Principal's Report

Welcome to Term 4

What a month it has been! Firstly, a big thank you to our wonderful ACPS community for your support and encouragement over the past month as I stepped into the role of Acting Principal. It has been a privilege to work alongside our students, staff and families in this capacity, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity.

The students have made a wonderful start to Term 4, returning with a positive, can-do attitude and a real enthusiasm for learning. Our classrooms are buzzing, and I have been fortunate enough to visit and be part of the amazing learning taking place from Prep through to Grade 6. It has been fantastic to see students actively engaged, sharing their knowledge and proudly explaining what they have been learning. There is a wonderful energy across the school!

📚 Around the Grades

🐻🎨 Prep, Grade 1 and Grade 2

This week, our Prep and Grade 1 students enjoyed their special fun afternoon, followed by the Grade 2 Sleepover. I was lucky enough to stay and support the afternoon and evening, and I was so proud of our younger students. They showed wonderful resilience, embraced new experiences and, most importantly, had so much fun! A big thank you to our amazing P–2 team (Amanda, Linda, Brooke and Peta) for all their hard work and effort in organising these memorable experiences for our students. It was a thumbs up all round!

🏀🏃 Grade 3 and 4

Our Grade 3 and 4 students have continued to settle into their daily routines and engage in their English Block learning. We have also had students from this cohort proudly represent ACPS at Division Athletics and the Hooptime Finals. Across each event, our students demonstrated wonderful sportsmanship, respect for others and a genuine enjoyment of participating. We are so proud of the way they represented our school and supported one another! I was lucky enough to coach both teams at Hooptime and the skill, determination and enthusiasm they all showed was incredible. The boys came up against some tough competition but gave it their all!

A special mention to our Grade 3/4 Future Star Girls team who are off to the Hooptime State Finals in December after winning all their games on Wednesday. 

🌱🌏 Grade 5 and 6

Our senior students have made a positive start to Term 4. Last week, our Grade 5 and 6 EarlyAct leaders attended the Lead to Sustain program at Currawong Bush Park, providing another valuable opportunity to develop their leadership skills, deepen their understanding of environmental sustainability and learn how they can lead by example. Thank you Mrs Dibb, Ms Hansen and Hannah for supporting these students on Friday. 

Our EarlyAct leaders have some wonderful initiatives planned for this term, and I look forward to seeing them put their ideas into action and make a positive difference within our school and wider community.

We have also celebrated some fantastic sporting achievements in the senior school, with students proudly representing ACPS at the Division and Regional Athletics events, as well as competing in the Regional Hooptime Finals. We are incredibly proud of the students who have represented our school with such enthusiasm, sportsmanship and determination!

💛Grandparents and Special Person's Day 💛

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Wednesday for our Grandparents and Special Persons Day. The turnout was incredible, and it was such a beautiful morning to come together as a community and celebrate the special people who play such an important role in the lives of our young people.

A huge thank you to Sarah Bailey for coordinating the wonderful student performances and giving her time to support our students in making the morning so memorable. Events like these are a wonderful reminder of the strength of our school community and the love and support that surrounds our students. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the morning such a success.

💗Pink It Up!🍦

The Warrandyte Pink Ladies have done it again! What a wonderful community fundraiser. Each Friday, our students and staff added a touch of pink and supported the cause by purchasing ice-creams, with all money raised going directly to the foundation.

A special thank you to Nicole and Sandra for giving their time each week and including ACPS in their important fundraising efforts to support the fight against cancer. Thank you also to our generous school community for getting behind the initiative. It was fantastic to see our students having fun while supporting such a meaningful cause.

🧢SunSmart🧢

October has arrived, and the sun is already shining! As we head into the warmer months, a reminder that ACPS is a SunSmart school, and all students are required to wear their hats when outdoors during recess and lunch. We also encourage students to apply sunscreen regularly, and sunscreen is available at school for students to reapply throughout the day. Thank you for helping us keep our students safe in the sun.

🚲Bike Safety 🚲

Over the past month, we have received some reports regarding bike safety around ACPS. It is wonderful to see our students wearing their helmets and choosing active ways to travel to and from school. We would like to remind all bike riders to follow road rules, ride safely and be aware of their surroundings, particularly when approaching the school driveway and bike racks. Before 8:45 am, cars are still entering the car park, so extra care is needed during this busy time.

We have also reminded students that bikes must be walked through the school grounds during arrival and dismissal times to help keep everyone safe. Thank you for reinforcing these expectations with your children.

We have also received reports of E-Bikes being ridden in Warrandyte, including on our school oval. We are working with our community to help ensure the safety of our students and protect our school grounds. We appreciate everyone's support in keeping ACPS a safe place for all.

🌟Looking Ahead 🌟

As I return to the Grade 6 classroom for the remainder of the year, I want to sincerely thank everyone for their support, encouragement and kindness over the past few weeks. Taking on the role of Acting Principal has been a wonderful opportunity, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with our students, staff and families in a different capacity.

I would also like to acknowledge all the staff at ACPS for their flexibility, teamwork and support throughout this time. Their commitment to our students and to one another has made this transition such a positive experience.

It will be wonderful to welcome Mr Webber back next week, and I look forward to continuing to work with our students as we make the most of the remainder of the year. Let’s continue to be curious, kind and connected, living our school values of Community, Character, Connection and Curiosity in all that we do.

Have a wonderful and safe long weekend!

Kind Regards,

Alysha Buzzini

Key Dates – Term 4