Principal Team Update

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, RIPPONLEA PRIMARY SCHOOL IS COMING TO ABC TV!

Well, we've been keeping a very exciting secret, and now we can finally spill the beans!

During our very first Curriculum Day of the year, Ripponlea Primary School was taken over by a television production crew filming the upcoming ABC series Separated at Birth. 

Cameras, lighting, actors and production equipment filled our classrooms and school grounds, with an entire episode filmed both inside and outside our school!

Our staff were absolutely delighted to see our familiar school transformed into a television set. They even enjoyed a special photo opportunity with the show's two stars, much-loved comedians Urzila Carlson and Nazeem Hussain! There were plenty of smiles, a few starstruck moments and some wonderful memories made along the way.

We've had to remain tight-lipped for months while production wrapped, but the wait is finally over!

We are thrilled to announce that Separated at Birth premieres on Wednesday, 11 November at 8.30pm on ABC TV, with all six episodes available to stream on ABC iview.

So, Ripponlea families, mark your calendars! Gather around the television, organise a viewing party or settle in for a six-episode binge. Keep your eyes peeled for our classrooms, corridors and playgrounds. How many familiar places will you recognise?

You can also visit ABC iview, search for Separated at Birth and press the + button to add the series to your Watchlist.

Who would have thought our little school would have its very own moment of television fame?

From Ripponlea to the small screen, we can't wait to see our school in the spotlight! 

CELEBRATING OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF WORLD TEACHER'S DAY FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated, compassionate and hardworking team of educators. As we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the extraordinary people who make our school such a special place to learn, grow and belong.

While the day is officially dedicated to teachers, at Ripponlea we recognise every member of our wonderful staff, including our Education Support team. Regardless of their title or role, every person contributes to the education, wellbeing and happiness of our students. They share a collective responsibility for ensuring that every child feels known, valued, supported and connected.

One of the things we treasure most about our school is the special relationships our staff build with children and families. These connections are at the heart of everything we do. Our staff are the people who notice when a child needs a little extra encouragement, celebrate the smallest victories, offer a reassuring smile and consistently go above and beyond, often in ways that are never seen or acknowledged.

Working in a small school means wearing many hats! Our staff juggle countless responsibilities, step in wherever they are needed and rarely hesitate when asked to lend a hand. It can be demanding and, at times, utterly exhausting. Yet what continues to shine through is their unwavering commitment to our students, their generosity towards one another and the genuine community spirit that makes Ripponlea so special.

As the principal team, we feel enormously privileged to work alongside such remarkable people. Their dedication extends well beyond the classroom, and I know how much of themselves they give to ensure our children have the very best opportunities.

This World Teachers’ Day, we invite every family to help us celebrate our incredible RPS team. A handwritten card, a little drawing, a kind word or a simple 'thank you' can mean more than you might imagine. These small gestures remind our staff that their efforts are noticed, appreciated and valued.

To our wonderful teachers and Education Support staff, thank you for the many hats you wear, the challenges you embrace, the kindness you show and the difference you make every single day.

With heartfelt appreciation,

MAKING A SPLASH - YEAR 5/6 SWIMMING, LIFESAVING & SURFING PROGRAM

Yesterday, our Year 5/6 students headed to Port Melbourne for an exciting day of beach and water safety education delivered by Life Saving Victoria. This valuable experience marked the beginning of our senior students' swimming, lifesaving and surfing program, designed to build water safety awareness, confidence, resilience and essential life skills.

Through practical, hands-on activities, students explored how to stay safe in and around aquatic environments, developing a greater understanding of the potential dangers associated with swimming at our beautiful Victorian beaches.

Throughout the session, students learnt about:

• Recognising beach hazards, waves, currents and rips.
• Understanding beach safety signs and the important role of lifesavers.
• Identifying safe swimming areas and why we always swim between the red and yellow flags.
• Responding safely in an emergency, including seeking help and understanding basic rescue principles.
• Building confidence, teamwork and sound decision-making skills around open water.

It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to develop practical knowledge that extends well beyond the classroom and, importantly, could one day save a life.

