As always, it’s been a super busy end to the year - and there’s plenty more ahead of us in the short time before the holidays begin.

A reminder that this coming Thursday is a busy day at our school; it includes the Inquiry Open Afternoon and the End-of-Year Picnic.

The Inquiry Open Afternoon is a once-a-term opportunity for students to showcase some of the incredible work they’ve been doing to their families and other members of the community. Family members can arrive at the classrooms from 3pm and the event will wrap up at 3.45pm (please sign in at the classrooms upon arrival).

As part of the showcase the Grade 5 students will be selling their wares on The Block as part of their economics inquiry focus this term called $20 Boss (it will go until 4pm or until items are sold!). The students have been designing their own small businesses in groups and are hoping to make a profit, with all proceeds going to charity. So bring along some cash and buy a few Christmas presents!

Following the Open Afternoon, families are welcome to join the End-of-Year Picnic which is on The Block from 4pm-7pm. This is a chance for the community to get together before the end of the year - more info can be found in the flyers within the newsletter. We hope to see many of you there!

Moving On Monday Afternoon

As mentioned earlier in the week, we now have access to seven of the new classrooms as part of the renovated senior building.

We are planning to move tables and chairs into the new learning spaces on Monday after school from 3.30pm to 5pm. For family members who are available on Monday afternoon and keen to come along, we’d greatly appreciate your help.

If you’re planning to come, you can register at this link: https://forms.gle/MhEtFTMFbZb2TYCe9 (just so we have an idea of numbers). After pick-up (at around 3.30pm) please come to the front office to sign in. Make sure your shoes are clean when you enter the new learning spaces!

Thanks! We are very excited to (finally!) get into the new classrooms.

CONNECT Program Information Session

On Wednesday 13th December at 5.30pm there will be an online information session (approx. 30 mins) for Grade 2-5 Parents and Carers who are interested in finding out more about the CONNECT Program.

CONNECT is the optional Fitzroy North Primary School Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program, where Grade 3-6 students can bring a digital device to school (e.g. Chromebook, laptop, iPad) to support their learning. Students can bring a used device (e.g. a parent’s old laptop) or buy a device specifically for this purpose (or perhaps with secondary school in mind). This is not a compulsory program, but can be beneficial for students - and also supports broader access to devices for students at the school.

More information about CONNECT will be provided in the online information session. Current Grade 2 - Grade 5 parents/carers who would like to attend, can register here: https://forms.gle/K4viNEeGp99dVFi89.

For those who can’t make it along, I will also share a recording of the session. Depending on interest, there may also be another session early in 2024. Note: CONNECT devices can be first brought to school at any time during the school year, it doesn’t have to be at the start of the year.

Another reminder will go out to Grade 2-4 families next week on Compass.

2024 Prep Transition

This Thursday we had the last of our four 2024 Prep Transition sessions and the students got a chance to be in their 2024 classes and get to know their classmates and meet their teachers. Overall, the 2024 Prep students settled in wonderfully and we can’t wait to have them all as part of our school community. This year we received feedback from our 2024 Prep families about their transition experience and hope to use this information to continue to improve the program next year and beyond.

Thank you to the many people who contributed to the running of a successful transition program, including the current and new Prep teachers and staff across the school, as well as several members of the parent/carer community.

We realise some of the Grade 5s were disappointed not to meet their new Prep buddies as the final session clashed with the Summer Sports Gala Day. Due to popular demand, we’ve decided to have an optional Grade 5 / Prep Buddy Drop-In Session. This will be on Thursday 14th December, with the new Preps invited to drop in to the new Grade 5 classrooms any time from 9am to 10am to meet their buddy.

Please note that step-up day for all other students at FNPS is scheduled for Monday 18th December (in the last week of school). This is when students meet their new classmates and 2024 teacher. Our Grade 6s have their Statewide Transition Day - for all government schools - on Tuesday 12th December. This is when students (attending a government school) go to their secondary school for a full orientation day.

Sports Gala Day

On Thursday our Grade 5 and 6 students went along to the Summer sports Gala Day (at Edinburgh Gardens, Brunswick Street Oval and the State Netball and Hockey Centre).

The FNPS students made the school proud and achieved some outstanding success throughout the day. We competed in four sports, and had winning teams in basketball, newcomb and tchoukball. Some student reports about the event will be provided - along with some photos - in next week’s newsletter.

Our tireless PE teacher Ben Williams, who also coordinates the district sports with our local primary schools, was instrumental in restructuring interschool sports this year to allow for these incredible Gala Days. Ben also played a key role in making sure the event ran smoothly and was a success not only for FNPS students but for hundreds of other students. Thanks to the other teachers who coached the children in the lead up to the event and supported the event on the day, as well as to the many parents who helped out.

Bike Ed is Finished

Once again, Ben - our PE teacher extraordinaire - has been working hard in the background to organise a number of experiences for our students. This includes Bike Ed for the Grade 3s to 6s, which wound up this week. It was a great chance for students to spend several sessions learning about bike safety and improving their cycling skills (some even in wet weather!). A shout out to the many parents and carers who rode alongside the students and supported them to stay upright and further develop their skills.

Upcoming Events

Phew, we’re almost at the end of the year - and there’s still so much to squeeze in!

As well as all the activities next Thursday - as mentioned earlier - we have a number of sporting and extracurricular events.

Next up is Traffic School Excursion for our Preps and Grade 1/2s, which is on this coming Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday (depending on the class).

Our music teacher, Tanya D, has organised for a group of 3/4 students to perform at St. Vincent’s Hospital on Friday December 8th. Students will travel by tram to St. Vincent’s and help spread some positivity and cheer there, performing for patients, staff and visitors in the foyer, cancer ward, clinics and other wards. It’s another wonderful example of FNPS students contributing to our local community. Thank you Tanya for organising this event.

Of course, our Grade 6s have their Graduation ceremony coming up on Thursday 14th December. I know the Grade 6 students - and teachers - are working very hard in the lead up to what should be a fantastic ceremony.

And for those who may have missed the memo, the last Friday of term - 15th December - is a curriculum day. For those families who would like to access care on that day, you can contact TheirCare.

Expression of Interest for the Policy and Curriculum Subcommittee

The Policy and Curriculum Subcommittee is a small group made up of parents/carers and FNPS teachers, that works under the FNPS School Council. The subcommittee is responsible for providing feedback to all school-based policies that need to be endorsed by School Council, as well as providing input into other operational policies. The group also discusses and provides input into a range of curriculum issues, for example a couple of topics explored this year include the review of reporting and communication with families and the CONNECT Bring Your Own Device Program.

You do not have to be a member of school council to be involved in the P&C subcommittee. The only commitment is a one hour meeting approximately twice per term (normally Friday mornings at 8am - you can always join online if you can’t make it face-to-face), as well as the occasional requirement to read and provide feedback on updated policies or documents. Any parents or carers who are interested in finding out more are welcome to contact me by email (toby.russo@education.vic.gov.au).

Another new Arrival for the FNPS Community!

I wanted to end this week’s newsletter with some fantastic news from one of our 3/4 teachers Sam Tolley. On Tuesday Sam’s second child was born - Louis James Tolley. Congratulations to Jane and Sam. We can’t wait to meet Louis!

I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend.

Best wishes

Toby

End of Year Picnic