NAPLAN and Celebrating Growth

Our Years 3 and 5 students are currently participating in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). NAPLAN provides helpful information about how students are performing in literacy and numeracy compared with students of a similar age across Australia. It offers some insight into our teaching and learning programs and highlights both strengths and areas we may further strengthen.

At Northern, we carefully consider NAPLAN results alongside PAT, DIBELS, unit assessments and other evidence-based assessment tools. Looking at multiple sources of data ensures we gain an accurate and balanced understanding of each child’s learning.

However, I want to make it clear that NAPLAN is only one small snapshot. Because it occurs once every two years, it does not measure growth in the way our regular assessments do. Throughout the year, we track student progress carefully, and it is often this steady growth that is most encouraging.

At one of our recent data celebration meetings, a teacher shared something that greatly encouraged me. She spoke about the incredible growth in her students’ reading fluency. The data showed they are now reading significantly more words per minute. This is wonderful progress and reflects consistent, structured teaching and practice.

Yet what made her most proud was not just the data. It was the way her students demonstrated kindness and patience during choral reading. They supported one another, read confidently together, and showed intentional care for their classmates. That kind of growth - character, empathy and encouragement - is something no standardised test can measure.

Working in partnership with families who share our belief that every person is created in the image and likeness of God, we believe our students carry incredible potential for creativity, relationship, love, courage and self-sacrifice. We want our students to be faithful in the big and small things, in their effort, in their learning, and in the way they treat others each day.

I am deeply grateful that we use a wide range of assessments throughout the year to carefully track each student’s academic growth. This allows us to see genuine progress over time, not just performance on one particular day. No single test defines a child at Northern. A test cannot capture their perseverance, their kindness, their growth in confidence, or the many ways they contribute to our community.

We are wholeheartedly committed to nurturing the whole child, academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually. I was recently reminded of this by our new Forest School Coordinator, Mrs Laura Nyhouse, who is refreshing and strengthening our Forest School program by incorporating opportunities offered by the addition of two new shelters currently under construction. She shared with me that, through her planning, she has been reminded once again that Christian education shapes the mind, the heart, and the hand. The refreshed Forest School program will begin in Term 2.

As NAPLAN continues, it is normal for children to feel a little nervous. Please encourage your child to simply do their best without feeling overwhelmed. Let us pray that our students approach the week with calm confidence, trusting that their value is not found in a test result, but in who God has created them to be.

Bethany Armstrong - Principal

The Year 2 class have had a fantastic start to the term and has settled well into the new routines.

In HASS, we have been exploring how the world is divided into different parts. Students have been learning about continents, hemispheres, countries, states, territories and capital cities. The class has also been practising how to navigate different maps and locate familiar places. This has been a wonderful opportunity for students to share stories about places they have visited, as well as places they would like to travel to in the future. Through these discussions and activities, we have also been learning about a range of well-known Australian landmarks.

In English, we have been focusing on informative texts. I have been particularly impressed by the enthusiasm students have shown during our writing tasks. Over the past two weeks, the class has been reading about the different technologies developed by First Nations peoples. Students have been organising the information they read into a plan and then using that plan to write their own informative texts. They are learning how to structure paragraphs using topic sentences and supporting details. We have also been exploring other features of information reports, including titles, subheadings, photographs and maps.

The class has also had a wonderful time getting to know their buddies. We have been enjoying lunch together on Fridays and are looking forward to our upcoming assembly together.

Claire Gardner - Year 2 Teacher

16 - 20 March 2026

Northern will celebrate Harmony Week alongside Neurodiversity Celebration Week.

Harmony Week recognises the diversity of our nation and reminds us that people from many cultures, backgrounds and experiences belong together. Neurodiversity Celebration Week highlights the value of different ways of thinking and learning, encouraging understanding of neurological differences.

At Northern, this connects closely with our focus on belonging and our theme for the year, Walking Together with God. We want students to know they are known, valued and included. God has created each person uniquely, and our differences are part of His good design. As we learn to walk together with Him, we also learn to walk alongside one another with patience, kindness and respect. Harmony Week gives us a clear opportunity to practise these values and help every child feel they have a place in our community.

Throughout the week, students will take part in a range of activities. We will hold a Harmony Day Assembly on Thursday,19 March, featuring Mr Joel Gillie as our guest speaker.

On Friday, 20 March, students are invited to participate in Crazy Socks Day, celebrating individuality and neurodiversity. Students can also enter our Harmony Day colouring competition, with class winners announced on Friday, and everyone will enjoy a Harmony Day treat at recess.

In classrooms, students will spend time learning about belonging, inclusion and respect. Younger students will explore the idea that everyone has a place and is valued, while older students will think more deeply about how diversity strengthens communities and reflects God’s intention for people to live together in understanding and care.

