From the Principal

Welcome to the 2026 school year. We are excited to be back and looking forward to a wonderful year ahead. A warm welcome back to our existing families, and a very special welcome to our 2026 Foundation students and new families joining Parkdale Primary School.

There is a lot of important information in this newsletter, please make the time to read through the newsletter.

All grades have been participating in "Learning How to Learn" which ensures consistency and highlights our expectations and values for the children at PPS. Our priorities for 2026 will continue to be in the areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Wellbeing. We trialed four common school rules across F-6 and specialists last year and we will continue with these this year. These link to our Super 6 values and will ensure consistency and expectations across the school.

Each fortnight on Friday the school publishes our newsletter online (www.parkdaleps.vic.edu.au) and via COMPASS. Please ensure you access the website or COMPASS to read the newsletter as it contains valuable information, reminders and dates.

IMPORTANT: COMPASS

The Compass Parent Portal is an integrated, online portal that allows you to access information about our school. Compass includes many different features, including the ability to:

Monitor your child’s attendance, and enter an explanation for absence, lateness/leaving early, holidays
View school calendar
Access the newsletter
Book Parent/Teacher conferences and Meet and Greet

It is important we have up to date information with your correct email address and current family circumstances (each parent at an alternative address will need to provide separate details).

School insurance – Personal accident and personal property

The Department (which includes our school) does not have personal accident insurance for students.

If a student is injured at school or while participating in a school activity (including offsite) and requires medical treatment, parents/carers are responsible for all of their child’s medical expenses. This includes transport costs such as ambulance costs (which may include an air ambulance if considered necessary).

The Department (which includes our school) does not have personal property insurance for staff and/or students.

Items of personal property that are lost, stolen or damaged at school or during school excursions are not the responsibility of Parkdale Primary school or the Department. Staff and students are reminded not to bring items of value to school or on school excursions.

Parkdale Primary School encourages parents/carers to consider obtaining their own accident insurance for students and property of value that may be brought to school.

Notifying parents of an unexplained student absence

All schools are required to contact parents/guardians as soon as practicable when student absence is unexplained. To assist with this process, we require parents to notify the school in the morning (before 9am) if your child is absent. All absences need to be entered on Compass with a reason for the absence. If you are experiencing any difficulties with Compass, please contact the school.

Parent Contacts

It is vital we have up to date phone numbers for families. In emergency situations and if your child is sick, it is crucial we can contact you easily. If you have changed your phone number or emergency contacts, please contact the office and update these.

Collecting your Child Early / Arriving Late

If you are collecting your child early, they need to be signed out at the office before they are collected from the classroom. If your child arrives after 9:00am you will need to go via the office and sign your child in.

Before & After school Arrival Times

Teachers are officially on duty for 10 minutes prior to the commencement of the school day and 10 minutes after the conclusion of the school day. Consequently, the following apply:

· School commences at 9:00am

· No student should be dropped off before 8.50 am as there is no supervision.

School finishes at 3.30 pm. If the student is not collected, they will be taken to the After School Care and families will be charged accordingly.

A reminder that OHSC & external sports have access to the school grounds before and after school. Students and parents should not be on school grounds before 8:50am when the bell will ring, and we ask that parents leave the school grounds by 3:40pm.

Pick Up and Drop Off Zone at the front and back of the school: Kiss & Go

It is very important that parents do not park for long periods in the kiss & go zones at the front and back of the school for the safety of the children. These areas are designated for quick drop off or pick up of children. Parents are reminded that they are not allowed to park in these designated areas and leave their car, and must not remain there for more than 2 minutes. We also ask parents to be considerate of our neighbours and not park over their driveways.

NO Parking in the School Grounds

For safety reasons: Parents and/or Grandparents are NOT permitted to park in the school grounds. This includes the staff car park and in the driveway at the back of the school. The children’s safety is of the utmost concern. We realise it can become very congested around the school at pick up and drop off times, however parking in the school grounds is not an option.

Teacher Email and Communication

Teachers will be sending home year level information very shortly; this will include a year level information book, and the teachers’ email address. Please note if the matter is urgent, please send a call the school. Email is a great form of communication, but teachers do not always have time to check their email during the day, or the email system may not be accessible.

