We are looking forward to our 3-way conferences, which will provide an opportunity for your child and their classroom teacher to discuss their learning progress this term. Open communication and collaboration between home and school is very important and it plays a crucial role in our collective efforts to create a positive and enriching educational experience for our students.

I am pleased to announce the appointment of our new School Council members, who will play an integral role in shaping the future of our school community.  Each of these individuals bring a wealth of experience and passion for education in our council.  Their diverse backgrounds and perspectives will enrich our discussions and decision-making processes as we work together to support the growth and development of our school. As valued members of our school community, I encourage you to connect with our new School Council members and share your thoughts and ideas.  Together, we can collaborate to ensure that our school continues to thrive and provide the best possible educational experience for our students.

We are delighted to welcome the following individuals to our School Council:   

Rebecca Gardner
Assistant Principal

Congratulations to the following award recipients.

In the lively world of 1/2 Martin, our young navigators are embarking on a directional adventure. From locating spots, to giving and following whimsical directions, the class is mastering the art of moving people and objects to various destinations. It's a joyful journey of discovery and spatial exploration!

Hello Everyone! In 5/6 Johnson we have been learning about our backgrounds and culture, and our country of origin. We are learning about the structure of narratives and creating our own stories. We have also been learning about gratitude and how it can make our days feel more positive.

Some things 5/6 Johnson feel grateful for, are:

1. Thinking time to create stories.
2. PE to be able to run around and move our bodies and opportunities to go to Gala Days
3. Having all the resources we need in our room to learn
4. That we can express ourselves and be who you are.
5. That we are all equal in our own way.

In 1/2 Tagumasi, our students are actively engaged in refining fine motor skills through a structured Handwriting rotation. The class is making commendable progress and the development of their handwriting skills is evident. The commitment to improvement is impressive and we're pleased to witness the positive strides each student is making in their handwriting journey.

Welcome to the Preschool Community BBQ. Firstly, we would like to thank Lia Finocchiaro for donating the BBQ and bottled water for the night. We would also like to thank the Preschool families for joining us. The evening was an opportunity for families to connect with each other and get to know your child’s teacher. This year we are very excited to have four wonderful Preschool Teachers- Louise Butcher, Tempe Noonan, Carolyn Shields and Amy Malan. We also have 3 dedicated Preschool Assistants who work with your children every day- Ms. Poonam, Ms. Mio and Ms. Kerry. We are supported by our amazing leadership team- Elizabeth Andrade (AP), Bec Gardner (AP) and Carolyn Edwards (Principal).

This year a focus for us at the Preschool is to engage with families in a meaningful way and bring the community into Preschool to highlight all that we do. At Preschool, we believe that families are children’s first teachers and we take pride in walking along side you during your child’s first year of school. We believe that families and Educators are a team and together we will build a strong foundation for your child’s learning journey. Thank you again for attending the night. We hope that you get the chance to connect with other families and we look forward to working with you this year to provide and exceptional Preschool year at Zuccoli.

The Preschool Team

At Zuccoli Primary School, we value open communication between teachers and families to support student wellbeing and learning, Zuccoli uses the app, Class Dojo. While Class Dojo may resemble popular social media platforms, it's important to note that Class Dojo is an education-focused app that we use with a professional approach.

Through Class Dojo's features, teachers can share communications with all families via the Class Story. Shared communications can include celebrations of learning, family reminders and updates on in class learning such as weekly spelling words.

Additionally, Class Dojo enables direct one-on-one communication between teachers and parents/carers through its messaging option. Teachers may use messaging to communicate an individual student’s learning celebrations such as an achieved goal or a date of an up coming merit award. Teachers may also communicate minor concerns such as supporting a student to bring their Zuccoli hat to school or a library bag reminder.

When responding to a parent message, teachers will do so within the Department of Education working hours and when they are not in the classroom supporting students.

If parents or carers have a major concern about their child, they are encouraged to chat with the teacher via phone call or face to face so that we can work together to best support our students and we thank our parents who engage with Class Dojo to keep up to date in classroom events and learning!  

