Principal Report

Principal Report

I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and high spirits. Many children have informed me that they were able to head off on a family holiday to some warmer climates for the term break. My holidays were spent in Melbourne, but despite the chilly weather I was able to get to some wonderful shows as part of the Rising Festival including the Shadow Spirit exhibition, a new First Peoples art display. The exhibition was conducted at the Flinders Street Station’s abandoned ballroom, continues to 30 July and I would highly recommend for all families to attend.

Bike & Scooter Safety

Just prior to the holidays I received a few emails from concerned parents and other members of the local community of some very dangerous practices and behaviours NLPS children had been involved in whilst riding their bikes and scooters to and from school. I have raised this matter with the teachers and have spoken to the children at assembly, but I would also like to take this opportunity to emphasise the importance of assisting your children in learning how to ride bikes and scooters safely on the roads. 

Riding bikes and scooters is not only a fun recreational activity for children but also a valuable life skill that promotes independence and physical activity. By teaching our children the rules of the road and how to navigate traffic safely, we can equip them with the necessary skills to become responsible road users. Our children are sharing the same roads and rules with all road users but if they were driving a car they would need to 18 years or older but when on a bike or scooter, which is arguably much more dangerous, they are able to use the roads at any age. 

Research informs us the human brain does not fully develop until the mid-to-late 20s. The part of the brain behind the forehead, called the prefrontal cortex, is one of the last parts to mature. This area is responsible for skills like planning, prioritising, and making good decisions.  With this in mind, it is essential that we assist, support and spend the necessary time with our children if we want them to be safe on the roads.

Understanding road safety rules is critical for the well-being of our children. By teaching them to ride on the roads, we can familiarise them with traffic signs, road signals, and safe crossing techniques. This knowledge will help them make informed decisions while sharing the road with motorists and pedestrians. 

Learning to navigate the roads builds confidence in children. When they can independently ride their bikes and scooters while following traffic rules, they develop a sense of accomplishment and self-assurance. This newfound confidence extends beyond road safety and positively impacts their overall personal growth.

Encouraging children to use bikes and scooters as a means of transportation promotes a healthy and active lifestyle. By choosing these alternatives to motorised transportation, we instil good habits early on and teach our children about the benefits of physical activity and caring for the environment.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for your children, we recommend the following tips:

• Wear Protective Gear: Prioritise safety by ensuring your child wears a helmet. If on a scooter, it is also recommended they consider also wearing knee and elbow pads.

• Choose Appropriate Routes: Plan safe and suitable routes for your child to practice riding on. Start with quiet, low-traffic streets and gradually progress to busier roads as their skills improve. Avoid high-speed or heavily congested areas such as Melbourne Rd, Mason St and Blackshaws Rd until they are ready.

• Teach Traffic Rules: Educate your child about traffic rules and signs. Emphasise the importance of stopping at intersections, using hand signals, and looking out for pedestrians and other vehicles. Reinforce the habit of riding in the same direction as traffic flow.

• Practice Road Etiquette: Encourage your child to be courteous and respectful to other road users. Teach them to signal their intentions, be patient, and yield when necessary. Remind them to maintain a safe distance from parked cars to avoid collisions with opening doors.

Initially, accompany your child on their rides to supervise and guide them. As they gain confidence, gradually allow them to ride independently, but maintain open lines of communication. Regularly discuss their experiences, address any concerns, and reinforce the importance of safety.

By working together and prioritising road safety, we can ensure that our children develop into responsible and capable road users. Your support and involvement in teaching your child how to ride bikes and scooters on the roads will have a lasting positive impact on their lives.

If you have any questions or need further guidance on this matter, please feel free to contact the school. We are here to assist you in any way we can.

School Reports and Parent Teacher Interviews

It was wonderful to see so many parents booked in and attending this week’s parent teacher interviews either online or face to face in the classrooms. Feedback from parents and teachers has been very positive on how our children are progressing in a time of stability after a period disruptions and changes.

If you were unable to attend the parent teacher interviews this week but would still like to catch up with your teacher, please contact the school and a mutually suitable day and time will be made for you to meet up with your child’s teacher at a further date. 

According to the school’s Compass records, there were several families that were unable to access their students Semester 1 report.

We understand that some parents may have difficulties in accessing their child’s report online due to several reasons including technical issues, internet access, availability of devices etc. so the school has taken the liberty of printing a hard copy and have sent the report home with the child.

We would encourage all parents to read through the report and discuss their achievements and progress with their child. 

Athletic Sports

We had a magical sunny day for our school athletic events last Monday and a great time was had by all. A huge thank you to all the parents that volunteered their services and to the Bayside Secondary Students that assisted at both sports – without your support we could not have staged such an excellent day for our children.

School grounds Improvements

Over the school holidays a number of improvements were made to the school grounds. These include;

• The old soccer pitch and bat tennis courts were replaced with a full new surface which has been widely appreciated by all the children that use these areas.  The old surface has served us well with over 12 years of extensive use, but the lines were disappearing, the surface had worn thin and was very uneven. 
• A private break out area was constructed for staff to spend their recess and lunch times outside without being accessed by the children.  The landscaped break out area will also be a space where staff teams can collaboratively meet to work and plan in a safe, relaxed and attractive environment.
• A new, and very big, school values matrix sign has been placed up on the outside wall of the school gym.  The new sign is an ‘oversized’ replica of the matrix poster on display in every child’s classroom and promotes to the children the school values and how they can be daily demonstrated at NLPS.

Beginning in early August, the replacement of the senior school play equipment will begin. The school’s Junior School Council had significant input into the design and colour range of the new play equipment, and we are all eagerly awaiting the installation later this term.

NAPLAN - Year 3 & 5

NAPLAN was undertaken by students in Yr. 3 and 5 earlier this year in March. 

Questions in NAPLAN assess content linked to the Australian curriculum in English and Mathematics. NAPLAN tests are one aspect a school’s assessment and reporting process and do not replace the extensive, ongoing assessments made by teachers about each student’s performance.

It was anticipated that the reports would be delivered to the school this week and they would be available to discuss at parent teacher meetings. Unfortunately, they have not arrived in time for this to occur and they will now be sent home with children early next week. 

2024 Prep Enrolments now due.

A reminder to families that 2024 Prep Enrolments are now due. 

If you have a child that turns 5 before 30th April 2024, and would like to enrol them at Newport Lakes Primary School, please download the form attached below or alternatively contact the office for assistance. Please include your child's immunisation records, birth certificate or passport and the 100 points of residential ID (checklist attached).

It is very important for our school planning purposes that we are aware of any siblings that may be enrolling in Preps next year so please let the office know asap. 

Pupil Free Day

Tomorrow (Friday 21st July) will be a pupil free day to allow for staff to join in a professional learning day. All teachers and classroom education staff will be participating in a program on neurodivergent learners and inclusive learning through a STEM lens. The workshop will be presented by Dr. Lorien Parker of SciencePlay Kids. 

There will be no school for children on this day. Childcare is available and further information and bookings can be made by contacting the school’s OSHC provider Quantin Binnah on 9742 5040 or by email admin@qbcc.org.au.

I hope you all have a good week.

David Moss

Principal