Week 5&6 Term 3 2025

Dear CNPS Families,

As a committed group of educators, we like to find learning opportunities in everything we do. What a lovely assembly last Friday 22 August 2025 when Jo Richmond from Dr Vincent Clark–Archaeology and Heritage addressed the assembly, to explain why Heritage Victoria required archaeologists to be on-site during the ground works and what artefacts have been discovered. Jo was able to show students, staff and the wider community an array of different objects, including, ink wells, ceramics, glass jars and many other interesting materials. We wait in anticipation for any big finds as the ground works continue. On behalf of CNPS, I would again like to thank Jo and her team for all their work.

Capital Works – Building Modernisation and Upgrade

As mentioned above, ground works have commenced in-readiness for construction of our new Hall in the North/West corner of the school. Tom Buxton (FIMMA Constructions) has been working with his team to ready the site. Demolition works within the karawun (main) building are well underway, with the internal space now taken back to bare bones, including walls being removed ready for our new administration facilities to begin construction. I look forward to sharing more information about the building works with the community at an upcoming assembly later this term.

Annual Parent/Carer Survey

Our school is conducting the annual Parent / Carer Opinion Survey offered by the Department of Education and is seeking your feedback. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. The survey is optional, but we encourage and appreciate your participation. Our school will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies.

The Parent / Carer Opinion Survey will be open online from Monday 18 August to Friday 19 September 2025.

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones.

The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Resources are also available in additional languages to assist parents / carers who speak a language other than English at home.

For details on how to access the survey, please see Compass.

Photography / Filming and Recording at Carlton North Primary School

I am writing to the community regarding the CNPS policy pertaining to photographing, filming and recording of students.

The policy stipulates the following:

Carlton North Primary School permits parents/carers, students and invited guests to photograph, film or record school performances, sporting events and other school-approved activities. Carlton North Primary School requests that parents/carers, students and invited guests who photograph, film or record school activities only do so for their own personal use and do not publish the images in any form, including on social media, without the prior consent of persons whose children also appear in the images. Neither the school nor the department own or control any images of students taken by parents/carers, students or their invited guests at school activities.

Community members are reminded they are not permitted to take photos or film/record students on-site, outside the approved activities.

I thank the community for your support in implementing this important policy which reflects CNPS’s focus on Child Safe Standards. For more information regarding the photographing, filming and recording of students policy, please visit the school website.

Professional Learning

Last Wednesday (20 August 2025) Jane, Erin and I attended the North East Melbourne Area Principal forum held out at Epping. The keynote speaker was Deputy Secretary Dr David Howes who discussed the strong Victorian NAPLAN results for 2025. It was again pleasing to hear that Victoria is leading the nation in student NAPLAN outcomes. The forum also heard from a Principal panel that explored how schools are implementing the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0) with a focus on enabling learning and how schools can improve learning environments to strengthen and improve student learning outcomes.

Athletics Carnival

What another wonderful CNPS sporting event last Tuesday 19 August 2025. A big thank you to all students, staff and the many parents/carers who attended the day. As it was my first CNPS Athletics Carnival, I thoroughly enjoyed the parents/carers, student and staff relay race to wrap up the day. A big congratulations to the Year 5/6 relay team who took out the win. Can I please thank Chris for all his hard work in organising the carnival and wish all students participating in the District event the very best.

Wear It Purple Day – Friday 29 August 2025

The annual Wear It Purple Day will be held tomorrow (Friday 29 August 2025).

The day aims to foster supportive and inclusive environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer, questioning and asexual (LGBTIQA+) young people.

This is part of the work schools do every day to create an environment where all students and staff feel welcome and can participate freely and equally in all areas of school life.

This year’s theme for Wear it Purple Day is ‘Bold Voices, Bright Futures’. This is a chance for our community to engage with events and activities that celebrate LGBTIQA+ diversity and inclusion.

REMINDER Community Conversation

All members of the CNPS community are invited to an open conversation about parent/carer celebrations at CNPS. As a school we value full inclusion of all members of our community. The conversation will explore how we can support all families to feel included at times of celebration. The open conversation is happening on Wednesday 3 September 2025 from 8.30am in the Art Room.

Leaving CNPS? Moving House? Moving Overseas? Visa Expiring?

If you have any intentions to unfortunately leave CNPS in the next 6 months, please let the school office know. Your decision doesn't need to be confirmed but giving us a heads up is very helpful. This information is vital for the school to budget and plan for staffing in 2026. If you suspect you may be moving house, travelling overseas or you know your visa is expiring, please inform the school via email: carlton.north.ps@education.vic.gov.au at your earliest convenience.

School – Home Partnership

The hallmark of a strong school-home partnership is open and respectful dialogue that embodies the school values. Please feel free to reach out to Jane, Erin, Trish or I should you have any questions or queries.

Warm Regards

Matthew Ferguson

Principal

Beyond the Gates