National Reconciliation Week

Fitzroy North Primary School acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land upon which we live, learn, work and play. These were the first people to wonder, dance, play and dream on this land; a land that was cared for and respected for tens of thousands of years. Like us, the First Nations people were teachers and learners. We acknowledge that this is stolen land that was never ceded, and we pay our respects to elders past and present.

This week, the students, staff, and community of Fitzroy North Primary School will acknowledge National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June). This important week invites all Australians “to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.” – Reconciliation Australia

With National Sorry Day also marked today, students across the school engaged in age-appropriate learning experiences to explore its significance. In the Junior School, children discussed what it means to say sorry and how this helps restore relationships. In the middle and senior years, students began developing a deeper understanding of the historical context and why acknowledging past wrongs is vital for moving forward as a nation. Kevin Rudd’s 2008 moving apology speech can be viewed here: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apology speech

Throughout Reconciliation Week, students at FNPS will take part in meaningful learning experiences designed to deepen their understanding and appreciation of our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. These activities also encourage students to reflect on how each of us can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.

Reconciliation Week will conclude this Friday with our much-loved annual ‘Little Long Walk’. Inspired by Michael Long’s 2004 walk from Melbourne to Canberra, this event brings together students, staff, and families as we walk through Edinburgh Gardens to show our support for Long’s vision: to keep the voices and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at the heart of our national conversation.

A heartfelt thank you to our Indigenous Learning Leaders, Amy and Brittany, for their thoughtful planning of the day, and to Tanya D for her work with the Year 3/4 choir in preparing a special performance to mark the occasion. We hope you are able to join us this Friday for this very important event on our annual calendar.

Cross Country

Congratulations to all the students who represented FNPS at this week’s District Cross Country competition! We’re incredibly proud of your determination and sportsmanship. A shout-out to the students who have qualified for the Divisional Competition—well done and best of luck!

Excellence Award and State Principal’s Conference

I'm thrilled to share that Fitzroy North Primary School has been nominated for the 'Most Outstanding School Improvement' award in this year’s Victorian Education Excellence Awards.

This nomination is a powerful recognition of our school’s journey since 2022—when we faced significant financial challenges and a disrupted teaching and learning program following multiple principal transitions and covid interruptions.

At the heart of our improvement strategy was a deliberate effort to cultivate a culture of high expectations and high support, while firmly recentering our work around student learning and wellbeing.

Over the past four years, we’ve worked tirelessly to strengthen our practice, rebuild connections, and create the conditions for both students, staff and our community to thrive. We know that sustained impact comes from maintaining high-quality documentation, reflecting latest research and best practice, and delivering consistent, high-impact instruction through a team of reflective, growth-minded educators.

This nomination is a celebration of our community’s resilience, pride, and shared commitment to excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come—and the bright future that lies ahead for FNPS.

We’re also very excited to share that Joe and I have been invited to speak at next week’s Government Schools Principal’s Conference. We’ll be sharing our school improvement journey; highlighting the deliberate and strategic decisions we made to keep student learning outcomes at the forefront of our work.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the steps we’ve taken and to contribute to the broader conversation on effective school leadership and improvement.

Student Absences

Reminder for Families:

If your child is absent, please make sure to report and explain their absence using the Compass App or website. We are still seeing several unexplained absences each day, and our goal is to eliminate these moving forward.

Each morning at 10:30am, families with unexplained absences will receive an SMS notification. If you get this message, please log into the Compass App to update your child’s absence reason. Our office staff will also follow up with phone calls or letters as needed.

Thank you for helping us keep accurate attendance records and ensure your child’s safety.

Student Attitudes to School Survey

It’s that time of year again for our Year 4–6 students to share their feedback about their school experience. The survey covers areas such as learning, peer and social relationships, connections with staff, and mental health and wellbeing.

When the results come in later this year, this information will help us understand students’ perspectives and identify key areas for future growth and improvement.

If you have any questions about the survey or the data collection process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

That’s it for me, see you all next week.

Go gently,

Tania

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