Harmony Week is a meaningful opportunity to remind students that they are not walking alone. As we walk together with God, we also walk together as a school community, making sure every child knows they belong.

Prep - Year 6 Easter Assembly
and Activity Afternoon

Parents and carers of Prep - Year 6 students are invited to attend the Easter Assembly on Thursday, 2 April at 1.40pm in the PAC followed by Easter Activity Afternoon in classrooms. Students will hear the Easter Story and explore and celebrate the good news of Jesus through a range of activities.

Easter Buns and Hot Chocolate at Recess

The Community Engagement Committee will be selling hot cross buns and hot chocolate for students' recess, with pre-purchases to raise funds for our school community events and initiatives, such as gifting every Kindergarten student with a Bible. If you can assist with serving on the day between 10.00am and 11.30am, please email the Community Engagement Committee.

Place orders on QKR before 3.00pm Tuesday 31 March:

• Hot Chocolate $2.00

• Hot Cross Buns $2.00 (Traditional, Choc Chip or Gluten-free)

Please be reminded that no cash is accepted at the school, and no late food orders will be processed if you have difficulty making your purchase via the QKR! App, please contact the Office PRIOR to the order cut-off time.

Meals on Wheels Easter Egg Drive

Providing a crucial role nationally in supporting the health and wellbeing of thousands of older Tasmanians each year, Meals on Wheels visits and delivers meals to people who are elderly, live alone or are unable to make meals for themselves.

The SRC has chosen to continue to support Meals on Wheels by providing Easter eggs, encouraging messages and cards to help others in our wider community know that they are loved.

Donations of Easter eggs can be made to the Office until Friday, 27 March.

It is our goal to provide Meals on Wheels with enough Easter eggs to show our support to over 200 people. Please help us reach this goal.

Student Representative Council 

Athletics Carnival - Friday 10 April

This event is for all students from Prep to Year 6. Most of the running races will be held in the morning between 9.15am and 11.00am. After recess, Years 1 to 6 students will be moving through the field events until the end of the day, with a break for lunch. Prep will complete all their field events between recess and lunch. However, we do not have a set schedule for events and run the activities according to the organisational requirements on the day. Therefore, we are unable to provide families with specific times for events and encourage families to attend for the whole day.

Students must wear sports uniform items or clothing in their house colours suitable for participating in sports events. There will be some events where parents are invited to participate. Please ensure you are wearing appropriate footwear if you would like to participate in events or volunteer on the day. Shoes must be worn in all events.

We welcome parent help on the day, especially for the class field events. If you are available to help, please let the class teacher know.

Parents and families are welcome to attend this event to support the students throughout the day. Some seating will be provided; however, feel free to bring your own chair or picnic blanket.

Peter Humphrey - Athletics Carnival Organiser 

Community Engagement Committee Hosting Lunch

The Community Engagement Committee will be fundraising by hosting lunch for students at the Athletics Carnival. 

Hot Dog $4.00
Small packet of chips (various flavours) $0.80
Zooper Dooper $1.00

All funds raised will go towards purchasing Bibles for our new Kinder students, our Year 6 students when they graduate, and new families. Additionally, proceeds will support upcoming school community events this year. 

Orders must be placed via the QKR! app by 3.00pm on Thursday, 2nd April. No late orders will be accepted and no cash on the day. Families are also welcome to order food items by simply adding names to the order.

We would love some help with serving the lunch from 12.40pm onwards. Please email the Community Engagement Committee if you would like to help.

Community Engagement Committee

Four years ago, a small group of new parents came together with a simple hope - to connect with other families in the NCS community. From those first gatherings, the Parents & Carers Breakfast Group has grown into a warm and welcoming weekly tradition.

The group meets every Wednesday at Bean to Brew in Bridgewater, straight after school drop-off, and would love for you to join them. Whether you’re new to NCS or have been part of the community for years, all parents and carers are warmly invited to drop in, enjoy some breakfast, and share in good conversation and friendship.

Come along when you can - it’s a lovely way to start the day!

Term 2 - Hockey

Last year, it was wonderful to see so many Northern Christian School students enjoying the Southern Primary School Hockey Competition, developing skills, building teamwork and proudly representing our school.

We are looking forward to continuing in the 2026 season during Term 2, with Saturday morning games at Cornelian Bay. We hope to enter teams in Prep to Year 2, Years 3 / 4, and Years 5 / 6.

To proceed, we need sufficient player numbers and parent volunteers to assist with coaching or umpiring. If your child is interested, please return the expression of interest form that was sent home to the Office by Friday, 27 March. Team places will be confirmed once numbers are finalised.