Showdown! – A Whole-School Effort

Bringing a production the size of Showdown! to the stage is an enormous undertaking, and it is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when a school community comes together. From the first ideas and rehearsals to the final curtain, so many people contribute their time, energy and talents to make an event like this possible.

With almost 200 students to organise, costumes and prepare for the stage, the planning and coordination behind the scenes are extraordinary! It has been a joy to see the excitement, confidence and pride on the children's faces as they performed. Experiences like these create wonderful memories for our students and are a reminder of the value of opportunities such as our school musical.

We extend our sincere thanks to all the parents and staff who contributed in big and small ways. We would particularly like to acknowledge the following parents for their significant contributions to the production:

Hugh Maguire for his work on the set design and construction.
Tom Munroe for his assistance with the printing of the programs, photo wall and the sets.
Kelly Price for coordinating costumes and props.
Nicole Goodman for creating the logo and designing the program.
Rachel Bloom and Deb Putt for their valuable work in helping to bring the musical to life.
Our wider parent community for helping students learn their lines, sourcing and sewing costumes, providing props and offering encouragement and support throughout the entire process.

Our staff are equally deserving of recognition. Their willingness to take on additional responsibilities, share their expertise and work collaboratively is a testament to the commitment they bring to Gardenvale Primary School. A special thank you to Casey Galinksy for her incredible work with the choreography, our dedicated Year 5 and 6 team, and Aviva Cohen, whose outstanding work as stage manager helped keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. We also acknowledge the hard work of Maree Prosser and Donna Bristow from our Admin Team, for managing the many important practical arrangements, including ticketing, buses and contractual arrangements with Alexander Theatre. These essential tasks often happen quietly in the background but are vital to the success of a production of this scale.

We were thrilled to have Julie Pitts return to Gardenvale to produce, director and co-write Showdown! We recognise the remarkable talents and dedication of Julie and Tom Pitts, music director, sound engineer and co-writer. Their creativity, vision and generosity have given our students the opportunity to be part of something truly special. The time, thought and expertise they invest in the production, and the enthusiasm they inspire in those around them, are extraordinary.

Julie and Tom, thank you for your passion, your commitment and for sharing your talents so generously with our school community. Showdown! was a wonderful achievement, and we are incredibly fortunate to have you as part of the Gardenvale Primary School community.

A production of this size is never the work of just a few people. It is the result of a community pulling together, and we are grateful to everyone who helped make Showdown! such a memorable experience for our students.

A few Showdown! programs are still available to purchase for $5 each. You can buy one from either office.

Footy Day

We all enjoyed a fun day celebrating our football allegiances on Footy Day on the last day of Term 3.

A big thank you to the following people for helping to make the day a success:

Polly and Sebi (Sports Captains) for their work in hosting the special assembly and to all the Year 6 students who volunteered to also speak at the assembly.
All the staff and parents that pitched in and helped set up and run the activities
Tom Pitts for organising the special assembly!

It was certainly a fun way to finish off a very busy term!

New Tables and Basketball Towers

Over the school holidays, new picnic tables were installed at the Junior Campus and basketball towers at the Senior Campus, providing wonderful additions to our school facilities. A big thank you to Leon Lopata and Meng Tan for organising the work to be undertaken.

A heartfelt thank you to our school community for your continued generosity and support of our fundraising initiatives, particularly the Walkathon. Your contributions help us make these valuable improvements for our students, and we are grateful for the part you play in making our school an even better place to learn, play and connect.

Year 3 Working Bee

This Sunday, 18th October, is our Year 3 Working Bee from 9.00 to 11.00am. We are asking our Year 3 families to spend an hour or two at the Senior Campus helping us to undertake necessary maintenance so that the grounds are nice and tidy for the remainder of the year. We really appreciate the cash donations made to our Buildings and Grounds by those families that are unable to attend the Working Bee.

If you are not a Year 3 family but have an hour or so to spare this Sunday morning, we would love the extra help!

Student Medical Conditions

To all parents/guardians who have a child with a medical condition (anaphylaxis, asthma or allergies), please ensure you have emailed an updated Action Plan to gardenvale.ps@education.vic.gov.au. It is recommended these plans are updated every 12-18 months. For students with asthma, a clearly labelled reliever, spacer and copy of their Action Plan, must be kept in their school bag. Importantly, this kit must also be taken by students when going off-site, eg excursions or sporting events. Medication required to be dispensed at school – a completed and signed Medication Authority Form (collect from office), must accompany clearly labelled medication, with dosage instructions and handed to the relevant office or teacher. This form should also be completed for short-term medication, eg antibiotics. Thank you for your assistance in helping us to ensure the wellbeing of your child.

Late Arrivals

A friendly reminder to families that if your child arrives late to school, they must be signed in at the office by a parent, or the adult bringing them to school, before heading to class. As classes may have already moved between the Junior and Senior Campuses, this ensures we know your child has arrived safely and can direct them to the correct location.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us keep all students safe and accounted for.

Classes for 2027

We have begun preparations for the 2027 school year. Please refer to the information later in this newsletter regarding the class placement process and how to submit any requests.

Families who will not be returning to Gardenvale Primary School in 2027 (excluding Year 6 students) are asked to notify the school office in writing. This information is important in helping us plan class structures and staffing for the year ahead.

Have a lovely fortnight

Janine Hall

Our Weekly News

Issue 16 · 13 Oct 2026

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