From the Principal
Dear Parents and Friends,
It has been wonderful to see the year begin so positively across the school, particularly for our Prep students, who have made a fantastic start to their schooling journey.
For some children, the start of school comes with confidence and excitement; for others, it may include a few tears or moments of reluctance. This is completely normal and something we support every year. Children adjust to change in different ways, and it is important to remember that needing reassurance at drop-off is a natural part of this transition for many students.
Supporting a reluctant child to feel comfortable and confident about school can take time. Families can help by:
- establishing a consistent morning routine
- acknowledging feelings while offering calm encouragement
- speaking positively about school and learning
- involving children in preparing for the day ahead
- creating a short, reassuring goodbye routine
Consistency between home and school is key. Our classrooms operate with clear and predictable behaviour routines that support students to learn in calm, orderly environments. When students make negative choices, staff support them through modelling, guidance and explicit teaching of appropriate behaviours. Strong partnerships between school and home help children develop the language and skills they need to navigate challenges successfully.
As part of this work, families are encouraged to revisit the URStrong / Friendology parent resources. These provide practical guidance when supporting children through friendship challenges, including situations that may be “mean on purpose” or part of everyday “friendship fires.” Prep students will begin learning these concepts in the coming weeks.
Annual Implementation Plan (AIP)
Each year, schools develop an Annual Implementation Plan that outlines our key improvement goals, the strategies we will use, and how we will measure success. Our Curriculum Day last Wednesday directly supported this work, with a strong focus on improving classroom practice to optimise student learning. Please see Zahra Harvey’s accompanying article, which outlines how teachers are introducing visualisers into their classrooms to further support clarity, understanding and engagement for students.
Assemblies at LPS
Weekly assemblies are held on Fridays at 2:45pm in the school gym, and all families are warmly invited to attend. Families can go directly to the gym; please note that standing room at the back is limited.
Prep students do not attend assembly immediately. Once teachers are confident that students have the stamina to participate, families will be notified. This usually occurs during Term One.
A Few Early-Year Reminders
As the year settles in, we appreciate families supporting students by:
- ensuring regular and punctual attendance
- checking Compass regularly for communication and updates
- labelling uniforms, hats and lunch items clearly
- encouraging students to bring water bottles and hats each day
These small routines make a big difference to students’ confidence and readiness to learn.
Finally, thank you to the many families who attended our Pegasus Family Fun Night. The weather was perfect, and it was lovely to see so many new and returning families connecting and enjoying time together.
We look forward to a positive and productive year ahead.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Kristine Roose
Assistant Principal