Things To 

Know

STANDING TOGETHER AGAINST BULLYING   BULLY ZERO PRESENTATIONS AT RPS  MONDAY 18th AUGUST 

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are committed to ensuring our students feel safe, respected, and empowered, both in the school environment and online. In recognition of the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, we are proud to welcome Bully Zero to deliver age-appropriate presentations to all year levels.

These engaging sessions are designed to help students understand what bullying is, what it is not, and how they can protect themselves and others. Each presentation is tailored to the developmental stage of the students, ensuring the key messages are both meaningful and practical.

Session Outline – Monday 18th August 

• 9:00am – 10:00am: SafetyNet – Year 5 & 6 Students will explore safe and respectful online behaviour, learn strategies to protect their personal information, and understand how to respond to cyberbullying. The focus is on building digital resilience, knowing where to seek help, and recognising the importance of their digital footprint.
• 10:00am – 11:00am: Understanding Bullying – Year 3 & 4 This session will help students clearly identify the difference between bullying and conflict, understand the emotional impact of bullying, and practise strategies for responding assertively. They will also learn about the role of bystanders and how they can stand up safely for themselves and others.
• 11:30am – 12:15pm: Understanding Bullying – Foundation to Year 2 Using storytelling, visuals, and role-play, younger students will learn about kindness, respect, and how to ask for help when they feel unsafe. They will be encouraged to share their feelings, recognise friendly vs. unfriendly behaviours, and build early skills in resolving small conflicts positively.

Why these lessons matter:

Bullying can have a lasting impact on a child’s wellbeing and confidence. By giving our students the tools to recognise unsafe behaviour, respond appropriately, and seek support from trusted adults, we empower them to build safe, respectful relationships. Equally important is helping them navigate the online world—an environment that brings exciting opportunities but also new risks.

What families need to do:

Please log in to COMPASS to provide your consent and make the small nominal payment for this important program. Your support ensures we can deliver high-quality, preventative education to every child at RPS.

Together, we can create a school community where every child feels safe, valued, and respected.

BOOK WEEK - BOOK AN ADVENTURE

We can’t wait to dive into Book Week 2025 at our school, celebrating the 80th year of Australia’s Children’s Book Council of Australia’s annual event. Running from Saturday 16 August to Saturday 23 August, this year’s inspiring theme is Book an Adventure!, inviting students to journey through new worlds, ideas, and stories through reading 

📌Book Fair in the Library

This year’s Book Fair will be held in the library from Monday 18th – Thursday 21st August at the following times:

🕗Morning: 8:30 – 8:55

🕞Afternoon: 3:30 – 4:15

Each class will have the chance to visit the fair beforehand, explore the wonderful selection of books, and create a Wishlist to share with parents and carers.

The Book Fair is always a joyful celebration of reading - a chance for our school community to come together, discover new stories, and take home some exciting new books to enjoy. We can’t wait to see you there!

🗓 Mark Your Calendars

• Parade Day: Monday 25 August — Dress up as your favourite book character, bring the book your character comes from, and join the fun!
• Author Visit & Book Fair: Friday 5 September — Author Jane Godwin joins us, and the Scholastic Book Fair will be open all week.

✨ Get Creative — No Costume Required

This year, we're encouraging creativity and imagination:

• Choose a character whose story reflects adventure, perhaps an explorer, a magical creature, or a curious thinker.
• No need to shop for costumes, past years have shown that homemade outfits from recycled or everyday materials are often the most imaginative and memorable.
• Please bring the book your character comes from so you can share it with classmates during the parade.

📖 Spotlight on Jane Godwin

We’re thrilled to welcome celebrated Australian author Jane Godwin, who lives in Melbourne and writes for children and young adults. Jane has been recognised with numerous awards including the 2024 Australian Book Industry Awards Hall of Fame induction and the Pixie O’Harris Award and publishes for Penguin Books Australia 

Some of her recent and beloved works include:

• A Life Song (2023) – Winner of the 2024 ABIA Children’s Picture Book of the Year, a lyrical celebration for young readers. 
• When Rain Turns to Snow (2020) – A beautifully crafted novel shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award 
• Today We Have No Plans, All Through the Year, Little Cat and the Big Red Bus, What Do You Wish For?, and Sadie and the Silver Shoes — popular picture books by Jane, often illustrated by Anna Walker, full of warmth, gentle humour, and everyday adventure 
• Falling from Grace (2006) – A compelling young-adult mystery set in Victoria, combining psychological depth and a haunting sense of place. 

On Friday, 5 September, Jane will speak to students and share her writing journey, what inspires her characters, her ideas for stories, and how books can become adventures in themselves. 

🎒 How This Year’s Theme Fits

“Book an Adventure!” invites students to explore the worlds that books open up, from seas to cityscapes, fantasy lands to fiendish puzzles. Jane Godwin’s stories, whether the poetic imagination of her picture books or the emotional explorations in her novels, offer just that: journeys of wonder, courage, and discovery. 

✅ Parental Checklist

Book Week is one of the highlights of our year, a chance for students to celebrate reading, creativity, and storytelling alongside their peers. It’s a week when imagination takes the lead, costumes transform hallways, and every page invites a new journey.

We can’t wait to see which characters come alive this year and to explore books, authors, and adventures together!

Happy reading, and may your Book Week be filled with wonder!

PROMOTING RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY 

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are proud of the positive and supportive relationships we have with our families and wider school community. We know that the vast majority of interactions between staff and parents/carers are respectful and focused on working together to support each child’s learning and wellbeing.

However, as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning and working environment, we remind all families that school staff have the right to feel safe and respected in their workplace.

The Department of Education has recently released updated resources to support respectful behaviour in schools. These will soon be displayed across key areas of the school and reinforce important messages about acceptable behaviour towards staff.

We ask that all families please be mindful of the following expectations when communicating with any member of our staff:

• Respect professional boundaries: It is inappropriate to ask staff confidential or personal questions, such as those related to their employment history, leave entitlements or experience.
• Make reasonable requests: Staff are not expected to respond to demands outside of their roles or responsibilities. Please direct all concerns or requests to the appropriate contact person.
• Use respectful language: Aggressive, rude, or offensive comments, whether in person, in writing, or online, will not be tolerated.
• Collaborate constructively: We welcome feedback and discussion, but this must occur calmly and respectfully, which promotes problem-solving and partnership.
• Responsible Social Media Use: Using social media platforms to criticise or shame staff, especially regarding confidential matters or decisions made by the school.

Such actions can significantly impact staff wellbeing and breach both privacy and departmental policies. 

We appreciate your cooperation in upholding these standards, and we thank you for your ongoing support in making Ripponlea Primary School a positive, safe place to work and learn.

If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact the school leadership team directly. Let’s continue working together to ensure a respectful and caring school culture for all.