Ciao a tutti!

Mi chiamo Erin and I am so excited to join the Fitzroy North Primary School team in 2025 as Assistant Principal. I have come across from a similar-sized primary school in the inner eastern suburbs, where I was also Assistant Principal, overseeing Teaching and Learning and sharing the school’s Wellbeing portfolio. I’m really passionate about Literacy, Numeracy, and the Arts, and I love music, dancing, cooking, problem-solving and learning languages. I’ve had an incredible start to my journey at FNPS and thank all the students, staff and families for the warm welcome I’ve received. If you see me on yard duty before or after school, please come and say hi!

Welcome to our Preps

Congratulations to our Prep students who have just completed their first week of schooling! It has been a pleasure getting to know our new students, who have transitioned to ‘big school’ so beautifully. Despite the heat across the week, the Prep BM and Prep ML classrooms have been calm and inviting, with students already familiar with our FNPS rituals and routines - including assembly! The Buddy Program has commenced, and it has been heart-warming to see relationships developing between the Preps and Year 6s. Our 2025 graduating students have already stepped up as leaders of the school and I thank them for showing our Preps the ropes. Grazie mille to our fabulous Prep teachers Molly and Bronte, to our Year 6 teachers Kathleen and Nick, to our supporting staff, and of course to our Prep parents and carers! A huge combined effort, but one that has set the tone for a safe, calm and engaging year of schooling.

Spotlight on Student Voice

The Junior School Council (JSC) executive had a busy week this week, chairing their first meeting for 2025 and hosting their first assembly. The JSC is one of our major formalised platforms for student voice, agency and leadership, providing students with opportunities to have a say and make positive change in their learning and in their school more broadly.

Over the past two weeks Tania and I have been visiting classrooms and have seen first-hand how our students are using voice and agency to co-design classroom expectations with peers and teachers, set up their classroom communities, rituals and routines, all whilst modelling kindness, resilience and respect.

Excellence in Teaching

We are excited to share that our very own Molly Lowe has been accepted into the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership’s Teaching Excellence Program (TEP). The TEP is a year-long professional learning program for skilled teachers, supporting them to connect with passionate, like-minded colleagues and deliver outstanding outcomes for students.

Guided by expert Teachers-in-Residence, Molly will participate in ten days of professional learning with ‘The Academy’ in East Melbourne, focusing on teaching and learning in the discipline of English. We have engaged one of our regular Casual Relief Teachers to cover Molly’s class while she is at The Academy, to ensure continuity of learning for our Prep ML students. Molly will be supported to share her learning through the P-2 Professional Learning Community and the English Curriculum Action Team. We can’t wait to hear all about the program - Congratulazioni, Molly!

Student-Led Gender Equity Project

The Student-Led Gender Equity Project (SLGEP) pioneered at FNPS in 2024 and was met with critical acclaim from students, staff and families. This program is tied to the Department’s Rights, Responsibilities and Respectful Relationships program, and empowers our Year 6 students to explore and address gender equity issues within our school community.

Throughout the semester-long program, students will engage in workshops that build their understanding of key topics and work towards an action project aimed at creating positive change. In 2025, lessons will be facilitated by our Year 6 teachers and supported by staff from the SLGEP.

A parent information session will be held online, facilitated by Leonie from SLGEP, with school leadership in attendance. Details, including the weblink, will be shared via Compass. Parents will be provided with a consent form, and if families (or students) wish to opt out, the school will arrange for them to participate in an alternative learning program.

Student-Led Gender Equity Project - Online Parent Information Session

Tuesday February 11, 5:30pm - Link to be sent via Compass.

Reminders

Swimming Carnival this Thursday for students in 4-6. Please ensure permissions are given.
Meet & Greet Parent-Teacher Conferences next Wednesday afternoon & evening - book via Compass or contact the office if you are having trouble.
Please ensure students are prepared for the hot weather in accordance with our Sunsmart and Student Dress Code policies found on our website.
Students cannot be on the school grounds unsupervised before 8:45am or after 3:40pm. If you think you might be late to collect your child or if they are waiting for an instrumental music lesson outside of these times, they will need to be enrolled in before-school or after-school care with TheirCare. Child Care Subsidies may apply.

Buona settimana,

Erin

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