WALKATHON

What a fantastic Walkathon we had this year. Shifting the event to the Palms Lawn turned out to be a great decision. The sunshine, the energy, and the sense of fun made it a memorable day for everyone. As of 4pm Friday, we’ve raised $6,037.40, and we’re aiming to beat last year’s total of $20,000. If you haven’t had a chance yet, donations can still be made through the QKR app under Fundraising – Wacky Walkathon.

A huge thank you to Amanda McConaghy for her wonderful organisation and to all the volunteers who helped the day run so smoothly. And a special shout‑out to TheirCare for donating the Zooper Doopers- the perfect treat after a warm 45‑minute walk.

PREP TOURS AND ENROLMENTS OPEN NOW

Next week we will commence our Prep 2027 School Tours. Bookings are progressing well and we look forward to sharing all of the wonderful things that SMPPS has to offer, with prospective families.

Prep enrolments for 2027 are now open. This year, there is a new online system, making the enrolment process much easier. If you have a Prep starting next year, please lodge your enrolment here. If you know of anyone in the community that may have a Prep starting, please pass on this information to them.

Families complete and submit your child’s application via VicStudents portal.
The enrolment information pack will provide more information.
Enrolment applications due 31st July

THANK YOU TO THE TOM ASHMOR FOUNDATION

We were delighted to have Kate Ashmor, founder of the Tom Ashmor Foundation, join us at Friday’s assembly to officially share the exciting news of the $30,000 STEM grant awarded to our school. On behalf of our whole school community, I want to express our sincere gratitude for this incredibly generous support.

At South Melbourne Park, we are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to rich, engaging learning. Our STEM program is a key part of that mission. This grant will allow us to expand our robotics, engineering, and science resources so students can explore, experiment, and build confidence in areas that shape the future.

We want every child to move into secondary school ready to embrace STEM with curiosity and courage. And we want our girls to feel every bit as empowered in these spaces as our boys.

The Tom Ashmor Foundation’s $30,000 contribution is far more than financial support. It continues Tom’s legacy of fairness, opportunity, and belief in the power of technology to change lives. Your generosity helps bridge gaps that public schools cannot close alone, and it opens doors for children who might otherwise miss out.

We are honoured to be part of Tom’s legacy, and we will use this support to nurture equity, inclusion, and a love of discovery.

Thank you, Kate, and thank you to the Foundation for believing in our students and investing in their future. Thank you too, to Arthur, Teddy, EJ ad Charlize for giving Kate a demonstration of our new Indi cars!

EDUCATION SUPPORT OFFICERS – APPRECIATION DAY

On Thursday, 14 May, we celebrate our amazing ESOs and the incredible work they do every day at SMPPS. I know you will join me in acknowledging how wonderful Dee is in reception and the sick bay, and how supportive Marco is in his role as our business manager. To Jo, Luke, Tippy, Mae, Harper, Swapna, Jen, Sean, Shyamasree and Tanzeena we extend an enormous thank you. These amazing humans support our students in the classroom and the playground. They work tirelessly, day in and day out, and we simply could not provide our students with what they need without them. A big thank you also to Brendan, who keeps our school grounds functioning and looking beautiful every week.

GATES – IMPORTANT!

From tomorrow, Tuesday 5 May, the back sandpit gate will be locked from 8.30am. Families who park at the Lakeside Stadium carpark are kindly asked to use the zebra crossing when moving to and from school, and to enter or exit via either the scarecrow gate or the netball gate.

The scarecrow gate is located close to the crossing and helps encourage children and families to cross safely on what can be a busy road.

Thank you for your support with this.

ATTITUDES TO SCHOOL SURVEY (AtoSS)

Over the next few weeks, we will administer the AtoSS to our students in years 4-6. The feedback we receive from the survey helps us to better understand what’s working well and areas for improvement in terms of student learning, engagement and wellbeing.

ART ROOM

Our Art room has been out of action for much of this year due to significant sub‑flooring issues. I’m cautiously optimistic that the Victorian Schools Building Authority (VSBA) will be able to co‑fund the rectification works, and we are hopeful that repairs will begin soon.

With the resignation of Jess Obushak at the end of last term, I want to express my sincere thanks for her inspiring contribution to our Art program over the past 18 months. We wish her every success as she embarks on a new career in Design. I’m also grateful to have Kaila Michael stepping in to teach Art across all year levels, ensuring continuity for our students during this transition.

Nicole

Next newsletter 18 May 2026

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