Principal Team Update

WELCOME BACK - 2026 HERE WE COME!

Welcome back to a new school year at Ripponlea Primary School, and a very warm welcome to the many new families joining our community. We are so pleased to have you with us and look forward to building strong connections with you over the coming weeks.

We wanted to begin by sharing just how proud we are of our students and the way they returned to school last week. It was, quite simply, one of the most settled and positive starts to a school year we have seen. Students arrived calmly, reconnected with their peers, and quickly re-established familiar school routines. The sense of belonging and confidence across the school was wonderful to see.

Our Foundation students have also done an incredible job easing into their first few days of school. They have approached this big milestone with curiosity, bravery and growing independence, supported by calm routines, consistent expectations and the care of our staff. It has been a joy to see them settling so well into school life.

As we move into a full week, we are continuing to prioritise connection, predictability and clear organisational routines across the school. Our morning soft start, consistent transitions, and shared School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) expectations help students feel safe, supported and ready for each day. Last week reinforced just how powerful these structures are in supporting a calm and positive school environment.

Just as students are reconnecting, so too are the staff of Ripponlea. We are delighted to welcome some new faces to our team alongside some familiar ones returning. Time has been intentionally set aside for staff to connect, align on routines and expectations, and strengthen the shared practices that underpin our school culture.

Thank you for the trust, partnership and support you continue to show our school. When home and school work together with consistency and care, our community thrives.

We are looking forward to another positive week ahead and a wonderful year of connection and growth.

🏊‍♀️2026 YEARS 3-6 HOUSE SWIMMING CARNIVAL WEDNESDAY 4 FEBRUARY (HAROLD HOLT POOL)📣

It really doesn’t take long before the calendar fills and school events start creeping up on our doorsteps. Today’s House Swimming Carnival was exactly one of those exciting moments on the Ripponlea calendar.

Our Year 3–6 students headed to Harold Holt Swim Centre today, enjoying perfect conditions for swimming, cheering and plenty of House spirit. The carnival plays an important role in ensuring our school is well represented at the upcoming Balaclava District Swimming Carnival, while also providing a fun, inclusive experience for all students whether they were trialling for events or simply enjoying the day at the pool.

A big thank you to Susie and Mr Rambaran, who began planning back in 2025 and ran the day with impressive organisation and care. We are also incredibly grateful to our staff and parent volunteers who gave their time to support the event, help with supervision, and cheer on our swimmers days like this simply don’t happen without your generosity and support.

We would also like to thank the many families who came down to cheer, creating such a positive and energetic atmosphere around the pool.

We are now awaiting the announcement of our first winning House of the year stay tuned! 

Thank you for helping make these experiences so memorable for our students.

YOU TELL US INTERVIEWS  STRENGTHENING OUR FAMILY PARTNERSHIP

Over the coming weeks, families will be invited to take part in our You Tell Us interviews, an important opportunity to connect early in the year and strengthen the partnership between home and school.

These interviews are a valued part of how we get to know each child as a learner and as a person. The You Tell Us conversation is exactly that - your opportunity to tell us. Families are invited to share insights about their child: their interests, strengths, learning preferences, friendships, wellbeing, and anything else that will help us support them to feel confident, settled and ready to learn.

We know children thrive when there is a strong, shared understanding between home and school. These conversations help us build that understanding early, ensuring we can respond to each child thoughtfully and proactively from the very start of the year.

Parent & Carer Tip Sheet – Getting the Most Out of Your You Tell Us Interview

To help you prepare, we’ve included a few prompts below. There is no expectation to cover everything; these are simply guides to support the conversation. 

