Greetings from Shaun

Welcome back!

Welcome back everyone. We hope you were able to take some time to relax and restore with loved ones over the term break and are ready for a great term’s learning in Term 2.

There is a lot to squeeze into this term, so we are working on ways to help you stay on top of the upcoming events. If you haven't visited the website recently, I would really recommend you take a look (https://northcoteps.vic.edu.au/ ). 

In particular, I would like to draw your attention to the Parent Informationsection. To navigate there, you simply need to click the three horizontal lines at the top right of the page and it will bring up a drop down menu that has a list of really useful links, be sure to take a look around and explore.

 The one in particular that I would like to bring to your attention is the link called Key Dates and Times. This link identifies for you all the school term dates for 2024, as well as our upcoming Curriculum days for the rest of the year. 

Once you are there, you will also notice that there is now a calendar that will help you to identify and navigate the chaos of school and all of our upcoming events and activities. Be sure to check regularly, as we will endeavour to update as new events and activities are organised. Please note that we will continue to include the key dates in the newsletter for your convenience. 

2025 Prep Enrolments

Do you or someone you know have a child starting school in 2025? We are now accepting enrolments for next year, with school tours being held fortnightly on Tuesday mornings at 9:15am.

Additionally, prospective families are invited to join us on Tuesday 30th of April 2024 at 7:00pm for our Prep 2025 Information Evening. The evening will provide families with information about our school, our curriculum, our community and the 2025 enrolment process. Be sure to spread the word!

2025 Year 7 Enrolments 

Last week, the enrolment process for students transitioning from Year 6 – 7 began for students enrolling in Victorian Government Secondary Schools in 2025. This included the distribution of a Placement Information Pack, along with a Year 7 Transition Factsheet. 

The Transition Factsheet can be found here and is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, Dari and Vietnamese.

If you have any questions regarding the enrolment or transition process, please reach out to your classroom teacher or speak to someonme in the office.

150th Anniversary- Afternoon Tea

This year we are celebrating our anniversary with an afternoon tea and a tour of the school. Everybody past and present is welcome to come along to help us celebrate.

When: Friday May 3rd at 4pm

Where: 33 Helen Street Northcote Primary School in the school hall

Landscaping and Playground Update

While the process has been lengthy, I am pleased to announce that we have now reached another milestone in the process. Our landscaping proposal to the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) has finally completed all stages of the technical and financial review and has now been approved. Next week, I will be meeting with the Landscape Architects to commence the next phase of the project and to begin to finalise the design before the project is put out to tendor for construction. 

Numeracy

This week our Learning Specialist, Natalie, had the privilege to work alongside our Numeracy consultant Carmel O’Beirne to further strengthen and develop the Numeracy program at Northcote Primary. Carmel and Natalie worked with the PLC leaders for each team to discuss how their Numeracy planning and assessment is tracking and provided support to further develop their capability in leading their teams to continue providing targeted and differentiated learning for all their students. 

They completed classroom observations and provided feedback to our 1/2 teachers on the strategies that they are implementing to provide an engaging and challenging learning environment in their Numeracy lessons. We also undertook a whole staff professional learning session on ‘Additive Thinking’ and worked with staff to develop a range of tasks focusing on additive strategies that students will be exploring in their next unit of work in Numeracy. 

The work undertaken this week will ensure that we continue to provide our students with targeted, differentiated learning that is data informed, engaging and hands on to further develop their potential and passion for Numeracy. 

First Aid Training 

This week during one of our after school staff meetings, all teachers and Education Support staff completed a suite of First Aid Modules and Training. This included topics like CPR, Asthma and Anaphylaxis. 

Thanks Coby for supporting us all through this very important professional learning. 

ANZAC Day

This week we also pay tribute to the brave soldiers of Australia and New Zealand who served and sacrificed. ANZAC Day marks a significant date in our history, commnerating the landing of Gallipoli on April 25th 1915, a pivotal moment that forged the ANZAC spirit. 

NPS Event annd parent volunteering

Term 2 is shaping up to be a busy one with a number of events coming on the NPS calendar. 

We value our parent volunteers support with these event, so if you are thinking about attending any of the excursion, camps or events as a volunteer you will need to have completed our Northcote Primary School OHS Parent Induction, there is another session coming up on Friday 10th May at 9.15am

Take Care,

Shaun.