Welcome Back to the 2023 School Year

As we enter our second week of the 2023 school year, it is pleasing to see how students have settled into positive and productive learning environments, including new students to NMPS and our Prep students. Moving schools and starting Prep are such big milestones for the whole family, and we are very proud of all our new students for their positivity, resilience and independence. We welcome you all to NMPS.

The beginning of the school year provides a great opportunity for staff, students and families to begin to build positive relationships and get to know each other well. This is a major focus across the school in the first few weeks of school, as it builds the strong foundation for learning, personal and social growth and achievement.

Along with the new families to NMPS, I’d like to take an opportunity to welcome the new staff who have started with us this year. If you get a chance, please make sure you say hello and make them feel welcome. As we move through the term, our new staff will feature in our newsletter, so please keep your eyes open so you can put faces to names.

Parent Communication & our upcoming Information Evening

NMPS recognises the importance of communications and continues to strive to and refine our delivery of excellence in communication. We would like all families to know we are available to discuss your child’s learning journey. If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s schooling – academic or well being, please do not hesitate to get in touch with their classroom teacher via Compass. If there is an urgent matter, we advise that you phone the school.

Our main portal of whole school communication is through Compass. Important updates will be sent via Compass so please ensure you have access to this portal. If you do not yet have access to Compass, please speak to our office staff who will be able to help you. It is also advisable to please check to ensure your email address and contact details recorded in Compass are current.

Year Level and Specialist teams may also use other platforms to enhance and share your child’s learning journey, such as SeeSaw or Google Classroom. Teaching teams will share this information with the community initially through Compass and/or their Year Level Overview. Year Level and Specialist Overviews will be published on our website in the upcoming weeks so please keep your eyes open for this information.

We will be having Year Level Information Evening on Thursday 16th February from 5pm to 6pm, which will give parents the opportunity to meet the teachers of each year level and find out about the curriculum content covered throughout the year. These sessions will be split into two starting times so families with children in multiple year levels will be able to attend more than one session. More information about our Information Evening has been distributed via Compass.

We look forward to working together with our community to ensure all students have a positive, successful school year.

Calendar Dates & Term Dates for 2023

If you haven’t already received your 2023 NMPS School Calendar, please call into our front office to collect one. This has pre-planned important school dates that you need to be aware of, including School Council meetings, Camps, and 3 Way Conferences. It is also available on our website. We also recommend you check this newsletter for important calendar dates regularly as dates will be added throughout the year.

In order to assist parents with planning please see the term dates for 2023 in the 'Important Dates' section of this newsletter. Please note our Pupil Free Days (Curriculum Days) and Whole School Professional Practice Day are also listed here. Student instruction does not occur on these days.

School Council Elections

The North Melbourne Primary School Council election process has now started. Please see the information posted to Compass for more information. Nomination forms can also be accessed via Compass.

SunSmart

Term 1 is a SunSmart term, so we ask that all children have a broad-brimmed hat for recess, lunch and physical education classes. Students are also encouraged to bring their own named water bottle to school each day.

Molesworth Street Campus Update

Currently underway at the Molesworth Campus are painting works across all levels with joinery units being installed including tiered seating on levels 1 to 4. Landscaping works will begin in the north-western corner of the site and move across the site in the coming weeks. Forming of the mounds on the gym roof is progressing, and once finished will be formed with concrete and a rubber layer on top. The VSBA will continue to work with the school to provide regular updates surrounding the works as we move to our Term 2 opening date.

From the Art Room

Year 1 watercolour painting

Year 2 watercolour painting