Principal Team Update

A friendly reminder to families that Friday 20 March is a Curriculum Day, so students will not attend school on this day.

Curriculum Days provide valuable time for our teachers to work together on professional learning, curriculum planning and continuing to strengthen teaching and learning across the school.

For families who require care on the day, TheirCare will be running a Curriculum Day program at school. If you would like your child to attend, bookings are essential and can be made directly through TheirCare.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY AT 3:45 PM ALL STUDENTS, STAFF & FAMILIES LEAVE THE SCHOOL GROUNDS 

Some families may have wondered why the school grounds are cleared at the end of the school day and why many families continue their play at Green Meadows Park rather than remaining on the school playground.

Ripponlea Primary School has a legally binding lease agreement with our Outside School Hours Care provider, TheirCare, which allows them to operate their before and after school care program on the school grounds. During these times, the school facilities are leased to TheirCare so they can run a safe and regulated program for enrolled students.

This service plays an essential role for many working families in our community. For parents who are balancing work commitments, commuting times and family responsibilities, Outside School Hours Care provides a reliable and supportive environment where children are supervised, engaged in activities and able to play safely until they are collected. Many families depend on this service every day, and ensuring the program can operate smoothly and safely is extremely important.

Students enrolled in the program have the right to access the playgrounds and play areas as part of their care program, without feeling uncomfortable or crowded by large numbers of other adults and children who are not part of the service.

There are also important supervision and child safety considerations. Once the school day ends, teachers are no longer rostered to supervise students. TheirCare staff are responsible only for children who are enrolled in the program. If many families remain onsite, it becomes difficult to determine who is responsible for supervising each child. This can create confusion about accountability should a child become injured or require assistance.

For these reasons, families are asked to leave the school grounds after school unless their child is attending the TheirCare program. Fortunately, Green Meadows Park provides a wonderful nearby space where families can continue playing, socialising and connecting after school.

The school has also worked hard to negotiate limited use of the courts in the mornings so that coaches and teams can practise. This arrangement has been made in good faith to support community sport. However, the generosity of this arrangement is beginning to be stretched as increasing numbers of teams and participants move beyond the agreed court spaces and into student play areas. With the growing number of morning programs, it is becoming harder to manage.

For this reason, afternoons are not available for team practice or use of the grounds, as the facilities are required exclusively for the TheirCare program.

Importantly, this lease arrangement only applies during the Outside School Hours Care operating times. Outside of these hours, families are very welcome to enjoy the school grounds.

Our grounds are open to the community on weekends, and families are warmly encouraged to use the playgrounds and spaces. Please remember that the front gate is always open for our students and families to enjoy the school grounds outside of school and care program hours.

Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe and well-managed environment for all students.

HARMONY DAY - MONDAY 23 MARCH WEAR SOMETHING ORANGE  

Harmony Day is an important celebration in Australia that recognises the value of cultural diversity and the many backgrounds that make up our community. It is a day to reflect on the message that “Everyone Belongs” – a message that strongly reflects the values we nurture at Ripponlea Primary School. Although this is celebrated on Saturday, 21st March, RPS will mark this day on Monday, 23rd March. 

Our school community is proudly diverse, with families who bring languages, traditions, stories and experiences from many parts of the world. Harmony Day provides a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about and appreciate these differences while recognising the many things we all share.

At Ripponlea, Harmony Day connects strongly with our school values of Respect, Pride and Safety, and with our broader commitment to building a community where every child feels welcomed, valued and included. Through classroom discussions, activities and shared experiences, students learn about kindness, empathy and the importance of respecting different cultures, beliefs and perspectives.

Across the school, teachers will be supporting students to explore themes such as:

• celebrating cultural traditions and family heritage
• recognising the many languages spoken in our community
• understanding the importance of inclusion and belonging
• appreciating how diversity strengthens our school and our society.

Students are invited to wear something orange, the official colour of Harmony Day. Orange represents social communication, meaningful conversations and mutual respect. 

Many students also choose to wear clothing that reflects their cultural heritage or something that celebrates diversity.

Harmony Day is a reminder that our differences are something to celebrate and that when we listen to each other, learn from one another and treat everyone with respect, we create a stronger and more connected community.

At Ripponlea Primary School we are proud of the vibrant and inclusive community we share, and Harmony Day is a wonderful opportunity for our students to celebrate the many cultures, stories and experiences that make our school such a special place.

