Greetings from Shaun

2025 Prep Enrolments

Friday the 26th of July marked the Department of Education’s closing date for Prep 2025 enrolment applications. First round offers have been communicated to prospective families last week, and a number of events are planned for the remainder of the year to support the transition to school process, the first being a Storytime session on Tuesday the 3rd of Septmeber.

If you or someone you know are wanting to enrol at Northcote Primary School for next year, please contact the office for enrolment information and ensure you submit your application as soon as possible so that we can get a clear understanding of our numbers for next year as we begin forward planning for 2025.

Road Safety

Road Safety Around Schools  

When driving near schools, it’s essential to be extra cautious and follow all traffic rules. Reduced speed limits are in place for a reason—children can be unpredictable, and lower speeds give drivers more time to react. Always stop for school crossings and be aware of pedestrian activity, especially during drop-off and pick-up times. Avoid parking in no-stopping zones to ensure clear visibility and reduce hazards.

Bike Safety  

For students who ride their bikes to school, wearing a helmet is non-negotiable—it's crucial for protecting against head injuries. Ensure that bikes are in good working condition with properly inflated tires, functioning brakes, and visible reflectors. Encourage your children to use bike lanes where available and to follow all traffic signals. Teaching them about hand signals and road rules will help them stay safe on their journey.

Getting to and From School Safely  

Whether your children walk, bike, or ride in a car, ensuring their safety during the commute to and from school is paramount. Plan the safest routes, ideally using streets with designated crossings, bike lanes, or sidewalks. For those walking, remind them to stay on the footpath and to always look both ways before crossing the street. If driving, use "Kiss and Go" zones to streamline drop-off and pick-up, reducing congestion and improving safety for everyone.

Your Street, Your Say

In connection with our focus on road and bike safety, we encourage you to get involved in shaping safer streets in our community. The "Your Street, Your Say" initiative by Darebin City Council allows residents to voice their opinions on local road safety and transport issues. By participating, you can help create a safer environment for everyone, including our students traveling to and from school.

For more details and to share your thoughts, visit: 

Principal's Day- Friday 4th of August

On behalf of Bale and I, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for the recognition on Principals Day. Everyone's kind words and thoughtful gestures truly made the day special. 

Bale and I started the morning with some thoughtful questions from the Prep students, who were eager to gain a better understanding of the role of Principal and school leader and to find out some extra tidbits of information from us. 

We were provided with a guard of honour by the 5/6 students on our way to a special morning tea, were we were celebrated by a rousing speech from some of the 3/4 students, who presented us with beautiful hand made posters as well as some special cards and gifts from the 1/2 classrooms.

It’s a privilege to be part of the Northcote Primary School community, and your support motivates us and our commitment to continue to enhance the learning environment for our students. Thank you once again for making Principals Day a memorable one!

Professional Practice Day- Pupil Free August 23rd

This is just a reminder that Friday the 23rd of August, will be a pupil-free day at our school. This day has been designated as a Professional Practice Day, allowing teachers to focus on planning, preparation, assessment, collaboration, and other key professional development activities. While we acknowledge that pupil free days can be a challenge for families, these days are essential for ensuring the high-quality teaching and learning that your children receive. 

If you haven't already, please start to make necessary arrangements for your child on this day. OSH will be available to provide care for your children if needed, but make sure to get in early and book.

Thank you for your understanding and support!

Landscaping Update

While I am still collaborating with the landscape architects to refine the overall preliminary design, I'm pleased to share that we've successfully finalised one of the key elements—the new playground designs. 

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting with the Junior School Council (JSC) to present the overall design, along with a range of options for the new senior and junior play equipment. The students took their role in this process very seriously, demonstrating thoughtful consideration and care in their decisions. They articulated what was important to them with clarity and conviction, ensuring that the final designs truly reflect the needs and desires of our school community.

I am just in the process of finalising some of the minor details, like colour choices, but then this design will be sent off to the manufacturer. If all goes according to plan with the construction and supply of parts, the equipment should be ready by early December!

Junior Play equipment design

Senior Play equipment design

Reminder- Parent Opinion Survey

We are currently conducting the annual Parent/Caregiver Opinion Survey and would greatly value your feedback. The survey helps us understand your perceptions of our school’s climate, student behavior, and engagement, which in turn supports our planning and improvement efforts.

So far, we've had a 13% response rate, and we encourage more families to participate. The survey is open online until Friday, August 30th, 2024. It only takes 20 minutes and can be completed on any device, check your inbox for your unique link. 

Take Care,

Shaun.