Barton Primary School

Every person’s story is different. Some people have experienced leaving their home, family, language, community or culture behind. Others may have started a new life in Australia while carrying memories, hopes and connections from another place.

Refugee Week helps us remember that behind every story is a person, a family and a community. It reminds us to listen with care, build understanding, and think about how we can help everyone feel safe, respected and welcome.

The stories shared during Refugee Week are only small snapshots of individual lives. They do not represent everyone’s experience, but they can help us grow empathy, kindness and respect.

Ravi's Story - Refugee Week Ravi is the co-founder of Parliament on King, a social enterprise established in 2013 that offers a safe and caring space for refugees and people seeking asylum. Through the sharing of food, it builds community and supports people as they rebuild their lives. For Ravi, this work is grounded in somet...

We are thrilled to announce that Barton Primary School has been selected to participate in a special nation-wide art project!

Our school is one of only 20 schools across Australia chosen to create custom artwork and fan mail for our national athletes competing in the upcoming Glasgow Commonwealth Games. What an incredible honour!

Our Visual Arts teachers are so proud of our talented students and can't wait to see the amazing athlete portraits they create. We know our students' creativity, encouragement, and school spirit will help make our athletes feel supported as they represent Australia on the world stage.

We look forward to sharing their wonderful artwork with our community soon.

Continuing our focus on Refugee Week, we are sharing another personal story from the Refugee Council of Australia.

Every person and family from a refugee background has their own unique experiences, memories and journey.

Today’s story is about Thu-Trang, who came to Australia from Vietnam as a child with her family. Her story reminds us that behind the word “refugee” are real people, families and communities, each with their own history and future.

This is just one story, and it does not represent everyone’s experience. It is one small snapshot that can help us build understanding, empathy and respect.

You can read Thu-Trang’s story here: https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/thu-trangs-story/

During Refugee Week, we are taking time to learn about the experiences, strengths and contributions of people from refugee backgrounds.

We know that many Barton families and community members have their own stories of courage, change, loss, hope and new beginnings. Each story is personal, and no single example can represent everyone’s experience.

Today, we are sharing Hani’s story from the Refugee Council of Australia. Hani’s story is one snapshot of one person’s life, and it helps us reflect on the importance of safety, kindness, belonging and welcome.

You can read Hani’s story here:

Hani's Story - Refugee Week Hani is a poet whose work is shaped by resilience, memory and hope. Through her writing, she shares stories of strength. Poetry allowed her to find her voice, and share her story with the world. It gave her the foundation and determination to rebuild her life. When Hani arrived in Australia in 2013,...

This post is part of our school’s inclusion series, helping families understand the diverse ways students learn and participate.

Visual supports help students understand what is happening, what is expected and what comes next.

Visuals can support memory, communication, independence, transitions and emotional regulation. They can make routines clearer and help students feel more confident throughout the school day. At Barton, we use visual supports to help students access learning, understand expectations and participate successfully.

Small visual reminders can make a big difference.

June 14-20 is Refugee Week.

Refugee Week is a time to learn more about refugees, the challenges they may face, and the important contributions they make to communities across Australia.

Refugee Week first began in Australia in 1986 with a small community event in Sydney. Since then, it has grown into an important national week of awareness, learning and celebration.

Refugee Week reminds us to:

🧠 learn about who refugees are and why people may need to leave their home country
💛 understand that starting again in a new country can be very difficult
🌏 celebrate the strengths, cultures and contributions of refugee communities
🤝 think about how we can help everyone feel safe, welcome and included

Refugee Week is a meaningful reminder that kindness, respect and belonging matter for every child, every family and every community.

As we mark Australia's milestone of welcoming a million refugees this Refugee Week, we celebrate the million lives, the million stories that have helped shape the Australia we all call home today. Stay tuned this week to read some of these stories.

This post is part of our school’s inclusion series, helping families understand the diverse ways students learn and participate.

Executive functioning skills help students plan, organise, remember instructions, manage time, control impulses and think flexibly.

Some students may need support to:
- start tasks
- follow instructions
- manage time
- organise materials
- cope with change
- stay focused
- remember what comes next
- manage emotions when demands feel hard

These skills can become harder when a student is tired, stressed, dysregulated or unwell.

At Barton, we support executive functioning through visual timetables, now/next boards, checklists, processing time, sentence starters, word banks, movement breaks, fidgets, chunked instructions and clear routines. These supports help students understand expectations, reduce overload and participate more independently.

Executive functioning support helps students manage the steps, not just the task.

Dear Parents/Carers,

This is a reminder that consent and payment for the Grade 4 Camp Manyung and Grade 6 Camp Phillip Island is due by the 15/07/2026.

If you have any questions about consent or payment, please email the school.

Thank you.
BARTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

🌿 Liver Health Information Session at Barton Community Hub 🌿
We were delighted to host a Liver Health Information Session for our community. Participants learned about the importance of liver health, ways to reduce health risks, and how healthy lifestyle choices can support overall wellbeing.
A big thank you to the presenters MHSS for sharing their knowledge and to everyone who attended and engaged in the discussion.
At Barton Community Hub, we are committed to providing opportunities for our community to learn, connect, and support healthy living.

Dear Parents/Carers,

The Y OSHC are excited to announce that the WINTER School Holiday Program is open for bookings and will kick off in 4 weeks’ time.

Their programs are packed with exciting activities and experiences designed to keep kids active, engaged and having lots of fun during the holiday break.

From Monday 29 June to Friday July 10, the Y OSHC has lots of fun, active programs for your child to enjoy:

• Tech Fun: Movies, Virtual Reality and gaming experiences with the Ultimate Games Gaming bus featuring Minecraft and LEGO

• Winter Wonderland: Think hot chocolates, snow crafts, icy science and a disco full of frosty fun

• Little Italy: Imagine cooking pasta, crafting chef hats and exploring Italian' culture through food, landmarks and STEM activities.

Secure your spot today https://schoolholidayprogram.ymca.org.au

Kind regards,
BARTON PRIMARY SCHOOL

Y School Holiday Programs Our school holiday programs are all about fun! We offer activities, incursions and excursions to help kids grow and learn. Find a holiday program near you.