Principal Report
Acknowledgement Of Country
Newport Lakes Primary School acknowledges the Yalukit-Willam people of the Bunurong in the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the lands of the school. We pay our respect to the Elders past, present and emerging. As we share our knowledge, teaching and practices, may we also pay respect to the knowledge embedded forever within the Aboriginal custodianship of the country. We are truly grateful for this opportunity to share information with our community.
Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
A Warm Welcome
Welcome to Week Five of Term Three. Can you believe that we are now officially half way through the term? As winter nears its final weeks, the season surprises us with a handful of sunny days that have been breaking through the cold. I have really appreciated these moments of sunshine that have added to my warm welcome here at NLPS!
As you are aware, Principal Carly is on leave this term, on an adventurous and culturally rich journey through Italy, enjoying some of the country's most iconic locations and experiences. Over the last few weeks and for the duration of Term Three, I am fortunate to be filling in for Carly as Acting Principal. I wanted to take a moment to express how warmly I have been welcomed into this incredible school community. From my first day here, I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support from everyone I have encountered.
Our students have impressed me with their eagerness to learn and their respect for one another and for the school. I have visited all our classrooms and specialist spaces and have witnessed how engaged they are with their learning. Many of them had big smiles and were super friendly, which made me feel so welcome.
The dedication and professionalism of our teachers and staff are truly inspiring, and it is clear to me that this is a place where educators can thrive, collaborate and continue to learn.
I am also deeply grateful for the involvement and support of you - our parents and guardians. Your commitment to your children's education makes a significant difference in creating a positive environment. Being welcomed with a parent coffee morning was testament to this. Thank you, and let's have a fantastic school term ahead!
Book Week and Parade Arrangements 2024
Book Week Celebration is coming up on Monday 19 August for that week. Our staff have organised many engaging events during the week for our students to participate in, ranging from dress up day, to author visits, student magic shows and the Book Fair.
Our Book Week dress-up day is on Wednesday 21/8/24 - 9.10am We invite students to come dressed as a character from a favourite story. The theme this year is “Reading is Magic.” We're celebrating reading stories and their amazing power to transport minds, encouraging children to be curious about the wonders in our world. Please inform your children that on this day, we will hold a parade. There will be music as we parade around to showcase our costumes and celebrate the magic of book characters.
A reminder that while we love dress up days, we want to make sure that it is stressless for everyone. Costumes can be as simple or as complex as you like. Costumes can be bought, borrowed, re-worn, or handmade and can be from head to toe or just a prop or mask. The aim is to celebrate books and reading.
Parents are most welcome to come along and watch the parade on Wednesday morning. In regards to recording the parade, a gentle reminder of our school policy: ‘Photographing, Filming and Recording Students’, as directed by the Department of Education:
NLPS endeavours to respect the privacy of all members of our school community and formally requests that parents/carers, students and invited guests do not photograph, film or record school performances, sporting events, excursions and other school-approved activities, besides images of their own children.
100 Days of Foundation!
Last week, we celebrated the 100th day of school for our Foundation students. Congratulations to all our Foundation students and teachers for reaching this significant milestone. Our students engaged in enjoyable learning activities that reinforced core academic concepts. It was a festive occasion to recognise their progress throughout the school year and inspire them to continue learning with enthusiasm. We extend our gratitude to teachers, students, and families for their incredible efforts on this special day.
District Athletics Event
A big thank you to Mr A, our PE teacher, for coordinating our District Athletics day at Newport Athletics Track. Congratulations to all the students who participated at the district level, exemplified our school values, and gave their best effort. We also extend our gratitude to the staff and parents who helped set up and came to support our students. It was a fantastic day, and we were fortunate to have great weather.
Join Us in Making a Difference - Wear a Touch of Purple
The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence is an important initiative aimed at raising awareness and promoting a safer, more inclusive environment for everyone. At NLPS, the event will take place on Friday, August 16th, and we encourage all students and staff to wear a touch of purple in support of this cause. By wearing something purple with your uniform we send a strong message that bullying in any form is unacceptable and that we stand united against it.
Please support our efforts at home by using the term ‘bullying’ correctly, not for one-off instances of frustration or disrespect, and by informing your child’s teacher if your child/ren feels targeted by others.
Parent, Guardian and Caregiver Opinion Survey (PGCOS)
The Parent, Guardian and Caregiver Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education that is conducted amongst a random sample of parents, across all government schools. This year, the survey will be open from Monday 29 July to Friday 30 August 2024.
The survey seeks parent opinion on measures of learning, teaching, school environment and relationship with the school community; and provides us with actionable insights in key elements for school improvement. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.
A random sample of parents have been invited to participate in this year’s survey and have received a link to the survey directly via email. The survey is completed online via the secure survey portal managed by ORIMA Research Pty Ltd. All responses to the survey are anonymous. We look forward to reading through and analysing the feedback, to inspire improvement for all students in years to come. The survey results will also be communicated to our School Council and the parents/caregivers/guardians through annual reporting.
Reminder - Curriculum Day Friday 13th September
We would like to remind you that Friday, 13 September, is a scheduled curriculum day, following our School Production night. This day has been pre-approved by our School Council. All staff will be attending a Professional Development Session focused on Inclusive Education Training. This training is a valuable opportunity for our educators to further develop their skills and strategies for fostering a more inclusive learning environment for all students.
As a result, there will be no school for students on this day. If you require care for your child(ren), please contact Quantin Binnah, our OSHC provider, https://www.qbcc.org.au/ or call 9742 5040.
Warm regards,
Taxia Katsouranis
Acting Principal
Smile Squad - Victorian Government free school dental program
The Smile Squad team from Cohealth are coming to our school soon.
Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program. Any student enrolled in a Victorian Government PS are eligible. No need for a healthcare card, Medicare card or the CDBS. This means all students can get a free dental check-up, preventive services, and treatment at school.
What to do if you would like to access free dental care for your child
- We need your consent before we can provide services. Consent is usually provided by a parent or guardian.
- Sign up to Smile Squad at: https://bit.ly/smilesquadvic OR use the QR code below:
- Please complete and submit the consent form by 18/08/2024.
Paper copies of the consent form are available. Please contact the school office if you would like to request one. The electronic consent form can be translated into more than 100 languages, and the paper form is available in 13 languages.
Smile Squad dental packs
All children deserve a healthy smile, and the Smile Squad free school dental program is working hard to help make sure this happens.
Your child(ren) would have brought home a free dental pack recently. The dental pack contains a toothbrush, full sized toothpaste, and an oral health brochure. Please take the time to read the brochure. It’s full of helpful hints and tips to help your whole family eat well, drink well and clean well – for life.
Smile Squad provides standard strength fluoride toothpaste that is generally used by ages six and over, unless recommended by a dental or trained health professional.
If your child is under six, please talk to a dental or trained health professional to find out if your child might benefit from using this toothpaste. You can also choose to put the toothpaste away until they turn six or give it to someone else in your family to use.
FAQ's
Do I need to attend my child’s appointment?
No, you do not need to attend your child’s appointment.
If my child needs any follow up procedures, is it done at school?
No, initial consultations only will be held at Newport Lakes PS. If your child requires any follow up procedures, they will be required to attend an appointment at CoHealth in Footscray. Smile Squad will provide you with your appointment details.
The Cohealth Smile Squad look forward to seeing you soon.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact 03 9448 6171. You can also find more information about Smile Squad at: www.smilesquad.vic.gov.au.