What a big fortnight at TPS

What a huge fortnight it has been at our great school. There is so much happening both in and out of school it is hard to keep up with it all. Please keep an eye on Compass for notes and key dates coming up.

A reminder that Monday, November 4th is a Pupil Free Day and then Tuesday is our Melbourne Cup day.

Drop Off/Pick Up Protocols

A reminder please about our drop off and pick up protocols. You are able to use the drive through only if you are staying in your car. We have had some instances of parents getting out to drop into the office or school building, which causes a traffic bank up with other cars coming.

If you need to drop into the office, walk your child to their classroom or see their teacher, please park in either Pankhurst or Purdey street, or past the bus bays on Miller street.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Grade 5/6 Camp

What a fabulous 3 days we had in Melbourne last week, with our Grade 5/6 students and teachers at Urban Camp. 

The challenge of moving around the busy CBD with 42 students and 6 adults was accepted, and we did an amazing job catching public transport, which at times was very busy.

The activities our students participated in were highly engaging and offered great learning. Some of our students had never experienced some of these opportunities and therefore have provided some lifelong memories.

Thank you to Mrs Young, Mrs Pridham, Josh, Rohan Aldous and Amber Townsend for giving up their time to make the camp a success and to all of our students for being wonderful ambassadors of Tongala PS.

Our final camp of the year, sees our Grade 3/4 students head to Torrumbarry's Murray Life Adventures for 2 nights, in late November.

Sporting Success

We continue to be amazed with how our students perform in their sporting endeavours.

This week we took our 2 Lawn bowls teams to the Regional Final at the Moama Bowling Club. Our students played against much bigger schools from the Bendigo and Sunraysia regions, and went through the qualifying rounds undefeated, resulting in Tongala 1 and Tongala 2 played off in the Grand final, with Tongala 2 coming out victorious. This means we have the best 2 teams in our whole region, and Tongala 2 now competes in the State final in Sunbury, next Wednesday.

Next Thursday, our Team Tennis side will be competing in the Regional Finals in Swan Hill, with the opportunity to make it through to the state finals.

We also had a number of students competing at the Regional Athletics in Bendigo. We had 2 students, Ella F and Tilly F qualify for the state Athletics in the Long and Triple Jump.

On November 8th, we are sending cricket teams to Moama for the T20 inter school competition, which will bring to a close an amazing sporting season.

Beersheba Day

Well done to our students who conducted the Beersheba day service yesterday. Beersheba Day is often not recognised, but an important day in the calendar as it commemorates the charge of the Light Horse Brigade at Beersheba.

Michael Thompson of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, who is a great supported of our school, has done an amazing job with the War Memorial and Avenue of Honour in our town, and it is great to support this day.

2025 Planning

Planning is well underway for 2025, and this week we welcomed a number of new students, taking our enrolments to 150, which is fantastic.

If you are not planning on being at Tongala PS in 2025, or know of a family who is coming to the school, please make contact with us, so we can play accurately.

School Saving Bonus

As part of the Victorian Government Education State model, all families will be part of the new School Saving Bonus Initiative from 2025.

The School Saving Bonus initiative is a one-off payment of $400 per child to be used towards supporting your child's education. 

Families can choose how they spend the School Saving Bonus. It can be used towards 2025 school costs, which may include:

• camps, trips, excursions and incursions
• swimming and sporting programs
• school uniforms

The School Saving Bonus will be emailed directly to parents and carers in November 2024. Therefore, it is essential that the school has your correct email address on your child's enrolment. If you need to change this, please speak to the school.

More information about the School Saving Bonus can be found at:

https://www.vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus

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Have a great weekend everyone

Rob