Principal's update

Welcome back to a new school year at Port Melbourne Primary School.

It has been lovely to see everyone return refreshed and ready for the year ahead, and especially to see our new students and Preps settle in so smoothly. It’s been great hearing from students, parents and staff about summer holidays, family time, and all the little adventures that come with a break.

My own holidays were a great mix of rest and fun. I spent time camping on the Murray River, and some time on the Mornington Peninsula with my daughter (6) and son (8), and I also snuck in a few kid-free days bikepacking in the Otways with friends.

Classes have resumed so positively this term. Familiar routines and lesson structures have come back quickly for students, and that is a credit to the hard work of our teachers and education support staff in setting up calm, predictable classrooms where learning can get started straight away.

I have also been popping into classrooms to teach a short mini-lesson on some of the cognitive science principles (the “brain secrets”) that sit behind our approach at PMPS. It has been a great way to connect directly with students, and to help them understand that learning can feel hard sometimes, not because something is going wrong, but because that is how the brain works. With the right routines and practice, things quickly become much becomes easier and more automatic.

As the year continues, I will send Principal Updates at key points to keep you informed about what is happening across the school, highlight upcoming events, and share the thinking behind some of the ways we approach teaching and learning at PMPS. 

Thank you, as always, for the support you give our staff and for the partnership you bring to your child’s learning. Here is to a happy, productive year ahead.