Message from Principal Sarah

Welcome Back to the 2026 School Year

The start of the 2026 school year has seen students settle smoothly into positive and engaging learning environments throughout the school. This is particularly evident among our new students to NMPS and our Prep students, as they begin this significant stage of their educational journey. We commend all our students for their resilience, independence and positive attitudes shown, and we extend a warm welcome to new students and their families.

In addition to welcoming new students and families, I would also like to extend a warm welcome to the new staff who have joined NMPS this year. Over the coming weeks, our new staff members will be featured in the newsletter, so please keep an eye out to help put faces to names. 

The start of a new school year provides a valuable opportunity for staff, students and families to build strong, positive relationships and to get to know one another. This is a key focus during the first weeks of school, as these connections form the foundation for learning, wellbeing, and personal and social growth throughout the year. 

At NMPS, we recognise the importance of open and effective communication, and we want all families to know that we are available to support and discuss your child’s learning journey. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s schooling—whether academic or related to wellbeing—please contact your child’s classroom teacher via Compass. For urgent matters, we recommend contacting the school directly by phone. Our full Communication Policy, including guidance on the appropriate staff member to contact for specific matters, is available on our website.

Communication Platforms

Compass is our primary platform for whole-school communication. Important updates and information will be shared through Compass, so please ensure you have access to this portal. If you do not yet have access, our office staff will be happy to assist you. We also encourage families to check that their email address and contact details recorded in Compass are current and up to date at all times.

In addition to Compass, Year Level and Specialist teams use SeeSaw to share and celebrate your child’s learning experiences. Further information about the SeeSaw app will be provided to families at a year-level or cohort level.

Year Level Curriculum and Specialist Overviews for 2026 will be published on our website in the coming weeks. These overviews provide a summary of the curriculum content to be taught throughout the year across each year level and specialist area.

Alongside these overviews, families are invited to attend our Meet the Teacher evening and Specialist Open Classrooms this afternoon. This event provides an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and visit the specialist learning areas. Further details about this event have been shared via Compass.

Calendar Dates and Term Dates for 2026

If you have not yet received your 2026 NMPS School Calendar, please visit one of our front offices to collect a copy. The calendar includes key pre-planned school dates, such as camps, Parent–Teacher Interviews and other important school events.

We also encourage families to regularly check Compass and the school newsletter for updated calendar information, as additional dates and events may be added throughout the year.

To assist families with planning, the 2026 term dates are provided below. Please note that Pupil-Free Days (Curriculum Days) and the Whole School Professional Practice Day are also included. Students do not attend school on these days.

Victorian school term dates for 2026

• Term 1: 27 January (students start 28 January) – 2 April
• Term 2: 20 April – 26 June
• Term 3: 13 July – 18 September
• Term 4: 5 October – 18 December

Pupil Free Days at NMPS:

• Monday 26 January
• Friday 5 June
• Monday 13 July
• Friday 28 August (PPD – students do not attend)
• Monday 2 November

School Council Elections

The North Melbourne Primary School Council election process will begin shortly. Parents, carers and community members who would like to join the school council need a working with children (WWC) clearance to nominate. If you are considering nominating for school council, and don’t already have a WWCC, I encourage you to apply for a volunteer WWC check as soon as possible. This will allow for processing times, which are estimated to be from 3 to 12 weeks. 

Please note that if you do not hold a WWC clearance, you will not be able to nominate for school council, so it is vital that you prepare in advance. Obtaining a WWC clearance is free for volunteers, and you can apply online at Service Victoria. 

When applying for your volunteer WWC check, please nominate the Department of Education as the organisation you are working for.

If you already hold an employee WWC clearance, you do not need to obtain a volunteer WWC clearance to nominate for school council.

Victorian Institute of Teaching-registered teachers and school students who are interested in joining school council are not required to obtain a WWC clearance. 

Current parents and community members of school council do not need to apply for a WWC check immediately. Current members only need a WWC clearance if their term ends and they wish to nominate or be co-opted again. 

For more information, refer to Ministerial Order 1280 (Constitution of Government School Councils) 2020.

More information on the NMPS Election, including nomination forms, will be shared via Compass soon.