From the Principal
The end of the year is fast approaching. The calendar is jam packed full of events in the lead up to the final day of Term 4 2024. A calendar of events was sent out via Compass and as a hard copy.
Zoo, MSAC, Bounce, Braeside Park, Wellbeing Day, Grade 6 Market Day, Grade 5 travel expo, Prep Portfolio, Parent thank you morning tea and Grade 6 Graduation.
Christmas concert
The Parkdale students shone brightly in last night's Christmas Concert, spreading festive cheer through their incredible performances. The children’s energy and talent truly captured the spirit of the season, making it a night to remember. A special thank you goes to Ms. Willis for her dedication and to our Grade 6 students for their outstanding contributions. It certainly felt like Christmas!
Japanese Day
What a fantastic day the students had last Friday participating in the Japanese Festival. The children experienced a variety of Japanese games, watched the exceptional Japanese drumming and enjoyed delicious sushi for lunch. Once again, the day proves popular with children dressing up in a variety of costumes. Thank you Mami Sensei, Mackenzie Sensei and parent volunteers for organising an amazing program for the ‘Summer Festival’ themed Japanese Day.
Parent Thank You Morning
Thank you to our Parkdale Parents/Carers for all your support throughout 2024. We will be holding a ‘Parents Thankyou’ for everyone who has assisted in any way this year. There are a range of ways in which our students and staff are supported by you and some of these include: School Council, Parents Association, Parent Reps, Second Hand Uniform, Garden Club, Book Club, Camps, Excursions, Olympics Day, Classroom Assistance, Corridor Reading, Buy in Lunches, Bike Ed, Sports Teams etc. On top of the support at home for your children. We will be holding the Parents Thankyou on Friday 13th December at 9:00am straight after student drop off, in the Gym. If you’re able to make it, please complete this LINK which has also been sent out via Compass. The choir will also be performing.
Market Day – Grade 6
The Grade 6 students have been busy preparing their Market Day products for sale in the final week of term. These were presented to the Grade 3 students on Wednesday as a sneak peek of what is to come.
Transition Day – Tuesday 10th December
The transition into a new year level involves adjusting to several changes including the physical environment, learning experiences, rules and routines and relationships with a new group of students and teachers. Whilst it can be a time of great excitement, it is not uncommon for children to also be a little nervous.
Tuesday 10th we will have a whole school transition day. This day will allow the students to become familiar with the physical environment they will be in for in 2025 and learn about what will be involved as well as participate in a variety of activities.
The Grade 6 students attend their Secondary Colleges for 2025 on Tuesday 10th Dec, students go straight to their respective Secondary Colleges.
Transition information for Kinder to Prep and Year 6 to Year 7 are below. Parts of this information would also be relevant for many children transitioning to a new year level.
Foundation 2024 Portfolio Presentations
The Foundation 2024 students will share their portfolios with their parents in the last week of December. This is a special afternoon for both parents and students to share highlights from the year.
Grade 6 Graduation
It is an exciting time for the Grade 6 students who are busy finalising their memory books and preparing for their graduation evening. Graduation is both a time for reflection and celebration. The memory books have allowed them to look back at past and current friends, teachers and all the school activities they have experienced over their 7 years at Primary School.
The ceremony starts at 5pm. Students arrive: 4.45pm
Last Day of Term 4 – Friday 20th December
The final assembly will begin at 1:00pm and students will be dismissed at 1:30pm.
We will farewell our Grade 6 students who will be dismissed from the basketball court. All other students in Foundation to Grade 5 will be dismissed from their classrooms.
School structure and staffing for 2025
Staff are finalising end of year reports and making a start on transition processes for 2025. We have finalised the Grade structure for next year; Foundation x 4 grades, Grade 1 x 5 grades, Grade 2 x 4 grades, Grade 3 x 4 grades, Grade 4 x 4 grades, Grade 5 x 4 grades and Grade 6 x 4 grades. Specialist classes will remain the same – Phys. Ed, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Japanese and Wellbeing/Digital Technologies.
Foundation: Julia Howell, Maddie Williams, And Bentley, Demi Woodlock
Grade 1: Steph Strong, Jo Pyke, Mandy Went, Lucy Wilson/Jaci Lundy, Nathan James
Grade 2: Lauren Macafee, Bec Crute, Taylor Glew, Nicola Watson
Grade 3: Mel Johnson/Caz Whitfield, Sally Murphy, Sam Opie, Isabelle Harper
Grade 4: Michelle Pieters, Megan Rosenbrock/Tobi Webster, Perri Davies, Darcy Brown
Grade 5: Liam Grimwade, Dillon Hendricks, Tara Bickham, Jackie Sell
Grade 6: Brent Rafferty/Emily Hibberd, Casey Blacklaw, Audrey Ulrich, Ryan Hubbard
Specialists: Phys Ed: Cliff Anderson/Emma Wicks, Visual Arts: Michelle Richard/Tess Arnold, Wellbeing: Jarrod Sing/Michelle Byrne (Term 1) Sophie Durnan from Term 2, Performing Arts: Leah Willis/Michelle Mackenzie, Japanese: Michelle Mackenzie/Mami Sherwood
Classroom Support: Caz Whitfield, Emma Wicks, Jaci Lundy, Lisa Flynn, (Michelle Byrne T1/Sophie Durnan T 2-4), Ash Muir T4, Maddy Holland T4
Education Support Staff: Trish McCarthy, Michelle Green, Faye Harris, Elise Zajac
Admin Staff – Helen Teasdale (Business Manager), Jane Hulley (Administration) and Helen Bradnam (First Aid/Admin)
Principal (Leanne Bradney), Assistant Principals (Tracy Richards and Jarrod Bainbridge)
Kind regards
Leanne Bradney