Things To 

Know

SunSmart Reminder – Don't Forget the Sunscreen! ☀️

Well, Melbourne certainly hasn't delivered the sunny spring days we were expecting! However, don't let the cloudy skies fool you. UV levels have been very high over the past few days, reminding us that sun protection is just as important on overcast days.

Our teachers have noticed that while most students remember to bring their hats to school, many arrive without sunscreen in their bags.

So here's a friendly reminder to all our RPS families: Hats are essential, but sunscreen is just as important!

Please ensure your child has sunscreen applied before arriving at school and a clearly labelled bottle in their school bag so they can reapply throughout the day, particularly before heading outdoors.

Let's keep our Rippers SunSmart and protected, whatever Melbourne's unpredictable weather brings our way!

🌿 SAVE THE DATE – RPS WORKING BEE! 🌻

Sunday 1st November 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Many hands make light work, and we need yours! 

Summer is just around the corner, and it's time to give our beautiful school grounds a little extra love and attention!

Our arborist has been busy over the holidays attending to high-risk trees, but there are still plenty of jobs waiting for our wonderful volunteers. From mowing the front lawns and tackling those pesky weeds to tending our gardens, tidying up and completing lots of little jobs, there's something for everyone!

Whether you can spare 30 minutes, an hour or the whole morning, every helping hand makes a difference!

And of course, after all that hard work, we'll reward our amazing volunteers with a lovely lunch to share and enjoy together!

It's also a fantastic opportunity to meet new families, connect with other parents and help make RPS an even more beautiful place for our children to learn and play.

A big thank you to our Facilities and Environment School Council members, Colin Smith and Ashley Davies, who are helping coordinate the day. Please reach out to them if you'd like to lend a hand.

We can't wait to see you there. Let's roll up our sleeves and make a difference together. 

Please contact Colin Smith for further information cojacsmith72@gmail.com

Curriculum Day – Monday 2 November

A friendly reminder that Monday, 2 November, is a Curriculum Day, and students will not be required to attend school.

With the Melbourne Cup public holiday on Tuesday 3 November, this provides a lovely opportunity for our families to enjoy an extended long weekend, perhaps with some extra family time, relaxation or a little adventure!

We look forward to welcoming all our Rippers back to school on Wednesday, 4 November, refreshed and ready for the remainder of Term 4.

Enjoy the extra-long weekend!

Foundation – Year 2 Intensive Swimming Program

Get ready for some fun… and maybe a few tired little swimmers!

Our Foundation and Year 1/2 students are gearing up for two fantastic weeks of swimming at the Caulfield Grammar School Aquatic Centre. This intensive program combines strong water-safety education with essential swimming skills all taught by friendly, fully qualified instructors.

Students will walk with their teachers to and from the pool each day and take part in a 30-minute Swim & Survive lesson, focusing on:

• Stroke development
• Water safety awareness
• Personal survival skills
• Building confidence in the water
• Victorian Water Safety Certificate assessments

This initiative is designed to increase swimming proficiency for all students while supporting safe participation in aquatic activities. Importantly, it aims to reduce the risk of drowning through explicit teaching of essential skills, alongside opportunities to develop strong, efficient swimming techniques.

We know the students will be excited and definitely a bit tired! after their daily sessions. We encourage plenty of rest, early nights, and extra snacks in lunchboxes during the program weeks. More information via COMPASS coming soon. 

YOUR VOTE, OUR RIPPERS, ONE BIG OPPORTUNITY!

Saturday 28 November 2026 – Victorian State Election

As Victorians prepare to head to the polls, Ripponlea has a fantastic opportunity to turn Election Day into a major fundraising event for our Rippers!

Our school hall, Barrbunin, will be an official polling centre, welcoming hundreds of voters through our gates. With so many visitors, it's the perfect opportunity to raise much-needed funds towards our junior playground upgrade and potentially another small project from our school master plan.

Our School Council, together with Ripper Families, is planning a fabulous sausagesizzle, cake stall and coffee stand, and we'd love to make the day even bigger! Perhaps a craft stall, second-hand books or face painting? We welcome your creative ideas and, most importantly, your willingness to help bring them to life!

Whether you can spare an hour on the barbecue, bake a delicious treat or help run a stall, every contribution counts. We have the opportunity to raise substantial funds in just one day, but we simply cannot do it without your support.

Every dollar raised will bring us closer to upgrading our junior playground and making further improvements to the spaces where our Rippers learn, play and grow.

Please save Saturday 28 November and reach out to Tarryn Holland to offer your support or share your ideas. Keep an eye out for further details from Ripper Families.