PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear Parents and Carers,

The end of the year is always a particularly busy one for our staff as we finalise the remaining work for 2025 while preparing for a successful start to 2026. Our focus is on maintaining the high standards we set for our students and making the most of the time we have left together.

The final weeks of the year are filled with exciting activities including excursions, incursions, celebrations and farewells. These moments allow students and staff to connect, reflect on their achievements and conclude the year on a positive and memorable note.

Last week I had the absolute privilege of attending the Energy Breakthrough with our talented student teams and passionate staff. This experience continues to impress as students participate in purposeful learning that encourages problem solving, team work and persistence. A program like this does not happen without the endless hours of work from our staff and once again they impressed with the kindness and energy they displayed throughout the year and during the event. Well done to all involved and please check out the report later in this newsletter.  

On Wednesday December 11, we will be holding an open afternoon, where students will have the opportunity to guide their parents and carers through a showcase of their learning and accomplishments from throughout the year. Students will also have the chance to show parents their 2026 classroom and introduce their future classroom teacher.

This open afternoon is an initiative introduced last year in place of our traditional end-of-year parent-teacher interviews. Feedback from our school community indicated strong support for this model and we are looking forward to continuing its success again this year. More information will be shared as the date approaches.

We look forward to celebrating your child’s hard work and progress with you.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to make these final weeks of 2025 meaningful and enjoyable for all students.

School Council

Our School Council came together for the November meeting last week. The following was discussed.

• Financial reports for the month of October including our profit and loss reports for Lucas LEAP.
• The community connection events that have occurred during the past month including the EBT sponsors morning tea, Colour Run and Kinder - Prep transition program
• Continued work on the Christmas Carols Picnic evening set for Wednesday December 10. The School Council is playing a central role to organise and run the raffle on the night.
• A report was delivered on the school’s strategic review and the plans moving forward.
• Buildings and Grounds, Curriculum and Fundraising reports were delivered to outline the work from the past month.
• We took a deep dive into some Parent Opinion Survey data around school communication.
• An update on staffing and student enrolments for the 2026 school year. 

Our School Council will meet once more for the year to celebrate the progress of the school during 2025 and thank the councillors for their work.

Stationery Packs

Last week all families will have received a Compass message outlining the plan for ordering 2026 Stationery Packs and the School Council approved Financial Contribution Schedule.

Our stationery pack provider, KaKa Kids, will be able to take online orders again this year. Thanks to those who have already placed their order in preparation for the 2026 school year. 

Orders need to be placed prior to December 12th, or a $14.95 late surcharge will apply. 

All stationery packs will be delivered directly to the school in readiness for the first day of the 2026 school year. Teachers will manage the distribution process in the classroom throughout the year.

Please see the Stationery Pack Compass message for more details. 

Financial Contributions:

Each year we ask families to contribute financially to support the programs that are offered at Lucas Primary School. These contributions are kept to a minimum but allow the school to maintain and offer programs of a high standard.

There are a number of areas in the Financial Contribution Schedule:

Curriculum Consumables - This supports the school to purchase items and activities that students use, or participate in, to access the curriculum. A good example of this are the resources used within our specialist programs (Art, Performing Arts, Physical Education and Japanese). These come at considerable cost to the school and are used by every student throughout the year, often needing replacement on an annual basis.

Other Contributions - This supports the ongoing school grounds maintenance program to ensure the school is kept in a safe, neat and tidy condition for all to enjoy on a daily basis.

Donation - School Initiative Project - This year we have included a contribution to a project that will be a major focus in the coming year. In 2026, we are looking to establish a Vegetable Garden and Outdoor Learning Space to complement our extracurricular program. Donations are welcome and will be supplemented through a grants program and the school fundraising efforts. We aim to update this section of the financial contribution schedule each year with a new focus so that our school continues to grow and offer new learning experiences for the students.

 Extra-Curricular Items and Activities - This is the user pay section of the Financial Contributions Schedule and covers camps, excursions and incursions throughout the year. Parents have the choice of paying $150 up front that sits in credit for the activities throughout the year or by paying for each activity at the time of the event. Please note that any unused financial credit at the end of each year can be rolled over to the following year. This money remains in the family name and any remaining credit is refunded upon departure.

We appreciate all financial contributions which allows Lucas Primary School to maintain the best possible education and support for your child.

Orientation Day

Over the past several weeks, our teachers have dedicated significant time to carefully planning the classes for 2026. Students have been grouped based on a variety of factors to ensure well-balanced classes. As you can imagine, this is a complex and time-consuming process, but we hope that the extra effort will set us up for a smooth and successful start to the new school year.

We understand that this time of year can be challenging for some families and we greatly value the role that parents and carers play in supporting their children through transitions. Staying positive and helping your child view this period as an opportunity for growth can make a big difference. We appreciate your continued support in navigating this process over the coming weeks.

On December 9, we will be holding our Orientation Day, which will give students the chance to meet their 2026 teachers and classmates. The day will include the following activities:

• Year 6 students will spend the day at secondary school (for state schools).
• 2026 Foundation students will spend half a day with their 2026 Foundation teachers.
• All other students will participate in a "Meet Your Teacher" session from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., where they will meet their 2026 teacher and spend time in their new classrooms with their future classmates.

This is always an exciting day for both students and teachers as we prepare for the year ahead.

In addition to the events on Orientation Day, staff will be working closely with their future students and engaging in thorough handovers with their 2026 teachers. This collaboration will help ensure a smooth transition and allow us to build on the progress made this year.

We recognise that there is often movement within the school community at this time of year. To help us with planning for 2026 and to ensure your child’s needs are fully supported on Orientation Day, please let us know as soon as possible if you plan to move away from Lucas Primary School.

Thank you again for your support as we work together to make this transition as smooth and positive as possible for all our students.

Graduation:

Our Year 6 students have had a wonderful 12 months of success both in and outside the classroom. They have been role models for the younger students and certainly been a lot of fun around the school. As the end of year approaches, so does the Year 6 Graduation ceremony which is set to take place on December 15. The ceremony will include some speeches, some awards, a reflection video, a special surprise and of course a graduate disco.

This always promises to be a night of laughs and deep reflection from the last seven years of primary education.

Our Year 6’s will also be formally farewelled at the final assembly on December 18 with an avenue of honour.

Christmas Carols:

Our annual Christmas Carol picnic is approaching fast on Wednesday December 10 from 5.00 - 7.00pm. This is a night for the whole community to come together and enjoy each other's company and listen to the students sing some songs. All students will be involved in at least two performances throughout the night which includes a whole school song which promises to be a highlight. They have been practising very hard for this event.

Families are invited to bring along some food or purchase a sausage from the BBQ or nibbles from the other food vans on the night. We look forward to seeing everyone there.

BBQ helpers are still required - thanks to those who have popped their name on the BBQ roster. Please add your name to the list if you are able to assist or contact the office.

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Giant Christmas Raffle

Once again, we will be having our annual Christmas Raffle!

Thank you very much to the families who have already kindly donated prizes. We are still taking donations, so if you would like to contribute a prize, please drop it off at the office at any time. We are always very grateful for all the donations we receive.

We are asking for parent helpers to wrap the raffle prizes on Tuesday the 9th of December at 1:30pm. If you are able to help, please let the office know.