Greetings from Shaun

3/4 Camp- Toolangi

We are pleased to share that our Grade Three and Four camp to Toolangi was a fantastic experience for everyone involved. Bale and I went to visit during their time at Toolangi and the students were fully embracing the camp experience and how could they not, with such a beautiful site and location. 

School camp is a great opportunity for the students to build their independence and learning beyond the classroom, while also developing important social and emotional skills in a unique (and sometimes challenging) environment. I am so proud of the students for their enthusiasm, persistence and willingness to try new and scary things (like the flying fox!).

A big thank you to the teaching staff for their dedication, and to the parent volunteers for their commitment and support to our camping program.

Be sure to check out the photo gallery later in this newsletter issue.

Book Week Celebrations

Our Book Week celebrations were a great success! It is always a beautiful celebration of literature and creativity, bringing our community together to honour the joy of reading. This years theme was "Reading is magic" and who could argue with a message like that. This year’s festivities kicked off with a whole school parade, where staff and students strutted their stuff as their favourite characters and books.  After the parade, everyone returned to classrooms and families joined us for an open morning filled with activities and readings.

During the week students were involved in engaging activities and read captivating books that highlighted creativity and diversity of storytelling. 

We also held the Northcote PS Children’s Book of the Year Award, featuring five shortlisted picture books from the CBCA list. Classes read one book each day and voted for their favorite by Friday, with the winner announced at the very end of the week. 

Now I could tell you who won, but where would the fun in that be? If you'd like to find out, you'll have to ask your child and while you are at it, you could even check out the shortlisted books and pick your own favourite. Visit the local Library to find a copy or follow the link below to Storybox to view a video of the stories being read.

Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated staff, particularly Izzy and Meagan, to our enthusiastic students, and supportive families, Book Week at Northcote PS was a resounding success.

Not to be a broken record, BUT be sure to check out the photo gallery later in this newsletter issue.

International Students 

Now that we have bid farewell to our four international students, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for being such an important part of our school community over the past month. Your presence at camp and throughout your time here has brought new perspectives and wonderful energy to our school. We’ve valued the chance to learn from you and share in your experiences. 

We wish you all the best in your future adventures and hope you take with you many fond memories from your time with us at Northcote PS. Safe travels and good luck!

Reminder- Parent Opinion Survey

I apologise for reaching out again, but your input is crucial. We’re currently conducting our annual Parent/Caregiver Opinion Survey and truly value your feedback. This survey helps us understand your views on our school’s climate, student behavior, and engagement, and is essential for our planning and improvement efforts.

With a current response rate of 21%, we encourage more families to participate. The survey will remain open online until Friday, August 30th, 2024. It only takes 20 minutes to complete on any device. Please check your inbox for your unique link to the survey.

Thank you for your time and support!

Take Care,

Shaun.