In line with the right to disconnect legislation employees have the right to refuse to monitor, read, listen to or respond to contact that occurs outside their working hours from their employer or a third party (such as a student or a parent), unless that refusal is unreasonable.

We ask that you allow us 2 – 3 working days to provide you with a detailed response to general queries. We will endeavour to respond to urgent matters within 24 hours where possible.

If your child needs to be sent to after school care or other arrangements have been made, please contact the office rather than emailing.

Making Appointments with Teachers

We encourage parents to communicate with us when the need arises. For quick information sharing, a brief unscheduled chat is fine. If more time is needed, we recommend that you schedule a longer appointment time so we can address your concerns adequately.

School Council and PPA

School council and PPA play a vital role at Parkdale Primary School. We encourage parents to become actively involved in these committees. These committees operate best when we have a full membership. I encourage anyone who is interested to please nominate for school council or to join PPA. If you are interested but need to know more information, please contact me. We welcome new faces as well as current members. Information about the upcoming School Council Elections is attached to this newsletter.

Our next and final school council meeting for the current membership is on Monday 16th February with our AGM and the first meeting of 2026 scheduled for Monday 16th March.

Photos and Social Media

Parents are reminded that you can freely take photos of your own children; however, it is School Policy that photos of other students are not published on social media, without parental permission. This includes photos in the classroom, excursions, camps or at any other school event.

IMPORTANT: Working with Children’s Check

Parents require a Working with Children’s Check if they are attending camp, excursions and volunteering in the school eg: classroom assistance, school events, garden club, etc. Applying for a WWC is done online and is free if you click on the volunteer category.

Please note: Parents need to have a WWC card before they can volunteer in the school. http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

2026 School Contributions/Parent Payment Arrangements

The contributions are important in enabling us to provide the best learning environment for the children at Parkdale Primary school. The Parkdale Primary School Council is extremely appreciative of the generosity of parents who can support the school through the payment of the voluntary contributions. Payment is via COMPASS pay. Please note: If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact Helen to discuss a payment plan.

We thank the families who have contributed as your support is greatly appreciated and ensures we sustain and improve the learning environment for the children at PPS.

Medical Conditions

If your child has any medical condition, it is vital to let the class teacher know at the start of every year. Although hand overs are done from teacher to teacher it is important teachers receive this information first-hand. If your child has an ASCIA (anaphylaxis), Diabetes or asthma plan these need to be provided to the school as well as their asthma inhaler, diabetes kit and/or EpiPen/antihistamine which should be clearly labelled and within date.

ANAPHYLAXIS REMINDER

In line with our school's policy on Anaphylaxis, We also ask parents that wherever possible, you do not send peanut butter or other foods e.g. bliss/energy balls, which may be a source of allergen in any form in lunch boxes or snacks.

We are committed to:

providing, as far as practicable, a safe and supportive environment in which students at risk of anaphylaxis can participate equally in all aspects of the student’s schooling.
raising awareness about allergies and anaphylaxis in the school community.
actively involving the parents/carers of each student at risk of anaphylaxis in assessing risks, developing risk minimisation strategies and management strategies for the student.
ensuring that each staff member has adequate knowledge of allergies, anaphylaxis and emergency procedures.

NB: Parents, please ensure the school is aware if your child is anaphylactic. Please ensure the school has your child’s action plan and an up-to-date epi pen ASAP.

Medication

School staff are not able to administer analgesics, such as drugs containing paracetamol or aspirin – this includes paracetamol, ibuprofen and other similar medication available over the counter from a pharmacy. (Analgesics can mask signs and symptoms of serious illness and injury). Department of Education and WorkSafe Victoria guidelines dictate that the dispensing of drugs must be managed by a medical practitioner.

If a student requires prescription medication to be administered at school, please consider first if the medication can be taken outside the school day, for example medication required three times a day may be able to be taken before and after school, and before bed. We advise that a student should not take his or her first dose of a new medication at school as the student should be supervised by the family or health professional in case of an allergic reaction.

