Message from the Principal
Week 1&2 Term 4 2025
Dear CNPS Families
Welcome back to Carlton North Primary School for Term 4 2025. We hope that all students and any parents/carers who were able to have a break during the holidays, enjoyed the downtime. Term 4 proves to be a very busy term. Alongside the important and busy academic program, this term sees Regional Athletics, Year 3/4 Chess program, 2026 Foundation transition, whole school transition, Victorian High Abilities Program, visiting health nurse, Instrumental Music Program group showcase and summer soiree, excursions, camps (Year 3/4 and Year 5/6), swimming program – Foundation to Year 4, UrbnSurf program for Year 5/6 and Year 2 Big Day Out. Not to mention Year 6 Graduation (parent/carers of Year 6 students, please look out for more information about graduation). The capital works project continues to move along at pace. As I outlined at the end of Term 3, the hall is now officially closed as it begins its transformation into the new CNPS library. Next week is seeing the concrete pour for the new hall, another exciting milestone for the capital works project.
Wellbeing at CNPS
Student Support Group
CNPS offers Student Support Group (SSG) termly meetings for students in the following categories:
Student supported by the PSD or Disability Inclusion funding model.
Students who are in Out of Home Care.
Students who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Students at risk of attendance and those who have behaviour related issues.
If you have questions relating to Student Support Group meetings, please contact Jane Bilby - Assistant Principal.
About diverse learners
Diverse learners have characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, developmental language disorder (DLD) and learning difficulties such as dyslexia. The month of October celebrates diverse learners.
There can be up to 5 diverse learners in a typical class. Diverse learners need targeted support from classroom teachers to ensure they have the same opportunities to learn as their peers.
Responding to individual and diverse needs also reflects Child Safe Standard 5 and supports equitable participation in learning for all students.
Professional Practice Day / Professional Learning
On Monday 6 October 2025, CNPS staff engaged in a Professional Practice Day. This important professional learning day allowed staff to focus on departmental and school priorities. It also presented as an opportunity for me to reflect on my first 12-months as Principal of CNPS. Since the start of this term, teaching staff have had an opportunity to begin their assessment and reporting for Semester 2. Over the course of the next few weeks, teachers will begin writing moderation using rubrics to assess students’ writing capability.
Class Placement / Wellbeing Concerns 2026
Since the start of this term, CNPS has commenced strategic planning for 2026. This includes our teaching team beginning conversations about class lists for next year.
This year, CNPS is trialling a new approach to collecting learning buddies request information from students. Instead of collecting this information at school, we will be sending the learning buddies request form home with students. This allows families who would like to support their child/ren in completing the form to do so in the comfort of their own home. Please look out for more information about the 2026 learning buddies request form.
At Carlton North Primary School we recognise the importance of fostering and maintaining friendship groups. We also understand that it is equally important for students to mix and learn with peers who have different interests. We will not always be able to accommodate class placement requests, however we will endeavour to take your wishes into consideration where possible.
All teachers at CNPS are caring and committed educators and we collectively strive to ensure that all students are provided with a high-quality education. Whilst we appreciate that you may believe that your child would benefit from being placed in a class with a particular teacher, we are generally unable to accommodate these requests.
If you have a request for your child’s class placement due to wellbeing concerns, please ensure that you make this request in writing to Jane, Erin, or myself no later than Monday 27 October 2025, so that your request can be considered. Creating classes is a complex process and it is very difficult to make changes to the classes once they are formed, particularly when the school is not provided with important information.
Trivia Night -Thank You
What a wonderful fundraising event on Friday 10 October 2025. Thank you to all parents/carers, community members and staff that were able to attend the trivia night. It was a colourful affair with many bright shirts and personalities. A huge thank you to the entire team that put the event together. On Friday evening I had an opportunity to speak with those in attendance about fundraising at CNPS. Here is a little of what I shared. ‘I thought this would be a great opportunity to talk briefly about why fundraising is such a vital pillar of our school. As many of you know, CNPS is capped at 300 students. This means we’re unable to grow our enrolments and thus the funding the school receives from the government. This is where our community steps in. Without fundraising, we simply couldn’t invest in the school the way we aspire to. Since my appointment as Principal, I’ve been committed to ensuring families can see and feel the impact of their contributions. So far this year, we’ve raised an incredible $104,000 through the fete and other fundraising efforts’. Although CNPS is still awaiting some final costs for the trivia night, I can proudly share with the community the event raised at least $10,000. What an amazing effort. Thank you again to all those friends of CNPS who contributed to the fundraising efforts throughout 2025.
Staff News
Olivia Devitre will be taking long service leave at the end of Week 3 Term 4. We wish Olivia a well-earned break with her family. Anna Manuel will be replacing Olivia in Arts from Week 4 Term 4 for the remainder of the year. Anna will continue with a performing arts focus, primarily teaching music. Dina (who is well known to the community) will be continuing the Italian program with our Year 1/2 classes.
Attendance and Before/After School Supervision
Regular attendance at school is essential to support the learning, wellbeing and safety of children and young people. CNPS works hard to support student attendance. Recording accurate attendance of students on a daily basis is essential. A reminder to the community that school starts promptly each day at 9am. Supervision of students on-site at CNPS commences at 8.45am each school day. Since the start of the year, CNPS has introduced a new procedure for any student who arrives to school between 9am – 9.10am. Students arriving at this time, are asked to go straight to the classroom where teachers will update the 9am (morning) roll. Any student who arrives after 9.10am, will need to go to the office to sign-in. The Compass Kiosk is available at the new temporary office counter for parents to sign their child in. Students arriving at the office without their parent will be signed in by our Admin team.
Thunderstorm Asthma Season
There is an increased risk of seasonal asthma, hay fever and epidemic thunderstorm asthma during seasons with increased grass pollen levels. In Victoria, this is typically between October and December.
Epidemic thunderstorm asthma is triggered by a combination of higher grass pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm.
People with a history of asthma, undiagnosed asthma or hay fever are at risk under these conditions. This risk is increased further for people who have poorly treated hay fever and asthma.
The best way to reduce and prevent symptoms of asthma or hay fever and reduce absences from school is to follow an up-to-date asthma action plan or hay fever treatment plan, provided by a GP or specialist.
Hats/Sunscreen
As we are now into Term 4 and the sun is beginning to shine, it is important that students have a hat to wear during recess and lunch. If you would like to purchase a hat, please contact the office. We also ask that families ensure students apply sunscreen at home before attending school. We do have some sunscreen supplies at school should students need to reapply during the day.
On-Street Parking
There have continued to be complaints about vehicles parking illegally on Lee Street and O’Grady Street during peak times. Parents/carers are encouraged to park their vehicles legally, observing council regulations. CNPS does not enforce parking restrictions around the school, however, we do continue to engage with council regarding improvements to pedestrian safety.
Dogs in Buildings
We continue to remind the community that dogs (other than fully certified therapy dogs) are not allowed in buildings. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the office.
School – Home Partnership
The hallmark of a strong school-home partnership is open and respectful dialogue, that embodies the school values. Please feel free to reach out to Jane, Erin, Trish or I should you have any questions or queries.
Warm Regards
Matthew Ferguson
Principal