Messages from the Principal
Hello NPS Families,
As shared recently on our Instagram Page, last week I had the ABSOLUTE pleasure to have signed on behalf of our school community the Barwon Anti-Racism Statement.
This is a committment we, like other local schools, are making to take a strong stand against racism in schools. I would like to thank Lily, Jordan and Bri from the Barwon LAECG - Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group - for providing us, and others, with the opportunity to strengthen respect, inclusion, and unity throughout the Barwon region.
Around this time every year, we find ourselves in the absolute throes of planning for the following school year, and one of the biggest components of that work is starting the complex but important process of creating classroom groups for 2026. We carefully consider many factors to ensure a supportive and effective learning environment for every student, as well as making sure classrooms are balanced and conducive to high-quality learning.
Shortly, students will be asked by their teachers to nominate and list several people that they would like in their class for the following year. Students are reminded that these lists should come from a place where the people they select support their learning and growth, and who help them to be better learners. As nice as it is being in a class full of your 'besties', that is not always ideal for personal growth and achievement. I would encourage families to have the conversation with their children about who they work well with, who might complement their learning, and, of course, who may not.
Class lists will be released in the final week of the year, along with where teachers will be placed and where classes will be located.
Term 4 just continues to roll on with, again, many events and activities set to take place in the coming weeks - all of which we are pretty excited about. Please make sure you review the Whole School Calendar page to see what is happening!
I wish to thank Ibu Jones for organising such a wonderful Indonesian Celebration Day on Wednesday.
To have our students immersed in such a rich cultural experience was great, and it is certainly a highlight on our events calendar each year.
It was very pleasing to see so many families come along and attend to see what the students managed to piece together for their whole school performance in a very short period of time!
I'll also throw a shout-out to Mr. McKinnis for his organisation of our annual swimming program!
The week was intense, tiring, but so much fun. I believe that learning to swim is a vital skill for our students and young people in general, and to see them so engaged and active was terrific.
Thank you to all of the parents and families who rostered themselves on to assist and help on any given day. It is greatly appreciated.
A huge congratulations to one of our Year 6 students and School Captains, Alex.
Alex recently represented Victoria in the National U12 Soccer Championships, and although Team Vic didn't come away with a win, I have been assured that they tried their absolute best. Well done Alex, a great achievement!
It's a hot topic in the media and will continue to be until the December 10 deadline, however there the evidence is well and truly in that social media use harms the mental health and well-being of our young people.
While there can be benefits of social media use, the risk of harm may be increased for young people as they do not yet have the skills, experience or understanding to navigate complex social media environments and the messages that come with it.
To find out details about the social media minimum age changes and the social media platforms it will include, visit the Social Media Age Restrictions Hub.
To help parents, carers, and under-16s prepare for the change, further campaign material and resources can be found by visiting the eSafety Commissioner's website
Thank you again, have a great weekend, and bye for now!
Corrie Barclay
Principal.
