Principal's Report

There's an incredible buzz around the school as our students watch the Junior School Playground come to life before their very eyes. We can’t wait to see the children playing in the space early next term.

Our students have had a fantastic fortnight! A huge congratulations to our Year 4–6 competitors who participated in the divisional swimming sports meet last week. An impressive fourteen students have qualified for the upcoming district-level event —what an achievement!

Training for the upcoming cross-country trials is underway, and we also have two students proudly representing FNPS in the district tennis competition in the coming weeks.

Our Year 6 JSC students have independently planned and delivered two assemblies since the start of Term 1. Their confidence, enthusiasm, and leadership continue to impress us, and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts so far.

Meanwhile, our littlest learners have been diving deep into our School Values, along with developing the understanding of themselves through their IB PYP learning focussing on “Who We Are”. Part of this learning included reading the book “The Best Part of Me’ by Wendy Ewald. From there, the students identified what they believed to be the best part of themselves, including:

“The best part of me is my legs because they make me run fast.”

“The best part of me is my ears because they help me hear.”

Cosa stai Cucinando?

“What are you cooking?” is the question we were asking the students who were our first groups to experience the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden cooking sessions last week.

After a wonderful garden harvest and creating a feast of pizza alla melenzane (eggplant pizza), tarelli al finocchio (fennel pretzels) and insalata dell'orto (garden salad), the students were unanimous in their praise for Lucy’s outstanding dedication to delivering an enjoyable and delicious cooking experience.

When asked “Cosa ti è piaciuto di più?” (What did you like most?), we had reports of loving each element individually but, the overall consensus was “Mi piace tutto” (I like it all).

A huge thank you to Lucy, the classroom teachers and our community volunteers who are creating such a wonderful experience for our learners.

NAPLAN 2025

Starting the week of 10 March 2025, our Year 3 and 5 students will be undertaking NAPLAN assessments. Over the past few weeks, teachers have been preparing students by familiarising them with the assessment process and the digital platform used for testing.

To further support this transition, students will participate in a coordinated practice test this week. This will help them become comfortable with the online format before the official NAPLAN testing period.

We encourage all families to ensure their child participates in the assessments. While NAPLAN provides only a snapshot of student performance at a point in time, when combined with other school data, it offers valuable insights into learning growth and areas for improvement. This information helps us develop strategies to best support student learning across the school.

That being said, a message to our students:

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best in your upcoming NAPLAN assessments, but before you take the tests, there is something important we need you to know. 

We want to remind you that whilst NAPLAN provides information about your learning journey, there is so much more that makes you exceptional and unique. 

NAPLAN can’t tell us that some of you love to sing and dance, are amazing artists, or can teach others to use a computer. NAPLAN can’t see that you speak confidently to a large group, or that your friends count on you to brighten up their day when they are sad. The people who mark these tests do not know that you play sports, or what a kind, thoughtful and caring person you are, or that every day you do your very best. 

The scores you get from NAPLAN will tell you how you did on that one day, but they will not tell you everything. They can’t tell you that you have improved on something you once found difficult. They can’t tell you how you make your teacher’s day a little better just for being you. They can’t tell you how amazingly special you are. 

So, come ready to do your best, but remember there is no one way to ‘test’ all of the wonderful things that make you, YOU!

The NAPLAN schedule is as follows:

Wednesday 12 March 2025 – Writing

Thursday 13 March 2025 – Reading

Monday 17 March 2025 – Language Conventions

Tuesday 18 March 2025 – Mathematics

*Assessments begin at 9:30am sharp, so please ensure your child arrives on time to allow them to settle into their day before beginning these assessments.

All other days in the testing window (Wednesday 12 March – Monday 24 March) will be used to allow students who are absent to catch up on their assessments.

Further information can be found by accessing the following document:

NAPLAN 2025 information for parents and carers (online)

Parent / Carer Teacher Meet and Greet

Our recent Meet and Greet sessions received fantastic feedback from both teachers and families. These valuable meetings provide an opportunity for teachers to gain insights into each child's unique learning style and preferences, strengthening the partnership between school and home.

While these formal meetings are essential, please remember that you are always welcome to reach out to your child’s teacher at any time with questions or important information to share.

Progress Reports

This Friday, Progress Reports will be released to families, providing insight into how students have settled into the 2025 school year. These mid-term reports will focus on three key areas of your child’s learning:

• Engagement
• Effort
• Wellbeing

The reports will be accessible via our online platform, Compass, offering valuable information about your child’s progress. If you have any concerns about their learning or wellbeing, please reach out to their classroom teacher or a member of the leadership team.

Progress Reports will be available to parents on Friday, 7 March 2025, at 4:00 PM.

Mobile Phones in Schools

A reminder that all Victorian Government Schools must comply with Ministerial Order 1125 and the Department of Education and Training’s Mobile Phone Policy.

For the purpose of this policy, a “mobile phone” includes not only mobile phones but also any device with similar functionality, such as smartwatches.

At Fitzroy North Primary School, we understand that some students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, especially if they travel independently. However, our policy is as follows:

• Students who bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours.
• Exceptions may apply under certain conditions (see below for further details).
• In case of emergencies, parents or caregivers should contact their child by calling the school office.

For more details on this policy and other FNPS policies, please visit our website: 

Policies – Fitzroy North Primary School

Go gently,

Tania