Exciting News! Recently, Mrs. Lia Finocchiaro, the local member for Spillett, joined our student leaders for afternoon tea, including Sports Captains, Zuccoli Changemakers, and the Northern Territory Learning Commission. During this gathering, Mrs. Finocchiaro shared valuable leadership advice, emphasising the importance of applying our school values to student leadership roles. Our student leaders were grateful for this unique opportunity to interact with Mrs. Finocchiaro, and they especially appreciated the delicious nibbles she generously donated. A special thanks to Mrs. Lia Finocchiaro for her time, wisdom and generosity.

We are happy to announce that the school Green Team will be running for the third year in a row. Green Team members would like to announce that they have agreed on a name change. The Green Team will now be called the Sustainability Squad.

The Sustainability Squad’s mission is to improve sustainability across the school by reducing, reusing and recycling. The children are learning and helping others to learn, that sustainability is how we as humans must interact with the environment in a way that ensures there will be enough resources left for future generations.

The Sustainability Squad is open to students in Year 3 to 6. Students in the Sustainability Squad meet at recess every Tuesday. During this time, students prepare for assembly announcements and discuss issues and ideas. Students action their ideas every second Monday from 11:40 to 12:40 where they meet in the kitchen or garden to complete tasks to encourage sustainability around our school.

If your child is a member of the Sustainability Squad, they will be receiving a badge at assembly in Week 8. We want these students to be recognised for the efforts they are making to improve sustainability around our school.

Below is a photo of some of our Sustainability Squad members.

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

I don’t really have a favourite sporting team, but I do enjoy watching swimming competitions and events. West Coast Eagles are my footy team seeing as I began life on the west coast!

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

I would love to go back to Italy. My family and I travelled there in 2018. We stayed in Switzerland for a while visiting family, so made a quick trip over the border to experience a bit of Italy! It was by far not long enough! There were just so many more places that I wanted to be able to visit, experience and learn more about.

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

I was an avid little pen pal! I still have most of the letters they wrote (or I didn’t get to send) that I exchanged with kids from different states and countries…some of these did include my interstate cousins and local friends too!

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

I would like to have dinner with my paternal grandfather. He passed away a couple of years before I was born, and it would have been nice to know him in person for myself. I would love to be able to hear him tell me about his time growing up in India, the journeys that took him to other countries for work and finally to Australia! He was said to be a such wonderful cook! Wouldn’t it be lovely to learn to cook with him and eat the dinner prepared together, while getting to know each other?

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

There are so many!! I love books about people’s life stories, histories, lived experiences, perspectives  and cultures! It must be that love of learning that sticks with me…one book that comes to mind is an Australian classic – My Place by Sally Morgan….or for a more modern take Gigoru by Sasha Kutabah Sarago (which is a very easy read). ….Sorry I couldn’t just stick to one!

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

AFL- Melbourne Demons

NRL- Melbourne Storm

State of Origin- Maroons

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

Port Welshpool Victoria is my favourite spot to go camping. I haven’t been there since 2018 so to get back there over a Victorian Summer would be great.

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

I still have a knitting Nancy (You may need to google)

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

My mother as she isn’t alive anymore.

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

Where the Wild Things Are- It describes my children perfectly.

Name:  Aliness Phiri

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

I do not have favourites; I go for whatever team is winning

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

I visited the Victoria falls in Livingstone, Zambia for the first time in January and it was breathtaking. I would like to go back to see it at the end of the rain season when the water level is at its fullest.

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

I have my year 4 report.

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

I would have dinner with my grandmother who I was named after.

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

I would recommend Love Stories by Trent Dalton because it shares real life stories of love in all its forms. The Author asks ordinary people a simple question, can you tell me a love story? The stories that come are moving, heartwarming, heartbreaking and inspiring.

What is your favourite Sporting Team?

Being a Brissie girl, the Brisbane Lions are my favourite team.

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

One of the places I absolutely loved and would revisit, is New Zealand. It is breathtakingly beautiful everywhere you go, and they have the best thrill-seeking adventure options!

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

I have a pink hand crocheted dress that I wore at my parent’s wedding when I was four years old!

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

I would have dinner with my dad, who passed when I was ten.

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

I would give them The Four Agreements. By Miguel Ruiz. Life can be really beautiful and painful. This book reminds us to be more mindful, compassionate and authentic in our approach to life and work. This book encourages you to be impeccable with your word, not take things personally, never make assumptions, and do the best we can do in any situation. It is a simple reminder that we all deserve true happiness.