Next Stop – Surfing at Mornington!

Following yesterday's lifesaving experience, our students will soon head to Mornington for surfing lessons, where they will have the opportunity to put their newly developed water safety knowledge into practice.

From understanding surf conditions and learning how to handle a surfboard to catching waves and perhaps even standing up for the first time, this promises to be another fantastic adventure! We look forward to seeing our students challenge themselves, encourage one another and embrace the experience of learning something new.

A Fantastic Lead-Up to Year 5/6 Camp!

This program also provides valuable preparation for next year's camp at Warra Gnan in Warrnambool, where students will once again have the opportunity to participate in surfing lessons. Developing water confidence and safety skills now will help prepare our students for the challenges and adventures that await them.

We are also delighted to share that Ripponlea Primary School has successfully secured a Sporting Schools grant to help offset the costs of the surfing component of the program. This funding is a welcome contribution towards making these enriching experiences more accessible for our families.

At Ripponlea, we firmly believe that some of the most valuable learning happens beyond the classroom. Whether developing independence, overcoming challenges, supporting one another or learning skills that could save a life, these experiences help shape confident, capable and resilient young people.

What a wonderful start to our water safety adventures! Next stop, the waves of Mornington. Surf's up, Rippers!

CAMPING ADVENTURES BEGIN EARLY AT RIPPONLEA!

The countdown is on for our Year 1/2 Big Night In and Year 2 Sleepover!

There is plenty of excitement building among our Year 1/2 students as they prepare for one of the most anticipated experiences of the year, the Big Night In and Year 2 Sleepover!

At Ripponlea Primary School, we believe that camping experiences are an important part of growing up, building independence, developing resilience and creating lifelong memories. And these adventures begin much earlier than you might think!

Our camping journey is carefully designed to build students' confidence and independence over time. It all begins with a Big Night In for our Year 1 students, enjoying an evening of fun and activities at school before heading home to their own beds. In Year 2, the adventure steps up a notch with an overnight sleepover at school. Before they know it, students are heading off on their first three-day, two-night camp in Years 3/4, eventually progressing to the much-anticipated five-day Canberra Tour in their senior years.

For our youngest overnight campers, there is something incredibly exciting about transforming their familiar classrooms into sleeping quarters! Sleeping bags, pillows, pyjamas and plenty of giggles will make for a memorable evening. Our wonderful teachers have planned a range of exciting activities, games and surprises to make the experience extra special.

Of course, we suspect there might be a little less sleeping and a lot more chatting than usual! And spare a thought for our Year 2 students and teachers, who will be waking up after their big adventure and still have a full Friday of school ahead of them. We anticipate some very tired little campers by Friday afternoon!

Beyond the fun, these experiences are about so much more than sleeping away from home. They help children develop confidence, strengthen friendships, practise independence and discover that they are capable of more than they sometimes realise.

A huge thank you to our dedicated teachers and staff who make these experiences possible. Giving up an evening, and for some an entire night, is no small commitment, but the smiles, excitement and memories created for our students make these occasions so special.

WELCOMING OUR FUTURE FOUNDATION RIPPERS!

Thursday, 5 November, marks a very special milestone at Ripponlea Primary School as we welcome our future Foundation families and our newest little Rippers for 2027!

There is something truly magical about watching children take their first steps into a school classroom, meet new friends from other kindergartens, and begin their exciting journey into primary school. For some families, this will be their very first experience of Ripponlea, while for others, it will be a familiar and special moment as younger siblings follow in the footsteps of their older brothers and sisters.

Our current Year 4 students are particularly excited, as they will soon take on the important role of Year 5 Buddies in 2027. They cannot wait to meet their little buddies, help them feel welcome and begin building friendships that will make the transition to school even more special.

Our Foundation transition program is all about developing confidence, building connections and helping children feel a sense of belonging from the very beginning.

We look forward to opening our classroom doors, meeting our newest Rippers and welcoming families into our wonderful school community.

Your Ripponlea journey is about to begin, and we can't wait!

Until next week!

                                     Natalie Rose          &                       Marta Campbell                           

                                        Principal                                         Assistant Principal