Nuriootpa Primary School

Welcome back to Term 2 !

It seems like we have already been going for a while as of course we are already very much moving forward with teaching and learning, wellbeing initiatives and other extra-curricular events. A few things from me are:

Mid-Year Reception Intake

As you may know here in South Australia we introduced a mid-year intake for Reception students. To be eligible for the mid-year intake a child must be turning 5 between May 1st and 31st October this year

We will be welcoming a group of students at the start of term 3 and the class will be a new separate small class working in their own space. We are currently working on preparing all resourcing for this group.

If you, or someone you know, have a child eligible for mid-year intake please contact the school ASAP as we start our transition visits in two weeks (week 6).

Pupil Free Day

Our Pupil Free Day on Monday June 11th involved all staff – teachers and classroom SSOs undertaking training in the SA Child Protection Curriculum (CPC). The CPC is designed to help children learn about recognising abuse, developing protective strategies, and seeking help when needed. By engaging in this training as a whole group we are strengthening our understanding of key child protection concepts and developing our pedagogy to teach these areas.

We are committee to the ongoing education and safety of our students, and this training is an essential part of supporting child safety. If you have any questions about the CPC please feel free to contact your class teacher or myself directly.

Please be aware that we have a second PFD this term on Tuesday 9th June (Kings holiday long weekend). We have 2 in Term 2 so that we can maximise the learning early on. We then do not have a PFD in the shorter Term 4.

Governing Council

Governing Council meets tonight (Monday 18th) in the staff room. This is a week later due to the PFD. Please be reminded that should you need to or wish to you can ask a Governing Council member to bring anything of concern or any ideas for improvement to Governing Council. A reminder that your Governing Council are:

Teearn Fitzpatrick, Haley Laney, Michelle Braley, Crystal Hall, Jayde Keley, Gen Dahlenburg, Elly Houghton, Sophie Beers, Marni Southam, Jess Schwarz, Sarah Martin, Shona Gates and Sally Guy.

Best,

Vicky

We focus on learning dispositions in maths because they help children develop the confidence, persistence, and problem-solving skills they need to succeed. By encouraging attitudes like resilience, resourcefulness and reflection, we support students to become capable and enthusiastic maths learners who are ready to tackle challenges both in the classroom and in everyday life.

Resilience

Children keep trying, even when maths is challenging. They understand that mistakes are part of learning and do not give up easily.

Resourcefulness

Children look for different ways to solve problems, using what they know and trying new strategies.

They ask questions, look for clues, and use materials or tools to help their thinking.

 Reflection

Children take time to think about how they solved a problem.

They consider what worked well and what they might do differently next time.

 Curiosity, collaboration and confidence

Children wonder about maths and are keen to ask questions or explore new ideas. They learn with and from others, sharing ideas, and listening to different ways of thinking. Believing in their own ability to ‘have a go’ with maths, try new things, and learn from mistakes is very important. Developing the dispositions mentioned, ensures students engage in new learning with a positive mindset to learning new information.

 How Can Parents Support These Dispositions at Home?

·         Encourage your child to keep trying, even if it feels hard (“Let’s see if we can work it out together!”).

·         Praise creative approaches and problem-solving (“That was a clever way to do it!”).

·         Ask your child to explain their thinking and reflect on what strategies worked.

·         Be positive about maths and show interest in how your child learns, not just whether they get the right answer.

·         Help your child see mistakes as an important and valuable step in learning maths.

·         Find maths together in everyday activities like cooking, shopping, counting, or playing games.

What a fantastic start to the term we have had at Nuriootpa Primary School! Our school community has certainly hit the ground running with so many exciting events already bringing students, families and staff together.

The term began in spectacular style with our colourful and laughter-filled Colour Run. Students had an absolute blast running through clouds of colour while showing great enthusiasm, teamwork and school spirit. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and families cheering everyone on.

Our adventurous students also enjoyed the unforgettable Zoo Snooze experience. Spending the night at the zoo created lasting memories, with students learning more about animals, conservation and the natural world while sharing plenty of excitement and fun with their friends.

We were also incredibly proud of the way our community supported Do It For Dolly Day. Students took part in important conversations and activities focused on kindness, inclusion and standing up against bullying. It was a powerful reminder of the caring culture we continue to build together at our school.

And the fun is not slowing down yet! Next week we are looking forward to Walk Safely to School Day. We encourage families to join in where possible and enjoy the many benefits of walking, riding or scooting to school — building healthy habits, confidence, independence and connection with others along the way.

This term, we are excited to continue building our Parent Support Network — creating opportunities for families to connect, support one another and share experiences in a welcoming and understanding environment.

We know that parenting can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly when navigating challenges such as additional learning needs, friendships, wellbeing concerns, accessing supports or simply balancing busy family life. Often, the best support can come from other parents who have walked a similar path.

Our goal is to create a caring network where families can link up, share knowledge, offer encouragement and remind one another that nobody has to do things alone. Whether it is connecting families with similar experiences, sharing helpful information, or simply providing a listening ear over a coffee, we hope this network strengthens the sense of belonging within our school community. It’s never too late to sign up, we are looking to start with an information session linking in with NDIS. Watch this space for updates.

Thank you to our amazing families, students and staff for helping create such a positive, supportive and vibrant school community. Looking forward to a busy and fun term.

Volunteers Welcome at Nuriootpa Primary School! 

We are always looking for enthusiastic and supportive volunteers to assist in a variety of areas around our school. If you are interested in contributing your time and skills—whether it be in the classroom, library, garden, or during school events—please contact the school. Volunteering is a wonderful way to become more involved with our school community and support our students’ learning. 

 If you would like to find out more or express your interest, please phone the front office (86621040) or email us at dl.0781.info@schools.sa.edu.au. All volunteers are required to complete a Working With Children Check and RRHAN (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect), in line with department guidelines. 

 We look forward to welcoming new and returning volunteers to our school. 

Principal: Ms Vicky Ireland

Deputy Principal: Mr Steve Cornish

Partnership: Barossa Valley     I     Education Office: Gawler

15 Buna Terrace, Nuriootpa SA 5355   I   PH: +61 8562 1040   I    www.nurips.sa.edu.au   I   Email: dl.0318.info@schools.sa.edu.au   I   www.facebook.com/NuriootpaPrimary