
“Every space is a learning opportunity”
It’s time to reimagine our senior oval space.
We need to hear your ideas for what this space could look like, what it could be used for, how our community wants create it.
The most important feature won’t be trees or turf, it will be the collaborative community vision of our shared space.

Guiding Principles
Climate ready– suits the Canberra climate, it must be water smart, it must be comfortable in hot summers and cold winters;
Regenerative– improves the environment, respects the land, increases biodiversity;
Equitable – it has to provide space for all students to play and learn on, big kids and little, sports kids and social players, and enable kids of all abilities to participate; and
Community– it will be used on the weekends, we share our space with others, we gather and celebrate together, this is an asset for our whole community.
Click the Download button below to see our whole Project Outline Document

Our Vision
The P&C have been seeking parent feedback and strategic direction for several years. We have used this to inform the guiding principles of the project so far.
We need to finalise our vision in the first half of Term 3.
You can explore some of the past feedback below, and have your say on the phrases that mean the most to you.
Draft vision elements
Choose one phrase from each group below that best describes your vision for how we want to play and learn. Survey link below – closing midnight Sunday 9th August.
Country | Community | Culture |
Water efficient | Growing genuine connections | Supporting ongoing learning |
Caring for Country | Welcoming and supporting all community members | Intercultural understanding and respect |
Drought tolerant | Community celebration | Incorporating the stories of this place |
Natural Playscape | Building community | Culturally respectful |
Environmentally regenerative | Gather and grow together | Growing stronger together |
Supporting biodiversity | Embracing diversity | Cultural knowledge and practice |
Nurturing a relationship with Country | Proud hub for our community | Looking to the Future |
The journey so far…
Feedback – P&C Parent Survey – 2018
- It would be nice to use the oval for a festival
- Oval upgrade
- Gardening & recycling
- Planting local natives for landscaping and shade
- I love the parts of the events that the kids plan and take control of. I love the community feel of events
- encourage more class group/small group activities to help promote a sense of community
- more/different efforts put into involving the families who aren’t usually involved. There are hard-to-reach members of our community who don’t feel involved/welcome at these events
- Direct contact with IEC & LSU families
- Definitely pay attention to the beauty of the school grounds – studies have shown how learning/living in surroundings that are natural and beautiful actually have long-lasting effects in people’s (children’s) self-belief and values
- We’re an IB school, with a relatively progressive and accepting community. We have a responsibility to model such behaviours and influence our community
Feedback – P&C Parent Forum – June 2019
- Nature Play Space
- Increase access to nature and gardening
- Improve surface, consider irrigation, astroturf, connect with inner north reticulation network (recycled & stormwater)
- Fruit Trees – think food forests over generic plantings
- Water Tanks – consider water capture and reuse options
- What about community gardens, beehives, a tree identification map
- Value the marginal – use the dead space, verges, roadsides, unused lawn areas
- Involve the wider community
- Master plan, sets out vision and priorities, increasing enrolments, links to community
- Productive, useful, educational spaces
- Work towards being able to host an ‘Open House’ style tour of the school and it’s initiatives – improve pride in our school, engagements and emotional investment
- “Every space is a learning opportunity”
P&C Strategic Plan – 2020
- Organise events and support projects which raise funds to improve the school grounds and educational opportunities
- Build and strengthen relationships with all our partners, connecting our school and students with their local community and support networks
- Deliver ways and opportunities for parents’, carers’ and families to engage meaningfully in school life
IB Philosophy & NAPS Mission
- Students explore six transdisciplinary themes of global significance: who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet
- North Ainslie Primary School, as a member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation, aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who take positive action in the world
- Encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right
- The heart of the local community, NAPS instils a passion for lifelong learning, enabling all students to be the best they can be as they confidently look to the future
- The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect
- Our school is a centre of learning where effort and achievement are celebrated and diversity is embraced within a restorative, respectful environment