PRINCIPAL'S NEWS

Miss Jaclyn is always busy keeping abreast of our socials and sharing the terrific 

It’s hard to believe we are already nine days into the school year – and what a brilliant start it has been. From the moment the gates opened, there has been a real buzz of excitement across the school. Smiling faces, confident goodbyes, new friendships forming and familiar routines quickly returning have all set the tone for a positive year ahead.

Our children have settled beautifully into their new classrooms and learning spaces. There is a palpable sense of energy and curiosity as they reconnect with friends, get to know their teachers, and embrace the opportunities that a new year brings. The classrooms are already alive with purposeful conversations, thoughtful questions and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.

We look forward to a year where learning is meaningful, challenging and engaging. We want our students to think deeply, ask questions, make connections and develop the skills they need to thrive as learners. 

Just as importantly, we continue to prioritise wellbeing, strong relationships and a genuine sense of belonging. This year, we remain guided by our motto that every child matters and every moment counts, ensuring each child feels known, valued and supported every day.

Thank you to our families for the calm, supportive and positive start to the year. We look forward to working in partnership with you as we journey through what promises to be a year filled with learning, growth, joy and many moments worth celebrating.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead! 🌟

Last week I sent home a 'Welcome Back' flyer with information about 2026 staffing, specialist days, daily routines and timetables.  If you missed this flyer, please see the attached PDF.

Meet & Mingle 

Tomorrow, 13 February, we’re throwing open the classroom doors for our Meet & Mingle morning! Families are invited to pop in, meet your child’s 2026 teacher and explore the classrooms to see where all the learning, laughter and action happens.

Students and parents/carers can enter the building together from 8:45am, with time to hang out in the classrooms until 9:30am. After that, head out to the front yard to enjoy a cuppa, have a chat and mingle with other families.

New Communication Platform – COMPASS

We’re excited to let you know that our school will soon be moving from Audiri to Compass as our main platform for school communication. From 2 March, Audiri will be shut down, and Compass will become our primary communication and school management platform.

COMPASS will allow for more streamlined communication, improved access to information, and greater functionality for families all in one place. Over time, this will support clearer, more timely communication between home and school.

Compass will be your one-stop shop, bringing everything together in one easy-to-use place, including:

• School communications and news
• Student attendance
• Events and permissions
• Payments
• Parent–teacher interviews
• Student reports

To get started, please log in to Compass and download the app using the attached guide.

Your one-time login details will be sent home shortly via email. Usethis link  to log in to the Compass browser.

If you need any help along the way, you’re always welcome to pop into the office, and our team will be more than happy to assist.

We’re confident Compass will make staying connected with school simpler and more streamlined, and we thank you for your support as we make this exciting change.

School Fees and Levies

In week 3 of the term, you will receive an email regarding the 2025 fees and levies notice. This year, our school fees and levies are increasing slightly. This includes the 

Introduction of a Capital Levy of $150.00 per family, which has become necessary following last year’s extensive roof restoration work. 

A breakdown of the 2025 fees and levies are below:

• Family Fee                  $2650.00 per family per year
• Capital Fee                 $150.00 per family per year
• Levy Year P–4            $370.00 per child per year
• Levy Year 5-6             $440.00 per child per year
• Senior Camp             $380.00 per child
• Middle Camp            $190.00 per child
• Arts Levy                    $80.00 per family per year

Should you wish to discuss any of these fees or are a health care card holder, please contact me in the office at 03 9481 7166 or mkearney@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au

Shrove Tuesday

Next Tuesday, 17th February, we will be celebrating Shrove Tuesday, which marks the beginning of the season of Lent. As part of our celebration, each student will be offered a pikelet (store-bought from Coles) to enjoy at recess.

Students will be able to choose from the following topping options:

Plain

Honey

Strawberry 

Jam

Buttered

Please contact me, Lauren Haddon at lhaddon@sjnorthcote.catholic.edu.au if you do not wish for your child to participate. As we are unable to provide alternatives, students with allergies are welcome to bring their own suitable snack for recess on the day.

District Swimming Carnival

The District Swimming competition will be held on Monday Feb 16.  We wish all our competitors the best and will have more information in the next newsletter!

Smart watches

We would like to remind families that smart watches worn to school must be set to school mode during the day. If a device does not have a school mode, it should be handed in to the office each morning and collected at the end of the day. This helps minimise distractions and supports students to stay focused on their learning and social interactions at school. Thank you for your support with this expectation.

Pokemon cards

Over recent weeks we have noticed an increase in issues related to Pokémon cards at school, including distractions to learning time, disagreements between students, and cards being lost or damaged. To support a calm and positive learning environment for all students, Pokémon cards will no longer be permitted at school. We ask that families support us by ensuring cards are kept at home. Our focus remains on students engaging positively with one another and making the most of their learning and play time. 

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Upcoming Events

• Prep Family Fun Night - Friday 20 Feb
• Curriculum Evening - Wednesday Feb 26 6:30-7:30 on ZOOM
• Parent Teacher Interviews - Monday March 23
• SCHOOL CLOSURE - Tuesday March 10