From the Principal

One of POPS' goals this year is to give students more opportunities to have a voice in their learning by allowing them to collaborate and make decisions.

This week, I observed students engaging in meaningful learning experiences. They listened to peers, asked questions, gave and received feedback, and helped shape their learning tasks, goals, and assessments.

Foundation students are given lots of opportunites to share their ideas and opinions. When learning about money, Year 1/2 students 'went shopping' and chose different items to purchase and find the total. In Year 3/4, students shared opinions, respectfully discussed differing views, and worked with teachers to choose weekly homework tasks. In Year 5/6, students provided feedback through a Google form, which teachers used to plan future activities. They also selected their homework project topics.

Giving students the opportunity to voice their opinions and actively participate in their learning leads to better educational outcomes.

Last week, I asked our community to share feedback on the school values and their ideas for the future direction of POPS. If you can spare five minutes to complete the Community Feedback form, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to the those who have already taken the time to complete it.

5/6 MANDARIN EXCURSION

On Wednesday, Year 5/6 students, staff, and Mrs Bian went on a Mandarin excursion to the city, visiting Chinatown, the Chinese Museum, and enjoying a Dragon Puppet show. It's great that our students can experience and appreciate another culture, fostering inclusivity and tolerance. Mrs Bian shared that the tour guides praised our students for their excellent manners, which makes me very proud.

A big thank you to Mrs Bian for organising this opportunity and to the Year 5/6 staff for making it possible. Go to the From the Classroom page to read more about the excursion

SCHOOL  PRIDE

For the next few weeks our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) focus is on demonstrating POPS school values while wearing the correct school uniform outside of school. This means showing respect, responsibility, and kindness in the broader community, reflecting the high standards and pride we take in being part of POPS, even beyond the school grounds.

We ask parents to support the school by encouraging their children to wear their school uniform with pride.

STORYTIME

On Monday, we held our final Storytime for the year, with a fun bubble theme. The preschool children enjoyed singing, reading, and making bubbles. This year, Storytime has been well attended by children from the Park Orchards Community House & Learning Centre, and we’ve loved having them and their carers join us each session. A special thanks to the Year 6 Library team, who did a fantastic job reading to the preschoolers and assisting with the activities.

STUDENT WELLBEING

We’ve noticed some students spending time at the local shops on their bikes, unsupervised, before and after school, and are concerned for their safety and wellbeing. 

If you’re unable to drop your children off or ensure they arrive at school around 8:45 am, we encourage you to consider using TheirCare, our Out of School Hours Care service. TheirCare offers a safe, supervised environment with qualified educators, providing parents peace of mind. With the Child Care Subsidy rebate, it is also an affordable option. 

FOUNDATION 2025

Tonight, Thursday, October 17, we will hold our first Foundation Information Session online at 7 p.m. Details on how to access the session has been emailed to Foundation 2025 families. We look forward to seeing the parents/carers of our Foundation 2025 students online via Webex. Please don't hesitate to contact the Office if you have any questions.

WORKING BEE 3:45- 5:00pm

We will hold a Working Bee tomorrow afternoon, Friday, October 18, if you are free to lend a hand for a short time after school it would be most appreciated. It is a great community building activity and brings students and families together.

Tasks include: 

• begin redeveloping the area between the Rainbow playground and the gym. The first task is removing ivy from the trees and weeds along the fence.
• garden maintenance (pruning, weeding), and cleaning the chicken coop and veggie patch. 

TheirCare is sponsoring the event and will provide sausages for volunteers.

If the Working Bee is cancelled due to inclement weather, a Compass post will notify you. The backup date is Friday, October 25.

CONGRATULATIONS

Mr Grecea and his partner Sylvia got married last weekend. They were blessed with the glorious weather. I am sure you will join us with wishing them all the best.

We are seeking assistance with reupholstering or covering some furniture in need of TLC! Please contact Ms Garrity for more information.

Have a great weekend,

Ms Garrity

PRINCIPAL

KEY DATES Week 2:

Fri Oct 18: Pathways Session 3/ Working Bee (Back up date) 3:45- 5pm

REMINDERS

We are planning for 2025: If your child will be leaving at the end of the year, please let us know in writing as soon as possible. If you know families considering joining POPS, encourage them to contact us for a tour or to speak with me. Early knowledge of student numbers helps us plan more effectively for next year.

Save the Date: The Whole School Production will take place on Thursday, November 14, at the George Wood Performing Arts Centre, Yarra Valley Grammar School. 

School Saver Bonus: To receive the School Saver Bonus go to the From the Office page to read about the key actions for parents and carers. The most important thing is that parent email details are incorrect.