NAIDOC WEEK: 6 – 13 July 2025

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

Yesterday, classes from Prep to Grade 6 were able to briefly gather together to celebrate this year’s NAIDOC theme, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy,’

“The National NAIDOC Committee selected this year’s theme to celebrate. In 2025, we celebrate 50 years of NAIDOC Week, celebrating our cultures and teaching about our people’s histories and cultures. Each year, we select a theme to further develop greater understanding of our issues, in line with our Elders’ initial concepts for NAIDOC Week. The theme for 2025, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy,’ focuses on our youth – future leaders in Culture, and all the social and political parameters we need their ongoing help with as we continue to fight for justice and equity in Australia. We want to highlight the amazing role our youth play in our futures. They are our strength, they provide our vision through their ongoing work with Elders in their own communities, and they are responsible for future legacies.
-Co-Chair National NAIDOC Committee Aunty (Prof) Lynette Riley AO (Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi)”

Our whole school NAIDOC Week activity involved each class selecting an indigenous role model, creating a poster and class representatives sharing about why the chosen indigenous role model is significant to the concept of achievements of the past for the bright future ahead.

Class posters are now on display in the main corridor for our school community to view, enjoy and learn about who was featured in our 2025 Indigenous “hall of fame”.

Staffing Updates

From the start of Term 3 we have a number of staffing changes that will take effect due to accommodating a range of school operational needs, including:

A communication went home to all Kinder A & B families on Wed 2/7 informing that we will form 1 Kinder class for the remainder of the year – Mrs Anna Davis will be the Kinder teacher and the group will retain 2 full-time Kinder Assistants, Mrs Sheree Daking and Mrs Melissa Street.

Mrs Erin Munro will continue as Acting AP at Havenview PS for Term 3 (she took up this temporary cover appointment mid-way through this term) and congratulations to Miss Fiona Sculthorpe who will take up our subsequent vacant AST position. Ms Stacy Purdon will be appointed as the fulltime teacher of 2B. Ms Purdon has taught Kinder B for the first two terms this year. Ms Purdon’s extensive range of teaching experience has significantly been in the lower primary area (grades 1 and 2), so she is really looking forward to being the new class teacher of 2B. Mrs Catherine Badcock will finish teaching 2B on Mondays and resume her coordination of some school Birth to 4 - Launching into Learning programs on that day.

This week, Mrs Felicity Hookway confirmed her formal intention to retire from teaching following the end of her current period of LSL. In light of this news, our current Grade 4 teaching team model remains unchanged. We will find a mutually appropriate time later in the year (when she is not off holidaying) to have both a school community farewell celebration and a function for staff to attend.
Earlier this term, we also welcomed Mrs Angela Stewart as our SBM on Wednesdays.
Sadly today, we say’ “Goodbye, thank you and best wishes!” to Miss Jasmine Nichols who has announced she is finishing her Teacher Assistant position.

Parent-Carer / Teacher Meetings

A huge ‘thank you’ to our Kinder to 6 families for your participation in our recent ‘Parent/Carer – Teacher conversations about each child’s progress and learning so far this year.

Family input into a child’s education is always highly valued and we also encourage regular check-ins with school, class and student ‘Seesaw’ posts… to continue to stay connected with everyday activities and events of your child/ren throughout the school year. We value Seesaw as a key way of communicating and sharing learning success between school and home. Please contact your child’s teacher/s if you are not actively connected.

TCPS School Association News: Every Can Counts for Our Kids!

We are thrilled to announce that Table Cape Primary School is now a proud Donation Partner with the new Recycling Rewards Program Tasmania!

This means that when you return your eligible bottles and cans, you can choose to donate the 10c refund directly to our school. It’s a simple and sustainable way to support our students and help reduce landfill.

? How to donate:

Collect eligible containers (look for the “10c refund” label).
Take them to any participating refund point in Tasmania.
Choose “Donate” and enter our donation code
That’s it — your refund goes straight to Table Cape Primary School!

All funds raised will go towards supporting student activities, learning resources, and special projects for our kids.

Thank you for your ongoing support — every can counts!

Finally, today…

I would like to express my tremendous appreciation to all members of my Leadership Team, Mr Michael van der Ploeg, Mrs Jessie Type-Farrell and Mrs Chantelle Thomas, along with Mrs Dawn Allen - who together, have shared a huge additional workload to provide seamless support and maintain all operational needs of the school, due to me taking a short period of leave for a personal family bereavement – we are really fortunate to have such a wonderful team, committed to always ensuring the best for all at Table Cape Primary.
A reminder to families about the upcoming regional LEGO Brixhibition event in Ulverstone at the Ulverstone Sports & Leisure Centre - Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July from 9:30am -4:30pm.
I really can’t believe how fast this term has just flown by! The winter holiday break will provide everyone with a much-needed opportunity to recharge from another busy and focused 10 weeks of learning.

Our bodies are often just that little more tired too from the effects of the colder winter weather and shorter days…. wishing everyone a safe and well-rested holiday period in readiness for our Monday 21 July… first day of Term 3!