Term 3 Week 6

Another fortnight has flown by at Northcote Primary School! There has been lots happening across our classrooms and wider school community, with many wonderful moments of learning, connection and celebration.

Grade 3/4 Camp

Last week our Grade 3/4 cohort had a wonderful, although soggy, time at Camp Toolangi. Students took part in a range of outdoor activities and challenges, and braved bush walking, rain and leeches. Plenty of fun was had by all, and it was great to hear about the resilience shown by students as they pushed through challenges. A very big thank you to our wonderful Grade 3/4 teachers and parent helpers for their time and hard work in making this experience happen.

Trivia Night

Our annual trivia night at Welcome to Thornbury was a wonderful success. It was great to see our community coming together for an evening of fun, games, team challenges and of course, trivia. A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes to make these events a success, and a big thank you to Kate, Lucy and everyone on the Fundraising team for all their hard work. We raised close to $7500 and these funds will go towards our goal of purchasing new adjustable basketball rings for our students.

Staff Bios - Anja and Meg

As mentioned in a previous newsletter, we welcomed two new staff members to NPS this term.

Hey NPS community,

My name is Anja and I am the Prep Music teacher. It has been a fun start to Term 3, getting to know the students and staff at NPS! My favourite food is pasta, my favourite animals are goats, and I love Studio Ghibli movies!

Hi NPS community,

My name is Meg and I am the new Education Support person.

I have loved getting to know the staff and students.

In my spare time I love to bake and see the latest movies at Nova Mondays!

Book Week - reminder

Book Week is just around the corner - our whole school dress up day is this Monday 24th August. We will have our whole school parade on the basketball courts at 9:10am (weather permitting) and afterwards, families are invited into classrooms to take part in a range of Book Week activities. We look forward to seeing everyone’s creative dress ups! A big thank you Meagan Porter for her organisation around this event.

NPS Camping program update

Last week, Shaun updated our current Prep and Grade 1 families about some changes we will be making to our Year 1 and 2 camping program from 2027. After careful consideration, we have decided that our Year 1 and 2 camp will move to a day experience from 2027. Students at this age vary considerably in their readiness for an overnight stay, which also requires significant staff support. A well-designed day experience can provide many of the same learning and social benefits at a lower cost to families, while being more accessible and inclusive for all students.

This change will also allow us to create a clearer progression through our camp program. Students will begin with a day-based experience in Years 1 and 2 before progressing to overnight camps as they move through the school and develop greater independence.

The 2026 Year 1 and 2 overnight camp will still go ahead as planned early in Term 4, and families will receive further information about the 2026 camp shortly. We are currently exploring options for the new Year 1 and 2 experience and will provide families with further information once arrangements have been confirmed.

Wear It Purple Day 💜

On Friday 28 August, our school will be recognising Wear It Purple Day, a day that celebrates diversity, promotes inclusion, and shows support for LGBTQIA+ young people.

Students are invited to wear purple or add a touch of purple to their outfit on the day. Throughout the day, classes will also explore age-appropriate ideas around belonging, kindness, respect, inclusion, and celebrating our differences.

We look forward to coming together as a school community to celebrate diversity and create a sense of belonging for everyone. 💜

SunSmart - hats needed soon

It’s hard to believe, but we are halfway through August, and it’s nearly time to pull out our sun hats again!

From the 1st of September all students must wear a sun protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities. Baseball or peaked caps and sun visors are not considered suitable, as they do not protect the ears, cheeks or neck.

Mobile Phones and Smart Watches

A reminder that students who bring mobile phones or smart watches to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours. This means that all devices, including smart watches, must be handed in to the office by 9am each morning. Recently we have found that some students are forgetting this step. We would appreciate your support in having a conversation with your child about these expectations if they bring a phone or smart watch to school.

Parent/Carer Survey reminder

The Parent/Carer Opinion Survey is open online from Monday 17 August until Friday 18 September 2026. The survey link and access code were distributed to all families via email earlier this week. The survey is optional, but we encourage and appreciate your participation. Our school will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas to target for school planning and improvement.

Moving house?

As we begin planning for next year, we ask families who may be moving out of the area and will not be returning to NPS in 2027 to let us know as soon as possible. This information is important as we plan class structures, staffing and year-level numbers for next year. We appreciate families keeping us informed of any plans to relocate.

2027 Prep Enrolments

A reminder to families that enrolment offers for 2027 Foundation have been sent out and families have until Friday 28th August to confirm their place. We look forward to welcoming our 2027 prep students and beginning our transition program during Term 4.

Take care,

Bec

3/4 Camp Toolangi