Messages from the Principal

PS Hello NPS Families! 

Thank you for taking the time to read this fortnights newsletter! 

As awlays we are set for another vibrant and action-packed term! The energy around the school has been fantastic throughout the past 3 weeks with already a range of major events taking place. 

We've also jumped straight into learning and reconnecting after the break. It feels like we've been back for a lot longer than 3 weeks as we've already packed so much in, and the excitement for the term ahead is only set to build!

We have our highly anticipated Athletics Day just around the corner taking place on Monday May 19th, which will certainly be a fantastic day full of sportsmanship and of course School House Competition! 

We're also incredibly excited about our upcoming Working Bee for George House – a wonderful opportunity for our families to collectively contribute to our school environment. This will be happening on Saturday morning from 8-11am on the 17th May. 

Finally, fopr our avid readers and lovers of books, we're excited that our annual Book Fair is returning next week! This will be set up in the Multi Purpose Room starting from Tuesday! 

Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea - 9/5/25

Please join me in thanking Merryn Hansford and Kat Matthews for their work in baking countless buttermilk scones for our wonderful afternoon tea today. I would also like to express a big thank you to Jacinta's Flower Studio for supplying over 100 beautiful bunches of flowers for our students to share with their Mums and Special People this weekend. I am sure they will be delighted to receive them! Jacinta's Flower Studio was generous enough to donate all flowers, individually wrapping each bunch - at no charge to the school, boosting our fundraising efforts for this event. Thank you Jacinta and team!  

Election Day Fundraiser - 3/5/25

More thanks are in order - thank you to our family volunteers that assisted in the lead up to and on the day to make this fundraiser possible. Thank you to all the home bakers for supplying our stall with what was undoubtedly Geelong's finest range of sweet treats! A special shout out to Merryn Hansford for her work in making a plethora of cupcakes for the cake stall, they were snapped up and devoured by happy voters and their children. 

I am delighted to announce that we raised in excess of $3,500 on Saturday! A simply amazing effort. 

I would also like to make a special mention of 2 NPS students, Harry and Sammy Hoye - who decided that they would like to add to the fundraising efforts on the day, creating a paper plane activity stall. The boys raised an amazing total of $10.75! What a wonderful school spirit you have, well done to you both! 

Funds raised from both Election Day and the Mothers & Special Persons Flower Orders will be directed to the re-energisation of our whole school Library space.    

School Review Process

Every 4 years, a Victorian Government School will undertake a very rigourous and thourough School Review Process and on Wednesday of this week we undertook Day 1 of our 3 Day school review. 

The review process sees external evaluaters, other local school Principals, and regional office leadership staff engage with our school and spend countless hours looking at our school achievement data, programs, operations, and more from the past 4 years. 

Next week when we undertake day 2, what is known as the Fieldwork Day, those on the review panel will spend the day talking to and interviewing staff, students, and parents about their experiences of Newtown Primary School. If as a parent/caregiver you would like to be part of this process, please email the school (newtown.ps@education.vic.gov.au) indicating your interest. The panel meetng will take no more than 30-45mins and will be from 9:00am next Wednesday. 

Followiong the Fieldwork Day, Day 3 sees us developing a new Strategic Plan for our great school that will last the next 4 years. We will set goals, targets and outline what key improvement strategies we need to undertake to ensure our students are recieving the best education possible in an environment that is safe, supportive, and engaging. 

That is it from me, have a great weekend, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL OF OUR AMAZING MUMS - I hope you have a truly wonderful day - and have a great weekend. 

And Go Cats! 

Principal

Newtown Primary School