Issue 14, 2025 (Friday 26 September) - Frederick Irwin Anglican School

From the Executive

Head of Secondary (Issue 14)

Head of Primary - Meadow Springs Campus (Issue 14)

Dear Parents and Carers

Term 3 Reflections

As Term 3 draws to a close, it’s a wonderful moment to pause and reflect on the incredible achievements of our students across the Meadow Springs campus. From individual athletic accolades and public speaking triumphs to academic challenges and recognition at our assemblies for upholding our Core Values, our students have truly shone. Team achievements on the sporting field have also been a highlight, showcasing collaboration, perseverance, and school spirit.

This term has been a productive and inspiring one, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to every student who has contributed to our vibrant school culture. As we approach the school break, I wish all our families time to rest, reconnect, and enjoy each other’s company. On behalf of myself and all our dedicated staff, we hope this break brings joy and rejuvenation.

Teaching and Learning

One of the great privileges of my role is visiting classrooms and witnessing the rich learning experiences taking place. This term’s Learning Expos have been a testament to the creativity, curiosity, and commitment of our students and staff. The energy and engagement in these spaces are truly uplifting.

Our literacy practices continue to be a cornerstone of our academic program. I want to thank our staff for their outstanding teaching, which is deeply rooted in the Science of Reading and aligned with Scarborough’s Reading Rope. Programmes such as Sounds Write provide systematic instruction in phoneme–grapheme correspondences, decoding, and blending—strengthening word recognition. From Years 4 to 6, Word Origins builds on this foundation by exploring morphology, etymology, and spelling patterns, enhancing vocabulary and linguistic understanding.

Talk for Writing complements these approaches by nurturing oral language, narrative structure, and written expression—key components of comprehension. Together, these programmes offer a robust and integrated approach to literacy. Our use of DIBELS ensures that our instruction remains targeted and responsive, monitoring progress across foundational skills and aligning closely with the strands of Scarborough’s Reading Rope. If you ever have any questions about our learning initiatives, please don’t hesitate in speaking with your classroom teacher.

Community

A heartfelt thank you to all our parent volunteers who supported our Father’s Day celebrations and both Athletics Carnivals. Your time, energy, and enthusiasm make a significant difference, and we are so grateful for your involvement. A special shout-out to our parent coaches—your dedication has helped Frederick Irwin teams achieve amazing results!

I wanted to take this opportunity to ask the members of our community to help the school—and each other—by showing patience and care during student drop-off and pick-up times. By maintaining slow speeds, avoiding parking on footpaths, being patient during the busy 20-minute afternoon period, and respecting staff by not using staff parking, we can work together to ensure these times are safe and smooth for everyone.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to welcome families to our Term 4 Learning Journey on Wednesday 5th November (Week 4). These events continue to receive positive feedback, and we look forward to sharing more of our students’ learning with you.

Mentally Healthy Partnerships

Our staff continue to demonstrate exceptional care for the wellbeing of our students—an effort that deserves deep appreciation. Our community can support our high level staff by avoiding contacting them outside of school hours, on weekends, or during the school break. Respecting these boundaries helps ensure our staff return refreshed and ready to continue their vital work.

A special thank you to Mrs Livingstone for her wonderful organisation of the Smelly Shoe Club, a fun and healthy initiative that promotes physical activity and wellbeing. I’m also grateful for the integration of our social-emotional programme Friendly Schools into every classroom. This programme explicitly supports the development of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills—essential foundations for lifelong wellbeing.

I wish everyone a safe and restful break and look forward to seeing you all in Term 4!

Kind regards
Mr Noah Clark
Head of Primary – Meadow Springs Campus