Newport Lakes Primary School

Principal Report

Dear Parents and Families,

 

Here we are at the end of another wonderful semester — a big well done to us all for getting through the long term relatively unscathed! There are just a few things to let you know about before we head into the break.

Collector Cards / Trading Club

If your child is one of the many collecting trading cards (Pokémon and footy cards are all the rage at the moment), you’ll know there’s a thriving community of collectors here at NLPS. You may also be aware that we’ve set some boundaries to ensure trading remains fair — specifically, students may only trade within their grade (year level). The only exception is during the Tuesday Trading Card Club, where trades can occur across grades, provided Mat (the supervising teacher) approves them.

 

It's also important to note that money should never be exchanged. If your child is bringing cards to school, please take a moment to remind them of these expectations. Thank you!

Newport Lakes Parents' Club

From all accounts, the recent Trivia Night was a great success — I even heard a rumour that the Backstreet Boys may have made an appearance?! A huge thank you to our wonderful Parents' Club for organising the event!

 

The Newport Lakes Parents' Club (NLPC) plays a vital role in our school, working tirelessly to support the strong connections within our large community. A reminder that the NLPC relies on parents like you to do this important work. With our much loved biannual Twilight Fete coming up in November, I encourage you to get involved in any way that you can — whether it’s volunteering an hour, donating items, or contributing to fundraising.

 

The NLPC always posts information in our school newsletter, so please check it out and consider attending a meeting or signing up to volunteer for an upcoming NLPC event.

Local Hire Agreements

After pausing hire arrangements during COVID, the School Council has approved two new trial agreements starting in Term 3.

  • A local basketball club will be using the gym for evening training sessions, Monday through Thursday.
  • A Coding Club will offer a seven-week after-school program (starting Week 2) for students in Years 3–6. See the advert in the Community Corner page of the newsletter for more information.

These arrangements will be closely monitored throughout the term and provide additional revenue for the school.

Staff Professional Learning

As educators, it's vital we stay informed on current research, ensure our practices are evidence-based, and build our capacity.

Our staff reflect on and develop their practice through various means, including:

  • Weekly professional learning (year-level) team sessions
  • Two hours of after-school professional learning every Tuesday and Wednesday (focused around curriculum areas or whole-school goals in line with our Annual Implementation Plan)
  • Relevant external professional development programs

This year, staff from across roles (Education Support, Classroom Teachers, and Leadership) have undertaken a wide range of professional development programs, including:

  • Teacher Excellence Program (TEP)
  • Sounds Write Training
  • Unlocking Potential (UP)
  • Respectful Relationships
  • De-escalation Strategies
  • Leading Instructional Excellence
  • Masters in Inclusive Education
  • Developing a Knowledge-Rich Curriculum
  • Instructional Leadership Course (online via the Harvard Graduate School of Education)
  • Strengthening Professional Practice in Improving Koorie Education (SPPIKE)

Some of these programs are fully subsidised by the Department of Education, while others are partly or fully funded by the school. We place high value on professional learning, and allocate a meaningful budget each year to ensure our staff are well supported to take up these opportunities — because we know all our students benefit directly from it. It does sometimes mean that a classroom teacher may not be with their class that learning day, but we hope families understand that there is a greater good at play.

Connecting to Country These Holidays

As part of the SPPIKE program, we learned more about leading work to improve Koorie outcomes using Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strategies and leadership practices. It also served as a wonderful reminder of the importance of Country — and how getting out in nature can help us reconnect and slow down.

 

I hope you all get a chance to do this over the break — whether it’s a walk along a windswept beach, a visit to Newport Lakes, outdoor fun in the alpine regions, or even just noticing the change in foliage as you walk your local streets. All of these are great ways to feel more grounded and relaxed.

Early Dismissal This Friday

A friendly reminder that school will finish early tomorrow — Friday, July 4th at 2:15pm, following a whole-school assembly from 1:30pm.

 

After-school care and school holiday vacation care are available through Quantin Binnah —   please click here.

 

IMPORTANT TO NOTE - please note that our wonderful school crossing supervisors have been told that they are not to begin work before 2:30pm under any circumstances, so therefore, they are not allowed to support children and families on the final day of term. This is due to a complete disconnect between the local council and the Department of Education’s expectations for early dismissals, and is not the fault of the school or the crossing guards themselves. Please be aware of this and help to keep our community safe when crossing the roads this Friday afternoon.  

 

Have a safe and happy winter holiday break, everyone!

 

 

Carly Bannon

Proud NLPS Principal