Principal's Report

150 Year Celebration 

Our 150 Year Celebration is nearly here and the planning is well underway. As with any event, we need volunteers to assist on the day. If you have a spare hour on Sunday September 14 between 10am-2pm your help would be greatly appreciated. 

• To sign up click on the link https://signup.com/go/JfNWrez

Throughout the day we will have various events happening, including tours of the Senior School, Devonshire tea, food trucks, bands and choirs, plus activities for the children. 

I think the highlight of the day for many of our former students will be the photo and memorabilia display in the PAC. Throughout the years we have collected an extensive collection of photos. Our aides have done a magnificent job of mounting them and they will be displayed in the decades. Unfortunately, the older photos do not have names on them so we are not able to identify specific students, however I am sure many of our former students will be able to find some photos of themselves. 

Another highlight will be the film that two of our staff, Claudia Caputo and Jeremy Murphy, are putting together. They have been interviewing some of our former students to gather some of their memories of their time at Preston. They have been able to access a drone to capture some aerial shots of the school and the grounds. Next week they have plans to get all of our current students to form PPS 150 on the oval, to incorporate into their video. 

We often get emails from former students who write about some of their memories of their time at Preston. Recently I received an email from Peter Bertram a former student from the 1970s. The account below is of his final year at Preston PS.  Peter has a great memory of his time at Preston. 

Grade 6 teacher – Miss Reid

Jimmy Miles was back with me in this class. We sat together all year.

I remember the class going to the teacher’s staff room one day to be shown have to make yogurt. How fun it was.

I remember us going to the church up a couple of streets along Tyler St, towards Plenty Rd, to practise for end of year ‘Graduation’ evening. Practice dancing, practice singing, practice where to walk & where to move for each section of the evening’s ‘entertainment’.

‘Graduation’ evening was at Preston Town Hall. There was a guest speaker from the Education Dept. Mr Roscholler. Grade 6 students all received a ‘Graduation’ certificate. We did about 3-4 dances and songs as a group. We had put in a lot of practice.

The girl I most liked in Grade 6 was Kristina, a tall girl who was really nice and friendly. But I wasn’t the tallest boy in Grade 6. Jeff McAlley was so they were partners at graduation. My partner was Christine Zigomanis, just to confuse everyone. 

I was a member of the school football and cricket teams.

The cricket team played ½ the season in Term 1. We were a good team. I was vice captain and a good batsman. We were going along ok until the break.

Terms 2 and 3 were the footy season. I didn’t play footy for any weekend team but I was a reasonably good footballer considering I didn’t play elsewhere, and we had some good battles with other schools.

Before PPS, I was a student at Preston East Primary School, and I always looked forward to playing against them. And trying to put in an ‘extra’ effort to beat them.

For some reason I remember playing against Wales St PS, and their ground was always a bogheap. Always!

Term 4 – back to cricket. My skills had deteriorated terribly but I still got to play in the team. We won our area, and next had to play zone. We played against Rosanna Golf Links, who’s cricket coach was Robert Walls. I came in down the end of the batting lineup with us needing 4 to win in the last over. I went out first ball for a golden duck. Two more batsman after me did nothing. I think we lost by 2 runs. Two lousy runs. I’ve never played competitive cricket again.

Athletics. I always made the school athletics teams. Grade 6 as part of the 4 X 100 relay team, we won zone, and next we represented our region against other regions, running at the old Olympic Park, near where AAMI Park is now. We didn’t win at this level. This was the only time I remember going to that next level. The day we were at Regionals, a youngish Robbie Flower was in the crowd near the fence. Probably employed as Melbourne Footy Club Promotions Officer.

The running relay team that day included myself, Robert Vangelista and Bruce Watts (who also qualified to run with the Grade 5 students). I can’t remember the 4th member.

I also won our area in High Jump but couldn’t go to the next level. Running was definitely my thing.

Our last day of school I cannot remember. I don’t think we made such a big deal as they do these days. Oh great, school’s finished. It’s summer. I’m gone.

150 Year Celebration Merchandise 

As part of the celebration, we are selling tea towels which commemorate the 150 years of education at Preston PS. We were very fortunate to have one of our parents, Aron Marchant, design the artwork for the tea towels. Thanks Aron! 

We are also selling pavers which you can put your name on. The pavers will be used to lay a path similar to the one at the front of the Senior School. You can choose to either have your name engraved on the paver or you can create your own design. 

To purchase a tea towel, cup, or a paver you can simply use the Qkr! app.   When we receive your order, the form will be sent home with your child. Once you have completed your drawing/design please return the form as soon as possible - please use the same envelope to return it.  

We will also be selling them on the Sunday if you want to see what they look like prior to purchasing. 

Also available are Fressko stainless steel reusable cups with the Preston Primary School logo on them.

Parent Opinion Survey 

Last week we sent out information to 200 families asking them to complete an Education Department survey. If you received an invitation to take part in the survey and haven’t done it, please be aware that it closes on Friday September 19. 

Hats 

With Spring fast approaching the sun is out and with that comes the requirement to wear a hat. 

The sun protection measures listed in our Sunsmart Policy state that all students and staff should wear a hat when the UV rating is 3 and above from 1 September to 30 April.

Students must wear a royal blue school hat. Parents can buy a bucket hat from the school Uniform Shop – order on the Compass app; however, the children can also wear a broadbrimmed (royal blue) hat.

Students are not permitted to wear a baseball style hat.

Parents, please make sure your child has a clearly named hat in their bag at all times from September 1st. Students who do not have a hat will be restricted to playing in an undercover area.

If your child needs a new hat, you can order one on Compass. 

Regards 

Janet Paterson,

Principal.