Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Year 6, Term 1 of 2025!

6A Josie

6B Harrison

6C Hayley

6D Harriet      

6E Kim

6F Ben

We hope you had a wonderful break and are ready for the busy, upcoming school term. We are looking forward to an exciting year ahead supporting our students to reach their full potential in their last year at North Melbourne Primary School.

You are always welcome to meet with a Year 6 member of staff should you have any concerns or queries throughout the year. Please contact us in order to organise a mutually convenient time to meet. 

2025 Curriculum

We will begin the term settling into our classrooms and establishing learning routines consistent with our class Essential Agreements developed by students.

In Writing, students will establish their Writer’s Notebooks, using their entries to organise and develop their ideas for writing. Students will take part in Writer’s Workshops focusing on using the writing process to develop their knowledge of different genres. Emphasis will be placed on the structure of texts and using punctuation correctly within student writing.  

In Reading, students will be focusing on the purpose of text structures and language features within imaginative, informative and persuasive texts as a means of conveying important information to the reader. Additionally, we will be continuing literacy circles to engage students in a ‘book club’ style group. Students will discuss events, characters and settings in fiction texts, and explain their responses to them. These groups will provide targeted teaching at point of need and aim to develop students’ interest and engagement in reading. There will be an emphasis on inferring, finding the main idea with supporting evidence and summarising fiction and non-fiction texts.

In Mathematics, students will develop fluency, problem-solving, and reasoning skills across Number, Algebra, Measurement, Space, Statistics, and Probability, applying concepts to real-world contexts.

Number & Algebra

A strong focus on place value includes working with integers in financial contexts and representing numbers on number lines and Cartesian planes. Addition and subtraction of decimals will incorporate estimation and rounding strategies for accuracy.

Multiplication and division strategies will involve decimals and powers of 10, alongside exploring prime, composite, square, and triangular numbers to simplify calculations. Fractions, decimals, and percentages will be applied in problem-solving, including comparisons, operations, and percentage discounts.

In patterns and algebra, students will design algorithms, interpret patterns, and solve equations using number properties.

Measurement & Space

Students will convert between metric units and apply decimal representations in practical contexts. Area calculations will focus on rectangles, while elapsed time problems involve timetables and planning activities.

Geometry will explore angles, 3D shapes, and transformations, including tessellations. Mapping skills will focus on locating points in all four quadrants of the Cartesian plane.

Statistics & Probability

Students will analyse data through graphs, visualisations, and statistical claims. Investigations will involve data collection, analysis, and conclusions.

In probability, students will describe likelihood using fractions, decimals, and percentages, conduct chance experiments, and compare results with expectations.

In the Humanities, students will be investigating Civics and Citizenship in term 1,  then Australian History, Geography and Technology and design in the subsequent terms.

Homework expectations

Upon settling back into a school routine, students will be introduced to the homework expectations for the year. As NMPS policy states, there is no set homework tasks; however, students are asked to read daily for 30 minutes. Teachers will be giving out a Reading Log for students to keep track of their efforts and parents will be asked to initial it. If students are unable to complete tasks in Maths Pathway, we will ask them to complete their modules at home to be up to date with their work so as to not fall behind. Students also have the option to work on further modules if they so choose at home.

Camp

Camp will be from 8th to the 12th of September. It is at the ski fields in Mount Buller, with classes split into two groups. Information is available on Compass regarding payment. More details of the camp will be released in the coming weeks.

Sexual Health Education 

In 2025 School Nurse Jen Elphinstone will lead the Sexual Health education which will align with the Victorian Curriculum. Sensitive topics are covered using age-appropriate materials and language. Sessions will include information, activities, discussion and an opportunity for students to ask questions. If you would prefer that your child does not participate in these sessions, please contact Shaun Andrews, our Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader. An online parent information night will be scheduled in the near future and held before the lessons begin. Please refer to Compass for more information.

Cyber Safety

NMPS has partnered with the Cyber Safety Project in 2025 to provide students, families and our teachers with education on how best to support the online learning of our students. Year 6 students will be empowered to establish skills to self-manage their own digital lives in an interactive digital safety incursion. Students will continue to understand how easy it can be to overshare online and find ways to protect their privacy and personal data. Students will be made aware of social protocols online and will consider their responsibilities as online citizens by discussing how they can establish positive and respectful relationships online. Termly online parent Cyber Safety webinars are scheduled for our families throughout the year, please refer to Compass or our website for more information.

Compass

Please ensure that you complete all Compass permissions. Throughout the year, permissions will be posted as events are scheduled, so please continually check in. Notably, the Tech Agreement is currently posted to compass to allow students to use the iPad. It is important that students and families are aware of the expectations of using devices at school. Students will not be allowed to use iPads until the tech agreement is complete. 

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.

Phones and Smart Watch Policy

To continue on with our school’s ICT agreement, we are aware that many students have phones and/or apple watches. Students will not have access to them during the school day (8:45am-3:15am) and will be collected by teachers or secured in lockers (6E). This is per the Department of Education policy. If you do need to communicate with your child during the day please contact the Front Office.

High School Transition – Steps to enrol your child in secondary school

Moving from primary to secondary school is an important step in a child’s education. In Victoria, students start secondary school when they reach Year 7.

Moving from a government primary school to a government secondary school

If your child is seeking a place in Year 7 at a secondary school next year:

  • Year 7 placement is decided by secondary schools using the Department’s Placement Policy. However, all communication about your child’s placement must be with the Year 6 High School Placement Coordinator, Kristen Pepyat, at your child’s primary school until the placement is confirmed.
  • If you are considering the University High School Accelerated Program, this is communicated with families at the end of Term Three via Uni High AFTER they have confirmed your enrolment. NMPS has no impact or input into this process.
  • You will receive notification of your child’s Year 7 placement offer on Tuesday 1st July 2025.
  • All government secondary schools will host a Year 7 Orientation Day (for Year 6 students) on Tuesday 9th December 2025.

Moving to a non-government secondary school:

Warm Regards, 

Hayley, Harrison, Josie, Harriet, Kim & Ben

The Grade 6 Teaching Team