Newport Lakes Primary School

Principal Report

Hello parents and families, 

 

We have come to the end of the school year and what a year it has been! 

We’ve had new staff, a new leadership team and new buildings! We’ve covered a mountain of curriculum in each classroom and through engaging incursions, camps and excursions. We’ve worked collaboratively, students and teachers alike, to achieve group goals as well as challenged and stretched ourselves individually. We have connected to our community through events such as Open Classrooms and the school production. Thank you all for the support you’ve shown me, our wonderful staff, the students and the school in general - it truly is a team effort. I am delighted with the successful year we’ve all had and hope that we all get to have a fun and relaxing holiday break with loved ones.   

 

Thank You to our Student Leaders

At NLPS, we are very proud of the way our students develop into leaders as they move through the school, consistently demonstrating our school values for younger students and peers to follow. This year’s school leadership group was no exception and I’d like to say thank you for their efforts this year and wish them well as they move to their next chapter in their schooling (or into Year 6 for the RR / Values Captains!).

 

School Captains

Indy Hudson, Nikolas Tsintzoglou, Maddie Boin, Josh Oosthuizen 

 

House Captains

Charlotte Angus, Eadie Morlang, Noah El-Houli, Luca Zagame, Emily Klova, Eva Boyd, Walid Saoud, Olive Graham

 

Arts Captains

Grace Coulson, Eimear Cavallaro, Ahmad Kacem

 

Band Captains

Harper Stubbs, Chelsea Wright, Thomas Lange

 

Respectful Relationships / Values Captains

Ruby Johnson, Chloe Thomas, Lukan Corazzi, Oliver Rees, Maggie Clark, Amelia Delaney

 

Well done to all of the students listed above, as well as our graduating Year 6 students - I am sure you will all make a positive impact in your next schools.

 

School Organisation 2025

Although our classroom teaching staff is staying relatively stable, there will still be some movements across year levels. Our PLTs (Professional Learning Teams) will be as follows:

 

Leadership

Carly Bannon (Principal) and Mat Williamson (Assistant Principal)

 

Foundation PLT 

Emma Barger, Sophie Loveland, Diana Stefanovic

 

Year 1 PLT

Hannah Whitaker, Marissa Kearney, Tracey Doherty, Erin Meade / Ashlee Johnson  

 

Year 2 PLT

Mike Morell, Denise O’Shea / Lyndal Carrington, Michelle Sullivan / Myffy Scott-Walker, Chris Brown

 

Year 3/4 PLT

Ann-Maree Dawson, Mitchell Webster, Tammi Cordell, Rhianna Wallace, Lleyton Lammardo, Heidi James / Emma O’Loughlin

 

Year 5/6 PLT

 Jill Kelly, Josh Butler, Kate Puhar, Alanna Maguire, Eliza Warne

 

Visual Art

Laura Russell

 

Physical Education

Terry Antoniadis

 

STEM

James Munro

 

LOTE (Auslan)

Priscilla Patterson

 

Drama

Jackson Castiglione

 

Music

Tracey James

 

Library

Sharon Rogers

 

Learning Specialists

Tarsh Nicholson Amy O’Dowd Carol Martins

 

Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader

Samantha Meddis

 

Tutoring / Literacy Support

Bianca Egan

 

Office Administration

Kellie Holdich (Business Manager), Brodie Thomson, Kerry Breeze (Admin. Assistants)

 

First Aid Officer

Carolyn Brien

 

Education Support

Antonella Pappalardo, Clare Hopkins, Nadine Craddock, Courtney Forrest, Freya Brown, Jacqui Vlasakakis 

IT Support  -  Ian George / Alan Zhang 

 

 

Note that all students will meet their 2025 teacher and peers for an hour tomorrow, the final day of term, and an email will be sent to all parents informing you as well.

 

Thank you, Sam Pierce!

As we often say, the school could not get by as well as we do without community support and parent help. One such parent, Sam Pierce, is a very talented mum to one of our current Year 6 students and has been involved in activities at the school for over 10 years, including organising and marketing of our school fete, designing production posters and creating the school website. She has recently given the website a bit of a spruce up before she leaves the school for the last time, volunteering her time and skills as a graphic designer. 

 

Thank you, Sam, for all you’ve contributed as a parent whilst here - your time and efforts are so greatly appreciated! 

 

Semester 2 Reports

A reminder that this semester’s reports became available to families via Compass on Monday afternoon. We encourage parents to log on and read your child’s report with them whilst it remains current and relevant.

 

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

 

A New Year of Learning - DE resource

The Department of Education has put together a website to assist parents and carers prepare for the new school year. It can be accessed here - A new year of learning | vic.gov.au.

 

During the school holidays, please consider reading through the resources, which include:

  • tips to help transition between Kinder and Foundation and primary to secondary school
  • what to expect at school
  • help with school costs and fees
  • health and wellbeing guidance to support children’s mental health

Vacation Care Holiday Program

The school’s Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) provider, Quantin Binnah, will be conducting a Vacation Care program beginning Monday, 6th January 2025.

This service is available to all Newport Lakes PS students enrolled including the 2025 Foundation students. If you require further information or would like to book your child in, please call QB on Ph: 9742 5040 or email on admin@qbcc.org.au

 

End of Year Assembly & Dismissal

A reminder that we have our final whole assembly for the year from 12:55pm tomorrow, Friday, December 20th. After the general announcements, the Year 6 children will then be farewelled through the traditional Newport Lakes ‘Avenue of Honour’ formed by all the teachers and children in the school. Parents and friends are invited to this special farewell assembly. 

 

Students will then return to their classrooms and be dismissed directly from there at 1:30pm. 

 

Again, I hope all our wonderful school community get a well deserved break and enjoy your holiday time together.

 

A reminder that school starts for Years 1-6 on Wednesday, January 29th and the following Thursday for our new Foundation students. 

 

Stay safe and smiling until then!

 

 

Carly Bannon

Proud NLPS Principal

 

 

2025 Return to School Dates

Students in Year 1 to 6 will start on Wednesday 29th January 2025. 

 

Foundation students will meet with their teachers for 1:1 interview and assessment between 29th January and 5th February. Parents will receive information regarding their allocated assessment times. Foundation students will have a staggered start to school after the week of assessments:

  • Thursday 6th February – 9:00am to 1:30pm 
  • Friday 7th February – 9:00am to 1:30pm 
  • From Monday 10th February onwards all Foundation students will attend school from 9:00am to 3:15pm Monday to Friday.