Term 3, Week 2
Dear Naranga School Community,
I hope this message finds you well and you are settling into the new term.
100 day milestone!
Week 2 has certainly got off to a flying start! On Wednesday, our PLC1 students celebrated a very special milestone—100 Days of Prep. It was a joy to see so many students (and staff!) dressed as centenarians, embracing the fun and excitement of the day. Parents were warmly welcomed into the classroom for a lovely morning tea, where we enjoyed scones with jam and cream and beautifully decorated cookies. Students took part in a range of engaging activities and scavenger hunts, all themed around the number 100. A big thank you to our classroom teachers for planning such a memorable and meaningful day!
Buses
A reminder to families whose children access our bus network: if there are any changes to your child’s travel arrangements for the day, please ensure these are phoned through to reception by 1:30PM. This allows staff to ensure a smooth end-of-day transition with minimal disruption. Of course, we understand that unexpected situations can arise, but wherever possible, we ask for your support in helping us manage this effectively.
Hot food
Our Tuesday Hot Food Program continues to be a highlight each week. Prepared and served by our talented Pathway students in our commercial trade kitchen, this initiative gives students valuable vocational experience—and serves up delicious meals! Spaghetti Bolognese and jacket potatoes with a variety of toppings have proven to be firm favourites. Order forms are available through classroom teachers or from the front office.
Used Coat donations
Our “Off Your Back” Coat Collection is still running. If you have any pre-loved coats at home that are no longer needed, please consider donating them to this worthy cause. Donations can be dropped off at the school office who will ensure they are delivered to the appropriate collection sites.
School Concert
This week also saw the beginning of preparations for our annual Naranga School Concert, to be held on Thursday October 23rd at the Frankston Arts Centre. This year’s theme is ‘Circus’, and we are thrilled to see the early buzz of excitement across classrooms. Every student who wishes to be involved is warmly encouraged to participate. Staff are already working hard behind the scenes to ensure the concert is a fantastic success, as it has been in previous years. We’ll be calling on families for support as the date approaches—including ticketing details and possible costume or prop contributions for your child’s class item.
Wellbeing
Our Wellbeing team continues to deliver targeted therapeutic supports that promote student mental health and wellbeing, helping to improve their engagement with the curriculum and overall access to learning. Equine therapy continues this week for two of our classes, and we’re hearing wonderful feedback about how much our students are benefiting from their interactions with these gentle and intelligent animals. It’s a unique and powerful experience for many of our learners. Several students began participating in a Play Therapy program this week, facilitated by qualified play therapists and supported by trained Naranga staff.
Bully Prevention
Each year, we deliver the Bully Stoppers program across all classrooms. As you are aware, at our school, student safety and wellbeing are a top priority. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for all.
Our school draws on a range of trusted resources to support bullying prevention, including Bully Stoppers, Bullying. No Way! and the eSmart framework. In addition, we implement the Bully Prevention in Positive Behaviour Support Program, with tailored modifications to meet the diverse learning needs of our students.
As a lead Respectful Relationships school, we also embed key elements of this program across our curriculum. Topics such as help-seeking, personal identity and self-worth, recognising safe and unsafe behaviours, and student voice and agency play a vital role in bullying prevention.
Weekly lessons will be delivered this term and will explore key themes including:
- What is bullying?
- What do I do if I’m being bullied?
- What if I am the bully?
- What does it mean to be a friend?
- What is bystander behaviour?
- What is an upstander?
- How to stay safe online
- How to manage cyberbullying
These lessons are age-appropriate and focus on building empathy, resilience, and confidence in our students. Together, through consistent teaching, whole-school approaches, and strong partnerships with families, we continue to foster a culture of respect, kindness, and safety at Naranga.
Seniors and Pathways
Our Pathways students are settling beautifully into their brand-new learning spaces in our newly opened building. It’s clear that the new environment is inspiring both students and staff—there’s a real sense of pride, positivity, and purpose in how the space is being used.
And finally, a huge congratulations to our Senior and Pathway students who began their work experience placements this week. Students are undertaking placements at a variety of local businesses and community hubs, including Woolworths, Bunnings, Anaconda, and local primary schools. We’re incredibly proud of them for stepping into these new environments, and we look forward to hearing all about their experiences over the coming weeks.
Thank you for your continued support of our school and all the opportunities we strive to provide for our students.
Susana Leiva
Acting Assistant Principal