Mr. Barclay's Bulletin

Hello NPS Families

Good afternoon NPS families.

It has been a wild week of weather and I think we've had every season squashed into this week ...I am hoping we start to see more of that sunshine in the weeks to come! 

I would like to start by acknowledging some very hard working and dedicated NPS parents Nicola, Carolien, and Lis for their gardening efforts not only in our Vegetable Garden, but also for the beginning of the redevelopment of our new Native Garden! This work is on the back of the successful grant application submitted by Nicola to the value of $5,000 from Landcare Australia. Already the work that has been undertaken has been nothing short of amazing and we cannot wait to see our team's vision come to life. 

Thank you also to Andrew B, who will be working in removing tree stumps, fencing, and firmly embedded star pickets!  

Our school captains have also done a MARVELLOUS job in fitting out Dave's Courtyard (external MLA courtyard space) with an array of indigenous plants - purchased from yet another successful Landcare grant received earlier this year. The space now has a new lease on life, with more plants and garden planters yet to come! If you get the chance, please have a look! 

I now move onto a less positive note, I have 2 important items to raise with our school community. 

The first is one I've mentioned several times this year and has to do with parents accessing staff car parks with their own vehicles. 

This is NOT to take place for multiple reasons - with the most important being ensuring the safety of our students. Parents are also not to walk through these gates (with or without children), as yet again we have had near misses with adults and students walking through those gates and in front of cars pulling in or out. 

Please use the designated pedestrian gates at the front and rear of the school to enter and exit the school grounds. 

The second item is students and particularly those in the MLA and SLA using their iPad devices to contact their parents throughout the day. This unfortunately has also gone the other way, with parents texting their children during class time which also is not to take place. If you need to get a message to your child, please contact the office who will then pass the message on. 

We are additionally seeing an increase in the use of smartwatches and are currently waiting on DET advice as to weather or not these fall under the DET Mobile Phone Policy. 

Again, students are being called on these devices by family members during class and break times and this should not be the case.  Please respect our teaching and learning programs and refrain from contacting your child throughout the day via such devices. 

From today I am on leave until the beginning of term 4 and Mr. Jarrod McKinnis will be acting Principal in my place. He will be supported by Mr. Steinman on specific days to cap off what will be a BUSY week to end what has been a BUSY term.  

Finally just a reminder that students will be dismissed at the conclusion of our end of term Assembly next Friday at 2:30pm.

I wish you all a wonderful, safe and restful holiday break. I look forward to seeing our students fresh faced and ready to learn next term from Monday 2nd October.  

Corrie Barclay

Principal