From the  Principal 

Welcome back to Term 3. I do hope you all managed to enjoy time with family and that our children are refreshed and ready for Semester 2. We are looking forward to a productive term of learning and review.

Upcoming School Review and Community Consultation

As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence in education and continuous improvement, I am pleased to inform you about an upcoming School Review at Carnegie Primary School.

A School Review is a comprehensive assessment conducted every four years to evaluate our school's performance and progress in line with the Department of Education and Training Victoria guidelines. It involves a rigorous examination of various aspects, including academic achievements, teaching methodologies, student well-being initiatives, and administrative efficiency. The primary objectives of this review are to:

1. Evaluate Alignment with School Goals: We will reflect on our current practices and achievements to ensure they align with our strategic objectives and mission statement.
2. Community Consultation: Your input is invaluable to us. We will be seeking feedback from parents, students, staff, and community members to gain diverse perspectives on our strengths and areas for improvement.

SAVE THE DATE: Our ‘In person’ Consultation with the Community is scheduled for Wednesday 27th August from 6.15 - 7.30pm.

If you cannot make the in person session - we will be offering a Community Survey seeking your feedback. A Compass post with the link will be forwarded to you for your completion.

1. Assessment Against Department Standards: The review will assess our compliance with the Department's standards and guidelines, ensuring we meet and exceed expectations in all areas of educational delivery.

Your participation in this process is crucial as it allows us to gather insights that will shape our future initiatives and enhance the overall educational experience at Carnegie PS. We will be encouraging you to share your thoughts, suggestions, and concerns during the consultation period throughout term 3.

We are committed to transparency and accountability throughout this review process. Detailed findings and action plans resulting from the review will be shared with the community to keep you informed about our progress and future directions.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our shared goal of providing the best possible education for our students.

Rebranding and Visual Identity

As part of our ongoing commitment to aligning our physical environment with our strategic priorities, I have been working closely with Marina Vanstan (Parent of a Grade 5 student) on a rebranding project for the school. This work involves redesigning key elements of our school’s artwork and visual identity to better reflect the current direction of Carnegie Primary School —including our updated school Vision and Values. I would like to thank Marina publicly for her time, her skills and her creativity to ensure our vision for the artwork comes to fruition.

This initiative supports the goals outlined in our School Strategic Plan by ensuring that the school’s identity is clearly and consistently represented across our spaces. The new designs will bring a cohesive and contemporary feel to our environment, reinforcing our sense of community and shared purpose.

We are planning a special event later this term to officially unveil the new school totems and signage, which will be proudly displayed throughout the school grounds. Our school values will ‘stand proud’ on the concrete stage area, our Acknowledgement of Country will be installed in the front garden (office entrance) and new signage will be installed across the school.

I can’t wait for the reveal!

Holiday Works and Grounds Improvements

A number of significant works were completed over the holiday period to enhance both the functionality and aesthetics of our school environment:

• Office Redesign: The administration office space has been redesigned to better accommodate additional staff and improve workflow across the leadership and support teams.
• Carpet Installation: New carpet has been installed in the administration area, staircases, and Year 5 classrooms, creating a fresher, more welcoming learning and working environment.
• Grade 1 Classroom Upgrade: A wall has been constructed between the two Grade 1 classrooms to support more focused and effective explicit instruction, in line with our instructional model and commitment to improving student learning outcomes.
• Tree Maintenance: As part of the Make Safe Tree Grant we successfully applied for, several trees have been professionally pruned or removed to ensure safety across the school grounds.
• New Bike Shelter: A new bike shelter roof has been constructed, offering long-awaited protection for students' bikes. This addition will help keep bikes safe and dry year-round and encourage active transport.
• Garden Enhancements: New plants and bench seating have been installed to revitalise several garden areas across the school. These green spaces are an important part of our school environment, providing calm, inviting spaces where students can relax and connect with nature.

These improvements reflect our continued focus on providing a safe, functional, and inspiring learning environment for all members of our school community.

Parent Teacher Conferences

522 bookings to attend the parent teacher conferences were made. We were very pleased with the attendance rate, which was 92%.

Policy Review

As a component of the School Review 2025, Minimum Standards for School Registration, the school’s policy subcommittee has been busy reviewing existing policies. 

The following policies have been reviewed and are available via our school website:

Bullying Prevention

Digital learning Policy

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy

Child Safety and Wellbeing

Child Safety Code of Conduct

Statement of Values and School Philosophy

With thanks,

Karen Roberts

Principal 

 I wish to acknowledge the traditional owners of

 the lands on which this is being read and pay my respects to elders past present and emerging. I wish to acknowledge our First Nations people and pay respects to them. I note further that these lands were never ceded and are, and always will be, Aboriginal Lands.

Respect, Resilience, 

Curiosity,  Integrity