From the Principal
What a wonderful and action-packed Term 3 we have had at Athol Road Primary School!
As we come to the end of another busy term, I have been reflecting on just how many wonderful opportunities our students have had to learn, participate, perform, compete, create and connect. From our Commonwealth Games Sports Day and PJ Day, to Book Week, Foundation 100 Days and so many other events and programs, there has certainly never been a dull moment!
We are very fortunate at Athol Road to provide our students with such a diverse range of experiences that cater for different interests, talents and passions. These opportunities are an important part of school life and contribute so much to our students' confidence, sense of belonging and enjoyment of learning.
Our Annual School Concert
A very special highlight of Term 3 was our Annual School Concert last Friday. It was wonderful to see our school hall filled with such a supportive and enthusiastic audience. We hope you all enjoyed watching our students sing, dance and shine on stage!
The feedback I have received so far has been extremely positive. Many families have commented favourably on the new timing of the concert at the end of Term 3 rather than Term 4, the afternoon timeslot rather than an evening performance, and the wonderful variety of singing and dancing acts. The smooth flow of the performances and the scheduled program also received some very positive feedback.
Of course, we would love to hear from everyone. If you have any feedback about this year's School Concert, please email the school at athol.road.ps@education.vic.gov.au. All feedback is welcome and will help us as we plan future concerts.
A huge thank you to Ms Brewer and all of our staff who worked incredibly hard behind the scenes to organise, rehearse and prepare the concert. Their commitment ensured that every student had the opportunity to be involved and experience the excitement of performing on stage.
Providing children with opportunities to perform in front of a live audience is so valuable. It helps students build confidence, develop teamwork and resilience, overcome nerves and celebrate their achievements with the people who matter most to them. Seeing the pride on our students' faces as they performed was a wonderful reminder of why these experiences are so important.
Turn to Page 6 of this newsletter for some wonderful highlights and photos from the concert. I am sure you will enjoy looking back at what was a very special afternoon!
So Much Happening at Athol Road!
In this newsletter you will read about the many programs and events that have taken place, over the last fortnight. We have celebrated Father's Day, participated in Division Athletics, enjoyed Debating, visited Melbourne Skyfarm and much, much more. And that is just what has happened in the last two weeks!
We certainly are a busy bunch here at Athol Road! We are very lucky to have so many opportunities available to our students and to have a school community that embraces and supports these experiences.
Year 5/6 Market Day
Today we held another very exciting event — our Year 5/6 Market Day, and it was our most successful Market Day ever!
Our Year 5/6 students raised an amazing $1,675 through their market stalls. There was an incredible variety of products on offer, including home-baked cookies, popcorn, juices, milkshakes, sweets and treats, as well as a wonderful range of handmade products such as bracelets, squishies, slime, origami and all sorts of creative little treasures.
The students also created their own games and competition section, just like you would find at a carnival. It was fantastic to see their creativity, enthusiasm, organisation and entrepreneurial skills on display.
A huge thank you to our Year 5/6 team for supporting the students to plan and develop their businesses and for helping make the day such a success. Most importantly, congratulations to our students! You should be very proud of your creativity, initiative, teamwork and entrepreneurial spirit.
Foundation Letter Dress-Up Day
Today was also a very special day for our Foundation students as they celebrated Letter Dress-Up Day!
We had students dressed in all sorts of wonderful costumes representing different letters of the alphabet. I saw F for Fairy, P for Police Officer, P for Pirate, P for Pineapple, D for Dinosaur, G for Grapes, S for Spider and many more!
The students also had the opportunity to make cookies in the shape of the first letter of their name and celebrate all things alphabet. There was certainly lots of excitement, creativity and enthusiasm throughout the day.
Well done to our Foundation team and students for making it such a fun and memorable celebration of learning!
Parent Group
I would also like to take a moment to say a very special thank you to Mei, Dana and our Parent Group for the warmth, friendship and hospitality they provide at our weekly Parent Group meetings.
Yesterday's gathering included a wonderful buffet with so many delicious foods on display that I couldn't decide what to try first! I particularly enjoyed the Vietnamese noodles and the Burmese salad. See Page 10 of this newsletter for more information about Parent Group. And remember — everyone is welcome! You can come along every week, once a term, once a year or whenever it suits you. You decide!
Parent Group meets every Wednesday at 2.00pm in the Early Learning Centre/Breakfast Club Room. We would love to see you there next term!
Have a Wonderful Holiday
Reminder: tomorrow is the last day of Term 3, with students finishing at 2.30pm.
I would like to wish all of our students, families and staff a wonderful and well-deserved two-week holiday break. I hope everyone has the opportunity to relax, recharge and enjoy some quality time together.
Thank you to our entire ARPS Community for another fantastic term. I am incredibly proud of all that our students have achieved and grateful to our wonderful staff and families who continue to support and contribute to our school.
Enjoy the holidays, stay safe and have fun!
We look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 4 on Monday 5 October.
Have a wonderful holiday break!
Aussie of the Month
Congratulations to the August Aussie of the Month: Bethel in Year 5. Well done Bethel!!
The Key Values of Aussie of the Month are:
Fair go: not just how we apply ourselves but also in providing opportunity for all
Mateship: a generosity of spirit and compassion for those in need
Respect: of self, of others, our community, and the environment
Inclusion: acceptance and respect of difference
Carmel Nigro
Principal