Principal Report

We are quickly approaching the completion of yet another very successful year at Newport Lakes Primary School. Albeit a long term of 11 ½ weeks, it is still going to be difficult of getting everything completed before that final bell sirens to end the year.

School Organisation 2024

There will be several changes to our school organisation next year with several new staff and considerable movement of teachers around the grades. We are very fortunate to have such professional and talented teachers that accept new roles to keep themselves challenged and provide an opportunity to continuously learn new skills and practices.

Carly Bannon and Mat Williamson will be undertaking the roles of Principal and Assistant Principal in an acting capacity until the selection of a new Principal is conducted. This will most likely be in late term 1 but could be delayed until the second term depending upon availability of selection panels.

We welcome 4 new teachers to our school next year; Kate Puhar and Marissa Kearney will be transferring from Altona PS, Chris Brown from Seaholme PS and Josh Butler from Carranballac College. We believe all these new teachers will be excellent additions to the professional and dedicated staff we have at our school.

The school organisation for 2024 will be as follows:

Principal (Acting Term 1) - Carly Bannon

Assistant Principal (Acting Term 1) - Mat Williamson

Foundation PLT - Emma Barger, Erin Meade & Lisa Richards, Mitchell Webster, Sophie Loveland, Diana Stefanovic

Year 1 PLT - Hannah Whittaker, Issy Jack, Marissa Kearney, Sarah Smith & Ashlee Johnson

Year 2 PLT - Mike Morrell, Denise O’Shea, Chris Brown, Heidi James & Lyndal Harrington

Year 3 PLT - Tracey Doherty, James Munro, Olivia Flanagan

Year 4 PLT - Tammi Cordell, Ann Maree Dawson, Rhianna Wallace

Year 5/6 PLT - Jill Kelly, Lucinda Porter, Eliza Warne, Kate Puhar, Josh Butler

Specialists Teachers

Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader - Sam Meddis

Learning Specialists - Carol Martins & Natarsha Nicholson

Tutoring/Intervention - Bianca Egan & Alanna Maguire

Physical Education - Terry Antoniadis

Visual Art - Laura Russell

LOTE (Auslan) - Priscilla Patterson

Drama - Michelle Sullivan & Jackson Castiglione

Music - Tracey James (Classroom & Instrumental)

Library - Sharon Rodgers

Education Support

Helen Hayden

Lleyton Lammardo

Courtney Forrest

Clare Hopkins

Antonella Pappalardo

Jacqui Vlasakakis

Daniel Pantalleresco

Nadiene Craddock

Office Administration

Business Manager - Kellie Holdich

Administration Assistants - Brodie Thomson & Kerry Breeze

First Aid Carolyn Brien

IT Support

Alan Zhing & Ian George

Considering the difficulty that many schools are presently experiencing gaining suitable staff, to be able to attract and employ the high quality of teachers to join our staff in 2024 is a very pleasing result for our school and the wonderful staff we already have.

An update of the new double story Mod 10 classroom.

I was informed last week by the VSBA (Victorian Schools Building Authority) that the preferred option is to place the new Mod 10 building on the east side of school grounds along the laneway.

The existing double storey Mod 10 will remain as is, the next low-level mod 5 (currently 4 TD & 4 AD) will remain as is, and the older low-level mod 5 (currently 5/6EW & 5/6AM) and the shed will both be removed, and the new building will be located on this site.

The outcome will mean that there will be a Mod 10, Mod 5 and then another Mod 10 all in a row. The buildings will be positioned so that there will be sufficient space between the two Mod 10 buildings that in the future so a third double storey Mod 10 can be placed between the other 2 buildings to accommodate future growth.

It is estimated the project will take all of term 1, with a goal that the works will be completed for the beginning of second term, or shortly after.

To ensure a safe environment for students and staff there will be extensive area of the school grounds fenced off during the works. This will include most of the football oval with a small, gated walkway to allow access to the gym, music room and the 5/6 classrooms in the south west corner of the school grounds.

The sand pit and area around the portable buildings along the Elizabeth St. will also not available for student use during the building program. The green shed will also need to be removed and most of the material in this building will be transferred to the POD, which will need to be emptied.

The sun sails in front of the portables will need to be removed but we are already investigating the landscaping of the space between the new building and the gym toilets (where the vegie boxes currently stand) with a special outdoor seating / learning area to be developed after the building program has been completed.

Due to the loss of the football field playing area during construction, the possibility of different year levels visiting the park during lunchtime may also be option to be investigated for term 1.

