Learning @ TPPS 

Prep News

Our Prep students had an exciting visit from our local firefighters at the end of last term! They got to explore the fire truck, try using the hose, and learn all about fire safety. The children were full of questions and curiosity as they discovered how firefighters help keep our community safe. A big thank you to our amazing firefighters for teaching us and for everything they do to protect us!

Maths Talent Quest State Winners!

After receiving excellent results for our 2025 MTQ investigations at the end of last term, we have received some even more exciting news! Congratulations to the students of Prep F, 3B and 4E, who have been judged as Victorian state winners, and 1FB, who have been chosen as the recipients of the Kumon Australia Award.

Prep F, who were winners in the Prep class division, investigated the topic of ‘What’s behind the elevator door?’, which explored the mathematics that could be found in Stuart J. Murphy’s picture storybook, ‘Elevator Magic’.  Each stop on their elevator journey revealed a new concept to conquered. From counting forwards and backwards, to collecting data, exploring money, and sequencing events, the investigation helped students connect Maths to the real world and become problem solvers. 

3B, who took home the Grade 3 class division, explored the mathematical concepts that could be uncovered within the Titanic, focusing on the question, ‘Were there enough lifeboats on the Titanic for all of the passengers to survive?’ The story of the Titanic provided a rich, real-world context that naturally engaged the students through curiosity, storytelling, and history. Students were able to connect multiple mathematical concepts, including probability, fractions and area, to one of the infamous events in modern history.

4E, winners of the Grade 4 class division, linked their investigation to their Inquiry unit, ‘How did colonisation affect Australia from 1750-1800?’, including a fantastic excursion to the Polly Woodside sailboat. Through mathematics, they stepped back in time to learn about the First Fleet and what life was like for the convicts and early settlers.  This included measuring the length of the First Fleet ships, using grid references to mark the journey, and designing their own first settler dwelling.

1FB, who were awarded the Kumon Australia Award, also linked their MTQ to their Inquiry unit, ‘How school is different today from when it opened in the 1970s’, focusing on the question, ‘What does difference mean?’ Students explored the word ‘difference’ as both a concept and a key strategy in developing number sense. They learnt that difference in Mathematics can describe how two things are not the same – whether it be size, quantity, shape, or position – and can also represent the result of a subtraction equation.

Select students from Prep F, 3B, 4E and 1FB, along with the ten other classes that were awarded High Distinctions, will be presented with their awards at an upcoming ceremony at Melbourne University on Monday 27th October. A huge congratulations to all the teachers and students who were involved in these fabulous investigations!