Principal's Report

Community Event – Trivia Night (Adults Only) – CANCELLED!

Unfortunately, due to lack of interest, we have had to cancel our upcoming Trivia Night, which was scheduled for next Saturday 14th June. Sorry if this causes any inconvenience for those planning to attend.

I would like to thank Amanda Lewis and our supportive Parents Association for their hard work getting everything ready for the night. 

Moving forward, I encourage parents/carers to contact our Parents Association with any suggestions you have for future community building, fundraising events. These events are vital for our school to be able to upgrade facilities and make learning experience better for all our students. They also build community connections and help promote Albany Rise with our wider community.

You can email ideas to our Parents Association here:  albanyrisepa@gmail.com 

Parent Teacher Meetings and 3 Way Conferences- June 2025

From Thursday afternoon (Thursday 12th June), Parent/Teacher Meetings (junior school) and 3-Way Conferences (middle/senior students) will be open on Compass for bookings.

Meetings/Conferences of 10 minutes each, will be available on the following days/times:

• Wednesday 25th June (3.40-6.40pm – staff dinner break from 5.30-6pm)
• Monday 30th June (3.40-4.40pm – except 4/5N)
• Wednesday 2nd July (Year 3-6 only – 3.40-4.40pm, 4/5N – 3.40-5.40pm)

Please go to Compass to book your times: https://albanyrise-ps-vic.compass.education/ 

We are eager to celebrate your child’s learning achievements throughout semester 1 and discuss next steps on their learning journey. 

If you have difficulty being available for the times provided, please contact your child's teacher to arrange another time.

Student mid-year reports will be available for parents to read on Compass from Monday 23rd June. 

Year 5/6 Winter Interschool Sports (Gala Day) – Week 1 of 2 beginning this Friday 13th June

A reminder we have our first Winter Interschool Sports or ‘Gala Day’, this Friday 13th June. 

Students have nominated a sport of their choice from AFL footy, soccer, netball or softball. Teams have been practising at school, learning the rules and encouraging participation and sportsmanship. We look forward to hearing from our House Captains at assembly Friday, sharing highlights from the games and hopefully, results in our favour (although participation is more important that results!).

We wish all our yr.5/6 students, teachers and parent volunteers all the very best Friday. Let’s hope the weather is good and our school leaders demonstrate our school values of RESPECT, RESILIENCE and RESPONSIBILITY in action. GO ALBANY RISE!

Junior School Council (JSC) 

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of Junior School Council (JSC) is at Albany Rise?

In Victorian Department of Education schools, the Junior School Council (JSC) is a student-led body that provides a platform for students to participate in decision-making and leadership at school. It allows students to have a voice in school matters, develop leadership skills, and contribute to the school community. 

Key aspects of the Junior School Council:

• Representation:
• Leadership:
• Decision-making:
• Fundraising and Awareness:
• Communication:
• School Improvement:

The JSC typically consists of class representatives from different grades, elected by their peers. 

JSC members are expected to act as role models, demonstrate responsibility, and contribute to the school's positive environment. 

The JSC discusses issues raised by students, identifies areas for improvement, and works towards solutions. 

They often organize fundraising events and awareness activities for charities. 

JSC members report back to their classes, sharing information and seeking feedback. 

The JSC can contribute to school improvements, like suggesting changes to the school environment. 

At Albany Rise, students vote on their two preferred JSC reps at the start of the year, from every year 1-6 class. The JSC meet with me fortnightly (even weeks, Thursdays, session 6) to discuss the items mentioned above. Minutes from meetings are shared with school staff and our School Council. Recently, the JSC shared a range of themes for our upcoming student disco from class feedback and voted on our winning entry for the School Concert front cover/billboard illustration.

Update on Suspension and Expulsion Powers

Our school is committed to providing a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all students and staff. You may be aware of recent changes announced to suspension and expulsion powers that will be available to Victorian principals from day one of Term 3, (Monday 21 July 2025).

We know that students’ behaviour outside of school, particularly online, can sometimes impact the safety of students and staff at school.

In exceptional circumstances, principals of Victorian government schools will be able suspend or expel students for behaviour that occurs outside of school grounds and/or hours including online, if it poses a significant danger to the safety and wellbeing of students or staff.

These powers apply only to serious incidents where there is a clear and close connection to the school and the behaviour of a student outside of school unreasonably impacts the safety and wellbeing of students or staff at school, and their ability to learn or work. Please note: 

• They do not apply to behaviours unrelated to the school or school community.
• They only apply to behaviour which occurs from Monday 21 July 2025 onwards.

Suspension and expulsion will remain measures of last resort – our primary approach continues to focus on proactive and positive behaviour support, including working with you to teach students the behaviours we expect of them, in school and in life.

Thank you for your continued support as we work in partnership to educate and support our young people.

Winter Has Arrived!

Recent icy weather from the south has made its way to Melbourne already, and we’ve only just hit June! It’s a timely reminder for students to be dressed appropriately, in full school uniform each day. This includes wearing school jumpers and weather-proof jackets. It’s always great seeing students going that extra step to keep warm by wearing beanies and gloves – especially in the mornings. Keeping warm assists students to function better in the classroom, as well as maintaining a consistent core body temperature, a defence against the dreaded bugs lurking this time of the year.

Please remember to name any extra clothing, as we have an increasingly growing collection of unnamed clothing in the office.

Please note we provide FREE second-hand clothing. If you have the need, please contact Collette, Lyndelle or Narelle in the office and they will be happy to assist.

Working Bee- REMINDER (Repeat): 

Our School Council – Facilities Sub-Committee have set a Term 2 working bee for Sunday 22nd June between 9am – 12pm.

We will be completing some indoor and outdoor tasks, including updating our corridor displays with student work and photographs. We would love some talented ‘indoor decorators’ with a flair for displays, to come and assist on this working bee. Other tasks include clearing our storage areas, sorting equipment, gutters and drain cleaning, and general gardening.

A hard copy ‘flyer’ will be sent home with the eldest student, within the next week.

Pre- Review Self Evaluation (PRSE)- Reminder and Thanks (Repeat):

Thank you to the 10 parents who have completed the informal parent survey so far. The comments and information received have already been discussed and options considered. 

Whilst is it great to know that most families are content with current practices and so do not feel their response on the survey is needed, THESE are the very families we would like to also hear from. There is still time for more parents/carers to complete the survey.

This year, Albany Rise Primary School is undertaking a whole school review. Schools undertake a school review every 4 years to inform the direction of the school’s 4-year School Strategic Plan (SSP).

Parents/carers have a very important role in the Pre-Review Self Evaluation (PRSE), during the PRSE, we ask parents about their experiences, opinions, ideas and possible opportunities they would like to be considered when developing a new strategic plan. Over coming weeks, I will be asking parents to provide input through various platforms, including a simple online survey. 

PLEASE take the time to complete this simple survey: https://forms.gle/BhSRmF2LgfZ7i3LP7

                                                                 Michael Mottershead