Things To 

Know

Celebrating Our 2025 Achievements at Ripponlea Primary School

As we reflect on 2025, there is much for our Ripponlea Primary School community to celebrate. Our Annual Report highlighted not only strong academic outcomes, but also the continued growth of a connected, inclusive and vibrant school community where students are known, supported and challenged to thrive.

With approximately 264 students enrolled in 2025, Ripponlea Primary School continued to demonstrate that we are truly “small in size, big in impact.” Throughout the year, our staff worked collaboratively to strengthen explicit teaching practices, student wellbeing supports and positive learning environments aligned with the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0.

Our academic results were particularly pleasing. In NAPLAN Reading, 90.9% of Year 5 students achieved in the Strong or Exceeding proficiency levels, above both similar schools and the state average. In Numeracy, 93.2% of Year 5 students achieved Strong or Exceeding proficiency, significantly outperforming both similar schools and the state.

Importantly, our student growth data reflected the impact of high-quality teaching and targeted support. In Numeracy, 86% of students achieved High or Medium relative growth between Year 3 and Year 5, well above both similar schools and the state average.

Student wellbeing and connection remained a major priority throughout the year. Our Student Attitudes to School Survey data showed:

• 79.7% of students reported a positive sense of connectedness to school
• 80.2% of students reported positive perceptions of how bullying is managed at school

Both measures exceeded similar schools and state averages, reflecting the strength of our wellbeing programs, Positive Behaviour Support framework and whole-school commitment to respectful relationships and inclusion.

Attendance also remained strong, with student absence rates lower than the state average. Families continued to work closely with the school to support regular attendance and engagement in learning.

Beyond the classroom, 2025 was filled with memorable experiences including camps, excursions, the school production, community celebrations and the hugely successful Rippers on the Run fundraising event. These experiences strengthened student confidence, independence and connection to our community.

The year also marked an important milestone as Ripponlea Primary School undertook its School Review and began implementing its Reconciliation Action Plan, continuing our commitment to inclusion, student voice and cultural understanding.

We thank our incredible staff, students, families and School Council for their ongoing partnership and support. Together, we continue to create a school community where students care, create and connect every day.

The full 2025 Annual Report to the School Community will be published on the school website for families and community members wishing to read the report in greater detail.

📚Premier's Reading Challenge📚

The Premiers' Reading challenge is back for 2026! This year’s theme is ‘Stories to discover. Stories to tell’. 

The challenge runs until 4th September 2026. It’s all about discovering new books, and a love of reading. The Challenge isn’t a competition. Everyone is on their own reading adventure. Students who complete their reading goal will get a certificate signed by Jacinta Allan and past Premiers of our state. 

Once you have signed up, you will be able to access the challenge book list. Most of the books that students read during the Challenge should be taken from the list. It is important that students read books appropriate for their year or reading level. During the Challenge, a student will read a certain number of books that are suitable for them. While the number of books can be varied for a student, the general guidance is:

• Prep to Year 2: Read a total of 15 books, with 10 or more of those books from the Challenge book list
• Year 3 to Year 6: Read a total of 30 books, with 20 or more of those books from the Challenge book list

If you would like to register to take part in the challenge, please email Izzy (isabelle.garcia@education.vic.gov.au) to request your username and password.

 More information can be found here.

Supporting Learning Through Curriculum Contributions

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are incredibly proud of the rich, engaging and high-quality learning experiences we provide for every student, every day. A key part of making this possible is the voluntary Curriculum Contributions made by our families.

Curriculum Contributions go directly towards classroom budgets, empowering our teachers to purchase high-quality, purposeful materials that support daily teaching and learning. These are the resources that bring lessons to life supporting hands-on exploration, creativity, collaboration and deep thinking across all areas of the curriculum.

In classrooms, these contributions help fund:

• Literacy resources such as mentor texts, class novels and guided reading materials
• Mathematics equipment including hands-on manipulatives, games and problem-solving tools
• Inquiry learning resources that support investigations, experiments and project-based learning
• Printing, consumables and classroom organisation materials that ensure smooth daily operations

Our specialist programs particularly benefit from these contributions. They enable us to provide:

• Visual Arts: a wide range of quality art materials including paints, canvases, clay, textiles and craft supplies
• Physical Education: updated and diverse sports equipment to support skill development and active participation
• Performing Arts: props, instruments and resources that allow students to express themselves creatively
• Japanese: cultural materials and engaging resources that deepen language learning and intercultural understanding

Curriculum Contributions also support:

• Digital learning tools and classroom technology
• Science and STEM materials for experimentation and design
• Replacement and replenishment of shared resources across the school
• Additional classroom texts and resources that align with our whole-school instructional approach

While many families will be familiar with the individual book packs from Maxim, it is important to understand that Curriculum Contributions go well beyond these items. They fund the shared resources that all students access daily the materials that often sit behind the scenes but are essential to delivering a high-quality education.

At times, these contributions may not always be immediately visible, but their impact is felt in every classroom, every lesson and every learning experience.

We are deeply grateful to all families who have made voluntary contributions. Your support makes a tangible difference to the opportunities we can provide and ensures our teachers are well-equipped to deliver engaging, inclusive and high-quality learning programs.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s learning.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF) - DON'T MISS OUT!

Did you know eligible families can receive $400 per child to help cover school activities in 2026?

The Victorian Government’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps reduce the cost of things like:

• 🏕️ School camps and trips 
• 🏊 Swimming and sports programs 
• 🌿 Outdoor education 
• 🚌 Excursions and incursions 
• 🎓 Graduation/valedictory events 
•  

💰 What’s changed? From 2026, funding has increased to $400 per student (previously much lower), making a real difference for families.

✅ Who can apply?

Families holding a valid:

• Health Care Card 
• Pensioner Concession Card 
• Or eligible under special consideration 

📅 Key Dates

• Applications open: 28 January 2026 
• Applications close: 26 June 2026 

📝 How to apply

• Complete the application form (available from the school office or attached here) 
• Submit it to the school as soon as possible 

👉 Families can include multiple children on one form if they attend the same school.

📄 You can also access the official application form here: https://www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund

💬 Why apply?

If you’re eligible, this funding goes directly toward your child’s school costs — camps, excursions, sports — the things that make school memorable.

Even if you’re unsure, we strongly encourage you to apply — we can check eligibility for you.

If you’d like help with the form or have questions, please contact the office — we’re always happy to help 💛