Dear parents

Welcome to the Week 4 newsletter

I hope that you are managing well after a much drier week. It has been a very busy 3 weeks, but it has been such a great start to the term. Every time I walk through a classroom, the students are engaged in their learning and excited to tell me what they are doing.  It has been a delight to see the students so engaged.

The routines of the year have begun to settle, and it is good to see such important learning happening around the school. We need to acknowledge that learning takes effort and may not always be comfortable.  This recognition can serve as a reminder that embracing new challenges is beneficial even when we find ourselves in demanding or unfamiliar situations.

It is always wonderful to see so many parents in classrooms each morning getting involved with our Cosy Reading program in our Transition classes. Parent-school partnerships are one of the best ways to support children’s learning development and wellbeing. If you have 20-30 minutes in the mornings and would like to get involved, please let us know, we would love to strengthen parental involvement.

Have a great term and look forward to seeing you at the events in Term 1.

Assistant Principal

Elizabeth Andrade

School Council

Have you considered nominating for Zuccoli Primary School Council?

Zuccoli Primary School invite you to actively participate in shaping the future of our school by considering a nomination for the School Council. Your unique experiences and diverse skills are invaluable in creating a well-rounded and dynamic council. Whether you bring expertise in education, finance, technology, or any other field, your input is crucial in fostering a supportive and enriching environment for our students.

Parental involvement ensures that our school continues to thrive and meet the evolving needs of our students. Nominate yourself or encourage parents who you believe can contribute to the growth and success of our school. Together, let's make a positive impact on the education of our children.

An effective and pro-active school council is a key factor in having a successful school.

Date: Thursday 29 February 2024

4:30pm – School Council Governance Training

5:00pm – AGM followed by General Meeting

Bombing of Darwin

On Monday, February 19th, a group of Zuccoli Changemakers, accompanied by our two school captains, participated in the Bombing of Darwin Commemorative Service. These students served as representatives of our school, laying a wreath and offering heartfelt tributes to the servicemen, servicewomen, and civilians who played significant roles in this pivotal Australian conflict.

Back to School Vouchers

A reminder that all Back to School vouchers must be used by the end of Term 1.  If you have only used part of your voucher or have not yet used it, please come into our front office and have a chat to our lovely staff.

NAPLAN

Parents/ Carers

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy)

NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake. NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.

NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy.

NAPLAN testing will commence Wednesday 13 March to Monday 20 March. Catch up testing will take place from Thursday to Monday 25 March.

NAPLAN practice tests

Students, teachers and parents can use the public demonstration site to become familiar with NAPLAN testing.

Absenteeism and being late

We all want our students to get a great education, and the building blocks for a great education begins with students coming to school everyday. If students miss school regularly, they miss out on learning the fundamental skills that will set them up for success in the later years of school.

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes.

Each missed day is associated with progressively lower achievement in numeracy, writing and reading.

BEING AWAY FROM SCHOOL FOR ONE DAY A FORTNIGHT EQUALS MISSING 1.5 YEARS OVER 13 YEARS OF SCHOOL

Tips for parents:

• Zuccoli PS want to work in partnership with parents – act early if you have any concerns by contacting your child’s teacher and asking for advice and support
• Remember that every day counts
• There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts them behind, and can affect their educational outcomes and their social connectedness
• Talk positively about school and the importance of attending every day
• Open and prompt communication with your child’s school about all absences is a good idea
• Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term

Embracing Diversity and Learning Together: The Advantages of Composite classes

 Zuccoli Primary School is the newest school in the Northern territory being built during an ever-changing education scene.  Schools have had to become very creative to address the different requirements and needs of students. One of these approaches is the formation of composite classes, where students from different grade levels are combined into a single classroom. This decision is made with careful consideration, and there are several compelling reasons why schools opt for composite classes.

1. Tailoring Education to individual needs

Composite classes allow for a more personalised learning experience. Teachers can provide targeted adjustments to address individual strengths and challenges. This flexibility ensures that each student receives the support they need to experience success.

