Learning Focus
Where We’ve Been, Where We Go from Here
I try to listen to new music. I really do. But for whatever reason, Spotify is somehow convinced that I’m stuck in 2008. My partner becomes frustrated on road trips when the seventh Strokes song comes on shuffle, only to be followed by another one by Vampire Weekend, or worse (according to her), something by late-era Weezer. So I try to discover new artists and bands to enjoy, support, and (hopefully) throw my Spotify algorithm into a panic, because I really don’t want to be the guy who thinks that music peaked in 2008 and has been on a gradual decline ever since. Even though it did, and it has.
Earlier this year, I first heard this band from Chicago called Friko and have listened to their 2024 album Where We’ve Been, Where We Go from Here more than anything else. But this article is not about Friko, or Spotify algorithms, or music at all (I will save the story of my own high school band for another newsletter… I could also write one on late-era Weezer if the desire is out there). This article is about the phrase at the top of this page.
Where We’ve Been, Where We Go from Here
By now, you may have noticed how I get certain things stuck in my head and then try to make sense of them by connecting them to other thoughts and wonderings and eventually (though, this is still up for debate) synthesise enough of an original idea to put out to our school community. And I believe this phrase, these eight words, is significantly relevant to Newport Lakes Primary School right now.
Why?
Government schools work on four-year cycles and go through an independent, rigorous review during that fourth year. 2025 is a school review year for NLPS, and Where We’ve Been and Where We Go from Here will be the two driving questions of our work through this process (though the questions will likely be put in a much more eloquent/mind-paralysing kind of way).
So.
Where We’ve Been
Coming out of COVID (when we completed our last review), we had a very clear picture of where we needed to go: Focus on Wellbeing. Students needed it, teachers needed it, our whole community needed it, as we emerged from lockdowns and the shared experience of a strange, strange time. So, while one of our School Strategic Plan goals remained linked to Student Outcomes, we knew that learning couldn’t happen effectively without addressing student wellbeing and engagement. So we did - and our wins in this space have been exceptional, thanks to the continued hard work of our staff and the connection we have with our community.
We also leaned into inquiry-based learning, creating space for students to pursue “Big Questions” in our BQT (Big Question Time) lessons and STEM was taught by classroom teachers to ensure it was woven directly into the curriculum.
Where We Go from Here
2025 will bring exciting new opportunities for growth, with the introduction of a new curriculum and Teaching and Learning Model developed under the state government’s revitalised ‘Education State’ vision. This shift aligns with the science of learning, emphasising a dual focus: building core knowledge and implementing explicit instruction.
Research tells us that students are better equipped to think critically, problem-solve, and approach learning with confidence when they have a strong foundational base of knowledge. With this shift, our classrooms will focus not only on fostering curiosity but also on ensuring that every student has a solid grounding to ask - and answer - those big questions that matter. Inquiry learning will be enriched, with students able to dig deeper into their questions armed with greater knowledge.
Our Foundation to Year 2 classes will continue to place a particular emphasis on reading instruction using a synthetic phonics approach. Research in literacy development supports this method, where students systematically learn to recognise and decode letter sounds and patterns - a critical skill for early reading success. Each day, 30 minutes will be dedicated to focused phonics instruction, helping our youngest learners build strong, confident literacy skills. This foundational work will ensure that students have the tools they need to thrive as they progress through school, setting them up for a lifelong love of reading and learning.
Another exciting change is that STEM will be offered as a specialist subject. This move allows students to develop specific skills and engage with STEM concepts in a focused, hands-on way, building toward the creativity, problem-solving, and technical expertise they’ll need in the 21st century. By dedicating time and resources to STEM, we’re supporting students to become curious, capable problem-solvers ready to tackle the challenges of the future.
Our next steps will rely on the continued partnership and collaboration of our staff, parents, and students, who have each contributed to Newport Lakes Primary School’s evolution over the last four years. While we take time to reflect on Where we’ve been, Where we go from here will be shaped by our entire school community.
Mat Williamson
Assistant Principal