Principal's Desk
2027 Financial Contributions (Family Payments)
At this month’s School Council meeting, the 2027 Financial Contributions were finalised. I’m pleased to share that, thanks to careful planning and budgeting, there will be no price increase for 2027 for the curriculum contributions portion.
As in previous years, once payment is made through Compass, resource packs will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom from mid-November, with all additional items supplied by the school, during 2027.
This year, you will notice more items in your child’s resource pack. In previous years, some of these items went straight to the classroom teacher.
At the start of the school year, please send the full pack to school with your child so their classroom teacher can store it. Teachers will hand out items throughout the year as your child needs them for their learning.
All student computers and iPads will continue to be provided by the school, ensuring every child has access to the necessary technology for learning.
Full details can be found on Compass under ‘Course Confirmation’.
Christmas Raffle: Donations Needed!
It’s almost time for one of the most loved events on our school calendar, the Park Ridge Christmas Raffle, and we need your help to make it a great one.
We are calling for donations of prizes from our school families. New items, gift vouchers, hampers, toys, books, plants, homewares or experiences all make wonderful prizes. If you have something you’d like to contribute, please send it to the school office, clearly marked “Christmas Raffle.”
We would also love to hear from any local businesses who might like to support us. Donating a prize is a great way to be part of our school community, and your business will be acknowledged in our raffle promotion. Our PCA would certainly appreciate it, as every dollar raised goes straight back into resources and experiences for our students.
If you know a business that might be interested, please pass this message on or ask them to contact the school office. Thank you in advance for your generosity. It makes a real difference.
Hay Fever Season
Just a reminder that with Spring comes hay fever. If you require us to store hay fever medication at the office, we require a Medical Action Plan which is completed annually by your General Practitioner.
Seeking Support: 2027 Student Learning Groups
Next month, we will begin working with students to identify five (5) classmates they work well with.
I encourage you to have this same conversation at home. It’s important for students to understand that the people they work best with aren’t always their closest friends, and may even be students from another class. Talking about this together helps students make thoughtful choices that support their learning and wellbeing.
When students provide their list, the names are not ranked or preferenced. From these five, we ensure that each child is placed with at least one, and in most cases several, of their chosen peers. If you’ve recently submitted a placement request that includes specific names, please discuss this with your child to make sure their selections align.
These small but meaningful conversations make a big difference. They help us create balanced, supportive class groups and the best possible learning environments for 2027.
Please note that once the class placement process begins, it becomes extremely difficult to make changes. We appreciate families’ understanding and respect for the thorough process involved in creating classes, and we ask that no changes be requested once the communicated timelines have passed.
Melbourne Cup Day
Tuesday 3 November is Melbourne Cup Day. This is a Public Holiday and students are not required to be at school.
Staff Professional Practice Day
Wednesday 4 November is our whole school staff Professional Practice Day. Teachers will be spending the day writing student reports, therefore students will not be required at school on this day.
Wishing you a great week ahead. As always, feel free to drop in for a chat with Carrie or myself. Our doors are always open!
Take care,
Mr. Dale Blythman