From the Principal

I would like to wish all of our families who are celebrating Lunar New Year happiness, good health, prosperity, and success. This year we welcome the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, determination, strength, and progress. These qualities reflect so many of the wonderful attributes we see in our students each day.

Over the past weeks, students have been learning about the cultural traditions and significance of Lunar New Year during their Mandarin lessons and within their learning spaces. They have explored the story behind the horse, the meaning of red envelopes and decorations, and the way families and communities celebrate this special occasion. It has been a wonderful opportunity to build cultural understanding, curiosity, and respect for diverse traditions within our school community.

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our online parent information sessions last week. It was lovely to see so many of you connecting with our school and learning about the year ahead. A strong home-school partnership is so important because when families and teachers work together, students feel supported, confident, and ready to succeed. If you were unable to attend, the presentation has been posted on Seesaw for you to view at your convenience. Please remember that you are always welcome to contact the school if you would like to arrange a one-to-one phone call or in-person meeting with your child’s teacher. Open communication is something we truly value.

Our students have settled beautifully into school routines, and February is an important month for establishing a safe and orderly environment with clear expectations for learning. Being Ready to Learn is a key focus across the school. Positive behaviour routines help set our students up for success, not just for today, but for the entire year ahead and beyond.

Families play a vital role in supporting these routines at home. Simple, consistent habits make a big difference, such as:

Limiting the use of devices after school, especially before bedtime
Establishing consistent sleep routines
Ensuring children eat breakfast before school
Arriving at school on time
Providing a healthy lunch, snacks, and a water bottle each day

These small daily practices help students arrive at school focused, calm, and ready to engage in their learning.

Please note, as a general guide:

Children aged 5–7 years need approximately10–12 hours of sleep
Children aged 8–10 years need approximately 9–11 hours
Children aged 11–12 years need approximately 9–10 hours

Children who are well rested are better able to concentrate, manage their emotions, solve problems, and engage positively with others at school.

One of the key messages we consistently share with students is the importance of Respect and Safety. Every student and every staff member has the right to feel safe and respected at school. In a respectful and safe school, you will see people speaking kindly to one another, including others in games and activities, listening when someone else is speaking, following school expectations, using equipment safely, and asking for help when needed. At school we use kind words, safe hands, safe bodies and respectful language and actions. When we work together to uphold these values, we create a positive environment where everyone feels safe and valued.

Remember we have our upcoming Family BBQ on Wednesday 4th March from 4.30pm to 6.30pm which is in less than 2 weeks! This is always a special occasion where our school community comes together to build connections, strengthen our home–school partnership, and celebrate the wonderful community we are so proud to be part of. There will be a free sausage sizzle, drinks, icy poles, face painting, balloon artists, inflatable sports activities, and even a silent disco! See page 5 for details. There is so much fun ahead, and we cannot wait to see you there.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Carmel Nigro

Principal