PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear Parents and Carers,

Winter has certainly made its presence felt, bringing with it chilly temperatures and plenty of rain. The recent wet weather, following a long dry spell, has turned parts of our yard into muddy zones, leading to some areas being temporarily closed to students. We’re encouraging all students to play responsibly and take care of their uniforms and school property during this time.

This is also a timely reminder to ensure that all school uniform items are clearly labelled. Named clothing is much more likely to find its way back to its owner if misplaced.

Master Plan

Over the past two weeks, we’ve been gathering valuable feedback from our parent community to help shape the design of our playground and guide our whole school master planning. Thank you to everyone who contributed either by adding ideas to the large map or completing the school survey shared via Compass.

This feedback, along with insights from students and staff, will be used to develop a draft proposal, which will be presented to School Council for review. 

Assessment Weeks and Coming Reports/3WC

Over the past two weeks, our students have been involved in Assessment Weeks, an important time where they complete a range of tasks that help teachers bring together the final pieces of each child’s learning puzzle in preparation for mid-year reports. These assessments also provide valuable insight into your child’s growth over the course of their primary school years.

Semester Reports will be available to families via Compass on Friday, June 27.

Your child’s learning progress will also be shared during our upcoming 3 Way Conversations, scheduled for Tuesday, July 1 (2:00–6:00pm) and Wednesday, July 2 (4:00–6:00pm). 

These sessions are designed to complement the mid-year report and help explain the learning journey of your child this year. The 3 Way Conversations are 15-minute sessions where parents, teachers and students all have a voice to share in the progress that has been made.

Parents also have the opportunity to meet with our specialist teachers to hear about the learning in Japanese, Physical Education, Performing Arts and Visual Arts. 

Booking details and further information will be shared via Compass in the coming week. Please note that school will finish early at 1:30pm on Tuesday, July 1 to allow time for these important conversations.

End of Term Organisation

The last week of term brings about a number of adjustments to our normal program. Please ensure these are in your diaries.

Important Message About Social Media Use

Lucas P.S permits parents/carers, students and invited guests to photograph, film or record school performances, sporting events and other school-approved activities. 

However…

We respectfully request that these pictures and videos are only used for personal use and are not published in any form, including on social media, without the prior consent of persons whose children also appear in the images.

If there are other students in the image, please don’t share!

Thankyou in advance for your support with this matter.

New Garden and Outdoor Matting Space 

We were fortunate to have our new garden surrounding the sandpit prepared and planted just in time for the rain. Students had the opportunity to work alongside our gardener, Josh, helping to establish the garden and spread mulch. The plants, generously donated by Integra, were leftovers from our Mother’s Day event.

We’ve also created a new undercover area with soft rubber matting to support quiet, ground-level play. This space provides a comfortable alternative for students who prefer to sit or play on the ground, without having to deal with wet dirt or cold concrete. It’s a welcoming, inclusive space designed to be enjoyed by all students across the school.

Swimming Program

The Year 5/6 students have kicked off their intensive swimming program this week at Shayne Reese Swimming Centre. Each day, they’ll take part in 30-minute sessions aimed at developing stroke technique, building water safety awareness, and practising essential survival skills.

Safety Around the School

While we continue to work with Ballarat City Council to address traffic issues surrounding the school, it's essential that we all do our part to ensure safe and lawful parking, especially during drop-off and pick-up times.

To highlight just how important this is, I was approached on Friday afternoon by a local resident who shared her recent experience. After arriving home early from work, she found her driveway partially blocked by cars, preventing her from accessing her property. To make matters worse, she had recently undergone surgery and was dealing with limited mobility. Having to park further away and navigate uneven ground caused her significant difficulty. I was deeply sympathetic to her situation and disappointed that some members of our school community had not considered the impact of their actions on our neighbours.

Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. We strongly urge all families to prioritise safety, follow road rules, and show consideration for our local residents when parking around the school.

We are currently collaborating with Siena Primary School, Road Safe Central Highlands, and Ballarat City Council to develop strategies that reduce congestion and improve traffic flow. In the meantime, your patience, courtesy, and responsible behaviour are greatly appreciated.

Compass Support 

Our focus this week is on looking at the front-page features of your parent portal. It is this page that we are presented with multiple times are day, but do we know what each feature allows us to do? 

Please see the info graphic below to help.

Junior School Council Hot Milo Day