Principal's Report

Principal Report 

Year 2 Sleepover

What a special night our Year 2 students had at their sleepover on Thursday night. Students enjoyed delicious dinner, a movie, a disco and a wonderful breakfast on Friday morning. The children all managed to pack their bags and camping gear, and prepare themselves for the school day and special events on Friday. What a fabulous start to their school camping experiences. Many thanks to the staff who supported and stayed overnight, and to all our families for your wonderful preparation of our young campers.

Footy Colours Day and walk-a-thon 

Our Annual Footy Colours Day and walk-a-thon is occurring on Friday 20th September- the last day of term. All students are encouraged to wear their favourite footy team colours for the day. We will have a parade with team songs in the morning (all welcome), followed by our fundraising ‘Walk-a-thon’ around the school. Parents/carers are encouraged to take part by helping with the tallying of laps, supervisions, or joining in the walk. Students should return their walk-a-thon sponsorship forms by Friday for teachers to add the number of laps for each student has completed, so that the forms and money can be returned by week 2, Term 4. There is a prize for the highest fundraiser.

At lunchtime on 20th September, students who have ordered a sausage and drink via Compass, will be eating their special lunch before joining in the ‘Longest Kick’ competition during lunchtime. There is a prize for students in the 3-6 (senior) and F-2 (junior) longest kick competition. Students are asked to bring a gold coin on the day to donate to the Cancer Council ‘Footy Colours’ fundraising program.

Camp Australia Special FREE ‘30th Anniversary Party

It was lovely to see so many families take the opportunity to visit the Camp Australia before and afterschool program on Tuesday afternoon. Students and parents were able to join in activities, share some food and see the program in operation. Many thanks to all the families to continue to support this program, helping to ensure the viability of our before and afterschool care program into the future.

Planning for 2025 – Are you leaving ARPS? 

We ask that you let us know if you are moving or have enrolled to another school in 2025. We require this information as soon as possible to establish classroom structures for the start of the new school year. If your child is currently in F-5 and will not be at ARPS in 2025, please notify the school office or email as soon as possible.

ICAS

Over the last few weeks some our Year 2-6 students have been involved in the International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS).  ICAS is a historic academic competition that has been sat by over 10 million school students from 16,000 schools across 41 countries since 1981. It recognises academic performance in a way similar to sports or the arts, with engaging, fun questions designed to test students’ higher-order thinking skills. Every student who participated will receive a printed certificate and an online results report in coming days. Well done to all those who participated and to big thanks to Mrs Cas Foley for organising ICAS and to the staff who helped administer the assessments throughout this period.

Right to Disconnect

As you would be aware, recent amendments to the Fair Work Legislation came into effect on Monday, the Department of Education provided its response to this, noting the rights of all staff to disconnect. These new provisions will be adopted alongside the department’s existing industrial and employment obligations, including occupational health and safety commitments. The legislation makes it explicit that all employees have the right to refuse contact from their employer or a third party (such as a parent or a family) outside of their normal working hours unless that refusal is unreasonable. This means an employee can refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact that occurs outside their normal working hours.

As you are aware, our staff work incredibly hard with many staff working after hours to prepare and preplan work for Monday – Friday teaching commitments. I welcome and appreciate your support when communicating with staff and as we look to support and implement the amendments to Fair Work Legislation, as appropriate. 

Today is ROUK day.

R U OK? Day is an annual national day of action that reminds us that every day is the right day to ask, ‘are you okay’?  

This year, R U OK? Day is on Thursday 12 September. The theme, ‘Ask R U OK? Any Day because life happens every day’, highlights the importance of regularly checking in with those around us. 

Got a feeling that someone you know or care about isn’t behaving as they normally would? Perhaps they seem out of sorts? More agitated or withdrawn? Or they’re just not themselves. Trust that gut instinct and act on it. Learn more about the signs and when it's time to ask R U OK? here.

By starting a conversation and commenting on the changes you’ve noticed, you could help that family member, friend or workmate open up. If they say they are not OK, you can follow the conversation steps to show them they’re supported and help them find strategies to better manage the load. If they are OK, that person will know you’re someone who cares enough to ask.

Link: https://www.ruok.org.au/ 

School Savings Bonus Information 2025- ARE YOUR CONTACT DETAILS CORRECT?

In Term 4, 2024, families with a child enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025 will receive the one-off $400 School Saving Bonus.

The $400 School Saving Bonus provides families with support for education-related costs, such as school activities and/or school uniforms and textbooks.

The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home schooled students, TAFE students and students attending kindergarten in 2025.   

Actions for parents and carers

Before 18 October 2024, the Department of Education is asking parents and carers to:

• Complete enrolment: If your child, or children are changing government school for Term 1 2025, or starting Prep or Year 7 in 2025. For more information, read about Enrolling in School. 
• Check your contact information: Ensure your email address and phone number is up to date with us. You can check this information by contacting us directly.

We need to ensure your contact information is up to date as the Department of Education will email you twice:

• in October, to verify your email address
• in November, with your $400 School Saving Bonus and access to an online system.

Please check your junk mail regularly to make sure you do not miss an important email.

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, download the School Saving Bonus Information sheet for government school parents and carers (below) or visit vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus. 

Parent Requests for Grades in 2025- REPEAT:

How is the grade structure decided? 

At ARPS, our policy is to create a whole school grade structure which is either single year levels or multiage (across 2 year levels). The structure is dependent on the numbers of students in each year level, the dynamics of students in each year level, our knowledge of students in the school and the best operational timetable and staffing arrangements that can be created within the budget provided by the Department of Education. The exact class structure is often not finalised until all of our future enrolments for 2025 are confirmed. Parents should consider the likelihood that their child will be placed in either a single year level or a multiage class

Can parents choose teachers?

•            The short answer is no.

What can parents request?

•            That their child might be with (or not with) another student based on education needs, or if there may have been a past incident or negative history with another student. Parents may request something like, having your child separated from a good friend to help them focus or have the opportunity to make new friends. 

Who do I send my request to?

Follow this link and complete the online form: https://forms.gle/uhZTSxeBnAjTiLBu5 

Student class Place requests 2025

No later than Friday 18th October, 2024 (no exceptions)

How do we make grades for 2025?

We start by asking students to identify five ‘friends’ they might like to have in their grade for the next year. When we say ‘friend’, we mean someone who they would work well with, not always their best friend. Students have ample time and opportunity to be with their best friend, outside of school and classroom hours. Importantly we don’t guarantee these ‘five’ requests, usually students will get one or two of their ‘friend’ requests.  Sometimes not getting requests upsets students and their families. Invariably however, we find that students meet new friends (in their new grade) that they wouldn’t have met if we hadn’t encouraged mixing the grades, across their years at school. So, this is a deliberate strategy that supports students building their friendship groups across the years. 

Who makes the grades?

Classroom teaching staff and specialist teachers all contribute to making the grades. 

The Principal Class Team decides on the final grades. As a rule, we never make changes after the grades have been made. So please make your request before 18th October.

What factors do we consider when we make grades?

When we make grades, we consider things like: Academic capabilities / friendships / students’ behaviour. We want to ensure that grades have an even spread of boys and girls – we do not stream grades.

I trust this explains how we do this process; this is consistent with most schools.

Judith Drew

Principal