Welcome to Term 3, 2025

I hope you had the chance to enjoy some quality time with your children over the winter break. Term 3 is a significant time for teaching and learning. During this term, students will build on the knowledge and skills developed in Semester 1 while also exploring new concepts across the curriculum.

Our teachers have planned engaging and meaningful units of study to spark curiosity and support student growth. I look forward to connecting with students and hearing about their learning experiences, achievements, and enjoyment throughout the term.

Attendance Matters

As mentioned in last term’s newsletters, regular school attendance is a vital part of a student’s education. Every day and every minute of learning counts.

At our school, we:

• Monitor student attendance daily
• Notify you of any unexplained absences as soon as practicable on the day of your child's absence and follow up as needed
• Use effective teaching strategies to encourage and engage your child in learning
• Support families with strategies to help encourage regular school attendance
• Provide assistance where needed to overcome barriers to attendance

If you are experiencing challenges in getting your child to school, please don’t hesitate to contact their teacher—we are here to help.

This term, in response to an increasing number of students arriving late and a growing number of unexplained absences, we are focusing on two key goals:

• Ensuring all students are at school from the first bell to the last bell every day
• Achieving 100% explained absences for all student absences

We value your ongoing support in helping us reach these goals together.

Student Movement To and From School

During the last week of Term 2, several members of our school community raised concerns about unsafe behaviours observed among students walking or riding bikes and scooters to and from school.

We kindly ask all parents and caregivers to speak with their children about the importance of travelling safely. Please remind them to be aware of their surroundings, follow road rules, and use designated crossings where available.

By working together, we can help ensure all students arrive at and leave school safely each day.

NAPLAN 2025

Parents in years 3 and 5 will receive your child’s NAPLAN report. The following is from the ACARA, ‘From 2023, NAPLAN results are reported against proficiency standards. There is a standard for each assessment area at each year level. Proficiency standards provide clear information on student achievement. They are set at a challenging but reasonable level expected for the student at the time of NAPLAN testing, based mainly on what has been taught in previous years of schooling. Student achievement is shown against 4 levels of proficiency: Exceeding, Strong, Developing and Needs additional support.’

As a school we use these results to help identify students who need greater challenges or extra support and identify strengths and areas of need to improve school based teaching programs. NAPLAN assessment are a one of assessment that does not calculate towards a students level of achievement that is awarded on their biannual report cards.

Staffing

We have a number of staff changes with the commencement of term 3. They include:

• Suzanne Fleming-Keys is replacing Kevin Noon on 6E
• Carly Brett is replacing Angus Ellard on 6A
• Alicia McAuliffe will be moving from 1F to Inclusion Teacher (Prep)
• We welcome Bree Lowing who will be teaching 1F

On behalf to the staff and students I would like to thank both Mr Ellard and Mr Noon for their time of service at Ferrnbrooke SS and wish you both all the best with your new adventures.

Have a great fortnight,

Scott