Greetings from Shaun
Planning Week
Next week the teachers will be working together in their teams to begin to plan the teaching and learning program for term 4. This means that there will be some changes to our specialist timetable to provide teaching staff with the opportunity to meet for a full day. These are the days each of the teams will be planning together:
Monday- 1/2's
Tuesday -5/6's + Italian
Wednesday- 3/4's
Thursday- Specialist (Art, Music, PE)
Friday- Prep
Parent Opinion Survey
This is just an ever so gentle reminder to the families who were randomly selected to particpate in the 2023 Parent Opinion Survey, that you have until Friday 8th September to respond (please).
For those families selected, we hope that you take the time to participate so that we are able to gain an understanding of our community’s views and help us shape decisions for the future. The survey doesn’t take too long to complete and we would really appreciate if you could take the time to provide us with your views.
Emergency Fire Drill
Today we conducted an onsite emergency evacuation drill at school. These drills are an essential part of helping us to be prepared for the real thing.
During these drills, students and staff practice responding to various emergency scenarios, including fires, earthquakes, and lockdowns. This helps ensure that everyone knows what to do in case of a real emergency, enabling a quicker and a more coordinated response.
Rest assured, our commitment to your child's safety remains unwavering, and these drills are a proactive step in maintaining a safe and secure learning environment here at Northcote Primary.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Jellis Craig and NPS partnership
In some exciting news, I’m pleased to say that we have secured a partnership agreement between Jellis Craig Inner North for 2024.
Jellis Craig’s Estate Agent & Auctioneer Matthew McIntosh will be donating his professional services by holding a live ‘AUCTION for an AUCTION’ at next year’s School Fete (Saturday the 16th March 2024).
This major prize will deliver a substantial financial benefit to Northcote Primary School in addition to Jellis Craig’s existing arrangement of donating $500 per sales commission or $350 per rental fee to our school, when an Northcote family member or staff member appoints a Jellis Craig Inner North Agent to sell or lease their home.
Thank you to Matthew & the Jellis Craig team for their ongoing support to our school community. Please see Matt’s bio latein the newsletter and reach out directly to him for more information.
'Fear Less' online seminar
Lost Property
As we near the end of term, the lost property area is once again overflowing with a selection of jackets, jumpers, gloves, lunchboxes, drink bottles… and much more! Please encourage your child to check for any lost items over the next week - or have a quick look at pick-up or drop-off times. I know I sound like a broken record, but don’t forget to label items of clothes that come to school, otherwise there’s a chance you may never see them again! All unlabelled clothes that are still in lost property in the last week of term will be donated to charity.
Being Sun Smart- 1st of September
As the warm sunshine begins to embrace us, it is important to remember that with great sunshine comes great responsibility. Yes, you guessed it right – it's time to talk about being SunSmart! It might seem premature, however from the 1st of Spetember the UV index begins to increase, which means it is time to start wearing your hats outside at recess and lunchtime and of course during PE.
As we enjoy the outdoor activities and sunny days, let's ensure that we're taking the necessary steps to protect ourselves from the sun's powerful rays. Remember, being SunSmart is not just a choice – it's a commitment to our health and well-being. By practicing SunSmart habits, we can enjoy the sun's warmth and beauty while safeguarding ourselves from its harmful effects. So, let's all come together and make SunSafety a part of our daily routine at Northcote Primary!
Why Be SunSmart? The sun is a great source of joy, warmth, and Vitamin D, but it also emits ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage our skin and eyes, leading to sunburn, premature aging, and even skin cancer later in life. Remember, we can have fun under the sun while still staying safe and healthy.
Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide: This catchy saying reminds us of the five key steps to SunSmart protection.
Take Care,
Shaun.
Prep 2024 Enrolments
Letters of offers went out to our future Prep families and we have had a few very excited email confirmations and even some in person confirmations! To support next years Preps, we have a number of special events planned for the remainder of the year to support their transition to school process and get them ready for life at Northcote Primary.
If you are still hoping to enrol your child in 2024, there is still time - please visit our school website, download and complete an enrolment form and send it in to the office as soon as possible. If you have any questions about enrolments, you can also give Donna a call on (03) 94810009.
School Council
Please be sure to check the page titled “School Council” to meet our Vice President Lucy Sinclair and read about important upcoming events, exciting proposals and information school council wish to share with families.
Parent Opinion Survey
Yes, that time of year has come around again. From Monday 7th August, through to Friday 8th September around 30% of our families will be randomly selected to participate in the 2023 Parent Opinion Survey. For those families who are randomly selected, we hope that you take the time to participate so that we are able to gain an understanding of our community’s views and help us shape decisions for the future. The survey does not take too long to complete and we would really appreciate if you could take the time to provide us with your feedback.
Movie Night
A group of parents got together last Tuesday evening to witness yet another reckoning of Mission Impossible from Tom Cruise, at the parent movie night. Whether a die hard fan or just out for a bit of escapism, a good night was had by all and the event raised money for the school. Thanks to Lucy and the Community sub-committee for the work put in to organise this event.
1/2 Swimming Program
Our 1/2 swimming program finished up yesterday, and parents and carers can breath a sigh of relief that you don't have to worry about trying to dry towels and bathers until Term 4 now (Prep and Year 5/6 parents and carers- this is meant for you!).
While it has been a busy four weeks, everyone has done such a great job to make swimming a real success. Thanks again to our army of parent volunteers who have helped make this possible and again to Dale and our classroom teachers for their organisation and smooth operation this year.
Don't forget the Prep and Year 5/6 swimming program is scheduled to commence in Term 4 and we will communicate further information as those dates get closer.
Term Overviews
We have decided to include the Term 3 overviews once again in this issue of our newsletter, just in case you didn't catch them in the last issue. Thanks you for those who passed on their feedback last fortnight, look out for Term 4 overviews in the first issue next term.
We have also updated our Specialist page with the Term 3 Italian overview and details about the very exciting Dante Alighieri poster competition. These pages are called "What's happening in..." be sure to click into those pages to see what our students will be learning about.
If you have any questions about how you can support your children at home, make sure
you speak with your child's classroom teacher.
Take Care,
Shaun.