CURRICULUM INFORMATION SESSIONS 

During the week of Monday, 23 March – Friday, 27 March, we will be hosting a series of Curriculum Information Sessions for families. These sessions provide an opportunity to learn more about the learning programs, curriculum priorities and classroom approaches for your child’s year level.

Teachers will share insights into the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, classroom routines, and ways families can support learning at home. There will also be time for questions.

All sessions will take place from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm at the school except for the specialist ones that will run from 9am to 10am. 

Session Schedule

• Monday 23 March – Foundation
• Tuesday 31 March – Year 1/2 (New date due to stop work action)
• Wednesday 25 March – Year 5/6
• Thursday 26 March – Year 3/4
• Thursday 2 April - Specialist (Visual Arts, PE), Performing Arts & Japanese next term

We encourage families to attend their child’s session to gain a deeper understanding of the learning experiences planned for the year and to connect with the teaching team.

We look forward to seeing many of you there.

CRAZY HAIR FOR A GREAT CAUSE

The creative spirit was in full force as our Rippers arrived at school last Friday, proudly showing off their Crazy Hair creations. From colourful headwear and wildly plaited hairstyles to hair decorated with dolls and many imaginative designs, the creativity and fun spirit across the school was truly on parade.

Our Student Representative Council (SRC), led by Oliver Phipps, organised the event and together our community raised $160 for the Cancer Council. While this may seem like a small amount, the day was really about students taking action and showing that even small contributions can make a difference.

The Cancer Council works across Australia to support people affected by cancer, fund important research to find better treatments, provide education about prevention, and offer support services to individuals and families going through cancer.

Congratulations to all our Rippers who embraced the fun of the day while supporting this important community cause. Your creativity and generosity truly reflect the caring spirit of our school community.

2026 CLASS REPRESENTATIVES & WHATSAPP COMMUNICATIONS

Thank you to all the families who have completed the online consent forms for school-based photography, local walking excursions and the nomination of class representatives across the school. Your prompt responses are greatly appreciated and help ensure our school operations run smoothly.

Perrine is currently in the process of finalising all class contact lists for families. These contact lists provide families with the opportunity to connect within their newly formed class group, have access to contact information to help organise playdates and social activities for children, and support communication within the class community.

Our Class Representatives play an important role in supporting connection within the class. They work alongside teachers to assist with class communication where appropriate, organise informal class get-togethers and sometimes coordinate social opportunities for families to connect.

To ensure communication remains respectful, inclusive and consistent across the school, Ripponlea Primary School manages the WhatsApp platforms established by the newly appointed Class Representatives. The school does not recognise or condone the use of other WhatsApp groups that do not align with the school’s agreed communication expectations.

Golden Rules for Class WhatsApp Groups

Class WhatsApp groups are designed to build connections within the class community and share practical information such as reminders about school events and class gatherings.

Class Community Focus

Keep communication relevant to the whole class. Messages should relate to the class community rather than broader or unrelated topics.

Respectful Communication

All communication should remain respectful, inclusive and supportive of all families and students. Please be mindful that tone can sometimes be misinterpreted in written messages.

Be Kind and Considerate

Always communicate with kindness and consideration for others.

Use Private Messages When Needed

Private messages are best used for one-on-one conversations or personal acknowledgements.

Post Messages Clearly

Please post messages in one clear piece of text rather than multiple short messages to keep communication easy to follow.

Reply Only If You Know the Answer

If a question is asked, please only respond if you are confident you have the correct information.

No Discussion of Individual Students or Staff

Concerns regarding students, staff or school matters should always be directed to the classroom teacher or school leadership, not discussed in the group.

No Complaints or Grievances

WhatsApp groups are not the place to raise concerns about school policies, programs or decisions. These matters should always be addressed directly with the school.

Protect Privacy

Personal information, photos or details about children should not be shared without permission.

Lost Items

Please do not use the group to locate lost items. Check with the classroom teacher or the school’s lost property.

Opt-In Participation

Families will only be added to the class WhatsApp group if they have provided consent through the school.

Together, these guidelines help ensure our class communication remains positive, respectful and focused on strengthening the strong sense of community at Ripponlea Primary School.

RPS SCHOOL COUNCIL UPDATE

Last night we held our first School Council meeting of the year. School Council plays a very important role in the life of our school. In simple terms, School Council works alongside the School Improvement Team, to help guide the direction of the school and ensure the best possible environment for our students. Council members represent the broader school community and work together to make thoughtful decisions that support the learning, wellbeing and experiences of all children.