The building program will also mean that we will begin the year with a shortage of 3 classrooms. The plan will be for one of the 5/6 classes to be taken in the library and another two of the Yr. 5/6 classes will work from the MPR building.

The staff have been informed of these updates and planning has begun on the many changes required for the new year.

Although it will be a difficult term of disruptions and inconveniences, the significant advantages of this plan is that;

the school will gain 4 brand new learning spaces and lose 2 old, out-dated classrooms.
The new Mod 10 building will take up the same footprint as the existing Mod 5 that will be replaced thus, we will not lose any further valuable play space on a permanent basis.
there will only be 2 small trees required to be removed to allow access (and these will be replaced with 4 trees) and the large significant gum trees remain untouched.
this will provide a suitable building and classroom accommodation plan for any future growth of enrolments at Newport Lakes Primary School.

This update hopefully gives everyone a better understanding of what is to happen at the end of this term and the start of 2024.

End of Year Student Report

The 2024 end of year student report will be available from 4.00pm Monday, 18th December on the Compass Parent Portal. If parents do not have their username, password, or have difficulty accessing the Parent Portal, please contact the school office and assistance will be available.

The teachers have focused on the skills and outcomes of each subject and how your child has achieved in each area. We encourage parents to log on and read your child’s report with them when it becomes available next week whilst it remains current and relevant.

Apart from a review of their present progress, there are also recommendations for ‘Where to Next?’ that parents can discuss with their child and possibly assist in planning or achieving these goals. Each child’s report will remain and always be available on Compass whilst they are attending NLPS.

Vacation Care Holiday Program

The school’s Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) provider, Quantin Binnah, will be conducting a Vacation Care program beginning Wednesday 3rd January 2024.

This service is available to all Newport Lakes PS students enrolled including the 2024 Foundation students. If you require further information or would like to book your child, please call QB on 03 9742 5040 or email via admin@qbcc.org.au

End of Year Assembly

School concludes on Wednesday 20th December at 1.30pm.

An assembly will be conducted at 12.40pm featuring a special farewell to our Year 6 students and a few of our departing staff, including myself!

After the general school announcements, the Yr.6 children will then be farewelled through the traditional Newport Lakes ‘Avenue of Honour’ formed by all the teachers and children in the school. This special event will be conducted on the school oval immediately after the assembly. Parents and friends are invited to this special farewell assembly.

All students will then return to their rooms and will be dismissed at 1.30pm directly from their classrooms.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL UNSUPERVISED STUDENTS REMAINING AT SCHOOL AFTER 1.45pm WILL BE PLACED IN AFTER SCHOOL CARE.

I hope all the children and staff have a huge rest over the end of year break, as they will certainly need all their energy for a huge 2024.

The school will look forward to seeing everyone (Yr.1 to Yr.6) when school resumes on Wednesday 31st January, 2024 and the new Foundation students when they begin the following week on Thursday 8th February, 2024.

A brief newsletter will be available in the last week to finalise the year.

I hope you have a great fortnight.

David Moss

Principal

Student Charges and Contributions for 2024 are now on Compass and need your action

Before we all close off the school year and to ensure that next year is even better, we would like to advise you of the extra-curricular items & activities as well as the voluntary financial contributions for 2024.

Your ongoing support ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students. We want to thank you for all your support, whether that’s through fundraising or volunteering your time. This has made a huge difference to our school and the programs we can offer. Our school only invests in items that we believe add value to the school experience for students.

All contributions go specifically towards items and activities that help improve your child’s educational experience. There is an array of payment methods. Please take note payments can be made via Compass or by other means as arranged with the school.

Please refer to the Parent Payment Policy available on our website for a full breakdown of all costs, they are clearly outlined under the 2024 Contribution Schedule.

2024 Extracurricula Contributions & Activities can be paid in full or by two instalments.

Payment in full or first instalment (50%) is due by Monday 4th December
The second instalment is due on Monday 18th March, 2024

Please do not hesitate to contact the school office should you have any questions or need assistance with payments.

2024 Permissions & Agreements - Compass

Each year the school must obtain certain permissions from parents (and/or students) regarding particular areas of school life.

These include;

local excursion permission (e.g. walks to the local park)
movie watching
headlice checks
ICT Code of Conduct and Student phone use
Photography, filming & recoding of students. (previously called media permission)

Previously these would have been completed by parents upon enrolment, however they must been obtained annually.

Parents and carers can now complete these permissions and agreements electronically via the Course Confirmation & Payments section on your Compass portal.

Please complete these before the commencement of the 2024 school year.

For copies of our school policies, please visit our school website.