A Strong Start
We are already three weeks into the school year, and I would like to congratulate our students on the positive and settled way they have returned to learning. Classrooms are establishing strong routines, expectations are clear, and there is a wonderful sense of purpose across the school. It has been a smooth and productive start.

By this stage of the term, classroom routines are well established. You can support your child by:

Ensuring they arrive on time and ready to learn
Checking Compass regularly for updates and communication
Supporting home reading and nightly organisation of school bags

Consistent routines between home and school make a significant difference to student confidence and learning growth.

Thank you to families who attended our Parent Teacher Interviews. These early conversations are so valuable in setting shared goals and ensuring every child feels known, supported and understood. The positive feedback from families has been overwhelming, and it reflects the care and professionalism of our staff.
If you were unable to attend interviews and would still like to connect, please reach out to your child’s teacher to arrange a time.

🎬 Exciting Website Update – Sneak Peek!

At the end of last year, we welcomed a professional videographer to our school to capture the vibrant learning, wellbeing and community spirit that makes our school such a special place.

We’re currently putting the finishing touches on our refreshed website, and new video content will be uploaded very soon! In the meantime, we’re delighted to share two teaser videos featuring Sully, our much-loved Wellbeing Dog, and some then-Preps talking about Science.

These short clips offer a glimpse into the warmth, engagement and curiosity we see every day in our classrooms and playgrounds.

We hope you enjoy this preview of what’s to come — stay tuned for the full website launch!

Sully the Wellbeing Dog

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-D96llR8qDBAPY4aMbuv83Nl4zP6X2yf/view?usp=drive_link

2025 Preps talking about Science

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wLogxe1c0zb7NFaYli-DMAPl6w-McLFU/view?usp=drive_link

Welcome Picnic - Thursday 26th February 4pm-6pm
We are looking forward to our upcoming Welcome Picnic, which is always a highlight of Term 1. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect as a community in a relaxed setting and to welcome new families. Staff will be running the BBQ this year, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.

NAPLAN 2026

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) will take place at Box Hill North Primary School during Term 1, 2026, for students in Years 3 and 5.

NAPLAN assesses student skills in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. The information gathered helps schools and families better understand student progress and supports future learning.

Testing Window:

Wednesday 11 March – Monday 23 March 2026

Key Test Dates:

Wednesday 11 March – Writing (Year 3 & Year 5)
Thursday 12 March – Reading (Year 3 & Year 5)
Monday 16 March – Conventions of Language (Year 3 & Year 5)
Wednesday 18 March – Numeracy (Year 3 & Year 5)

Catch-up sessions will be available for students who are absent on their scheduled test day. Please note that the Year 3 Writing test must be completed by Monday 16 March 2026.

Participation and Support

All eligible students are expected to participate in NAPLAN. Support arrangements are available for students with disability where adjustments are regularly used in the classroom. Exemptions may apply for students with significant intellectual disability or those who have been learning English for less than one year. Parents/carers should discuss eligibility with their child’s teacher prior to the test period.

Parents and carers may also choose to withdraw their child from NAPLAN in consultation with the principal. A signed withdrawal form is required.

Later in the year, families will receive an individual NAPLAN report outlining their child’s achievement.

For more information, please visit www.vcaa.vic.edu.au or www.nap.edu.au.

Attendance Matters
Regular attendance in the early weeks of the year is critical for building strong learning habits and social connections. If your child is unwell, please keep them home and log their absence on Compass. If attendance becomes a concern, please reach out so we can work together to support your family.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for the positive way you engage with our school community. The strong relationships between home and school are what enable our students to thrive. I look forward to seeing the growth in confidence and learning that will continue to unfold across the term.

Anna Johnstone

Principal

Student Of The Week Celebrations