Year Level News

Upcoming Excursions and Incursions

Please ensure you have processed all consents and payments on your Compass portal to guarantee your child's participation in all upcoming incursions and excursions. 

Please also ensure 2026 Permissions and Agreements have been processed to include permission for local excursion, photography permission, and ICT agreements. 

Foundation News

Here we are at the end of Term 1! It’s hard to believe how quickly these 10 weeks have flown by. In saying that, our Foundation students have come such a long way since their very first days of school. We are incredibly proud of how settled, confident, and independent they have become.

This term has been full of rich learning experiences. We recently enjoyed two wonderful incursions. One was 'How was school different for children in the past?' with Mrs Sargood. Students explored what writing was like in the 1800s, even trying to write with chalk and blackboards. They learned how time-consuming this process was and discovered the importance of letter writing in the past. They were also introduced to the etiquette and rules of the time, including greetings and posture, which they found fascinating!

Our students also took part in the Cancer Council puppet show, which was an engaging experience for all.

In Mathematics, we have continued building strong foundations by exploring the days of the week, practising subitising (recognising numbers quickly), matching numbers to dot patterns, and writing numerals correctly. Students have also been working on counting forwards and backwards, as well as identifying numbers before, after, and in between.

Harmony Week was a special time for our class. Students wore a touch of orange and explored the theme 'Everyone Belongs'. We celebrated Australia’s cultural diversity and discussed the importance of inclusion and respect for all.

As part of our learning, students created personal timelines, reflecting on their journey from when they were babies to now. Thank you so much for sending in photos to support this mini project; these were very meaningful for the children.

We have also been enjoying our dictation sessions! These help students listen carefully to sentences, break words into sounds, and record the letters that match those sounds. Alongside this, we have been focusing on sentence structure, using capital letters at the start of a sentence, spaces between words, and full stops at the end.

It has been wonderful to see students engaging with their homework throughout the week. Thank you for your ongoing support at home, it truly makes a difference.

We have also been developing our fine motor skills, particularly with scissor use. Learning how to hold and use scissors correctly is an important skill, and with practice, students are becoming more confident each day.

Students have also discussed their afterschool meeting spots, helping them feel safe and organised at the end of the day. Additionally, they have attended school assemblies to become familiar with how they run, in preparation for participating more confidently in Term 2.

A gentle reminder that we encourage families to say their goodbyes outside the classroom in the mornings. This helps reduce congestion in the corridors and supports students in building independence, resilience, and confidence. We truly appreciate your support with this, and we have noticed how well students are managing these routines.

As the term ends, we would like to thank you for your continued support. We wish you all a safe and restful holiday.

Year 1 News

Our Year 1 students enjoyed a wonderful excursion to the movies last week, in a morning that was filled with adventure, learning, and a little bit of rain!

We began our day walking sensibly to Newport train station and on the walk students demonstrated excellent awareness and responsibility. On the train students settled in calmly and travelled safely to Yarraville, showing how capable and independent they are becoming.

At the cinema, we watched Pout Pout Fish, an animated film based on the much-loved picture storybook. The story includes important themes like resilience, collaboration, and critical thinking, as well as colour, humour, and an all important positive ending. 

Many of the film's themes connect with Year 1 wellbeing topics and our school values. We have built upon this sparked interest and explored these topics further in our Health lessons this week.

At the end of the movie, students showed respect for the shared space by helping to tidy the cinema, which was necessary considering our popcorn mess! It was wonderful to see them take responsibility and work together.

Although we were caught in the rain on our walks, spirits remained high and the weather did nothing to dampen what was a fantastic day out. We are very proud of how the students represented NLPS in the community.

Thanks, as always, go to the parent volunteers who supported this excursion.

Year 2 News

Our Year 2 students welcomed the changing of the seasons with a joyful Autumn Parade full of creativity and fun. They found treasures in nature and decorated compostable crowns, which they had intended to parade in the afternoon. Unfortunately, inclement weather spoiled these plans, but the celebrations continued with lively relay races in the rain. Teams carried enormous zucchinis and pumpkins, sparking laughter and teamwork. A highlight of the day was announcing the winners of the chocolate and lolly guessing game. The event was a wonderful way to embrace Autumn, encouraging sustainability, fun, and a strong sense of community.

Year 4 News

Camp Quality Puppet Incursion - Foundation & Year 4

On Wednesday 25th March, our Foundation and Year 4 students were treated to a very special visit from the Camp Quality Puppets. For more than 30 years, Camp Quality has been helping children across Australia learn about cancer in an age‑appropriate, engaging, and supportive way. Their puppet programs are offered free to schools and Early Learning Centres, ensuring all children can access these important conversations.

The shows use humour, storytelling, and relatable characters to help students understand what cancer is, how it affects families, and how they can support friends who may be going through treatment. Research shows that these programs help ease the transition back to school for children returning after cancer treatment, and they help the whole school community feel more confident and informed.

