Assistant Principal's Report

One of the highlights of the Naranga School calendar took place last week as we celebrated our Annual School Concert and Awards Night at the Frankston Arts Centre. It was a truly memorable evening and a wonderful showcase of the talent, confidence and achievements of our students.

The event was a testament to the dedication, creativity and hard work of our staff and students, who spent many months preparing for this special occasion. A special acknowledgement must be given to Kinect Performing Arts for their outstanding choreography, support and management of the event. Their expertise and commitment helped bring our students' performances to life and created an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Performing Arts and Music provide powerful opportunities for students to express themselves, build confidence and connect with others. For many of our students, the arts offer a unique avenue for communication, self-expression, creativity and personal growth. Through dance, music and performance, students can share their strengths, tell their stories and experience success in ways that may not always be possible in more traditional learning environments. Seeing our students shine on stage, take risks and celebrate their achievements is a powerful reminder of the positive impact these programs have on their wellbeing and development.

We would also like to sincerely thank our families for their ongoing support and for joining us on the night. Your encouragement and attendance make occasions such as these even more meaningful for our students and school community. The warmth and enthusiasm from the audience contributed greatly to the success of the evening. The Annual School Concert and Awards Night continues to be one of the most anticipated and celebrated events on the Naranga calendar.

Another highlight this fortnight has been the continued success of our Junior school Buddy Program. It has been wonderful to see the positive relationships developing between our students and their buddies, with many students eagerly looking forward to each session. The program provides opportunities for connection, social engagement and shared experiences, helping students build confidence in a supportive and inclusive environment. Staff have observed students becoming increasingly comfortable and confident in the yard and around the school, and it has been heartwarming to see the excitement on students' faces when they see their buddy. These relationships are fostering a stronger sense of belonging, helping students feel connected, valued and supported within our school community. We thank all staff involved in coordinating and supporting this important program. Included in this edition are a number of photos that capture the joy, engagement and positive connections being developed through the program. The smiles and interactions reflected in these photos highlight just how meaningful these relationships have become for our students.

Anne Maree Nicholson and Angela Harrison recently attended the Peninsula Applied Learning (PAL) Awards. The PAL Awards recognise the achievements of students undertaking applied learning programs across the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region. We are incredibly proud that three Naranga students were recognised for their outstanding achievements. Congratulations to Landyn White, Sophie Vallantine and Molly Barnett on this significant accomplishment. Their recognition reflects their hard work, commitment and growth, and we celebrate this well-deserved success alongside their families and teachers.

At Naranga, our Applied Learning and Pathways Program provides students with valuable opportunities to develop practical skills, build independence and explore pathways beyond school. We encourage readers to continue reading this edition for a feature article prepared by one of our Pathways teachers, Pia Riley, which highlights the exciting opportunities available to our students through this important program and the positive impact it is having on their future pathways.

It has been a fantastic fortnight of celebrating student achievement and the many ways our students demonstrate their talents, perseverance and growth. We thank everyone who contributed to making these events such a success.

Beleza

Therapy 

Reminder 

From Inclusion Competition to the Big Stage! 🏀

A huge congratulations to Destiny Grech on her selection for the Victorian Women’s Ivor Burge team for the 2027 National Championships!

As a member of our Frankston Basketball Inclusion competition, Destiny has shown incredible dedication and determination. After taking the exciting step of attending state team trials, she put her best foot forward and has been rewarded with a place on the Victorian team!

The Ivor Burge Championships will take place from 25–31 January 2027. We are incredibly proud of Destiny and all she has achieved, and we wish her the very best as she prepares to represent Victoria on the national stage.

Well done, Destiny! Our Naranga community will be cheering you on all the way! 👏🏀

Mobile phones

A timely reminder that the Department of Education requires students who bring mobile phones to school to hand them to their classroom teacher, where they will be securely stored for the day.

STATE SCHOOL RELIEF 

Families wishing to access support through State Schools’ Relief are encouraged to contact the school.

Please email naranga.sch@education.vic.gov.au for assistance with placing an order or for further information. 

MEDICATION 

The information below is from the Department of Education policy advisory line.

Schools must ensure all medication to be administered is:

• accompanied by written advice providing directions for appropriate storage and administration
• in the original container with the original label including the name of the student, information on the dosage and time to be administered
• within its expiry date

• stored according to the product instructions, particularly in relation to temperature.

   

Schools should encourage parents or carers to consider whether they can administer medication outside the school day, such as before and after school and before bed.

Over-the-counter medications (including paracetamol) requires a medical authority form that can be filled out at the office.

VICTORIAN CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME 

ANNUAL PRIVACY REMINDER FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY 

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to read our school’s collection notice, found on our website.

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. This information is also available in ten community languages:

• Amharic
• Arabic
• Dari
• Gujarati
• Mandarin
• Somali
• Sudanese
• Turkish
• Urdu
• Vietnamese