ACT Public Education Awards

Teegan and I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to acknowledge the awards we received for School Leader of the Year and Early Childhood Teacher of the Year. A big thank you to those who took the time to write nominations. We also want to acknowledge the other nominees from our school this year, Gina, Cat and Trina. When we work with such an incredible team it is hard to pick just a few members of our community to nominate each year. We are all privileged to be a part of the NPS school community and love what we get to do each day. 

Pets on School Grounds

We ask parents and carers to please leave pets at home or organise drop off and pick up outside of the school grounds. Dogs are not allowed on the school premises. 

3/4 Soccer Gala Day

Congratulations to all students who recently attended the Soccer Gala Day. One of our teams Ngunnawal Blue, came away with a win after a 1-1 Grand Final resulting in a penalty shootout. 

Wear it Blue Day is coming!

Year 1 and 2 Raiders Tag Gala Day

A fun day was had by our Year 1 and 2 students who attended the Raiders Tag Gala Day. They were all zippy and spinning around the opposition all day, with both teams remaining undefeated.  

Canberra Times Fun Run

In a show of dedication and community spirit, Olivia, Isla, and Hazel took part in the recent Canberra Times Fun Run, raising over $800 for Cure Cancer.

The young runners, each motivated to make a difference, set out to raise awareness and funds for this critical cause. They surpassed their original fundraising goal through generous support from family, friends, and the local community. Their hard work and determination have shown how even the youngest among us can contribute to finding a cure for cancer.

They have set an inspiring example for us all, proving that with a little effort and a big heart, you can make a real impact, regardless of your age.

School Leavers

If your child is leaving the NPS community, we require the below information for our records. You are welcome to email us this information or fill out the slip below. This form is not required for our students in Year 6 transitioning to high school. 

Transition to Parent Portal 

In week 9 of this term we will be offering end of year interviews with teachers. We will be using the parent portal booking system as part of our transition to the Parent Portal. If you need to set up access, please refer to your email from the school or contact the front office for support.

Third Party Permissions Preschool to Year 5

Thank you to everyone who has returned the revised third party permissions form.

This new form will remain current for the 2025 school year. Updating our form in Term 4 will mean we can have Seesaw up and running for students earlier in the 2025 school year.

We are also using the updated form to administer Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) with students in years 2 to 5. Please refer to your emails regarding this. We hope to have all forms returned prior to week 6 to commence assessment. 

Rebecca Turner 

Principal

STEM- Inquiry-tadpoles

The Preschoolers have some special visitors for the term; Tadpoles. We are excited to watch our frogspawn go through their metamorphosis into little froglets. It is such an incredible experience for all our students. We have been learning about their life cycle, habitats and many interesting facts. Students have made frog habitats with playdough, created frog inspired artwork, practised our labelling of a frogs’ life cycle and have been observing their growth. They are getting bigger and starting to swim quicker.

Did you know that froglets don’t lose their tails, they grow into them?

Koori excursion

In week 2, Koori Pre went on an excursion to the National Museum of Australia. We took the big bus over to the museum and had our morning tea outside. We then listened to the story ‘The Bunyip and the Stars’ By Adam Duncan. Afterwards we got to have a play in the discovery centre before coming together to do some activities such as looking at artefacts, playing with puppets and using musical instruments. 

‘Big Ideas’ focus - feelings and emotions

Students in Bunduluk have been learning about feelings and emotions, naming our feelings and learning strategies for self-regulation. We have read books such as ‘The Colour Monster’ by Anna Llenas and used puppets to act out different scenarios. We have been making emotion faces with felt pictures and paper plates. We discussed choosing the most appropriate facial features for our chosen emotion. We have also learnt strategies to calm ourselves down when we are sad or angry, such as focusing on our breathing, counting to ten, having happy thoughts, talking about our feelings with someone we trust and having some time to ourselves. We have been drawing pictures in our drawing books to represent our learning. 

Canberra Museum & Gallery (CMAG) with Gula and Mundawari

Last Thursday 31 October, Gula and Mundawari classes went on our excursion to CMAG. Over the coming weeks, Balbo, Bunduluk, and Guginya are also attending. We caught the bus there, which was a first for some of our students and a highlight for many. The excursion was divided into two parts with our morning tea break in between. Each class took turns in the studio making their own art including an ocean painting, a Murrumbidgee River collage, and a print based upon the Timshel statue by Brian Corr. When we weren’t in the studio we were busy observing others’ creations and masterpieces, including the Timshel statue, the Yamaingmarang glass Yidaki (didgeridoo) by Paul House, and Sidney Nolan and St Kilda painting by Sidney Nolan.

Fortnightly Focus

This fortnight we are focused on listening and following instructions. This applies to all settings; the classroom, playground, eating time and transitions. What will the teachers be doing to support the students? They will be SCANNING to find students who are doing and saying the right things. They will be MOVING around the space they are supervising to see who needs help, and to be visible to the students. The teachers will also be TALKING to students as a way of acknowledging positive behaviours and checking in.

