From Marie

ICAS Assessments Results

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2025 ICAS Assessments. These assessments are internationally recognised, providing engaging, fun tasks to measure higher-order thinking skills.  Every year, parents of students from Grade 2 upward, are offered the opportunity to have their child sit these assessments at school. We would like to congratulate the following students for receiving excellent results in the 2025 assessments, achieving results in the top 35% of students across Australia:

Rosie W – Distinction in English, Credit in Mathematics, Distinction in Spelling, High Distinction in Writing

Aiden W – Credit in English, Credit in Mathematics, Distinction in Spelling

Jonah O – Credit in English, Credit in Mathematics, 

Isaac W – Credit in Mathematics, High Distinction in Science, 

Ryan G – Credit in Science, Credit in Spelling, 

Alisha H – Credit in Spelling

Mia S – Credit in Spelling

Persian Brunch

Yesterday, we had a delightful brunch with our Persian community with delicious dishes of lentils, lamb porridge, chicken salad, turkish bread, sweets and biscuits.  We want to thank our parents (and grandparents) for bringing along the delicious food for us to enjoy.

Class Structure and Teachers for 2026

Below is an outline of the structure of classes and the teacher names to match, for 2026.  

Foundation - Mrs Kate Hickingbotham and Miss Tamara Molnar

Grade 1 - Mrs Eliza Surkitt/Mrs Helen Boustead and Mrs Elizabeth Iacona

Grade 2 - Mr Matthew Knight and Mrs Emma McCann

Grade 3/4 - Mrs Lauren Lee, Mr Sam Martin, Mrs Deb Simpson/Mrs Karen Hunsdale

Grade 5/6 - Mr Pablo Caceres, Miss Monique Gleeson, Ms Nicole Lush (formerly Nicole Younes)

Performing Arts - Mr Mark Nunis

Physical Education/Sport - Mrs Fiona Pumpa

Visual Arts - Mrs Deanne Lawn

Italian - Signora Zerella

Assistant Principal - Jenny Verheijden

Mental Health in Schools Leader - Karen Hunsdale

Disability Inclusion Coordinator - Karen Hunsdale

Transition Activities

Starting next week, our current students will commence stepping up to their 2026 classes.  There will be three transition sessions, Friday 28 November, Thursday 4 December and Tuesday 9 December.  The students will meet the teachers for the following year, they will be working in mixed groups as we trial some classroom combinations ahead of students finally meeting their new class and teacher at the final transition session.  On Tuesday, 9 December, your child will bring home a photo of the new class for you to pop on the fridge.  

Student placement into class groups

Teachers are busy getting input from your child about which students they would like to be in class with for 2026. Your child will be asked to list five students they would like to be with.  

Parents' Association AGM

On Wednesday evening, the Parents' Association gathered to elect new office bearers, hear about the fundraising outcomes for 2025 and plan some the same, some different activities and events for 2026.  For a full report on the meeting and to read the President's Report, please check out the designated page in this newsletter. I am very pleased to let you know that the official positions have been filled by the following people:

President - Priscilla (Carter 5/6)

Secretary - Caitlin (Patrick 3/4, Harvey Gde 1)

Treasurer - Pei (Amelia Gde 1)

I would also like to thank the outgoing Treasurer, Bruce for his work this year.  Any school parent can become a member of the Parents' Association (it is free) you just need to fill in a form that Kate has at the office and that makes you a member.  You are then added to the Whats App group and kept up to date with events and opportunities to voluntee

Wellbeing Wednesday

Yesterday we were visited by the Wellbeing team from Norwood Secondary College at lunchtime with yummy icypoles and fun games and activities like, loom bands, making slime, chalk drawings and a fun game of 'Duck, Duck, Goose".  Thanks for visiting. Here are a few snaps:

Icy Poles for the whole school picnic

We are reaching out to the school community for anyone that has space for approximately 250 zooper doopers in their freezer at home.  They take a long time to freeze and will need to be ready for Thrusday 18 December.  If anyone can assist, please let Kate know at the office.

Uniform - Final Deliveries

Please see below the details of the Christmas/Back to School delivery schedule for Spartan Uniforms.

Please note there will be no uniform delivery in the last week of Term 4.  This is a busy week for both schools and couriers and if the delivery is not made prior to school finishing then there is a risk that orders are lost at the courier depot over the holidays.

• Final Uniform Delivery 2025 – Week 10 2025  -     8th  - 12th December 2025
• First Uniform Delivery 2026 – Week 1 2026  -    28th– 30th  January 2026
• Please note the ‘Delivery to School’ option will be suspended after the final 2025 delivery and will reopen on Wednesday 21st January ready for ‘Back to School’ orders.  
• Orders for delivery to home will continue to be processed and sent via Australia Post.  (Except during our Christmas Closure period from 23rd December to 6th January)
• All stores will close at 5.00 pm on Monday 22nd December and reopen at 9.00 am Wednesday 7th January.  Please check the website for each store’s hours.
• All stores will be open on Australia Day Public Holiday 26th January 2026
• For information and assistance please email OnlineOrders@spartass.com.au

Instrumental Soiree

Next Monday night, we will be celebrating a year of instrumental lessons in our annual Soiree.  With over 70 students performing their pieces they have been working on, we are in for a real treat.  We would like to thank Diana Matthews, Daniel MacKenzie and Tom Glover for their expertise and time on Monday to help with the celebrations.