Week 9 Term 4

Nightcliff Primary School Newsletter

It’s Balnba (Rainy) Season for Gulumoerrgin (Larrakia) country. The start of the wet season brings on fruiting of Moerrma (Black Plum).

Welcome to Week 9!

It has been a busy week as we look to finalise this semester’s reports and classing for 2023. Our Presentation Assembly is this Friday 9th December and we look forward to seeing you all there. Ride2School day is also this Friday, so don’t forget to grab your bicycle, scooter or skateboard, as well as your helmet, before making your way to school.

Pyjama Day

Our SRC Pyjama Day was a hit, with staff and students relishing the opportunity to roll out of bed and make their way to school without a second thought. I found myself in a few important meetings whilst wearing my Pyjamas, and for some reason, everyone continued to tell me that they simply could not take me seriously- go figure! All in all, it was great fun, and I would like to thank our School Representative Council (SRC) for their ideas, efforts and dedication throughout the year with such events. They certainly are a committed team who ensures student voice throughout our school. (see pics Below)

Reports

Reports will be sent home next Wednesday. All Northern Territory government schools provide a written report to parents at the end of each semester with the purpose of providing information to students and parents about achievement and progress in alignment with the Australian Curriculum. The reports also serve to indicate areas for further development.

A–E grades show learning against your child’s current year-level standard and their demonstration of attainment. See below for further information.  

A = Evidence of learning demonstrates outstanding achievement at this year level.

B = Evidence of learning demonstrates high achievement at this year level.

C = Evidence of learning demonstrates sound achievement at this year level.

D = Evidence of learning demonstrates limited achievement at this year level.

E = Evidence of learning demonstrates very limited achievement at this year level.

Comments describe the progress made by a student during the semester. Transition students receive a report containing a written comment and effort rating but no A–E grades.

Not all students meet the standards expected for their year level. It is common that students may make better progress in some areas than in others. It may also be that while your child is not achieving at the expected level for their age, they may have made significant progress in their learning during that semester. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher for further information regarding your child’s progress.

Newcombe Medal Australian Tennis Awards

Nightcliff Primary School has been announced as a top 3 finalist in this year’s Newcombe Medal Australian Tennis Awards within the category of Most Outstanding Australian Tennis School. Our school is a nationally recognised tennis school and has previously won the Newcombe Medal in 2013, as well as being a top 3 finalist in 2012, 2016 and 2019.  

The winner is being announced at the Newcombe Medal Australian Tennis Awards ceremony this Monday at the Crown’s Palladium Ballroom in Melbourne. It is a very prestigious event, and Mr Ryan will be travelling down for the occasion. Wish us luck!

A friendly reminder

Don’t forget that Week 10 is jam-packed with events and special occasions, including the Upper Primary Times Table Challenge, the NPS Talent Show, NTMS Music Performance and the Year 6 Farewell. All are welcome! Please refer to the school calendar for further information.

Stay safe and have a great week,

NPS Wins 2022 Overall Darwin Region Schools Interschool Primary Sports Champions Shield

Mr Ryan - NPS HPE Teacher & Sporting Schools Coordinator

Bird boxes

With the funds donated earlier this year by Darwin Bridge Toyota, the Eco Warriors purchased 3 possum boxes and 1 finch box from the Men’s Shed in Casurina. 25 native shrubs and trees will be planted this week in Finch’s Forest just in time for the wet season.  We would like to thank our groundsman Tirso for installing the boxes as well as digging 80+ holes this year throughout the school grounds to plant native plants.

Creative Arts Group

Students in the Creative Arts Group have worked on an end of year printing project. They used water-based inks and Ms Costelloe’s printing press to have a go at textile printing. They produced these excellent t-shirts as the end result.

School Council News

Thank you!

Thank you to all the teachers and staff at Nightcliff Primary School who have encouraged and taught our children in 2022. For me personally, it is my last year with a child at Nightcliff Primary after 9 and a half years with a child at the school. It has been wonderful to be part of the school and welcomed into the community.

Thank you to all parents and carers who have been involved in the life of the school this year too. There are many hard-working community members who serve the school as volunteers in many ways and so many things wouldn’t happen without them. The 2022 school council has been made up of Jo Glennon, myself, Alexandra Fraser, Anja Behlmer, Bec Henry, Bilash Raj, Geoff Barber, Jo T, Katie Land, Michelle Parker, Natasha Fyles and Sam Wood. I’m very grateful for the hard work each of them has put into council this year. I am also very appreciative of the many other parents who are involved in our committees/ working groups.

School Council 2023

The School council is made up of 8 parents, the principal, a teacher representative and up to two invited members. At next year’s AGM 4 parent positions are up for re-election and at least 4 of our current parent members are unable to continue due to different circumstances. If you are interested in governance, joining the council would be a great way for you to be involved in 2023.

If governance is not your thing then we have 4 committees/ working groups that we would love you to consider being a part of:

Community Engagement Committee – particularly focuses on events that involve parents and carers in the school. This committee runs Mothers and Fathers Day breakfasts, movie nights, Lego competitions and hopefully next year a Class representative parent program.

Education Committee- includes teachers and parents and particularly focuses on policy and parent-student-teacher partnerships.

Finance Committee- oversees governance responsibilities in the financial aspects of running a school.

Active travel/ Road Safety working group – this group of parents is committed to increasing active travel for kids getting to and from school. This involves negotiations with the council about roads/footpaths/crossings, organising “Ride to school days” and the Bike Hospital.

School Council AGM 2023

Our AGM will be on Thursday 9^th March at 5:30 pm in the staff room. All parents are welcome to attend.

If you would like to attend a regular council meeting, prior to the AGM, to get an idea of what council is like we have our first meeting of the year on 16^th February 2023, 5:30 pm in the staff room.

Please consider over the holiday break how you would like to be involved in the life of Nightcliff Primary School in 2023.

Joanna Kuswadi

NPS Council Chair

nightcliffpsc@gmail.com