PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

 Dear Parents and Carers,

What beautiful Autumn weather we have been having, it has certainly been lovely to be outside the past couple of weekends enjoying the sunshine.  It is my pleasure to write and share all the wonderful things that have been happening at Lucas Primary School in this week’s Newsletter - everyone has been very busy, and I know there are also some tired students, and staff, who are all looking forward to the term holidays.  Next Friday 4th April, we end Term 1.  Students will have their recess snack at school, organise and clean up learning spaces, and then share some time with their teacher and friends before the bell for a 1:30pm dismissal.   

Please note that Hats are not required to be worn next term, so this is a perfect opportunity to take your hat home for a wash.

School Council

It was wonderful to have our 2025 School Council meet for the first time last week. Our council met for the Annual Reporting meeting initially to discuss the progress the school made in 2024.

Our 2025 School Council members include:

Parent Members: Marc Oliver, Stephen Francis, Anthony Baker, Anthony Lai, Sophie Atkinson, Michelle Richards, Jason Holmes, Naga Chayanam, 

DET Employees: Dave Young, Jacqui Nash, Shannon Whitaker, Hayley Short, 

Reporting members only: Danielle Toose, Dylan Rodger, Jenny Plews (Finance Report), Casey Jenkins

The office bearers for 2025 are:

President - Marc Oliver

Vice President – Stephen Francis 

Secretary – Shannon Whitaker 

Treasurer - Naga Chayanam      

Our first meeting included discussion about the following:

• A financial report for February.
• Staffing and enrolment updates.
• Teaching and learning report to outline initiatives and professional learning currently being conducted.
• A wellbeing report to highlight Disability Inclusion progress and initiatives currently under way.
• Establishment of sub committees including:
  • Finance
  • Curriculum
  • Fundraising
  • Buildings and Grounds
• A proposal for the new playground and school master plan.
• ChildSafe training for members of school council.
• A number of school council governance processes including our standing orders and the purpose of school council.

Harmony Day

Harmony Day takes place in Australia on the 21st March each year.   It is a day to celebrate all the different cultures that are a part of Australia and centres on the message that “Everyone belongs”.  It is also an opportunity to pay tribute to the original inhabitants of the country, Indigenous Australians.  At Lucas Primary School, we are lucky to have many families from all over the world.  At assembly last Friday, Steve, Dheeraj and Ryan, who are our Diversity Leaders, took us on a trip together around the world to celebrate!

Students shared dances with our assembly audience from Japan, India, and Tonga, as well as students sharing clapping sticks and playing the didgeridoo.  We were also treated to the Maori Haka and heard from students speaking African and Portuguese.

Next week, we continue to celebrate Harmony Week, and at our Family Picnic evening, we invite you to discover all our Harmony inspired decorated classroom doors. Please see flyer for the Family Picnic below.

Family Picnic

Curriculum Day

On this upcoming Curriculum Day, Monday 31st March, all staff will begin Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) training, Day 1 - Body. Our school will complete this training over the next two years with the course scheduling around the following four BSEM domains:

• 2025 - Day 1: Body – how to help your students to regulate their stress response, de-escalate in school and classroom contexts, and provide strategies for increased focus.
• 2025 - Day 2: Relationship – positive relational classroom management strategies that promote on-task learning.
• 2026 - Day 3: Stamina – how to create a culture of academic persistence in your classroom by nurturing student resilience, emotional intelligence and a growth mindset. Engagement - motivating students with strategies that increase their willingness to learn.
• 2026 - Day 4: Character – how to harness our values and character strengths approach for effective learning and for future pathways.

The Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) equips both mainstream and specialist schools with practical, classroom-based strategies to increase the engagement of all students, including those with complex, unmet learning needs.  The BSEM enables schools to support students’ self-regulation, relationships and wellbeing to increase student engagement and significantly improve academic achievement.  For further information, you can click on the following link:

Berry Street Education Model – Learning and Resources

LAST DAY TERM 1

Friday the 4th of April is our last day of term1.

We will be having an assembly at 12:45pm then students will finish at the early time of 1:30pm. All students will need to be collected from school at this time. 

If your children catch the Cardigan Bus, please note there will not be an early bus service so please arrange to have your children picked up from school at 1:30pm instead.

The Junior School Council have organised a fundraiser for the last day. Please see the flyer below for "Mismatch Madness!" a fun day of mismatched outfits and a fundraiser for The Smith Family charity -to support children in need.

STAFF CAR PARK

Can all families please note that the staff car park is not a safe parking area for students to be arriving or departing from school.  Over the past couple of days, particularly in the afternoon, students are walking around moving cars that are backing in and out.  We want all our students and families to arrive or leave school safely and sometimes this might involve parking nearby and walking together.  In the staff car park are parking bays for disabled parking - if you have a permit, you are able to park in these spaces.

Term 2

A reminder that the first week of Term 2 sees students attending school for 3 days. As Monday 21st April (Easter Monday) is a public holiday, students will return to school on Tuesday 22nd April.  Friday 25th April (ANZAC Day) is also a public holiday, and students do not attend school on this day. 

Mothers Day 

In Term 2, we are looking forward to celebrating our Lucas Primary School Mother’s and Special Friends Day.  Please see the flyer below letting you know to save this special date in your calendar, Tuesday May 13th, from 9 - 11am.