Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a busy few weeks as the students have focussed on their assessments, the community have banded together to participate in a successful Colour Run and transition sessions have begun for our 2026 students. We are incredibly lucky to have such dedicated staff and families that support the students through these transitional times with kindness and support.

Christmas Carols & Picnic Evening

Mark your calendars! Our Christmas Carols Picnic will be held on Wednesday, December 10 from 5.00pm to 7.00pm.

Students will each perform a song with their class, along with a special whole-school performance to finish the evening. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic rug and enjoy a relaxed evening of music, laughter and celebration together. We’d love to see as many families as possible join us!

BBQ Roster:

We’re also looking for parent volunteers to help cook the BBQ on the night. If you can lend a hand, please add your name to the roster via the link below.

BBQ Roster Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gh1-oJc4zmUIwCbon78k_-ouNkdkkGVBv5jXjCG9id4/edit?tab=t.0

Additional food trucks will be available onsite or families are welcome to bring their own picnic dinner.

If you’d like to be part of the Christmas Carols Organising Team, please contact the school office, we’d love your help!

Giant Christmas Raffle

We’re now collecting donations for our Giant Christmas Raffle, to be drawn during the Christmas Carols Picnic. If you’re able to contribute a prize, voucher or festive item, please drop it off at the office.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support, it’s shaping up to be a wonderful evening for our whole school community!

Colour Run

Our Colour Run on Friday October 31 was a huge success, filled with colour, laughter and energy! It was fantastic to see so many parents and families come along to cheer on the students. The highlight of the day was definitely the sliming of teachers and staff … much to the delight of the crowd! It was a fun-filled afternoon that brought our school community together.

A huge thank you to all our parents, families and friends for your incredible fundraising efforts this year! Together, we raised over $42,000… an amazing achievement that will go directly towards developing our new school playground.

Your support and generosity make such a difference for our students. Prizes have been ordered and will be arriving soon!

Class Sorting

Over the past few weeks, staff have been engaged in class organisation for the 2026 school year. On December 9, we will conduct a "Meet Your Teacher" session to provide an opportunity for all students to connect with their 2026 classroom teacher. In 2026, we will have straight year level classes from Foundation - Year 4 but retain composite classes in Year 5/6.

This is always a tricky time for some students so there is a role for parents and carers to play in the lead up to this time to assist with a smooth transition.

Talk about ‘change’ positively: Discuss what your child is looking forward to and any worries they might have. Framing the transition as an exciting opportunity helps build confidence and resilience.
Encourage independence: Each year level brings added responsibility, from managing work to organising routines and belongings. Setting some goals around this change could assist.
Support friendships and new connections: Encourage your child to spend time with a variety of peers, both inside and outside the classroom. Developing broader social connections helps build confidence and adaptability in new settings.
Stay connected and involved: Keeping open communication with teachers and staying engaged in school life helps your child feel supported and confident through times of change.

As always, if you require support, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Foundation Transition Program

On Tuesday, we welcomed the 2026 Foundation students to Lucas PS for their very first transition session. We held two sessions throughout the day where the kinder students spent an hour with the current Foundation teachers. While the students were engaged in the classroom, the parents attended an information session in the Administration Building.

There are two further transition days later in Term 4 that will support a positive start to primary school life.

Remembrance Day

On Monday, just before 11am, our students, staff and parents gathered around the Lone Pine tree to conduct our Remembrance Day service.

This special occasion provided an opportunity to honour the men and women who have served in wars and conflicts, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. It was also a time to reflect on the families who have supported and endured the absence of their loved ones as they served our country.

A sincere thank you to our students who read so beautifully during the service.

Lest we forget.

Key Dates for the Calender

Below are the dates for beginning school in 2026.

Thursday 29 January - Year 1 - 6 Students begin
Thursday 29 and Friday 30 January - Foundation Assessment Interviews

Note: Each student will be allocated an interview time on Thursday 29th or Friday 30th of January. Students will come to school at their interview time to complete some Literacy and Numeracy Foundation assessment tasks with their teacher.

Monday 2nd February (8:50 am – 3:30 pm) - First Day of School for Foundation students.
On Wednesdays (4th, 11th, 18th & 25th February), Foundation students do not attend school.
Monday 3rd March - Foundation students begin full time school.

Energy Breakthrough Preparation

Our Energy Breakthrough team has been working tirelessly over the past month to finalise preparations for the upcoming competition. Students have been perfecting their presentations, fine-tuning their carts and building their strength and stamina to ensure they’re ready for the exciting three-day event ahead.

This year, our three carts; Prometheus, Athena and Poseidon, will be officially unveiled to the sponsors on Friday afternoon from 3.30pm and to the students on Monday during a send-off at the end of the day.

We wish our teams the very best of luck for next week’s competition and look forward to hearing all their amazing stories and experiences upon their return!

State Championship Representatives

Last week, Dillish and Sophie represented our school at the State Championships in Melbourne. Dillish competed in the shot put and Sophie in the triple jump, both performing exceptionally well against a strong field of competitors. We were fortunate to watch their events live via video stream and were so impressed by their skill, determination and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Dillish and Sophie on their outstanding efforts… we are all incredibly proud of you!

Java Nice Day Cafe & Walking School Bus