PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear Parents and Carers,

It was fantastic to welcome so many grandparents and special friends to share an afternoon of activities and learning with our students last Thursday. The children were proud to showcase their classrooms, play games, visit the Book Fair and introduce their teachers. The smiles on the faces of both young and old showed just how much our visitors are valued in the lives of our students. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us.

Master Plan

Over recent months, we have gathered feedback from students, staff and the wider community to help create a masterplan for Lucas PS. This plan, shown below, outlines a vision for an environment that supports future growth, encourages student play and provides opportunities for a wide range of activities and sports.

While the plan is a long-term project, it will guide our fundraising efforts, grant applications and planning for the next 10 years, including future classroom placements and traffic management. We are excited to share this vision and look forward to working together as a community to bring it to life. School Council will continue to discuss the plan and determine our next steps in the coming months.

Curriculum Day

Next Friday August 22, we will be having a Curriculum Day when all Lucas PS staff will be undertaking our Day 2 training of the Berry Street Education Model. This is a model that is based on trauma informed practices to support student engagement while at school. Earlier in the year we held Day 1 and in 2026 we will finish our training with the final two days.

We thank everyone for making alternative arrangements on this day. Lucas LEAP is open for bookings from 7am - 6pm.  Bookings available on 53385000.

Book Fair

Last week, we enjoyed a highly successful Book Fair, with students and their families attending before and after school. All proceeds will go towards keeping our libraries stocked with quality literature and supporting the development of our new playground. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful event.

Community Links

Last week, we welcomed Member for Ripon, Martha Haylett, who announced an exciting pilot program that Lucas PS has been selected to join. We are one of only two schools in the Ballarat District chosen to participate. The program focuses on supporting schools to make their facilities more accessible for community groups outside of school hours. It will explore ways to streamline administrative tasks related to venue hire and develop clear agreements between schools and external users.

Here at Lucas PS, we already host a wide range of community activities, with groups such as Little Athletics, Auskick, Potters Church, local football and netball clubs, Kelly Sports, and our own Lucas LEAP program making regular use of our spaces after hours.

Our school captains did a wonderful job showing Martha around our school, answering questions and showcasing our master plan for the future. 

Koorie Champions Morning Tea 

For Koorie Children’s Day, we welcomed families to join their children in a special planting activity around one of our garden beds. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together, celebrate culture and create a lasting space that will grow and flourish for years to come.

Japanese Day

On Thursday the 28th of August we will celebrate Japanese Day at school. Students will participate in various activities throughout the day. Students have the opportunity to order sushi for their lunch on this day. 

Orders can be made on Quickcliq - See button below. 

Orders close on Monday the 18th of August. 

Unfortunately we are unable to accept late orders.

Lucas PS Cafe

This week, we were thrilled to launch our very own café, serving freshly made barista coffee and hot chocolates for our school community each morning. Drop by the canteen to say hello to our baristas, Emma and Bella, and enjoy your morning brew. The café is open until 8:45am and to celebrate our grand opening this week, we’re offering $3.50 coffees and $3.00 hot chocolates.

NAPLAN Data

Over the past few weeks, families of students in Years 3 and 5 received their NAPLAN reports from the assessments undertaken earlier in the year. Each student received a report and explanation of how to read the NAPLAN report.

The results received are now being analysed to identify celebrations, challenges and future steps to support student learning and our teaching and learning programs.

Lucas continues to show strong results in all areas with results that are close to or above similar schools and state averages. Thankyou to everyone who assisted the students to prepare for and work through the assessments in May.

Attendance

Regular attendance and punctuality are essential for every child’s learning and wellbeing. Arriving on time each day ensures students can participate fully in morning routines, build strong connections with peers and receive important instructions to set them up for success. Missing even a small portion of the day can disrupt learning and impact progress. It is also a legal requirement to record all absences, so we ask parents and carers to notify the school promptly through Compass, by phone, or via email. 

Together, we can ensure every child makes the most of their school experience.

Morning routine:

·       8.45am – Arrival

·       8.50am – Music plays & line up at classroom doors

·       8.55am – Welcome Circles

Absences

All absences must be registered. You can:

1.     Record them on Compass

2.     Contact the office

3.     Email: lucas.ps@education.vic.gov.au

We’ve had above-average unexplained absences this term, your support in addressing this matter is appreciated. 

Performing Arts/Wellbeing Lessons

Unfortunately, at the end of last term our Performing Arts teacher relocated from Ballarat, leaving the position vacant. Despite extensive recruitment efforts, we have not yet been able to secure a full-time replacement. In the interim, our P–2 students are continuing Performing Arts with temporary staff, while our senior students are participating in a Wellbeing-focused program. Further details about this program can be found on the Wellbeing page of this newsletter. We remain committed to finding a suitable Performing Arts teacher and will keep our community updated on our progress. Thank you for your patience and understanding.