Any medication to be administered at school must conform to all of the following requirements and be handed into the school office.

In the original medication bottle or container.
Clearly labelled – including the name of the student, dosage and time to be administered.
Accompanied by a completed Medication Authority Form, which must be signed by a parent/carer.

Head lice

For health and safety reasons and to assist with the control of head lice All children (girls & boys) with hair that touches their collar needs to be tied back.

Bike Shed

All bikes and scooters need to be collected from the bike shed by 3:40pm. The bike shed will be locked at this time. If your child attends After School Care their bike or scooter needs to be removed from the bike shed after school and placed in the bike area near the After School Care building. It is important to know that if you leave your bike or scooter in the shed after hours or over the weekend, unfortunately it is likely to go missing. If you are concerned that your child may forget their bike, perhaps consider the use of a bike lock.

No Riding bikes/ Scooters in Yard

A reminder that children need to wear a helmet to and from school if they are riding their bike, scooter or skateboard. Children need to dismount from their bikes and scooters at the school gate and are not to ride in the school grounds before or after school.

No Dogs in the School Yard

Dogs are not permitted in the school grounds. Dogs must not be left unattended and not tied at the front or back entrances.

OSHC TheirCare

Our school partners with an independent provider called TheirCare to provide exceptional Outside School Hours Care services for our school community. The program is available for all children at Parkdale PS from 7:00am in the morning and from 3:30pm – 6:30pm each school day. During Pupil Free Days the service will operate from 7:00am – 6:30pm.

Families wishing to use this service can visit the TheirCare website to enrol and book: www.theircare.com.au More information can be obtained by contacting the school or TheirCare Support Team on 1300 072 410. Parents need book online to access OSHC.

To secure your child’s spot parents need to book in advance or at the latest the night before. We understand at times parents may need to book on the day however, due to staff ratios it may not always be possible to accommodate children on the day. Parents need to sign their children in and out of OSHC.

Assembly

Assembly is held on a Friday afternoon at 3pm. If assembly is cancelled due to weather a notification will be sent via Compass.

Buildings and Grounds

We had a variety of projects completed over the holiday period:

Gym floor – recoated
Five shade poles replaced
Garden space at the back of the school
Replenish sand in sand pits
Turf maintenance
Annual tree works
General maintenance of school grounds

Garden Area

Thank you to Darren P for transforming the garden area at the back of the school. These works were made possible through the successful grant submission led by Kerry A and have significantly enhanced the space under the trees at the back of the oval. The area is now a welcoming and improved environment for our school community.

School Policies

Community Code of Conduct (Statement of school values and philosophy)

The Code of Conduct sets out our behavioural expectations of all members in the school community. It respects the diversity of individuals in our school community and addresses the shared responsibilities of all members in building a safe and respectful school community.

Policies we would like to draw your attention to, include Child Safe Code of Conduct, Student Dress Code, Schools Privacy, Medication Authority Form, Community code of conduct (statement of school values and philosophy), our commitment to the use of digital technologies, these are also available on the PPS website. A range of policies are available on the school website – under the section "About" – Policies

Child Safe Standards

Parkdale PS is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child. Attached to this newsletter is Child Safety acceptable and unacceptable behaviours. Further information is also available on the school’s website: www.parkdaleps.vic.edu.au.

Our students and their families are important partners in keeping our students safe. We value feedback and ideas on how we can continuously strengthen our child safety framework.

If you have any suggestions, comments or feedback, please contact Parkdale Primary School at parkdale.ps@education.vic.gov.au or by phone on 03 9580 1451.

Mobile Phone Policy – Department of Education

All schools are required to implement the Department mobile phone policy. For the purpose of this policy, “mobile phone” refers to mobile phones and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches.”

Students are encouraged NOT to bring a mobile phone to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so.

Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off, be in a labelled zip lock bag and handed into the office.
All phones will be securely stored at the school office and must be signed in before 9:00am and signed out after 3:30pm.
Exceptions to this policy may be applied if certain conditions are met (eg if required for medical reasons)
When emergencies occur, parents/carers should reach their child by calling the school office. 9580 1451

Mobile phones owned by students at Parkdale Primary School are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the owner’s (student’s or parents/carer’s) risk. Mobile phones brought to school are not covered by the school’s insurance if they are lost, stolen or damaged.