2. Fostering Collaboration and peer mentoring

In composite classes, students of different ages collaborate on various projects and activities.  This promotes a sense of community and encourages peer mentorship, where older students can guide their younger peers. This interaction not only enhances social skills but also creates a supportive learning environment. 

3. Encouraging Independence and Responsibility

Being part of a composite class fosters a sense of responsibility and independence in students. Older students often take on leadership roles, serving as positive role models for their younger peers.  This scenario can be reversed with younger students particularly where confidence is concerned.  Younger children enjoy learning from their older peers and gives them an opportunity to try new things in a safer environment.

4. Addressing uneven Enrolment numbers

In new schools, it’s not uncommon to experience fluctuation and uneven numbers across different year levels. Composite classes offer a practical solution to address the challenge of imbalanced numbers. By combining year levels, schools can optimise the use of resources and ensure that every student has access to a well-rounded education. This adaptability allows new schools to navigate fluctuations in enrolment more effectively, maintaining a stable and supportive learning environment for all students and address staffing/budget restrictions.

How long does it take for numbers to stabilise in a new school?

There is no simple answer, and it depends on various factors.  The two main factors are Community Growth and Development and Economic factors.

Will my child be disadvantaged being in a composite class?

The most common fear for parents having a child in a composite class is that they will fall behind – that the teacher's attention will be split between the two years and they’ll get less overall learning time with their teacher. The research doesn’t agree.  Multiple studies conclude it makes no difference to performance whether students are in a straight year group or in a multi-age class. Experts agree the most important factor in determining how well a student does is the quality of the teacher and their teaching.

In conclusion, while composite classes may seem unconventional at first glance, they bring a multitude of benefits that contribute to the holistic development of students. By embracing diversity, fostering collaboration, and tailoring education to individual needs, composite classes play a vital role in preparing students for the challenges of the future.

Congratulations to the following 

House and Vice Captains

Northern Territory Learning Commissioners

Zuccoli Changemakers

This term year 1/2 Nowland are learning about visual arts. Students will be introduced to the seven elements of art: line, shape, space, value, form, texture and colour.

• A painting is likely to use space, colour, and line, but may be less concerned with form and texture.
• A sculpture uses form, space and texture, and sometimes other elements as well.
• A pencil drawing uses line, value and shape, but probably does not use colour and form.

Last week students drew a self-portrait of themselves. They could draw anywhere from full body to a facial close-up. Their picture’s could be realistic to abstract, and they could use any colour, from black and white to the entire spectrum.

I’m very excited to write to you as the specialist Digital Technology teacher. This year I will be working with all classes, to improve students’ knowledge and understanding of the Digital Technologies curriculum area. Students will be supported to use digital systems for a specific purpose and build their general ICT skills. I’ve really enjoyed teaching the students new skills this term. I hope they are having as much fun as I am.

The Year 5/6 classes have been introduced to visual programming. Students investigated how algorithms and flow diagrams allow programmers to give precise instructions and solve problems. They explored how Scratch can be used to create simple block programs.  Later in the term, students will learn to create more complex programs including branching, variables and iteration.

The Transition classes have been learning about digital systems and how they are used for a purpose. Students have explored different types of digital systems and their hardware, including a tablet, mouse, keyboard, laptop and monitor. Students are building their understanding that hardware includes the parts of a computer that can be touched. Over the coming weeks, students will be learning that software helps the computer to work and includes games, websites and apps. 

In our classroom we have been investigating length and finding different ways to measure using everyday items.

We have used paperclips, blocks, cubes, hands and teddies to measure a variety of objects in the classroom. Earlier this week we estimated then measured our height using unifix cubes joined together!

Last week the rain provided many opportunities for us to explore the indoor learning environment. We enjoyed learning more about each other and participated in a variety of dance and movement activities to keep us settled while indoors.

