Principal Report
Hello parents and families,
As we come to the end of a long term, after another big year, with tired students and tired staff, we are still managing to keep a smile on our faces and have some exciting things going on to keep us all engaged and connected! Our senior students have an extra fun few weeks ahead of them, with the Beach Program (Year 4-6), Mini Olympics (Year 4), Graduation (Year 6) and the Big Day Out (Year 6) to look forward to. Fingers crossed this crazy, mixed weather is kind to them on those particular days!
Open Classrooms & Family Picnic
It was fantastic to see so many families come into our classrooms and see all the wonderful learning that our students have been doing this semester as part of this term’s Open Classroom event last Thursday afternoon. It was also great to see so many siblings taking an interest in each other’s work and contributions to the classroom environment! We introduced this regular event in late 2022 as a way that families could get a better understanding of school life, and learning, in today’s world, as much has changed since we were in primary school! It was heart-warming to see the proud faces of students and parents alike as they spent time together going through learning last week.
Likewise, it was also so wonderful to see families and students enjoy each other’s company at the Family Picnic that followed. Thank you to the Parents’ Club for organising the entertainment and food on offer (the bake sale was especially popular!). A big thank you also to all those that baked and assisted the stalls. These events always have a lovely vibe to them and are testament to the great school community we have here at NLPS.
This strong school community connection is reflected in some of the 2024 Parent Opinion Survey results, where we are above state, network and similar schools on a number of different surveyed elements, something we should all be proud of.
Working Bee
A big THANK YOU to the small, but mighty, team that completed some much needed tasks around the yard on the hot Saturday that was November 23rd. The team of dedicated volunteers, including some NLPS students, worked tirelessly in the heat for hours to ensure that the outdoor area looked great for the Open Classroom / Family Picnic event. A special thank you to Ben and Dean from the School Council’s Facilities Subcommittee for suggesting, coordinating and participating in the two Working Bees we’ve had this year.
Student End of Year Report
The 2024 end of year student reports will be available on Monday, 16th December from 4pm, via the Compass Parent Portal. If parents do not have their username, password or have difficulty accessing the Parent Portal, please contact the school office and assistance will be available.
2025 Classes Are Coming Together
Even with the assistance of a program, Class Creator, we are still working our way through creating balanced grades for next year, and then assigning teachers to them. If your child needs additional support through transition, we will ensure this starts as soon as things are finalised - hopefully early next week!
Regarding parent requests re. friendships, we do our very best to ensure that we place students with at least one of the names that parents have put forward but ask that you please understand that we may also have competing demands that may affect how we balance the class. Regardless, we can guarantee that every student will get at least one of their ‘learning buddies’ they listed earlier this term.
Staffing Update - Farewells, Welcomes & Congratulations!
After a few years of significant change, in 2025, there will be very little change in teaching staff due to numbers staying relatively stable. More details on teachers and grades will be in the next newsletter. Unfortunately, we will be saying farewell to two of our beloved junior grade teachers, Issy Jack and Rebecca Barham (AKA Miss B) and also to Daniel Pantalleresco (Education Support). We thank the three of them for their dedication and efforts here at NLPS - we will miss their faces in the staff room and wish them all well. We also say a formal welcome to Lleyton Lammardo who was the successful applicant for our recent Classroom Teacher, Range 1, interview process. Lleyton has been part of the Year 3 PLT since Term 2 on a short term contract.
In other staff leave news, Lucinda Porter will be taking family leave as of the end of this year so we also wish her well for the big year ahead. Although not a full farewell, we also have two staff who are heading on leave as of the end of this week. Antonella Pappalardo, one of our wonderful ES staff, is getting married later this month, and Jill Kelly is taking long service leave to spend quality time with her family prior to the Christmas rush.
Lunch Orders - Last day to order 2024
The last lunch order day for 2024 will be Monday 16th December.
Orders will open again in time for lunch on Monday 3rd February 2025.
End of Year Assembly & Dismissal
School will be dismissed for all students at 1:30pm on Friday, 20th December.
Weather permitting, an assembly will be conducted on the school oval at 12:55pm featuring a special farewell to our Year 6 students.
After the general school announcements, the Year 6 children will then be farewelled through the traditional Newport Lakes ‘Avenue of Honour’ formed by all the teachers and children in the school. The students will perform a lap around the school oval with all students (Foundation - Year 5) providing a fun way to bid them goodbye and good luck!
Parents are also most welcome to attend the assembly and Year 6 farewell around the school oval. All students will return to their classrooms after the assembly. Teachers will then dismiss their children from outside the classrooms at 1:30pm and parents are permitted to greet and converse with their child’s teacher at this time.
Any child remaining at school after 1:30pm will need to attend after school care.
Carly Bannon
Proud NLPS Principal
Building Fund & Library Fund Update
Enhancing Our School Community: Thanks to Your Generosity
We are excited to share the incredible improvements made to our school this year, thanks to the generous donations from our families to both the Building and Library Funds. These contributions have made a significant impact on the environment and resources available to our students, and we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks for your ongoing support.
Building Fund Highlights: Improving Spaces for Learning and Play
The Building Fund has enabled us to complete several key upgrades around the school. One of the most noticeable improvements has been the installation of bird netting outside the gym. Not only has this solution solved the issue of birds perching and making a mess in the area, but it has also provided our students with a cleaner and more enjoyable space to play, rest, and enjoy their time outdoors. The addition of more open space for students to gather in the shade has been a welcomed change.
Another major development has been the installation of a new internal gate near the main building. This addition has improved safety on school grounds, ensuring students and staff are protected both before and during school hours.
In the Foundation area, we've added playful line-up shapes in the quiet yard, which have been a fun and engaging way for our youngest learners to organize and prepare for the school day. Additionally, recognizing the need for more flexible spaces, we remodelled part of the administration office to create a new meeting and break-out space for staff, parents, and visitors—ensuring that our school can continue to grow and adapt to the needs of our community.
Library Fund Highlights: Expanding Resources for Young Readers
With the Library Fund, we’ve been able to continue providing exciting and diverse reading opportunities for our students. Our subscription to e-Platform remains in full swing, offering an extensive online library of audio and e-books that students can access both at school and at home. This resource has proven to be an invaluable tool for promoting reading and fostering a love of books in the digital age.
Additionally, we’ve refreshed our classroom libraries to include a broader range of books, ensuring that there’s something for every student, no matter their reading level or interests. We've also been able to purchase brand-new sets of several classic novels, which will enhance our Reading Program and give students the opportunity to explore some of the best literature available, from all genres and for all ages.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Our School
None of these improvements would have been possible without the ongoing support of our school community. We are deeply grateful for your contributions, which continue to make our school a place of learning, growth, and community. As we look ahead, we remain committed to providing our students with the best possible environment for their education, and we are excited to continue working together to make that vision a reality.
Get Involved!
If you’d like to continue supporting the ongoing development of our school, we encourage you to consider making a tax deductable donation to the Building and Library Funds in 2025. Every contribution, big or small, makes a lasting difference in the lives of our students.
Thank you once again for your generosity and commitment to our school. We look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead!