Greetings from Shaun

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to our students, staff, and families. It has been great to see familiar faces return, new friendships forming, and children sharing stories from the holidays as they settle into the new school year. We have also loved welcoming our new cohort of Preps, who have really settled into life at 33 Helen Street, along with a number of new families across the school who have  quickly slotted into the Northcote community. The way our students have transitioned has been really pleasing, with classrooms already feeling calm, purposeful, and full of curiosity.

I also want to thank our staff and wider school community for the positivity, energy, and care they bring each day. Students have adjusted well to their new learning spaces and are building strong connections across their cohorts. It has been particularly encouraging to see new learning communities take shape so quickly.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Meet and Greet and the Welcome Picnic. It was a lovely day and a great way to come together as a school community, culminating in a celebration of all things Northcote PS on the top turf. The beautiful weather certainly helped set the tone and added to the overall picnic vibe.

Leadership Structure 

As we begin the year, I would like to introduce our new school leadership team.

As Principal I look after the overall leadership and day to day running of the school.

Bec is our Assistant Principal and supports Teaching and Learning across the school, working closely with teachers and team leaders.

Nat is our Learning Specialist, with a focus on Wellbeing and Engagement and works with staff to support students across the school. Please be mindful that Nat works part time from Monday to Wednesday.

Communication 

For administrative matters such as excursions, Compass, first aid updates, or payments, families are asked to contact the school office directly.

For classroom related matters, classroom teachers remain your first point of contact. Email is best used for short, non-urgent messages or to share positive information. Teachers will aim to respond within 48 hours between 8:45am and 4:45pm. 

For more detailed concerns, phone or in person conversations are best and will need to be arranged ahead of time. Please note that staff meetings are held on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:45pm, which can affect staff availability.

For leadership team contact or urgent matters, families can email northcote.ps@education.vic.gov.au or call the office on (03) 9481 0009. 

Please include the staff member’s name in the subject line where relevant.

Term 1 Curriculum Overviews

In this issue, you will find our curriculum overviews for the term ahead. Teachers take time each term to plan the units, topics, and content that will be covered in class, and these overviews are designed to give you a clear picture of the learning your child will be engaging in. They are a great way to stay connected to what is happening in the classroom, support learning at home, ask informed questions, and explore topics your child is interested in. Be sure to look out for the curriculum overviews in this issue and in the first newsletter each term to see what your children will be learning about in class.

School Council Election

Would you like to be a member of our school council?

This is a notice to inform the school community that we are about to commence the process of electing the school council for the 2026 school year.

I would like to firstly extend my gratitude to the parents on the school council whose time is coming to an end. Your dedication and hard work have made a lasting impact on our school and community. Your contributions have helped shape a positive and enriching learning environment for our students, and we truly appreciate the time and effort you have given so generously.

Nominations are now open, these vacancies are for a two year position on the school council, with a commitment of eight (8) meetings spread across the school year and membership on a school council sub committee.

We are looking for people who are committed to improving the educational outcomes for all our students and to upholding our school values of respect, collaboration, and community mindedness. Effective school councils have a broad range of experience, skills, and expertise. This is important because, as a school councillor, you represent the voice of the wider school community.

If you are interested in getting more involved, or know someone who is, we would love to hear from you. Nomination forms are available from Caterina in the office on request.

Nominations close at 4pm on Monday the 16th of February 2026.

For more information on what’s involved, don't t hesitate to contact me.

Assembly and Pupil of the Week

We warmly invite you to our first official assembly of the year on Friday, 20th February, at 3pm. 

 At the assembly, we’ll celebrate our first Pupils of the Week for 2026. The announcement will also be sent out via Compass on Monday the 16th, so keep an eye on your notifications.

Icy Poles and Slime the Teacher.  

From this Friday the 6th of February 2026, icy poles will be sold from the canteen every Friday throughout Term 1, between 3:30 pm and 3:45 pm, for a gold coin donation.

While you are there, you can also cast your vote for Slime the Teacher by adding your donation at the canteen. The teacher with the most votes will be slimed at the school fete on Saturday the 21st of March 2026. 

Adults Visitors and Volunteers

For the safety of the children, between 9am and 3:25pm, all gates remain locked.  All adults visiting the school during the day must enter via the main gate on Helen Street and report to the Office, regardless of the destination. 

All volunteers at the school, including fete volunteers are required to provide evidence of a current, fully processed Working With Children Check (WWCC). 

If you need to apply for a volunteer WWCC, you can do so here.

Sun Smart 

As we navigate these warmer weeks, it’s essential to keep our school community SunSmart. From the start of the school year until the 1st of May, students must wear their bucket hats whenever they are outside. So far, they’ve done a great job, but please remind them to bring and wear their hats daily.

It’s also important that students make SunSmart clothing choices, in particular, ensuring their shoulders are covered for protection against harmful UV radiation. UV radiation can cause permanent skin damage, especially for young children. When the UV index is 3 or higher, it’s important to follow key SunSmart steps: make sure children wear broad-brimmed hats, clothing that covers the skin, apply SPF30+ sunscreen, and encourage them to seek shade during breaks. 

Let’s work together to build lifelong sun safety habits and keep our students protected from the sun when outdoors.

For more information, visit the SunSmart website.

Footwear Reminder

This is also a reminder that crocs are no longer consider appropriate footwear for school. We ask that students wear closed toed, secure shoes each day that are appropriate for active play and learning.

Parent Payment Arrangement

Thank you to the many families who have already taken the time to pay their voluntary parent contributions through Compass. Your support makes a real difference to the programs, resources, and opportunities we are able to provide for students. 

Take care,

Shaun