Forrest Newsletter 2025 Term 3 Week 2
Message from the principal
School Review
The School Review report from last term is going up on our website shortly. From the data we have, the review panel’s findings, the fact that we have built upon this already with the introduction of InitiaLit from K-2 and employing Karen as our 3-6 RTI teacher, and in discussion with staff, we will be going forward with reading as our strategic priority. There have been many iterations of school review processes in my time as a principal and the Directorate are now placing less emphasis on five-year plans which stay rigid and instead focusing on shorter plans which might change over time due to student need. I’ve always wanted this approach as five years on one thing is too long.
EarlyAct
It was amazing to witness Skye and Charlotte in year six present at the local Rotary Club on Monday night. They spoke so articulately, kept eye contact and were so mature in their notes. They are worthy leaders of EarlyAct! A huge thanks to Gaby, Belle and Nicole for supporting the EarlyAct club at Forrest.
School funding
You have probably seen that school funding has been in the news since the break. Please remember it’s a complex situation of local and national issues around school funding. It is not a new problem and there probably won’t be a quick resolution as complex problems are rarely solved quickly and easily. As I speak with friends and colleagues from around the country in government, Catholic and independent schools, the general trend has been that funding has not kept apace with complexities (legislation, compliances, children and family needs etc.). That is the short answer as to how we are here but there are many layers to each of these. We have a debt and we are managing this. I’m not worried because I know there are some things we have been doing which are already bringing this down and there are more options we are considering and will discuss with the School Board in the coming weeks. I’m confident and optimistic that we will get through these challenges together as a community.
NAPLAN
Since the break, NAPLAN results have been sent out to parents of children in years three and five. As a school, we agree there are improvements we need to make and are committed to making them. We have already started this process with Initialit and having Karen in her RTI role and these interventions will flow through and be visible over time.
Please remember I am not chasing NAPLAN results. They are important but there are many elements and measures of success. A good friend of mine at school, Paul Chubbock, could not read and was in a small group program of intervention throughout school. He lived four farms up the road from me and we used to run over the back fields to each other’s houses. He also featured in the paper for dismantling a V6 engine in a Ford Capri (genuinely, I’m not making this up!), laying all the parts on the floor and then reassembling them. It started first time. And he was 13 years old. He’s now the local mayor. These different pathways to success all matter. NAPLAN is important, we want our children to do well but that can take many forms.
Taiwan Visit
In week four we are hosting 11 children from the Kinmen Islands of Taiwan for a study tour. They will be in the year six area and will be working and playing alongside our children for the week. At different points throughout the week, we will also be hosting officials and dignitaries from Kinmen. This is a wonderful opportunity to broaden international mindedness and intercultural understanding and are so happy we have been chosen to represent ACT schools in this way.
Big Sing
Over the last few months, Michelle Vy and Hayley, two of our awesome year three teachers, have been leading a group of their children through songs for the ACT Primary Years Programme Big Sing, a group of local IB schools who came together earlier this week for a day of singing and collaboration with other children from across the PYP network. A huge thanks to Michelle, Hayley and Nicole who helped put this together!
Chris
Track and Field Age Champions
Congratulations to our 2025 Track and Field Age Champions!
8 years girls – Chelsea in 2M
8 years boys – Ronan in 2M
9 years girls – Adele in 3V
9 years boys – Alassane in 3L
10 years girls – Madison in 4Z
10 years boys – Max in 4L
11 years girls – Sarika in 6M
11 years boys – Elliot in 5K
12 years girls – Abigail in 6DU
12 years boys – Louis in 6DU
Good luck to all students competing at the South/Weston Track and Field Championships in week 5.
ACT and Southern NSW Inter-schools Ski Championships
Well done Florence from Kindy for representing Forrest Primary at the ACT and Southern NSW Inter-schools Ski Championships at Perisher. Florence was 1 of 1200 students from 142 schools.
Lunchtime Home Language Club
Last term, Forrest Primary launched a new Lunchtime Home Language Club on Wednesdays in Break 2, organised by Mr Yu and Ms Nicol. It is already proving to be a big success! All students are welcome to attend. Each week, students have taken the lead to share their home languages and cultures with their peers. So far, we've explored Sri Lankan Singhalese, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean and Bengali.
The club has featured interesting presentations, fun language lessons, creative activities like making Sri Lankan lanterns, and delicious food tasting! It's been wonderful to see so many students excited to learn from one another and celebrate the rich diversity in our school community.
The club continues to grow each week, with more students eager to host and share their own languages and traditions. Watch this space as we continue to explore the many cultures that make Forrest Primary so special!
We would love to hear from other families or students who would like to contribute to our Home Language Club. If you are interested in coming in as parent/carer/family member to be guest speaker, please contact Lucy Nicol lucy.nicol@ed.act.edu.au or Xingliang Yu xingliang.yu@ed.act.edu.au
International Parent/Carer Afternoon Tea
We were delighted to welcome families to our first International Parent/Carer Afternoon Tea for 2025 at the end of last term. It was a lovely afternoon where parents and carers from across our school community came together to enjoy conversation, connection and a cup of tea!
A big thank you to everyone who joined us. If you missed out this time, don’t worry – we’ll be hosting another one this term, everyone welcome and we’d love to see you there!
Term 3: Wednesday 3 September, 2.30-3pm in our library. No RSVP required.
