Principal's Message 

Principal Message

A Fantastic Week at Yarra Road Primary School

What an amazing week it has been at Yarra Road Primary School! We are so proud of our students for their hard work, enthusiasm, and achievements. A special mention to all the students who participated in the District and Division Swimming events—your dedication and effort were outstanding. Representing our school with such determination and sportsmanship is an achievement in itself, and we couldn’t be prouder of you. Well done to all!

Join Us for Our Working Bee – March 16th!

We’d love for you to join us on Sunday, 16th March, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM for a Working Bee to refresh our much-loved Frog Bog and Prep Discovery Area. These spaces provide wonderful opportunities for our students to explore, learn, and connect with nature, and with a little care, we can make them even better!

This is a great chance to come together as a school community, meet other families, and enjoy a morning of teamwork and fresh air. No special skills are needed—just a willingness to pitch in! If you have any gardening tools, gloves, or wheelbarrows, feel free to bring them along.

Children are welcome to attend under parent supervision, and we encourage everyone to come and be part of this rewarding project. Whether you can stay for half an hour or the full morning, every bit of help makes a difference.

Please join by clicking on the button below and signing up. 

We truly appreciate your support and look forward to a fun and productive morning together!

School Council AGM – Tuesday, 11th at 7:30 PM

A reminder that our School Council Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on-site on Tuesday, 11th at 7:30 PM. This meeting is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past year, set priorities for the future, and elect office bearers for the year ahead.

Our School Council plays a vital role in shaping the direction of our school, ensuring it remains a supportive, inclusive, and high-quality learning environment for all students. Their work includes overseeing policies, supporting school initiatives, and contributing to long-term planning.

Thank you to our dedicated council members for your ongoing commitment to our school community—we appreciate the time and effort you give to making our school the best it can be.

Volunteering at Yarra Road Primary School

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have expressed interest in volunteering at our school. Your generosity, time, and willingness to be involved in our school community make a real difference in the lives of our students.

Volunteers play a vital role in creating a supportive and enriching learning environment, and we truly value the contributions you make. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, the Department of Education requires all volunteers to complete an induction and Child Safe training, as well as hold a valid Working with Children Check.

Please click the button below to complete the required training. At the end of the training, you will find instructions on how to register your training, which is an essential step in becoming a volunteer at our school.

Online Training

Applying for a Working With Children’s Check

Thank you once again for your support and for being such an important part of our school community. We look forward to welcoming you as a volunteer!

Parent Association

I would like to thank our Parent Association that met last night for our AGM. I am pleased to say that the meeting was well attended with all roles being filled and many new activities being planned and underway, such as our Easter raffle. Thank you again to all parents that attended. If you didn’t have an opportunity to attend the meeting but would like to join the PA, please let the office know. We have many opportunities to assist both big and small.

As part of our Parent Association (PA), we would love to help parents stay connected with other parents from the same year level/group. If you would like to participate, please complete the form below, it will allow you to easily reach out to other parents for support, playdates, or just to stay in touch throughout the year.

Parent Communication Form

Should you need any assistance with this form, please contact the office.

Expressions of Interest – 2025 Science Talent Search

We are seeking expressions of interest from students who would like to participate in the 2025 Science Talent Search! 

This exciting competition provides students with the opportunity to explore scientific concepts, conduct investigations, and showcase their creativity through various project categories, including experimental research, inventions, creative writing, and multimedia.

Open to students of all year levels, the Science Talent Search encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and a passion for discovery. If your child is interested in taking part, please register your expression of interest by Monday 17th March 2025 by contacting yarra.road.ps@education.vic.gov.au or speaking either to Rachel Baum (STEAM teacher) or Karen Butler (Principal).

We look forward to seeing our young scientists in action!

School Photo Day

A reminder that our School Photo Day is this upcoming Tuesday (11th of March). 

If you have not sent in your photo forms, either for individual or sibling photos, please send them in tomorrow (Friday, 7th of March) or on Tuesday. 

If you require a new individual or sibling photo form, please come to the Office to pick up a new copy. 

NAPLAN Reminder

Students in Year 3 and Year 5 will complete NAPLAN testing over the next two weeks. Families were sent an email with detailed information last week. 

Our Year 3 students’ test schedule is:

• Wednesday 12th March - Writing

• Thursday 13th March - Reading

• Monday 17th March - Conventions of Language

• Tuesday 18th March - Numeracy

• Wednesday 19th March - Catch Up Session

Our Year 5 students’ test schedule is: 

• Wednesday 12th March - Writing

• Thursday 13th March - Reading

• Monday 17th March - Conventions of Language

• Wednesday 19th March - Numeracy 

• Thursday 20th March - Catch Up Session

If you have any questions regarding NAPLAN testing, please contact your child’s teacher.

House Colour Day

On Monday, 24th March we are having a House Colour Day. This is an initiative from our school captains. 

Students are to wear the colour of their sport’s house - Turner: red, Power: yellow, Gatter: green, Wilson: blue.

They can wear black shorts/skirt with their PE top, or a T-shirt the colour of their house or a white top and add the colour with streamers or ribbons. Some students wear a tutu the colour of their house.

It will be a very colourful Assembly. This will be followed by a quick house meeting run by the captains.

This is also our School Photo catch up day. If your child was not at school on our actual School Photo day (11th March), there will be an opportunity for them to have their photos taken. If you would like to send along their school uniform, we will make sure they have time to change.

District & Division Swimming Accomplishments

Last Friday, 13 talented swimmers from Yarra Road Primary School represented our school at the District Swimming Carnival, competing in both individual and relay events. Our swimmers showcased their dedication and teamwork across a range of disciplines, including backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle.

For many of our swimmers, this was their first experience competing at such a high level. Despite the nerves and excitement, every single one of them gave their personal best performances, showing incredible determination, persistence, and sportsmanship. Whether they were racing for the first time or fine-tuning their skills, each swimmer pushed themselves to achieve new personal milestones.

After an exciting day of competition, 11 of our swimmers progressed to the Division Swimming Competition, marking another huge achievement for Yarra Road Primary. The Division event saw our swimmers continue to demonstrate their determination, and although the competition was tough, they gave their all and achieved some amazing results.

We are so proud of our swimmers for their efforts and accomplishments. Congratulations to all involved, and thank you to the students, parents, and teachers who helped make this event possible.

Students who particiapted will receive recognition certificates at our next school assembly on Monday the 10th of March. 

Here's to many more swimming successes in the future.

Camps, Sports and Excursions Funding (CSEF)

Applications are now open for CSEF. If you hold a current Health Care Card, you are eligible to apply for $150.00 funding per child. 

To find out more and apply, please click on the button below. Alternatively, we have hard copies of the application in the office. We will need to view a copy of your Health Care Card when you hand your application into the office. 

Annual Privacy Reminder

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. 

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Microsoft 365/Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.

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

• Amharic

• Arabic

• Chinese

• Dari

• Gujarati

• Mandarin

• Somali

• Sudanese

• Turkish

• Urdu

• Vietnamese