Fortnightly_Focus_Listen_and_follow_instructions_Active_Supervision.pdf

Fortnightly_Focus_Listen_and_follow_instructions_Active_Supervision _pdf 353.72 KB

PBL Reward – How High Can We Go?

Our next PBL reward in week 9 offers students the incentive to strive for ONE reward from a 5-tier system. Anticipation and tension builds as we watch our whole school yunggi bengal count increase steadily each day. With a running total of 112,608, we are currently in position for a whole school picnic. Can we trade our picnic for a third break time?

Ask a Student

Making transitions around the school happens throughout the day. This movement around the school includes going to and from break times, specialists, the library, the hall and play spaces. This week we asked the students what they think PBL transitions look like.

“When you hear the bell ring, start heading to where you need to be.” - Indi

“Moving around a class if they are playing a game.”- Ava O.

“Walking quietly near classrooms.” - Samaira

“Being quiet when you are going to your specialist class.” - Jonathan

“Staying inbounds when you’re going out to play and coming back.” - Mia

“Walking in the walk zones.” - Max

Community Feedback

As you may be aware, this year the staff have been working to revisit our whole school behaviour matrix. This is the list of settings within our school and the individual expected and explicitly taught behaviours for each. We are now ready to share with you and seek your input. Please take some time to look through the expectations; some are the same, others are new and a few are reworded to be clearer for everyone to understand. 

If you have any thoughts, ideas or suggestions, please email Jen Hearne (Jennifer.Hearne@ed.act.edu.au) and we will discuss your contributions as a PBL team. We will launch these new expectations for trial at the start of 2025. 

PBL Team

Yunggi Bengal Badges

Responsible Learner 

Respectful

Safe

Charley CS	Kingston D	Ashleigh G	Paris H
Emily J	Harrison M	Muhammad M	Cortez P
Lilith R	Hayley T	Harrison W	Noah
Cassie C	Avi M	Alexander H	Elhee C
John H	Umaima G	Ava S	Joshua P
Alexander O	Nina K	Prisa B	Emily L
Mathew M	Francis N	Lillian J	Riely O
Ollie S	Lola G	Lulu B	Liam H
Chloe H	Tala H	Rory K	Samuel M
Charlie O	Laura S	Joshua S	Theo S

Safe 

Kaiden O	Quaid L	Lillian B	Jasmine D
Christal D	Jessica T	William R	Ella H
Avi M	Mia J	Makayla G	Lola DS
Zoe I	Harrison W	Cortez P	Jaxon S
Harrison M	Noah Z	Aradhya S	Lola G
Saharsh SN	Kristofor K	Joy K	Lilly T

Responsible Learners

Kyle H	Leo M	Jasper W	Victoria N
Lota O	Nimret K	Adomba O	Freddie L
Clara E	Skylar C	Alexis C	Josephine B
Samuel D	Andre Z	Joshua D	Mekaal M
Lawrence S

Respectful

Ginevra P	Isabelle B	Makuei A	Jaden R
Nickolas D	Liam M	Riely O	Eden R
Harrsion S	William N	Levi B

Safe

Eknoor H	Levi B	Jenesis M	Nikolas D
Claire B	Jaiden R	Arianna P	Felix Ar
Atam A	Han Ni A	John H	Adelia W
Elhee C	Kathaleeya C	Nina K	Athena P
Prisa B	Sammy A	Lily P	Taha H
Francis N	Sofia D	Liam B	Liam H
Lulu B	Rian D	Riyom D	Chloe H
Rory K	Jake M	Samuel M	Charlie O
Laura S	Joshua S	Theo S

As part of these changes, the provisions on reporting student movements have been strengthened. When unenrolling a child from an ACT school, ceasing distance education or ceasing registration for home education, parents/carers must now tell us their child’s next enrolment destination. This doesn’t apply to moves between schools at key transition points. Find out more about your responsibilities in the attached information sheet. Please update with your school’s information and processes and share these changes with your school community.

Attachments:

• Leaving our school – your responsibilities (62 kb Word)

Contact educationlegislationreview@act.gov.au

Did you know that families can chat or consult with us anytime without booking an appointment?

They can drop in to the Gungahlin Child and Family centre or give us a call, on 62070120 Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00pm

 

Bring a picnic and your family and friends to The Canberra Times Carols by Candlelight.

Stage 88, Commonwealth Park, December 7, from 6.30pm.

Entry is free.

This year marks the 80th Carols by Candlelight, so we would particularly welcome those with a long-standing interest in the event to join us. 

The Carols are brought to you by The Canberra Times, Woden Valley Youth Choir, 2CA/2CC, National Capital Authority, Canberra Southern Cross Club, Eclipse Sound and Lighting, ECG Electrical, Canberra City Band and charity partner Lifeline.