10 June 2025
PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Dear parents and families
INTERSCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
Last Friday a group of students represented Larapinta at the Interschool Athletics Carnival at Head Street Oval. Thanks to Miss Jayde, Josh and Tinashe who supported our students throughout the day (including managing tent set up and pack up), and to parents who attended and supported. By all accounts Larapinta students shone, both on and off the track. Zoe Sawtell was the 11 years girls Champion on the day and Alfie Lijanga 12 years boys Champion. Congratulations to them and all our competitors. Larapinta placed third after Ross Park and Bradshaw schools overall.
NEARING END OF SEMESTER…
Here we are near the end of six months of learning…I’m sure the time goes faster every year! It’s been a big semester and will finish off with a bang next week with Sports Days planned for Wednesday 18th June (tabloid events for Year 3-6 students on the school grounds) and Thursday 19th June (novelty events and flat races at Albrecht Oval) and Pyjama Day on Friday 20th June to finish out the term.
We’d love some early morning parent support on Thursday 19th June next week (7.30am) to erect the house team tents at Albrecht Oval. If you can assist, please phone and let the front office know. If you can assist with pack up at the end of the day, we’d also appreciate that…many hands make light work!
ATTENDANCE CELEBRATION
Congratulations to Zachary Harvey and Mykenzei Wallace who were the winners of family passes to the Melbourne Demons versus Saint Kilda AFL match at Traeger Park. The Education Department and AFL sponsored this award for schools. Strong school attendance brings its own reward in the form of progress and achievement in learning and positive connections with peers and staff. Well done to all students and families who ensure strong and punctual school attendance – you are bound to reap the benefits!
WELCOME
Welcome to Ms Caron Lane who is our new class teacher in Room 5. If your child is in this space, please drop by to introduce yourself to Caron.
Kind regards,
Brenda
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
Spotlight on Learning – Mrs. Mullins
Library Love: Help Us Keep Our Books Beautiful!
Our school library is buzzing with excitement! We've been busy upgrading our space to make it a warm, welcoming place where every student can discover the joy of reading. We're also giving our collection a refresh by weeding out old, worn, or outdated books so that the shelves are full of recent, relevant, high-quality reads that students want to pick up (stay tuned for how you can pick up a bag of bargains at our BIG used book sale later this term!). We’ve also ordered some new shelves for the picture books, as well as some new seating and we cannot wait until they arrive to make it an even better space to relax and read.
To keep our books in tip-top shape, we need your help! Please make sure your child brings a library bag each week – it’s amazing how many books have had unfortunate encounters with squashed bananas and leaky drink bottles. We also ask that books are returned regularly so others can enjoy them too. If a book gets damaged or goes missing, let us know – we understand that accidents happen, and it's important to replace items so the whole school can continue to enjoy a great selection.
Let’s work together to keep the magic of the books alive!
As Dr. Seuss famously said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
Jackie
SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS
IMPORTANT DATES
DATE & TIME | ACTIVITY |
Wed 18th and Thurs 19th June | School Sports Days |
Fri 20th June | Last Day Term 2 / Pyjama Day |
Tue 15th July | First Day Term 3 |
SCHOOL PHOTOS COMING SOON
The School Photographer will be at school on Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd July (Week 2, Term 3) to take class, sibling, and individual photos. Envelopes with more information will be sent home at the end of term.
LARAPINTA PRIMARY SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM – SUPPORTED BY FOODBANK
Foodbank SA & NT’s School Breakfast Program helps to provide healthy, nutritious food to children who may come to school hungry. The provision of a nutritious breakfast at school means that children can fill their rumbling tummies, feel better from eating good food and be healthy and happy.
Having a good breakfast can assist with:
- Students engaging in class better with a full stomach
- Students demonstrating greater persistence and resilience for learning
- Improvements to learning, attention span and behaviour
- Providing a safe environment and keeping students focussed
- Improving student attendance at school
ALL students are welcome to come to the canteen window (near the courts) from 8:10 – 8:30am daily to have Weetbix and/or fruit for breakfast. There is no cost for families. For more information, please contact the front office.
BOOSTING LITERACY AND NUMERACY
The NT Department of Education’s Boosting Literacy and Numeracy plan launched this week and aligns to the priority action of the department’s Strategic Plan 2025-2028, ensuring every school will deliver a consistent, evidence-based approach to teaching - one that reflects how children learn best in literacy and numeracy.
Boosting literacy and numeracy is about ensuring all students build strong reading and maths skills. Every NT Government school is going to use a consistent, evidence-based approach to learning. Explicit teaching reflects how students learn best. It is where teachers break down concepts into small, more manageable steps, enabling students to build understanding and independence. The Boosting Literacy and Numeracy Plan will ensure all NT Government schools are more consistent for students, families and teachers.