School Council contributes to many important aspects of school life, including:

• decisions about school facilities and improvement projects
• oversight of parent payments and fundraising initiatives
• monitoring the school budget and financial planning
• supporting community engagement and school events
• contributing to master planning and future development of the school
• reviewing and developing school policies

This year, we did not need to hold a formal election process, as the number of nominations received matched the number of available positions. The term for School Council membership is two years, and members are welcome to renominate at the end of each term if they wish to continue contributing to the school.

School Council operates through several committees, which allow members to focus on key areas of the school’s development:

• Facilities and Environment (including Sustainability)
• Governance
• Ripper Families (community engagement and fundraising)
• Finance
• Publicity and Marketing

We are very fortunate to have a dedicated group of parent representatives who generously give their time to support our school community.

Parent Members 2025 renominated

• Tarryn Holland 
• Suzete Ribeiro 
• Colin Smith
• Kara Merrin

• Skye Holcombe Henley

   

Continued members 

• Nikki Mizzi 
• Romany Tauber 

We warmly welcome Ashley Davies and Sasha Kliger as new members of the School Council, and we are delighted that Georgia Gascoigne, who joined the council last year, will continue her contribution.

In addition to our parent members, the School Council also includes representatives from the Department of Education who bring valuable professional perspectives to our discussions and decision-making:

Department of Education Representatives - School Employees

• Natalie Rose - Principal and Executive Officer
• Marta Campbell 
• Naomi Hoewel 
• David Bremner 

These roles are entirely voluntary, and each member generously gives up their personal time to contribute to meetings, committees and school planning. Their commitment ensures that the voices of our community are represented and that every decision made ultimately benefits the students of Ripponlea Primary School.

School Council is a wonderful example of community collaboration, and we thank all members for the time, care and expertise they bring to supporting Ripponlea Primary School.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 28th April as the formal Annual General Meeting with all 2026 Council Members in attendance.

CONTINUED FOCUS ON RIPPONLEA'S WELLBEING CURRICULUM 

At Ripponlea Primary School we continue to strengthen student wellbeing through the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) curriculum, a program developed by the Victorian Department of Education and taught in all Victorian government schools.

The program supports schools to explicitly teach the personal and social capabilities that help students build healthy relationships, manage challenges and contribute positively to their community. The curriculum is aligned with the Victorian Curriculum and focuses on developing respectful relationships, gender equality and student wellbeing.

What students learn through the program

The RRRR curriculum is organised into eight core learning topics, which are explored through age-appropriate lessons across the year:

Emotional Literacy

Students learn to identify, understand and express emotions in healthy ways. They develop language to describe feelings and learn how emotions influence their behaviour and relationships.

Personal Strengths

Students explore their individual strengths and the strengths of others. This helps build confidence, self-awareness and a positive sense of identity.

Positive Coping

Students learn strategies to manage challenges, stress and disappointment. They practise ways to regulate emotions, stay calm and approach problems constructively.

Problem Solving

Students develop skills to work through everyday social challenges. They learn steps for resolving disagreements, making thoughtful decisions and finding fair solutions.

Stress Management

Students learn about the impact of stress and explore strategies such as mindfulness, relaxation and help-seeking to maintain emotional balance.

Help-Seeking

Students learn when and how to ask for help from trusted adults and peers. They also learn the importance of supporting others who may need help.

Gender and Identity

Students learn about respect, equality and inclusion. Lessons help students understand that everyone deserves to be treated fairly regardless of gender, background or identity.

Positive Gender Relations

Students explore what respectful relationships look like and learn about fairness, consent, and treating others with dignity and respect.

Supporting respectful and inclusive school communities

Through these learning areas, the program aims to help students develop empathy, resilience, confidence and respect for others. It also supports schools to create safe, inclusive environments where all students feel valued and supported.

At Ripponlea, these lessons are embedded within our broader wellbeing approach and align closely with our school values of Respect, Pride and Safety, helping students develop the skills they need to build positive relationships and contribute to a caring school community.

In upcoming newsletters, we will continue sharing how these wellbeing programs are implemented across classrooms and how families can support the development of these important life skills at home.

Until next fortnight!

Natalie Rose             &                        Marta Campbell 

      Principal                                         Assistant Principal