We have been viewing our All About Me folders and sharing information about our families. Please send in your page for us to share if you have not already done so. Photos are a great way for your child to feel connected with their family and build their sense of belonging at the Preschool.

This week our students have really enjoyed exploring the outdoor learning environments. They are demonstrating that they feel safe and secure in Preschool as they explore the different areas with confidence. We are beginning to see some wonderful friendships forming in the Preschool.

Don't forget to come along to the Preschool community BBQ next Wednesday. It's a great way to connect with other families. 

Our canteen can cater for lunch orders up to two weeks in advance. Allowing parents plenty of time to organise lunch orders for their children. If you have forgotten or your order did not go through for some reason and need to do an emergency lunch order, the canteen can only provide ham and cheese sandwiches.

Please check the order confirmation before contacting the canteen. 

For any queries or complaints please contact via email: happycanteen00@gmail.com 

This year Zuccoli Primary School is hosting a ‘Colour Splatacular Run 4 Fun’. All funds raised will go towards new playground equipment for the school. Our fundraiser is open to businesses if they would like to donate towards the event. Your contribution will go a long way in supporting our efforts to raise funds for the school. Any support provided for this event is greatly appreciated.

If you know of a business who would like to donate towards our event, please share this post and click on the link below to donate:

Australian Fundraising Organisation Donations | Please support Zuccoli Primary School (myprofilepage.com.au)

What is your favourite sporting team?

Parramatta Eels-NRL

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

The Grand Canyon. The views from the top are just amazing and breathtaking and I have walked 200m only into the Canyon.

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child?

I have my first place ribbon I won for the 100m race when I was 7 years old.

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be and why?

I would love to have dinner with my grandparents to share what they have missed out on.

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why?

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I read this when I was about 9 years old and it started my love for reading.

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

Hawthorn Football Club and Sporting Clube de Portugal

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

Bali love the place, love the people.

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child?

My first gold ring with sapphires

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be and why?

‘The lady with the Lamp’ – Florence Nightingale.

My discussion with her would be around where she got her strength from and if she ever thought that she would consider herself as a modern day heroine.

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why?

The Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Amazing, inspirational true stories.

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

Brisbane Broncos. Go Broncos!

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

I loved visiting Fiji and would love to go back.  The people were so happy and welcoming.

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child?

I have my Year 3 school story writing books.

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be and why?

Anne Frank, her story is so interesting.

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why?

I am showing my age, but I love the book Possum Magic.  It is an Australian classic that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

Not a sports fan, but I love watching the Olympics!

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

Maldives! The beaches were unbelievable and would love to go swimming in their crystal-clear waters again.

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child?

The teddy bear that my Dad gave to me when I was born.

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be and why?

All of my grandparents, I would love to tell them what has happened in my life since they passed.

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why?

New Mums, the first six weeks. It was a lifesaver!

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

Brisbane Broncos

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

India – Taj Mahal. This building was the most beautiful building I have ever seen. It is amazing the detail and construction that was completed all of those years ago!

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child? A Book – The Enchanted Woods

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be and why?

Rodger Federer. I would thank him for being such a great sports role model for children.

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why?

Realisation – It’s a book on education and was fantastic for all educators!

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

Palmerston Saints Hockey Club. I first began playing for ‘Saints’ in 1992 when I was seven years old and have since played well over 100 A grade games. 

What is a place that you have visited that you would like to revisit and why?

Switzerland. I am a first generation Australian and my mother is Swiss. I visited Switzerland in my early twenties but I would love to go back soon with my young family for a winter Christmas.

What is one thing you still have from when you were a child?

My enamel ‘Linde Lorikeets’ house captain badge. I was so proud to be a house captain and it was the only piece of ‘jewellery’ I ever owned growing up.

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be and why?

My grandma, who is deceased, she was an incredible woman and made the most amazing bouillabaisse.

If you were to give one book to all your friends, what would it be and why?

A tide diary, as they are mainly fishos.