Principal Report

Principal for the Day

In our silent auction fundraising activity, the role of Principal for the Day was hotly contested! Our first successful applicant was Principal Lewis, who did a sterling job! Principal Lewis was instrumental in helping organise students for our Mini Athletics Day, starting the relay race, and encouraging and supporting the junior students to try their best at everything on offer. After countless consultations with students about more free time during school, and free dress everyday, Principal Lewis also ran the assembly with the school leaders, reading and handing out Student of the Week certificates, and letting the community know of upcoming events. Well done, Principal Lewis!

F-2 Mini Athletics

Congratulations to students for a wonderful Mini Athletics morning last Friday. Students gave all activities a try, including the egg and spoon race, bean bag toss, as well as a house relay and tunnel ball competition. Thank you to all staff for getting into the spirit of the morning, to Principal Lewis for her assistance, and many thanks to Mr Fergus for organising the event.

Congratulations Amelia!

Congratulations to Amelia, who is the recipient of the Fred Hollows Humanity Award. The Fred Hollows Humanity Award recognises Year 6 students who follow in Fred’s footsteps by making a positive difference in their community. It celebrates students who show compassion, integrity and kindness in their everyday lives, just as Fred did. Amelia consistently displays our school values and looks out for her peers. Well done, Amelia – we are very proud of you!

Market Day

The excitement from our Year 6 students was palpable in their organisation and execution of their Market Day stalls. This is real world learning about commerce and business, where students take a business idea, cost and produce it, fulfill requirements like the correct food handling criteria, and work on making a profit, which will to go towards their final excursion for Primary School, “Fun Day”.

Swimming Term 4

All students from Foundation to Year 6 are strongly encouraged to take part in the school swimming program at Doug Ellis Swimming pool in weeks 9 and 10 of this term. Please note that this will be an eight-day program. Information, permission and payment for the swimming program is now available on the Compass parent portal.

Working Bee

Tomorrow, after school, we are having a working bee after assembly. We would greatly appreciate any help on the afternoon, with a sausage sizzle at the conclusion of the afternoon. Forms have been sent home. Please let us know if you can make it by returning the form as soon as possible. Thank you!

Webpage to help families and students prepare for a new school year

A new school year is an exciting time for students and families, but it can be a big step – particularly for those starting Prep, secondary school or VCE.

The Department of Education has a webpage with resources and information to help you prepare for the new school year.

During the school holidays, please consider reading through the resources, which include:

· tips to help transition from kinder to Prep, primary to secondary school, and Year 10 to VCE

· what to expect at school

· help with school costs and fees

· health and wellbeing guidance to support children’s mental health. Please refer to A new year of learning | vic.gov.au.

Free public transport

From 1 January 2026, people aged under 18 can travel free on all Victorian public transport services using a new youth myki card. This includes trams, trains, buses and coach services.

To access free travel, they must tap the myki card on and off each time they travel. For areas that do not use myki cards, they must show their myki card to travel free.

More information about the youth myki card will be available later in Term 4, 2025 – refer to the myki types webpage on the Transport Victoria website. myki types - Transport Victoria

For more information about other travel options to school, and support for eligible students, refer to the Travelling to school webpage on the Victorian Government website. Travelling to school | vic.gov.au

Craft sand contamination update

You may be aware of a recent alert about craft sand products that may contain asbestos. For current information about the recall, including a list of products, visit the ACCC website Safe disposal and health information for consumers with recalled sand products | ACCC Product Safety

At our school, we are taking the steps set out by the Department of Education to collect and dispose of the products. Current advice from national and Victorian health authorities is that there is a low risk to human health from these products. Educational Colours - Rainbow Sand (1.3kg), Creatistics - Coloured Sand (1kg) and Kadink - Coloured Decorative Sand (1.3kg) | ACCC Product Safety

If you have the product at home, however, the advice from the health authorities is that you should stop using it and follow the safety advice published here: Safe disposal and health information for consumers with recalled sand products. Safe disposal and health information for consumers with recalled sand products | ACCC Product Safety

Free Dress Birthdays

Some students find it difficult to come to school on their birthdays, however, we want them to be here and enjoy the day with their classmates. From now on, at Albany Rise PS, a child can come to school in free dress on their birthday! It makes the day special for them (and we can easily tell who is having a birthday and celebrate with them!)

Enrol Now for Foundation 2026!

If you have a child starting Foundation, we still have limited places available. Please contact the office for more information. As we have commenced our transition to school program, please ensure any new students are enrolled as soon as possible so they don’t miss out.

Planning for 2026 – Are you leaving ARPS?

We ask that you let us know if you are moving or have enrolled to another school in 2026. We require this information as soon as possible to establish classroom structures for the start of the new school year. If your child is currently in F-5 and will not be at ARPS in 2026, please notify the school office or email as soon as possible.

Sport (or other activity) achievement of the week

If your child has received an award for their preferred activity outside of school (eg. sport, dancing, karate, etc.) please let us know and we would love to celebrate their achievements in our newsletter. Please send some information and a photo to our school office on albany.rise.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Thank you!

Jane Capon

Wishing Tree