9 May 2025

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear Families,

WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY NT AWARDS

A reminder that the World Teachers’ Day NT awards are open and will close on Friday 23^rd May. I hope you will take the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the fabulous work of our staff: World Teachers' Day Awards

MOBILE PHONES AND OTHER PERSONAL DIGITAL DEVICES

Since 2022 our school has followed the Department’s policy regarding personal digital devices as required. Personal digital devices include but are not limited to mobile phones, smart watches, tablets, laptop computers, music and video players, still and video camera, voice recorders, instant messaging services, digital assistants, handheld games, smart devices and similar.

We have a ‘Switched off and Securely Stored’ procedure in place. Parents should be aware when their child is taking a personal digital device to school. Students who bring their devices to school must follow the school’s procedure which is to switch it off and store at the front office during school hours. Students must sign their device in and out each day.

Students must not use their devices to engage in personal attacks, harass another person or post private information about another person, take or send photos or objectional images or engage in phone calls or cyberbullying through online or electronic communication. Devices cannot be taken to class, camps, excursions or school organised functions. They cannot be kept in school bags through the day. They cannot be used within the school grounds or when travelling on buses.

Students using devices inappropriately will face consequences which may include not being able to bring the device to school.

Responsibility for devices brought to school lies with the parent and child. Larapinta Primary School accepts no responsibility for any digital device owned by students and brought into the educational environment; for example, lost, damaged or missing devices, students who lose their device while travelling to and from school.

Kind Regards,
Brenda

SPOTLIGHT ON LEARNING - MRS MULLINS

Building Bridges: Checking In on School Learning at Home

Last week we held our annual Student-Led Conferences where children across the school were excited to share their goals and progress with their families. This is just one of the more formal opportunities for families to connect with the school, but there are many informal opportunities, so please contact your child’s teacher if you are keen to hear about what’s happening in your child’s classroom.

Staying connected to what your child is learning at school is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support their education and build a strong partnership between home and school. When families take an interest in what is going on at school, it shows children that it matters—and that their efforts are noticed and valued.

Regular check-ins with your child don’t need to be time-consuming. Asking open-ended questions like “What was something interesting you learnt today?” or “Did anything in class make you think differently?” can spark meaningful conversations and help children reflect on their learning. These moments can provide insight into their interests, challenges, and successes—and help them feel supported and understood.

Even small actions, like reading class newsletters, adding a comment to a Seesaw post, or sharing a home reading book/story book from the library, help reinforce classroom learning at home. It also gives you a chance to celebrate progress and identify areas where your child might need a little extra support.

By staying curious and engaged in your child’s school life, you’re helping to create a learning environment that stretches beyond the classroom—and showing them that learning is a shared journey.

What has your child been excited to learn lately?

Jackie

SCHOOL SNAPSHOT

IMPORTANT DATES 

PRESCHOOL NEWS

Werte from Preschool

The children have been busy learning about safety on bikes, roads and in the community as they prepared to participate in the Bangtail Muster parade! We did lots of front-loading with the children prior to the event and then the week before, we got our bikes out of the shed for the first time so we could practice riding safely/following one another/listening to instructions. There were lots of excited children in the playground as we raised the door of the shed and exposed all the different bikes – and we must say, the children did an excellent job with following the safety rules (wearing their helmet and shoes, following the bike track) and were great at taking turns – although, according to them, we did not have enough purple, pink and blue bikes, or any bikes with bells on them😊.

On Friday, some families joined us at preschool to decorate their bikes for the parade. This was a lovely opportunity to connect with our families and for the children to spend some special time working with their mum/dad on sprucing up their bikes ready for the parade. Some families did this at home, and it was all very exciting to meet up on Monday and see everyone’s wonderful creations.

Our preschoolers were up at the front of the parade – right behind the dancing school! They had picked a number from the Spice Girls to dance to which we must admit was a great choice – being that we danced to the same song at the school concert a few years back.

We were so proud of our preschoolers who represented Larapinta so well. Despite the heat and the flies, they were safe, respectful, patient and persistent – riding all the way down the Todd Mall to Anzac Oval.  Thank you to all the families that brought their children down to participate or watch the parade.

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!

ASQ STEPS Family Feedback Session

Last Friday, we had the privilege of attending a special feedback session focused on the ASQ STEPS project. During the session, valuable insights were shared about how the tool has been received by both parents and practitioners. The discussion also highlighted the reliability of the ASQ STEPS as a developmental outcome measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The ASQ STEPS is a culturally responsive developmental outcome measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This means it can be used to measure child developmental progress and collect evidence to evaluate early childhood programs, interventions and initiatives.

Learning How Kids Grow Day

Each term, the CFC hosts a special Learning How Kids Grow Day, offering families a chance to dive into the key developmental domains that shape a child's growth. These sessions provide valuable insights into child development, empowering parents and caregivers with the knowledge and tools to support their little ones' journey.

Children thrive when they have strong, supportive adults guiding them every step of the way. If you have a little one, don't miss out on next week’s session, where we’ll focus on Language Development. We look forward to seeing you there!

FaFT

At FaFT, kids and families have been busy exploring, learning, and growing together at the CFC. Through hands-on activities and enriching educational experiences, children are not only having fun but also extending their learning in meaningful ways. At the CFC, we actively encourage and support parents and caregivers to engage with their children, guiding them through their learning journey. Little ones thrive when their adults help them make connections between new concepts and real-world experiences, building a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Kele Mwerre!

COMMUNITY NEWS

NATIONAL CHILD SAFETY REVIEW – PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Policy options have been developed to address recommendations from the 2023 ACECQA National Child Safety Review. The policy options are now available for review, and you can submit feedback. Nationwide consultation and the collaboration between governments, education and care services, educators, staff, volunteers and families are essential to make continuous improvements to the sector and keep all children safe. A webinar to learn about the policy options and how you can get involved is being offered to Territorians on 8 May from 2pm to 4pm. Register now! Child safety is everyone’s responsibility.  Further information and the feedback submission portal can be found at Child Safety Review Regulation Impact Analysis. The consultation round is open until 11 June 2025.

Nutrition

BRONZE MEDALLION TRAINING

Royal Life Saving (NT Branch) are excited to announce the upcoming Bronze Medallion training in Alice Springs. The Bronze Medallion course covers essential water safety, rescue techniques, CPR and emergency response skills.

Course Details:

Bronze Medallion Update
17th May 2025
12.00pm-3.00pm
$100pp

Bronze Medallion
18th May 2025
8.30am-3.00pm
$180pp

Places are limited, and bookings and enrolments are essential. To make a booking/enrolment:
Online: http://nt.training.royallifesaving.com.au
Phone: 08 89815036