From the Principal's Desk
Travel in and around our school
As a parent, one of the most important responsibilities you have is to ensure the safety of your children. This is especially true when it comes to driving around schools. With children walking, biking, and crossing the street near schools, it is crucial that parents follow safe driving practices to reduce the risk of accidents and protect the well-being of our future generation.
Over 1160 students come to Warrigal Road every day and they all leave at 3:00pm. We need drivers around our school to be especially careful, model the way and observe the road rules because we want to:
Reduce the Risk of Accidents: Children are often unpredictable, and their movements can be quick and unexpected. By driving slowly and carefully around schools, parents can reduce the risk of accidents, such as collisions with pedestrians, bicycles, or other vehicles.
Increase Visibility: Schools are often busy places, with a large number of children, teachers, and vehicles. To reduce the risk of accidents, it is important to be extra aware of your surroundings and maintain good visibility at all times. This means avoiding distractions such as texting or eating while driving, and taking your time to ensure you are aware of your surroundings.
Set a Good Example: As parents, we are the role models for our children. By driving safely around schools, we can set a good example for our children and teach them the importance of road safety. Children are more likely to follow safe driving practices when they see their parents do the same. Be very mindful of yellow lines. You can not block driveways or stop where yellow lines are painted.
Protect Children's Health and Safety: The health and safety of our children should always be a top priority. By driving safely around schools, parents can help to ensure that children are protected from the dangers of traffic accidents, such as serious injury or death.
Driving safely around schools is an important responsibility for all parents. By being aware of our surroundings, avoiding distractions, and setting a good example, we can help to protect the well-being of our children and ensure that they arrive at school safely every day.
IF YOU ARE PARKED IN THE DROP OFF ZONES STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE!
Best Parking:
The best place for drop-off and pick-up is at Runcorn Plaza—our preferred spot for parents and carers to park. The wonderful management at Runcorn Plaza kindly allows us to use the northern end (closest to the school) for this purpose. Plus, with so many delicious restaurants nearby, why not grab dinner while you're there and get those 10,000 steps in? More often than not, it's quicker than waiting in the long line of cars backed up on Warrigal Road!
NAPLAN 2025 – Supporting Our Students
In Week 7 and 8 of Term 1 (12-21 March), our Year 3 and Year 5 students will sit their NAPLAN assessments. NAPLAN is an important national test that provides valuable insights into student learning and progress in literacy and numeracy. At our school, we have been preparing our students for NAPLAN since their very first day of Prep—not through practice tests, but by providing high-quality teaching and fostering strong wellbeing. Confident, engaged learners always perform their best!
What is involved in NAPLAN 2025?
NAPLAN assesses key skills in:
✅ Writing – a single extended response task
✅ Reading – comprehension of a range of texts
✅ Conventions of Language – spelling, grammar, and punctuation
✅ Numeracy – problem-solving and mathematical reasoning
These tests are completed online (except for Year 3 Writing, which remains on paper) over a two-week period. The online format tailors some questions to a student’s ability level, providing a more accurate understanding of their learning.
How can you support your child?
The best way to help your child succeed is to ensure they are well-rested, relaxed, and ready to learn. In the lead-up to NAPLAN:
- Encourage a good night’s sleep
- Ensure they eat a healthy breakfast
- Keep mornings calm and positive
NAPLAN is just one part of your child’s learning journey. We are proud of how well our students perform, and we know they will do their best with the strong foundation of learning they receive every day. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
Berry Street Training – Supporting Student Wellbeing and Engagement
Last week, 30 of our dedicated staff members participated in Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) training, a professional development program focused on trauma-informed, evidence-based strategies to support student wellbeing and engagement in learning.
The Berry Street approach equips educators with practical strategies to help students develop resilience, emotional regulation, and strong learning habits. By understanding how a student’s experiences impact their ability to engage in the classroom, our teachers can create learning environments where all students feel safe, supported, and ready to achieve their best.
The training covered key areas such as:
✅ Body – helping students regulate their energy and emotions
✅ Relationships – building strong, positive connections in the classroom
✅ Stamina – fostering persistence and a growth mindset in learning
✅ Engagement – creating a culture of curiosity and participation
✅ Character – developing student strengths and values for lifelong success
By embedding these strategies into our classrooms, we continue to ensure that every child is supported not only academically but also socially and emotionally. We are excited to implement our learnings from Berry Street to enhance student wellbeing and engagement across our school.
If you’d like to learn more about the Berry Street Education Model, feel free to reach out or visit Berry Street’s website.