Principal's Report

Congratulations to all of our students, staff and the community on what has been another amazing, albeit incredibly busy, term. 

Show Your Colours Day

On Thursday, the playground was a rainbow of colour, with children wearing their favourite sporting uniforms for Show Your Colours Day. This JSC organised event raised a staggering $1,800 to support children with cancer. Thank you to the whole community for your generosity - what an incredible effort! During the day the Grade 6 JSC students also ran a series of activities for the younger students - it is always wonderful to see our leaders in action. Thanks to Brad for supporting our JSC students to organise this event.

Whole School Science Celebration

On Wednesday afternoon our young scientists were in action, with our Preps through to Grade 6 students sharing their wonderful learning with the community. It was so lovely to see members of our community back in the classrooms and joining in the learning with the students. Some of the science I saw walking around the school included exploding volcanoes, food science, water turbines, plant dissections and even jelly! Well done to all our students for their hard work - and to our staff for organising and support this event.

Farewells

Sadly, we are saying goodbye to two amazing staff members today. Roberta and Molly are leaving us to start new and exciting roles at other schools.

Roberta has been successful in obtaining a new position at Sydney Road Community School; beginning next term. Roberta has worked at this school in the past and will, of course, be a wonderful addition to their team!

Roberta began with FNPS in 2017; bringing her extensive expertise to the BM role and tightening the financial processes of the school. She has also worked incredibly closely with the Finance Committee and School Council in relation to reducing the school’s deficit over the past five years. 

Nicole Cooper will step into this role in an acting capacity throughout Term 4 whilst the school engages in the formal recruitment process. I have spoken with some of the Principals in our network and they have offered to have their Business Managers work closely with Nicole and assist with supporting her. I have also spoken with the department and they are going to allocate an experienced Business Manager from their central team to mentor Nicole throughout the term.

I’m sure you all, like me, wish Roberta all the best on this next chapter in her journey and welcome Nicole into her new role.

Molly will begin at Eltham East Primary school next Term. Molly began her time at FNPS during the 2020 lockdown; not meeting her class in person for the first term and half of her career. Throughout her time here, she has brought an enthusiasm, thirst for knowledge and compassionate approach to everything she has done. Every day that Molly wakes up, she strives to be a better teacher than she was the day before and this is shown in the improved learning outcomes of her students, and the relationships she has been able to build with the staff, children and wider school community of FNPS. Her move to Eltham East provides her with an opportunity to continue her career somewhere closer to home and with a longer contract; providing her with greater stability.

I’m sure you all, like myself, wish Molly all the best in this new chapter of her journey; Eltham East are so very lucky to have her. She truly is a ray of light at FNPS and will be missed greatly.

Beginning next term, Pauline McGrath will step into Molly’s class for the remainder of the year. Pauline has covered Tony Rodwell’s class this term during Tony’s Long Service Leave and has worked closely with the Year 2 cohort and has strong relationships with the children.

Pauline will be in 2ML Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Alex Ortuso will take the class each Wednesday.

Go gently,

Tania