Our students enjoyed two tailored performances:

Foundation - 'Brave Ariel' 

A gentle, uplifting story that helps young learners understand illness, bravery, and how to show kindness to others.

Year 4 - 'The Big Move' 

A thoughtful and engaging show exploring friendship, change, and how to support peers when someone in their life is affected by cancer.

Camp Quality’s education program is aligned with the Australian Curriculum, State-based curricula, and the Early Years Learning Framework. It also includes follow‑up lesson plans, classroom activities, and a Talking About Cancer guide to support ongoing conversations at school and at home.

We are very grateful to Camp Quality for providing such a meaningful and empowering experience for our students. Families can learn more about their work and access helpful resources at: campquality.org.au

Year 5 News

Sovereign Hill Excursion

In term 1 of 2026 all year 5s hopped on a bus and drove to Sovereign Hill, the drive was about 1 hour and 15 minutes. As soon as we stepped out of the bus it was so exciting because of the way people dressed and also all the food on the street especially the candy.

After an education session and an hour of free time, we headed to the miners’ tour waiting area. We were all so scared because the group before told us how scary it was. As soon as I stepped underground I started screaming. I was really scared. There was a speaker with us under there that told us where to go and when to go. At the end there was a glass sliding door that had the biggest piece of gold ever found. It was massive! - By Harper B

In term one, all year fives went on an excursion to Sovereign Hill. The drive was an hour and 15 minutes, but when we got there it was really good and the education session was great.

My favourite part was the raspberry drops, the bowling alley where you set up your own pins and the demonstration of the dangerous weapons. I learnt about the 1800s to 1901 and how different it was. - By Alasdair M

In term 1 the year 5s went to Sovereign Hill. It was an hour and 15 minute drive. We did an education session in an old style school. We learnt about important people from the gold rush.

We got into about 5 groups and we each got a box with clues to find out the name, job and country they’re from. It was really fun! - By William G

Knowledge Building Presentations

Learning About The 1800s - 1900s in Grade 5

This term Year 5 students have been learning about Australian history and now have made posters on them through the 1800s. We each chose a part in history like the Gold Rush or the First Fleet and delivered it on beautiful posters.

Some of the topics we learnt about were: The First Fleet, Impacts on Indigenous People, Gold Rush, Eureka Stockade, Woman Suffrage, Crossing of the Blue Mountains, Federation Day and Colonisation. 

By Quinn & Daisy 

Year 6 News

Parliament Week: A Big Week of Democracy for our Year 6 Leaders

Our Year 6 students threw themselves into Parliament Week with enthusiasm, curiosity, and plenty of spirited debate. Across three action‑packed days, they explored how democracy works in Australia by voting, protesting, and even passing their own bill.

Wednesday: Preferential Voting in Action

To kick things off, students learnt how preferential voting works and why it’s used in Australian elections. They then put their new knowledge to the test by running their own mock vote to decide which NLPS teacher should become the next principal.

Just like a real election, students lined up, had their names checked off the electoral roll, and cast their ballots in private. The count was tight, but thanks to the magic of preferences, Tammi emerged victorious as the Year 6 newly elected 'principal'. It was a fantastic way for students to see how every vote and every preference counts.

Thursday: Rallying for a Cause

On Thursday, the focus shifted to the power of protest. Students explored why people protest, how peaceful demonstrations work, and how they can be an effective way to express an opinion.

Working in large rally groups, the students prepared signs, chants, and speeches before staging a lively protest to 'Keep Camp Green Lake Open', a nod to the fictional juvenile detention centre from the novel, Holes. Their passion, creativity, and teamwork were on full display, and it was wonderful to see them stand up for a cause they believed in, even a fictional one.

Friday: Democracy Sausages and Passing a Bill

To conclude the week, students took part in a fantastic incursion where they followed the process of passing a bill through the House of Representatives. Their bill? A bold proposal to ban PE in all schools on the grounds that it 'wastes learning time'. Students took on roles as members of parliament, debated fiercely, and navigated the twists and turns of parliamentary procedure. The experience brought the legislative process to life in a fun, memorable way. The week wrapped up with a classic Aussie tradition: a democracy sausage sizzle.

Parliament Week gave our Year 6 students a rich, hands-on understanding of how democracy works, from voting, to protesting, to law‑making. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and we’re incredibly proud of the thoughtful, engaged young citizens they are becoming.

PE/Sports News

Lacrosse Clinic with Newport LAX

Students in Year 4 to 6 had an exciting opportunity this week to take part in a lacrosse clinic run by the Newport Lacrosse Club. Experienced coaches visited the school and guided students through a range of engaging skills and drills, introducing them to the fundamentals of the game.

The session was filled with energy, laughter, and plenty of learning, as students built their confidence while trying something new. It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces and enthusiastic participation throughout the clinic.

A big thank you to the Newport Lacrosse Club coaches for sharing their time and expertise with our students.