Principal's Report
Welcome back to all our students, staff and parents to Term 3 at Gardenvale PS, which we are sure will be busy but a most rewarding term!
I hope, that if you have also been able to have a break you too are feeling refreshed and ready for a great term which will include many highlights, some of which are: -
- Year 1 Older Friends’ Morning – Wednesday 2nd August
- Prep 100 Day Party - Thursday 3rd August
- Year 4-6 House Athletics Carnival - Wednesday 9th August
- Whole School Book Parade - Friday 25th August
- Whole School Footy Day - Friday 15th August
State Government Funding
In the 2023–24 State Budget, the Victorian Government announced that 54 schools will share in the $24 million School Upgrade Delivery Fund. Gardenvale PS is one of these 54 schools. This funding will enable the planning and design work to begin. The Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA), in conjunction with Department of Education regional office staff, will support the school over the course of the planning process. The first task has been for us to complete an Asset Management Plan Phase 1 (AMP). Initial ideas and opinions, into the upgrading and modernising of the school, has been sought from the staff and the Buildings and Grounds Committee.
In a recent letter to the school from the Education Minister, Natalie Hutchins, stated that “the School Upgrade Delivery Fund will provide funding to begin planning and design work for the election commitment project announced in 2022 of $11.7 million to upgrade and modernise Gardenvale Primary School”.
A Big Congratulations to Toby Lopata
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that one of our students, Toby Lopata, had been shortlisted for the Young Archie Art Competition in the 9 –12-year-old section. This National Competition invites budding artists to submit a portrait. Over 3400 entries were received! We are thrilled to congratulate Toby on being the selected ‘Winner’ for his age group, 9 - 12 year-olds. This is an incredible feat, and we are all very proud of you Toby!
Here is Toby’s winning painting and this reason why he selected his Grandpa to paint!
“I have chosen to depict my grandpa in my portrait. He is 86 years old and was a child survivor of the Holocaust. He arrived in Australia when he was 11 years old and became a scientist who helped people to have babies using IVF. Currently, he is recovering from cancer. My grandpa holds a special place in my heart. I was inspired by [German artist] Paula Modersohn-Becker’s self-portraits to create this painting of him”.