PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome Back to Term Two

It has been wonderful to see everyone back over the past week and I have been extremely impressed by the behaviour in the school yard and the high levels of engagement in the classroom. We have lots going on with our learning at the moment at Plenty Parklands. Please ask your children to share what they like most about their day when you pick them up from school.

Skinner Dance Sessions

We are only one more sleep from our first David Skinner Dance sessions, which involve all our Prep to Year 3 students each Friday for the next six weeks. In a brand-new initiative this year, we have introduced optional Skinner sessions for Year 4 and 5 students to participate. 

Amazingly, we have had over 80 students from those year levels wanting to participate. Please keep in mind that the last Friday dance session is the one that you can come and join in with your child.

Upcoming Strike Action

Following the strike action taken by some staff late last term, we have been notified that there are half day rolling stop work actions planned for early this term, should a pay agreement not be made with the Victorian Government.  I have been notified that the half day strike action for schools in this area is scheduled for the morning of Tuesday 19th May. If this is going ahead, I will provide more information for you next week.

Healthy Eating

It has been wonderful to see all the healthy food options being chosen by students in our school lately. Our breakfast club team were handing out apples, bananas and pears to students wanting a morning snack on Wednesday morning. Our Year 5 students have been doing an outstanding job developing our three school veggie patches which are now growing cabbage, lettuce and bok choy.

Prep Enrolments

We have completed ten 2027 Prep enrolment tours so far, with three more planned in the upcoming weeks. Close to 150 families have toured our school with a view to enrolling their child for next year. Please note that the Department has reduced our Prep cap to 84 students for 2027, which is putting further pressure on this process. We currently have over fifty Prep enrolments who have siblings at this school already and a further twenty plus who live in our school zone and are therefore instantly offered a position. It is currently looking like we will have only a small number of remaining positions to offer to the many out of zone families wanting to join our school community. 

Staff Showing the School Values

At our assembly on Monday afternoon, I shared with the students our May challenge, which involves children nominating an adult at Plenty Parklands who they believe always demonstrates the school values. Students can nominate one staff member by dropping into my office a picture or a fifty-word paragraph about the teacher or education support staff member they would like to nominate and why they think that person is a great choice. At the end of May, we will select the best nomination, and the staff member and student will receive an exciting prize.

Goodbye

Today is the last day at Plenty Parklands for Ms. Carryn Maffescioni, who after three years of great service to our school is moving on to the next chapter of her life in the private sector. During her time here she has held many roles including office, first aid, classroom assistant and co-ordinating our uniform shop. We wish her well in her future. 

Have a great weekend,

David Whewell | Principal