Students are not to use their phones within the school grounds. If students use phones inappropriately parents will be contacted, and students will be unable to bring their phone to school.

Students with Smart Watches – these need to be disabled during school times. As per a mobile phone, students are not to use their smart watches during school times.

Uniform

School council has approved the PPS school uniform policy. Parkdale Primary School has a compulsory uniform policy. A uniform dress code reinforces in students a pride in their own appearance, instils recognition of themselves as an integral part of the school community, and assists in developing pride in representing their school. It promotes equality amongst all students and develops a sense of pride in, and identification with our school. We understand that occasionally children will come to school out of uniform. We ask that if this occurs that the alternative clothing be of a similar colour to the uniform and as plain as possible, eg without popular branding. Attached is the uniform policy – please read through this.

Please ensure all uniform is labelled with your child’s name.

Sports Uniforms

Sports uniforms for Grades 1-6 can be worn on children’s dedicated Phys.Ed day and year level sport day.

Hats

School hats need to be worn until the start of May and be clearly labelled with your child’s name. Children are required to wear their hat outside at recess, lunch and during sport. All children need to have a navy wide brimmed hat. Sports caps are not part of our uniform or sun smart policy. It is also a good idea during the summer months to pack a sunscreen in your child’s bag.

Preventing and Addressing Racism in Schools

This policy supports government schools to strengthen their culture and practice to prevent and address racism, religious intolerance and racial and religious vilification. All Victorian government schools must implement this policy. The policy supports compliance with Victoria’s Child Safe Standards.

In line with Child Safe Standard 1 and Child Safe Standard 5, all Victorian government schools must actively prevent and respond to racism, and report incidents to the department. The policy covers 3 key actions:

preventing racism: schools must maintain culturally safe and inclusive environments
responding to racism: schools must have clear, timely, safe and inclusive processes to respond to incidents of racism
reporting racism: schools must report incidents of racism

The link to this policy is located on the PPS website.

Annual privacy reminder for our school community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ privacy policy and the Schools’ privacy collection notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ privacy policy: information for parents. This information is also available in eleven community languages:

Staffing for 2026.

Foundation, Andy Bentley, Julia Howell, Madeleine Williams, Demi Woodlock, Mel Johnson

Grade 1: Nathan James, Jo Pyke, Jiva Cory, Lauren Martin

Grade 2: Bec Crute, Taylor Glew, Tara Bickham, Alexandra Watkins

Grade 3: Sally Murphy, Jackie Sell, Isabelle Harper, Jaci Lundy/Caroline Whitfield

Grade 4: Michelle Pieters, Sophie Pearce/Ash Muir, Darcy Brown, Megan Rosenbrock/Tobi Webster (Term 1) Perri Davies (T2-4)

Grade 5: Dillon Hendricks, Liam Grimwade, Nicola Watson, Chelsea Brownlie

Grade 6: Ryan Hubbard, Brent Rafferty/Michelle Byrne, Casey Blacklaw, Audrey Ulrich

Specialists: Phys Ed: Cliff Anderson/Emma Wicks, Visual Arts: Tess Arnold/Maddie Holland/Michelle Richard, Wellbeing: Jarrod Sing/ Sophie Pierce (Wednesday), Performing Arts: Michelle Richard/Michelle Mackenzie, Japanese: Mami Sherwood/Michelle Mackenzie

Classroom Support: Lisa Flynn, Briana B

Education Support Staff: Trish McCarthy, Michelle Green, Faye Harris, Elise Zajac, Nada Cevizovic

Admin Staff – Helen Teasdale (Business Manager), Jane Hulley (Administration) and Helen Bradnam (Admin/First Aid), Shelley Keating (Administration/First Aid)

Principal Team - Leanne Bradney, Tracy Richards and Jarrod Bainbridge

Congratulations

Congratulations to Lauren Macafee and Tom who welcomed their first child in January, a little boy Harry.

We are all looking forward to an exciting and productive 2026.

Kind regards

Leanne Bradney