National Reconciliation Week

The staff, students and community of Fitzroy North Primary School acknowledge that we live, work, learn and play in Wurundjeri Country.

This week has seen the students, staff and community of Fitzroy North Primary School acknowledge National Reconciliation week, running from 27 May – 3 June 2022. National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians “to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.” – Reconciliation Australia

With last Friday also marking National Sorry Day, students across the school explored this important milestone in our history in age appropriate ways. Down in the Junior School, the children explored what it means to be sorry and discussed how saying sorry is an important part of restoring relationships. In the middle and senior years, classes began developing an understanding of the historical significance of this day and the importance of acknowledging past mistakes to allow us as a nation to move forward.

Kevin Rudd’s 2008 apology speech can be viewed here: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apology speech

Throughout Reconciliation Week, students immersed themselves in learning experiences that increased their awareness and appreciation of our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and explored how each and every one of us can contribute to reconciliation in Australia.

Reconciliation Week at FNPS culminated in our annual ‘Little Long Walk’. Inspired by Michael Long’s Long Walk in 2004 from Melbourne to Canberra, the children, our teachers and our community set off on a walk around the Edinburgh Gardens in support of Michael Long’s vision to ensure the plight of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remains on the national agenda.

A huge thank you to our Indigenous Learning Leader, Zoe for her organisation of the day, and to Tanya D for her work with the Year 3/4 choir in preparing for their performance.

Cross Country

Congratulations to all of our students that represented FNPS at the District Cross Country competition this week. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and we congratulate the 6 students who will move forward to represent our school in the Divisional Competition.

Fate of the Fete

Thank you to all of our community members who attended the FNPS Fate of the Fete meeting earlier this week. With 38 attendees, it’s great that we have a community that is so passionate about ensuring the continuation of the FNPS annual fete. As mentioned in the meeting, in the coming days you will receive a link to a document where you can register your interest in contributing to the fete. Once this information is received, we can make decisions about the format and scale of the 2023 fete.

Many Hands (Working Bee)

Thank you to the amazing group of F-2 volunteers who helped out with the Working Bee on 20 May. It was great to see the community coming together to undertake a number of tasks around the school, in particular, the Junior School Playground, Basketball Court and Asphalt areas. Whilst, as always, mother nature was dropping leaves as quickly as the team could pick them up, the day was nonetheless a resounding success, both from a working bee and community building perspective.

Student Absences

A reminder to families if your child is absent, please ensure that you report and explain your child’s absence through the Compass App or website. We continue to have a number of ‘unexplained absences’ each day and our hope, moving forward, is that we can eliminate absences without explanation.

At 10:30am each morning, the school sends through an SMS of unexplained absences to families, if you receive this notification, please head into the Compass App to update the reason for your child’s absence. The office staff will also follow up unexplained absences with phone calls and/or a letter.

Student Attitudes to School Survey

It’s that time of year again when we provide our Year 4 – 6 students with the opportunity to provide feedback about their experience at school. The survey allows the students to share their feedback in the areas of learning, peer and social relationships, relationships with staff, along with mental health and wellbeing.

Later this year, when results come through, this data provides the school with important information about student perceptions of their school experience and points of future focus and growth.

The survey next week for our year 4-6 students. Please reach out if you have any questions about the data collection process.

That’s it for me, see you all next week.

Go gently,

Tania

Missing Bear