Principals Message
Welcome to Term 4
Welcome back to Term 4! It's hard to believe we've reached the final term of the school year. Spring is beginning to make itself felt, with some warmer weather, longer days and plenty of activity around the school.
As I mentioned at assembly last week, Term 4 is a particularly special time in a primary school. There are so many rites of passage as students prepare to move into their next year of schooling. For our Year 6 students, this is their final term of primary school, while our Foundation students are approaching the end of their very first year. There will be plenty of opportunities to celebrate these milestones over the coming weeks.
It's also wonderful to hear our instrumental music students and bands rehearsing in preparation for Festival on the Lawn. This is always one of the highlights of our school calendar, and I'm looking forward to seeing the performances come together.
Planning for 2027
Behind the scenes, we're well into planning for next year. Staffing arrangements are currently being finalised, and we're anticipating a slight increase in student numbers for 2027, which is encouraging.
Our Foundation transition dates have also been organised, and we're looking forward to welcoming our newest students and their families into the school. There is a great deal happening between now and the end of the year, so I encourage everyone to keep a close eye on the school calendar and Compass for upcoming events, transition activities and important dates.
Our sporting calendar is particularly busy this term, with plenty of opportunities for students to represent the school and participate in a range of activities.
Keeping the Focus on Learning
With all the excitement of Term 4, it's important that we continue to make the most of every learning opportunity. There is still a great deal of teaching and learning to be done before the end of the year.
We've recently received our 2026 School Performance Report, which provides a valuable picture of how our school is performing. There are some very encouraging results, particularly in student wellbeing, where Trafalgar Primary School continues to be recognised in the Department of Education's High Performance category. We've also seen some important improvements in aspects of teaching and learning, particularly in student growth.
At the same time, the report identifies areas where we need to continue improving student achievement. Our work in strengthening curriculum, teaching practice and classroom routines remains a significant priority. We have high expectations for what our students can achieve, and we're committed to continually improving the quality of education we provide.
One area I particularly want to draw families' attention to is student attendance.
Our attendance rate has declined compared with previous years. Some of this appears to be associated with a later cold and flu season, which has affected quite a few students and families. We certainly understand that children need to stay home when they're unwell.
However, when children are well, it's critically important that they attend school every day. Even occasional absences can add up over time, and missing school means missing the carefully sequenced instruction, practice and learning experiences that take place in classrooms.
Every school day matters, right through to the end of Term 4. I encourage families to help us maximise the learning opportunities available to their children by making regular attendance a priority.
Student-Free Day Reminder
A reminder that Monday 2 November, the day before Melbourne Cup Day, is a Student-Free Day at Trafalgar Primary School.
There will be no classes on this day, and the school office will also be closed. TheirCare will be available for families requiring supervision through the Outside School Hours Care program. Families needing this service should make arrangements directly with TheirCare.
With such a busy term ahead, thank you to our families for your continued support. I'm looking forward to the many celebrations, performances, sporting events and milestones that make this final term so memorable. Most importantly, I look forward to seeing our students continue to learn, grow and finish the year strongly.
Cameron Nicholls
Principal