, friendly and respectful students. We hope that the holidays were happy and safe for all of our Dayboro families, and we are looking forward to a busy term of learning, engagement and fun in between the many special events and milestones of Term 4. For those who may have missed my letter yesterday, please find my introduction below.

It is with great pleasure that I introduced myself to the Dayboro State School students, staff and parent community yesterday as the incoming acting Principal for Term 4. I feel truly privileged to be joining such a vibrant, welcoming, and well-regarded school community, and more than a little grateful to experience a drive each morning that I once only took on weekends, moving away from the traffic, and into the calm of nature.

I bring with me over 30 years’ experience in schools, with 25 years spent within our QLD Department of Education. Most recently I have been acting Principal at Taigum State School, but my long-term substantive role has been as the proud Deputy Principal at Bald Hills State School since 2018. Bald Hills SS has around 620 students, so whilst it is a bigger school than Dayboro, at 159 years old with a long, rich, and proud history, I can also already see that Bald Hills and Dayboro have many similarities. In fact, there was a certain sense of serendipity when, in taking a look at the Dayboro Facebook page, I saw the photo of the Bald Hills cows, who make their way up into the school (just outside my office) whenever the farming area surrounding us floods, and then saw the cow on the Dayboro State School logo. Before stepping into the DP role almost 9 years ago, I was Master Teacher between BHSS and Taigum SS, and before that I was a Numeracy Coach in Caboolture and Peninsula schools, after spending many both happy and challenging years teaching in Caboolture schools.

Personally, I am a Mum of two now adult children (who were starting school just a moment ago in my mind), and the very proud Nanny of a 2-year-old grandson who rules Nanny’s house when he visits, and a fur-Nanny to Esmeralda the Greyhound. I am also the daughter and carer of my 91-year-old Dad, who lives with me, together with the 16-year-old Shihtzu I recently got suckered into adopting for him a few weeks ago (called Ollie).

Over the coming weeks and months, I look forward to getting to know the students and families, and working closely with the incredible staff here at Dayboro State School. I know that schools are strongest when we work in partnership, and I’m committed to listening, learning, and leading with openness and respect, continuing the excellence so clearly evident here at Dayboro State School.

Thank you for the warm welcome I have already received from so many of you. I am genuinely excited about the journey ahead and the opportunity to serve this wonderful school community over the coming term.

Warm Regards,

Kathy Dickson