At CCPS we sometimes need to be reminded about how good life is here at Pelican Waters. I think that’s because when we live in such a wonderful, beautiful natural environment by the Pacific Ocean, and ‘work’ amongst such quality people with very high expectations and standards, it’s possible to think this is normal for everyone in Australia. I make these broad comments in relation to our eighteen students and three staff who travelled to Vietnam and visited a school in the Mekong Delta helping to build an amenities block for the students in Third World conditions. Our students seem to have returned to us with a calmness and perhaps an assuredness that some of the little irritants can be easily swatted away. I think this is because they have experienced another standard of living and can understand how privileged we are here, and so we can benefit by making this realisation and in finding pleasure in these qualities of life that we share. We of course have commenced our own new building here, and I am particularly grateful to our Parents and Friends with their very successful fund raising ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign. Originally these funds were earmarked for roofing our outdoor all-weather courts. However, through our Business Manager, Mrs Short’s detailed work with the government funding agency, the Block Grant Authority, CCPS was able to secure the largest grants in Qld, and that has enabled us to build our magnificent new Multi-purpose Hall (MPH), indoor sports facility. Our Parents and Friends’ contribution will be the prestigious showpiece of the MPH, the stage facility where School performances and weekly Assemblies will be focussed. I am well aware that we have been waiting patiently (perhaps impatiently, at least for me) for some time so it’s great to see the ‘Badge Construction’ signs and site fencing in place. The building will spring up very quickly, like green grass after an afternoon thunderstorm, and due for handover in November. The BGA has recognised how significant our school is to the growth of the southern Sunshine Coast community. There has been plenty of media attention to nearby developments such as the Sunshine Coast University Public Hospital; the Caloundra South ‘Aura’ land developments for 50,000 people; the International airport facility progression with $347 million to be spent at Maroochdore; Palmview estate for 12,000 people; and this week the associated road and rail infrastructure made headline news in relation to the need to support the growing commuter population living locally and working in Brisbane. Our school is well positioned to provide the highest quality schooling for people wanting the very best education for their children as they move to our community. It is a very exciting time for the School, and for the southern Sunshine Coast. Closer to hand, we look forward to enjoying a relaxing evening at our ‘Welcome to School’ Disco for the children (and parents) on Friday late afternoon and early evening. This is another happy social event conducted for the School by our fabulous Parents and Friends.