Principal Report
Wow, we are almost halfway through the term and starting to kick some real goals (side note - I can’t wait for the AFL season to start!). As per usual in a school, just as we get into a routine, special events come and provide a disruption to the normal school day. This week we’ve had the Year 6 and Year 5 camp (both at Billabong Ranch in Echuca), we have Curriculum Day next Friday, March 7th, followed by Labour Day and NAPLAN the week after, and then the Year 4 camp. I have just spent a dust and fun-filled/rest-starved 3 days with the Year 6 students at camp and it was awesome to see the strong connections they have with each other and their teachers. The positive feedback we got from camp staff on the students’ attitude and respectful behaviour was so lovely to hear and something the school and their families can be proud of! It’s now time for Year 5 to enjoy the Murray sun and camp adventures. There will be more about the Year 5&6 camps in our next newsletter. At the other end of the school, our Foundation Family Picnic and Open Classrooms are tonight, Thursday, February 27th, and I look forward to meeting some new school community faces.
Parent - School Communication Update
Year Level Information Videos on School Website
To provide information about the various year levels, we have done something a bit different for 2025. Instead of presenting a slide show online at a specified hour during the week, our teaching teams (PLTs) have recorded a video for parents (both current and prospective via the website). These information videos, including ones from Leadership and Wellbeing, will be up on the NLPS website by the end of this week so please keep an eye out for them! We will be updating other content over the coming months to ensure the website better reflects what is currently occurring in our classroom spaces and across the whole school.
These videos, along with the Term Overviews sent out early each term, as well as other targeted Compass communication, will help parents to further understand what their child’s day looks like in their 2025 year level. Of course, if you would like any additional information you are welcome to reach out to your child’s teacher via Compass.
Parent-Teacher Interviews
The ‘Meet the Teacher’ interviews will be conducted for all classes from 2:00-7:30pm next Monday, 3rd March 2025. Bookings have been available to make via Compass since last week. Please note that if you wish to speak to one of your children’s specialist teachers, due to limited spots, please make the booking for your family, not multiple individual students.
Parents have the option of attending these sessions to meet the teacher either ‘face to face’ or online via Webex. Please note that the default booking format is online so, if you prefer to come in, please let the school know via email. Some teachers have up to 29 interviews that afternoon so please be mindful of sticking to your specified time slot.
Open Classroom Afternoons
Please note that all parents will have an opportunity to view the Year 1-6 classrooms later in the term as part of our Open Afternoon on Thursday, March 13th, or if you are a Foundation family, tonight at the Foundation Picnic from 3:15pm to 3:45pm.
School Council Election Update
At the closing date for nominations for the NLPS School Council, the number of nominations was equal to the number of vacancies in the membership category of parent member and school employee member. Therefore, a ballot will not be required.
The elected school council members for the term 2025-2026 are;
- Parent category: Steph Viljoen, Leah Campbell, Joseph Cavallaro
- Teacher category: Mat Williamson
The continuing (2024-2025) members of the school council are:
- Parent: Dean Marshall, Anton Freischmidt, Denise Fry, Ben Houkamau, Brett Fairbank
- DET / Teacher: Carly Bannon, Priscilla Patterson
The school would like to thank the outgoing council member Kim Gilson for her positive input to the council and particularly to the Education Subcommittee.
At our first school council meeting for 2025 will be conducted on Tuesday, March 11th and we will be electing various roles and sub-committee chairs. A notice will be placed in the following newsletter inviting any parent that may like to be on one of the school council subcommittees.
Yard Safety
Thank you to those people that read my last newsletter contribution regarding clearing the main yard during learning time and keeping pets outside the school boundary. We appreciate everyone’s help in keeping the yard/school safe! A couple of other things to be mindful of this fortnight are;
Coffee Cart Wednesdays
Our wonderful dispenser of caffeine and cocoa, Patrick, sets up his van near the stage every Wednesday morning from 8:15am and is here serving until just after 9. NLPS staff members keep him busy but parents and carers are also very welcome to purchase a drink as well. Please note that this service is for the adults as we found that when it was open to all students we had far too many to serve and there was a safety issue with hot drinks on the playgrounds and in the classrooms. However, if you are in the yard early with your child, you are welcome to supervise them whilst they sit quietly and drink their hot drink.
No Riding/Scooting in the Yard
As you may have noticed, the school yard can get very busy before and after school. To ensure that we reduce the risk of injury to students, staff, parents/carers, and younger siblings, we ask that all students/family members dismount their bikes or scooters when they are in our school yard and walk/push their bike or scooter through instead.
This has been an expectation for some time here at NLPS and hence this is just a reminder for many. With the busyness of the Elizabeth Street pathway, especially after school, it may also be something you ask your child to do until the path clears as well.
Have a great fortnight,
Carly Bannon
Proud NLPS Principal