The plan is built on three key pillars for student achievement:
- high quality resources for teachers and students, and professional learning for school staff
- screening assessment for early identification of students at risk
- intentional and planned support for students falling behind.
Get the Boosting Literacy and Numeracy plan PDF (1.6 MB).
A new page on the NT DET website is now available for families to access practical, easy-to-use information sheets with ideas to support learning at home—because we know that when schools and families work together, children flourish.
This is more than a teaching strategy—it’s a shared commitment to excellence, equity, and opportunity for every child.
Thank you for your continued dedication and passion. Together, we are building a brighter future for all students.
Resources for families
Information for parents and families to support use of explicit teaching for foundational reading and numeracy skills are available via the links below.
PRESCHOOL NEWS
PRESCHOOL NEWS
Werte from Preschool
We have been learning about Reconciliation Week at preschool with the children participating in a range of activities that support their understanding of this significant week in our calendar. The children watched an age-appropriate video about the meaning of Sorry Day, engaged with the Playschool Reconciliation episode, created flags using crafts and loose parts and explored their understanding of Aboriginal symbols. We have also been creating artworks inspired by the Reconciliation Week official poster.
While we add extra activities during these times of celebration, we have been working to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our everyday program and practices. We have a section in our fortnightly program that encourages us to make intentional links with the 8 ways of learning framework. For example, our recent learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly has been connected to language (learning the Arrernte words for caterpillar – yipirinya/yeperenye and butterfly – intelyapeyape) and story sharing/community links - sharing the Arrernte dreamtime story of how this region was created by giant caterpillars which now rest as the East and West Macdonnell Ranges that shelter our town.
The rainy week last week meant lots of inside play! Unit 1 FD1 and FD2 got to spend time in the Unit 2 classroom room to break up the day – they liked exploring the different activities that were on offer in that space.
Also, news just in – we have tomatoes!! How exciting!! Now we wait until they turn red before we harvest them.
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!
Reconciliation Week 2025
Last week, we came together to celebrate Reconciliation Week, embracing this year’s theme, Bridging now to next. Our interpretation, Growing up little leaders, focuses on supporting our children to grow up with respect for others while being strong and proud in their own cultures.
We began the week by acknowledging Sorry Day with a special planting activity. Together, children, families, and staff planted desert roses along the CFC entry. This hands-on experience encouraged connection to the land and community, fostering a sense of belonging and responsibility.
To close the week, we hosted a celebration filled with a delicious lunch and cultural activities that celebrated the many languages and traditions represented in our Family Centre. A favourite activity was making damper to cook over the fire. Each child had the opportunity to roll and shape their own damper before taking it to the fire to be cooked.
By engaging in these meaningful activities, our little leaders are learning respect, cooperation, and pride in their identity.
Parenting with purpose
Young Mother’s Coordinator, Kahlia, has collaborated again with the Coolamon team from Tangentyere to deliver a new program for parents called Parenting with Purpose. During 6 sessions parents will engage in activities that build their understanding of mindful, thoughtful and connected parenting strategies. These aim to support parents to be the best version of themselves for their kids. Babies and children thrive when parents are supported.
Healthy Habits Park event
A few weeks ago, we hosted a Healthy Habits Day at Lyndavale Park—an event focused on supporting Larapinta families to build strong, healthy routines with their children.
We know that healthy habits—like regular hygiene, good nutrition, and staying active—play a big role in children’s overall development. Events like this are about more than just fun; they’re about giving families the tools and support to help kids thrive physically, socially, and emotionally.
We’d like to extend a big thank you to the services who gave their time and energy to make the day a success:
- Congress Smoke-Free Team, for raising awareness around smoke-free environments for kids.
- Children’s Ground, for bringing the Orange Sky Laundry truck
- The Flynn Drive Dental Team, for their generous donations
- And Koomz Kutz, for the fresh haircuts for the boys
Thank you to everyone who came along—we loved seeing families connect, share and support each other on the journey to raising happy, healthy kids!
Click the link below to watch the highlights from the afternoon.
https://www.facebook.com/LarapintaCFC/videos/1348010283096334
Kele Mwerre
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Department of Education and Training is reviewing the Back to school payment scheme and would like your feedback. In collaboration with the Northern Territory Council of Government School Organisation (NTCOGSO) we invite you to participate in our survey, available until Friday 20 June 2025. Survey link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VPJL777
Survey QR code:
Free eSafety Webinars for Parents & Carers
The eSafety Commissioner is running a series of free live webinars this term to help parents and carers support their kids to stay safe and confident online. Sessions are short, practical, and delivered by trusted experts.
Remaining Term 2 topics include:
Sexual extortion: What parents and carers need to know –18 June, 12:30pm AEST
Exploring the online experiences of boys and young men – 30 July, 12:30pm AEST
Webinars for parents and carers | eSafety Commissioner
