5 February 2025

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear families,

A very big welcome to our new school year! We’ve had a great and busy start here at Larapinta. It has been wonderful to welcome new staff, students and families to our school. Here are just some of our new students who have joined us this year.

New teachers this year are; Miss Jiang, Mrs Ilko, Ms McCauley, Mrs Cavinati, Mrs Ankers, and back with us again, Miss Dickinson. New support staff are Jamie Chapman, Taylah Muldoon, Fadzai Mushayike, Rihanna Schaber, Madison Harris and Ben Simson.

Affan Waheed has joined us to support all our ICT needs across the school and we are very grateful to have him and his expertise on board. Sheena Turner is joining us to work with Josh in the AEO role. Miss Teegan is having time off with her new baby boy who was born in the holidays.

Sadly for us, Miss Palisha won’t be returning as she is now busy being a fulltime mum. I’d like to thank Palisha for her work with us over the past few years and especially for the care and kindness she showed to our students. Rachael Paulka is remaining in the reception position in the office.

ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE

The Department of Education and Training has secured family passes (two adults, two children) to the Melbourne Demons versus Saint Kilda AFL match at Traeger Park on Sunday 1 June 2025. Make sure your child attends school everyday so they are in the running! Of course, if they are unwell they should stay home.

There are awards in the following categories:

• Highest attending student per urban school (family of 4 tickets x 11 schools)
• Most improved attending student per urban school (family of 4 tickets x 11 schools)

NEEDED EVERY DAY!

Please check that your child has a bucket hat and a water-bottle at school everyday. We ask that hats remain at school so that they aren’t accidentally left at home. They are needed for children to be able to access the playground. Water-bottles in classrooms mean that your child can stay hydrated throughout the day and not have to leave the classroom and miss important learning time.

BIKES MWERRE

Bikes Mwerre is on each Monday and Wednesday after school down at the Albrecht Oval. If students want to attend they need to have a note signed by parents. See the front office if you want to sign your child up for this community program where children learn how to fix and ride bikes.

HARMONY DAY

We celebrate Harmony Day at our school every year and this year will do so with a big breakfast for families followed by assembly/concert, and then activities in the classroom. We hope that some of our families might share aspects of culture on that day. This could be singing, dancing, or some other presentation. Please let me or the front office know if you or your child/children would like to perform that day. Traditional dress is also encouraged to be worn to celebrate the richness of cultures that are represented in our school. I look forward to hearing from families!

SCHOOL COUNCIL AGM

The Larapinta School Council Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 11^th March at 5.30pm in Room 16. All parents are invited to attend to hear about the year that was (2024), how we are travelling financially, and to elect new Council members. Our school council meets once a month on the third Monday at 5.15pm. We have ten parent members on Council who are elected by parents at the AGM. If you are interested in being on our council please phone, call in or email to let me know and we will put you down as a nomination. As mentioned elections are held as part of the AGM. School Council is a great way to be more involved in the school.

Kind regards,
Brenda

SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING - MRS. MULLINS

Welcome back to another school year at Larapinta, and a really warm welcome to all our new families. I am doing my very best to learn the names of all our new students – and there are a LOT.

Please keep your eyes peeled for my fortnightly tips for setting students up for success at school. The beginning of a new year is a perfect time to re-establish strong routines, especially around food, water, sleep, and daily practice of reading and basic number facts at home.

When students have broken sleep, are sitting up late at night on devices, or haven’t eaten breakfast, they find it very difficult to engage actively and productively in learning, so here are some tips for starting the year strong:

Healthy Food: Balanced, nutritious meals will help fuel your child's body and brain. A breakfast rich in protein, whole grains, and fruits can improve focus and energy throughout the school day. Make sure to include healthy snacks and meals in lunch boxes to support overall engagement and wellbeing at school. There are times when children are extra hungry, so we encourage families to add sufficient food for both eating breaks. Anything they do not eat, will be sent home.

Hydration: It is crucial that children are regularly hydrating throughout the day, especially in the heat! Every child should have a water bottle in their classroom every day. Teachers remind children to sip water regularly in the classroom and when they are in the playground. Please do not send sugary drinks to school. As well as being incredibly unhealthy for teeth and growing bodies, sugar adds to dehydration. As well as water, we recommend foods like watermelon, cucumbers and oranges to help hydrate the body.

Sleep: A consistent bedtime routine is crucial to ensure your child gets enough rest. Sleep supports brain function, memory, and focus. Try to create a calm, predictable bedtime routine that helps your child wind down each night. Aim for 10–11 hours of sleep, depending on their age, to ensure they wake up feeling rested and ready to learn.

Daily Reading: Setting aside time each day for reading helps students build essential language skills, improve vocabulary, and develop a love for learning. Even just 15–20 minutes of reading each night can make a big difference in their academic growth. Encourage your child to read books they enjoy, as this fosters a positive relationship with learning.

Basic Number Facts: Being able to recall basic number facts (including times tables) helps quickly and accurately frees up time and cognitive load, allowing students to tackle more complex equations with greater success (because they aren’t having to spend time counting on fingers or with blocks).  

