Message from Principal Sally

 A reflection of things that worked well in Term 2 2020

The Australian and State governments have responded proactively and decisively during this pandemic.

The entire NMPS staff team thank the school families and community for working with us so positively. We recognise and appreciate the effort of our families in supporting the learning from home and helping our students maintain the connection with their classroom teachers, though digital interaction. We loved seeing the maths investigations, writing pieces, videos, photos, and responses that you so thoughtfully contributed, and were impressed by the creativity and hard work that you maintained in learning from home.

As a school we received regular State – Department of Education updates and advice. We made our decisions swiftly to support the learning opportunities for all students, by providing work packs and digital devices to those that required them. Staff supported on site and remote learning at the same time for essential service workers’ children and those who found themselves in vulnerable positions. The executive leadership team at NMPS thank every student, parent and staff member for their commitment, collaboration and care in supporting all members of the school community.

Some positive aspects for staff who had to work on-site during remote learning were reduced yard duty ‘shifts’, the ease of driving, parking and drastically reduced traffic around the streets. The P-2 ‘little kids’ thoroughly enjoyed having playground for themselves for two weeks but everyone seems to have ‘pivoted’ incredibly successfully.

Another major highlight for the executive leadership has been the ‘arrival and dismissal – GATE DUTIES’. We have all thoroughly enjoyed the greetings at the gates and have all commented on the students’ independence. From Preps with their backs bent and knuckles dragging on day one - to the skipping in and out and happy smiles on Friday afternoons from the Errol street gates – it has been a joy we will not be letting go of for a while.

As I wander around the classrooms on my way back from morning gate duty - I have personally witnessed nearly 900 students actively engaged in their learning at 9.00am with less disruptions across the whole school. Thank you families for making this work.

As I conclude this newsletter article – ‘we don’t know what Term 3 will be’ but we will continue to face these trials and tribulations with resilience and positivity as we have so far. 

End of Term Song Broadcast

Those of you who are collecting your child from school on Friday at 1.30 pm, keep your ears open for a song and lyric mashup to celebrate the last day of semester 1. 

Dismissal Procedure for Friday 26 June

All students in Years Prep - Six will be dismissed at 1.30pm on Friday June 26th via the regular gates. 

The gates will then be locked at 1.40pm. 

Please park outside the RED ZONE and walk to collect your children using the pedestrian crossings. 

Uncollected children will be taken to Biz-E-Kidz, which is a fee for service arrangement, if you have completed the enrolment form.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedure for Term 3

The same processes for arrival and dismissal will be maintained next term, until further notice.

Years Prep – 2 will still use their allocated gates from 8.45am. They will depart at 3.15pm.  Prep Gate 7 on Errol Street/Murphy Street, Year 1 Gate # 3 on Harcourt Street, Year 2 Gate 2 on Harcourt Street. 

Year 3 – 6 students can arrive and be dismissed through any gates. 

Please note the double gates (Gate 2, 3, 5 & 7), will be locked at 3.30 pm. Single gates may be used.

Gate 8 is reserved for the arrival and dismissal of Biz-E-Kidz only.