Principal Team Update

PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY - MEET PRINCIPAL MILA! 

Ripponlea Primary School had a very special Principal for the Day – Mila – and what an incredible job she did!

Principal Mila certainly took charge from the moment she arrived and embraced every aspect of school leadership with confidence, enthusiasm and a big smile. She wasn't afraid to make some important decisions either! One of her first initiatives was swapping the lunchtime play areas, giving our Foundation to Year 2 students the opportunity to enjoy the senior playground for the day.

Mila joined our School Captains on a tour of the school, visiting every classroom and making sure everyone greeted her with a cheerful "Good morning, Principal Mila!" She loved spending time with students and staff, seeing the wonderful learning taking place across the school and chatting with our Rippers throughout the day. She had the honour of presenting PBS tokens to students who were recognised for consistently demonstrating our values of Respect, Pride and Safety.

At our whole-school assembly, Principal Mila confidently addressed the school community and  She also made a very popular announcement, rewarding all students in Years 3–6 with extra lunchtime play next week as a special treat!

One of the highlights of the day was enjoying a special luncheon with her friends and working alongside our School Captains to experience what leadership at Ripponlea Primary School is all about.

Thank you, Principal Mila, for your enthusiasm, thoughtful leadership and fantastic decision-making. You were an outstanding Principal for the Day, and we hope you had as much fun leading the school as we had having you in charge!

HOUSE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Our whole-school Athletics Carnival last Tuesday was a wonderful celebration of participation, perseverance and House spirit. It was fantastic to see every student involved throughout the day, whether they were aiming for a personal best, giving a new event a go, or enthusiastically cheering on their friends and teammates.

One of the things that stood out most was the way our students encouraged and supported one another. There were so many moments of kindness, determination and resilience as students celebrated each other's successes, picked one another up after disappointments and proudly represented their Houses. These are the moments that remind us that sport is about so much more than winning—it is about building confidence, developing resilience and learning the value of teamwork and encouragement.

The carnival was also a wonderful opportunity for students to challenge themselves, step outside their comfort zones and experience the enjoyment that comes from being active together. It was heartening to see so many smiling faces throughout the day and to witness the genuine pride students took in doing their best. I would like to congratulate every student for the enthusiasm, positive attitude and sportsmanship they displayed. You should all be incredibly proud of the way you represented yourselves, your Houses and our school community.

A day like this simply wouldn't be possible without the support of many people behind the scenes. Thank you to our wonderful staff for their encouragement and commitment to making the day such a positive experience for every student. We are also incredibly grateful to our parent volunteers, whose generosity with their time and assistance throughout the day helped everything run so smoothly.

Finally, a very special thank you to Mr Rambaran and Susie for their exceptional organisation and leadership. Their careful planning, preparation and attention to detail ensured the carnival was an enjoyable and memorable day for everyone. We are incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated staff who create these valuable opportunities for our students.

FOUNDATION 100 DAYS CELEBRATIONS

Our Foundation students recently reached a very special milestone—100 days of school! This exciting celebration marked not only 100 days of learning, but also 100 days of friendships, growth, confidence and discovery. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on just how much our youngest learners have achieved since beginning their school journey.

The celebrations began with a special assembly, where students confidently shared some of their favourite memories from their first 100 days at Ripponlea. It was lovely to hear them speak with such pride about the experiences, friendships and learning that have made their first months of school so memorable.

Back in the classroom, students enjoyed a range of engaging activities centred around the number 100. They completed a special 100 Days booklet, imagining what life might be like when they are 100 years old, sharing something they think their teacher has said "100 times," and challenging themselves to write their name as many times as possible in 100 seconds. Their creativity and enthusiasm certainly brought plenty of smiles!

Learning continued beyond the classroom as students headed outside to discover how far they could walk in exactly 100 steps. They also worked collaboratively to use their bodies to create the number 100, demonstrating teamwork, problem-solving and plenty of laughter along the way. Keeping active was another highlight of the day, with students completing a 100 Movement Challenge made up of 10 sets of 10 different exercises, including star jumps, lunges, toe touches and more. Their energy and determination were impressive, and everyone enjoyed the challenge.

To conclude the celebrations, students shared a special picnic with their Year 5 buddies. These buddy experiences continue to be an important part of our school community, providing our youngest students with wonderful role models while strengthening the sense of belonging and connection across year levels.

Congratulations to our amazing Foundation students on reaching this significant milestone. We are incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished in their first 100 days of school and look forward to watching them continue to grow in confidence, curiosity and independence throughout the rest of the year.

Until next fortnight!

                   Marta Campbell                               Naomi Hoewel and Hayden Broadben

                    Acting Principal                                         Acting Assistant Principals