Principal Team's Report

Welcome back to the Springs!

It's wonderful to see everyone back at school after our holiday break. We've all settled beautifully back in our classrooms and jumped straight back into our learning without skipping a beat! 

Our focus at the moment is on setting up good routines to support our learning throughout the year. This includes the way we enter the classroom, transition between learning sessions, move around the school and pack up our learning materials. This focus has made a huge difference to the amount of time we actually get to spend on learning and I congratulate all students on the exemplary manner in which they've started the year. 

As always, it's a massive year coming up at the Springs. We've got camps, excursions, events and so much more ahead of us - and that's not even mentioning the amazing learning programs our teachers have planned!

Meet the Teacher / Meet the Family Afternoon

We're looking forward to seeing all of our families after school next Monday for our very first community event of the year! Families are invited into our classrooms at 3:30 on Monday 17th February, then are welcome to come over to the basketball court to join us for a sausage sizzle and fun games. See you there!

SunSmart at PSPS

A reminder that hats are non-negotiable at Pakenham Springs during Terms 1 and 4. This includes on rainy and overcast days. Please ensure your child has a navy broad-brimmed or legionnaire-style hat to wear when playing and learning outside.

Where to get information at PSPS

The first point of call for information at Pakenham Springs is always Compass and your child's class teacher. Please think about the tone and language you use when clarifying issues or concerns - we are all here for the same reason - to get the best possible outcome for all students!

If you believe that your concern has not been dealt with thoroughly, after speaking to the classroom teacher, please contact the office to make an appointment with one of our Assistant Principals or Leading Teacher. If required, the Assistant Principals or Leading Teacher may refer a concern to the Principal to deal with.

School Council 2025

I would like to take the opportunity to thank our hard-working School Council for their service to Pakenham Springs and recognise those who may not be seeking re-election.

Nominations for the Pakenham Springs Primary School Council are now open - we have 4 Parent Member positions available, and 2 Staff Member positions available. This is a wonderful opportunity to be a partner in the running and governance of our school. We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, onsite in Terms 1 and 4 and via WebEx in Terms 2 and 3.

Nomination forms can be collected from the office and must be returned by 4 pm Wednesday 19th February 2025.

If a ballot is required, this will run from Tuesday 18th February until Tuesday 4th March, with results announced on Wednesday 5th March 2025. 

Safety Reminder - coming to and from school

Please, please, please have a chat with your child/ren about travelling safely to school! The number of near-misses that are reported to us, where students have walked or run straight out in front of cars, is truly frightening. 

It is a school rule that bikes and scooters are walked within the school yard, and also on the paths adjacent to the school. Until a child crosses a road (Henry Rd, Heritage BLVD or Livingstone BLVD), or is up to the community oval, they should be walking their bike/scooter. 

No child should be riding a bike or a scooter without a properly fitted, Australian Safety Standard-approved helmet on their head. Again, please have a chat with your child/ren about this - a helmet on their handlebars does not have the same protective effect!

Canteen Update

In 2025, we say farewell to Jude Fina Foods as our Canteen operator, and welcome BOCCA Foods as our new service provider.  Please see the canteen menu and online ordering information later on in this newsletter. 

Supervision before school

Students are not to arrive at school until 8:30 am on school mornings.  Staff do not begin their workday until this time, and there is insufficient supervision available in the mornings.  Any student arriving before 8:30am will be asked to sit at the office and wait. We ask for your support in this matter.  Likewise, under no circumstances are students allowed to leave the school grounds in the morning and go across to the shops.  Not only is this incredibly unsafe, with them crossing the busy Heritage BLVD road unsupervised, but a small number of students are also coming back having purchased items inappropriate for the school day.  

Please contact OSHClub if you need to organise care and supervision for your child/ren outside of 8:30 am - 3:30 pm.

Have a wonderful fortnight,

The PSPS Leadership Team