You may like to share:

🌱 About your child

• Your child’s interests, passions or hobbies
• What motivates them or helps them feel confident
• Anything that helps them feel calm, settled or supported

📚 Learning

• How your child feels about learning and school
• Strengths or areas they are working on
• How your child responds to challenge or new learning

🤝 Wellbeing & relationships

• Friendships and social dynamics
• Any worries, anxieties or changes your child is experiencing
• Strategies that work well at home to support emotions or behaviour

🏫 Practical considerations

• Morning routines or separation information
• Medical, wellbeing or learning needs we should be aware of

• Anything important from previous years that may support a smooth start

   

A few helpful reminders

• This conversation focuses on helping us know your child well — it is not an academic progress meeting
• Ongoing learning and wellbeing discussions will take place later in the year
• If sensitive matters arise that require more time, staff will arrange a follow-up conversation privately

We truly value what families bring to these conversations. Your insights help us create a supportive, responsive and nurturing learning environment for every child.

Thank you for working in partnership with us. We look forward to a wonderful year ahead. 

INVESTING IN TEACHER CAPACITY  CURRICULUM DAYS 2026

As part of our ongoing commitment to building teacher capacity, Ripponlea Primary School continues to invest heavily in high-quality professional learning. Each year, we partner with leading experts who guide, coach and mentor our staff so they can deliver the very best learning and wellbeing outcomes for our students.

In 2026, we are proud to continue our work with two highly regarded educational specialists:

• Dr Nathaniel Swain – a respected academic, teacher educator and founder of the Think Forward Educators network. Nathaniel is nationally recognised for his expertise in evidence-informed literacy instruction, the Science of Learning, and developing consistent whole-school approaches to high-impact teaching. His work supports our continued focus on explicit instruction, knowledge-rich learning, and strengthening teacher practice across all year levels.

   

• Bill Hansberry – an internationally recognised specialist in behaviour support, restorative practice, and trauma-aware education. Bill’s work in schools across Australia and overseas empowers teachers with practical tools and a deeper understanding of emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and building strong relational trust with students. His continued coaching will further strengthen our multi-tiered wellbeing and behaviour support systems.

   

  These curriculum days provide invaluable time for staff to deepen their expertise, collaborate, and embed consistent, high-impact practices across the school. While we would love to align additional curriculum days with public holidays for convenience, we are limited by their availability.

   

  Below are the confirmed 2026 Curriculum Days where students do not attend:

   

  CURRICULUM DAYS 2026

   

  Term 1 – 28 January to 2 April

  Tuesday 27 January – Curriculum Day - Statewide Teachers Return

  Friday 20 March – Curriculum Day

   

  Term 2 – 20 April to 26 June

  Friday 5 June – Curriculum Day

   

  Term 3 – 13 July to 18 September

  Friday 7 August – Curriculum Day

   

  Term 4 – 5 October to 18 December

  Monday 2 November – Curriculum Day

   

WELCOME PICNIC - VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED & BAKERS 

Ripponlea community — old and new families, staff and students — get ready for an evening of connection, celebration and fun!

We are delighted to invite you to our Annual Welcome Picnic on Tuesday 24 February from 5:00pm, held on the back oval. 

Grab your picnic rugs, chairs and favourite snacks, and join us for a relaxed summer evening as we welcome our new Foundation 2026 families and all the new families who have joined Ripponlea Primary School this year. It’s a beautiful opportunity to reconnect, meet new faces and celebrate the year ahead together.

There’ll be plenty on offer to keep everyone smiling, including:

• 🌭 A sausage sizzle
• 🧁 Bake sale, cupcakes and sweet treats
• 🍧 Icy poles and cold drinks

So don’t forget to bring a few coins every purchase helps support our school community.

To make the evening a success, we’d love your help! We are looking for volunteers to:

• bake goodies and treats 
• work the BBQ
• assist with general setting up, serving and pack-up

And of course, what’s a Ripponlea celebration without music? The night promises loads of fun with our parent band, The Ripoffs, entertaining the crowd, alongside our resident DJ to keep the vibes high.

Come along as we welcome the new school year in true Ripper style relaxed, inclusive and full of heart. 

We can’t wait to see you there! 💛

Until next fortnight!

Natalie Rose             &                        Marta Campbell 

      Principal                                         Assistant Principal