Together, these routines help your child stay energised, focused, and ready to succeed in school, setting them up for a positive academic experience.

Until next time,

Jackie

SCHOOL SNAPSHOT

IMPORTANT DATES 

Parent Contribution

The Larapinta School Council has set the parent contribution for Primary School students at $110 per year or $55.00 per semester, and for Preschool students, the contribution is $200 per year or $50.00 per ten-week term.

The parent contribution payment is designated to the upkeep of playground equipment and spaces for the enjoyment of all students.

School Bus Travel

All Northern Territory primary, middle and senior school students can use the school bus network to travel to and from school. To help ensure that travel is safe and enjoyable for all, the code of conduct must be followed.

Students and parents are reminded of the  Code of Conduct for School Bus Travel, if/when using the school bus network. For more information on the school bus network, including bus route timetables, please visit Public transport and cycling | NT.GOV.AU.

Celebrating Birthdays

We love to celebrate birthdays at Larapinta and always acknowledge students’ special day with a birthday song. Due to the number of students who have allergies and in the interest of equity we request that parents do not bring cakes, icy poles, or other food to share with the class. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Helmets

A reminder that all children riding bikes or scooters to school need to have a helmet. If children ride to school without helmets parents will be called to come to collect the bike or scooter as children may not ride home without it.

Toys and Personal items

A reminder that children should not bring toys or personal items from home to school. There is potential that these items get lost, broken or otherwise go missing. They also often cause arguments between children and take away from precious teaching and learning time as disputes are resolved. We are unable to follow up missing items so please leave them at home.

Medications at School

If your child is required to be given medication at school (ie antibiotics, Panadol, cough syrup), please ensure that you visit the front office and complete the required paperwork.  First Aid staff cannot administer any medication without required consents. All medications are to be kept in the First Aid room. Children should not have asthma puffers etc in their school bags.

PRESCHOOL NEWS

Werte from preschool

Our preschoolers have made a settled and happy start to 2025 and have been busy exploring their new environments, building new friendships and connecting with their new teachers. What a confident crew of children – ready to play, learn and get messy! The weather has been so hot, so we have only been having short periods of time outside with minimal activities set up. In the cooler weather, we will ride bikes outside which is always a favourite amongst the children.

Some reminders for families:

• Please remember that due to allergies, medical conditions, and to prevent the spread of germs, we ask that all children wash their hands on arrival.
• We also ask that no nut products be brought into preschool.
• Please pack a change of clothes each day as we will have regular water play during the warmer weather.
• If your child is toilet training, please pack extra shorts and undies, pullups/nappies if required.

In the next week, you should have received an invitation to join Seesaw, the online platform where we share information, photos and the learning your child has been doing at preschool. Be sure to download the app so you can stay informed.

We look forward to a fabulous year of learning and fun!

CHILD AND FAMILY CENTRE (CFC)

Our vision is that every child has the best possible start to life.

Children and families are at the centre of all we do.

We live and work on Arrernte Country.

Werte!

Big Breakfast

Last Friday the CFC held a Big Breakfast event for families, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere to finish the first week back. Families came together to enjoy a delicious spread of breakfast favourites. The morning was a great opportunity for parents and children to connect, share a meal, and engage in meaningful learning. A big thank you to everyone who joined us and made this event a success!

New Journeys

The Child and Family Centre is excited to celebrate the little learners who have now moved on to big school! It’s been an incredible journey watching them grow, learn and play over the past few years. We are excited to see all the wonderful things they will achieve in their next adventure.

FaFT

We are thrilled be open again, offering opportunities for families to engage with their child’s early learning and development. CFC staff have enjoyed hearing about all the new things children have learnt to do over the holiday break. We are excited for the big year ahead for the little learners and the wider community.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Sports Voucher Scheme

Please find below the ‘Apply Now’ tile for the Sport Voucher Scheme. Feel free to use it in your school’s communications.

Key Details:

Semester 1 (2025) opened on 1 January 2025

Applications close on 24 May 2025

Vouchers expire on 31 May 2025

Each eligible child gets two $100 vouchers per year

Open to children Transition to Year 12, including home-schooled students

Can be used for sport, recreation, swimming, and music lessons

How to Apply:

Parents and carers can apply online at 24/25 Sport Voucher Scheme (Parents/Carers) | Search | GrantsNT Administration

Child Dental Benefit Scheme

The Child Dental Benefit Schedule is a program funded by the Australian Government that provides families of eligible children up to $1,132 for basic dental services. The attached brochure outlines the eligibility requirements and services covered.

School Student Broadband Initiative extended!

The Australian Government’s School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI) provides eligible families with free home internet, and it has been extended until 30 June 2028. This means families can continue to sign up to access the initiative in 2025, until all available 30,000 places have been filled.

319 NT families have already been connected through the SSBI which aims to boost education opportunities and narrow the digital divide.

Parent consent forms available at the school office.