Principal's Report

Principal Report

Congratulations and Many Thanks to everyone!

This year has been another positive and highly productive year at Albany Rise Primary School. We have seen the ongoing positive engagement of all our families, through a range of school activities and special events, such as our Fun Fiesta, Working Bees, Carols, Trivia Night, Bingo Night, walk-a-thon, daily classroom support, Breakfast club and so much more. 

After another busy year, I would like to thank the large number of people who continue to contribute so positively to our wonderful, caring school community. Thank you to the Parents’ Association and families across the school who have organised and supported many outstanding school events for students and the community, whilst also raising valuable funds for the school. Thank you to all our School Councillors who actively contribute to the governance of the school and support our drive for ongoing high standards of education and student performance. 

A sincere thank you is extended to the dedicated and hardworking staff who have contributed to the success of Albany Rise Primary School in 2024. Your professionalism, diligence and the high level of care shown to all of our students is hugely valued and regularly recognised .We are particularly pleased with the improvements in academic outcomes and wellbeing for our students in 2024, as shown though student survey data and national assessment data.

To all those who support our school, the school community wish to thank you for all your contributions throughout this year. With your support, our school continues to be an extremely busy, positive and dynamic learning environment.

Graduation Celebration

Our Year 6 students took part in their Primary School Graduation ceremony on Wednesday night, with staff, parents and community members taking part in the proceedings. As per our Albany Rise custom, our guest speakers included past school captains, who talked about their experiences moving into secondary school and on from Albany Rise. Our current captains and vice-captains spoke eloquently about their experiences throughout their time with us and their gratitude for all the support our school community has offered them during their time here.

It was a lovely evening of celebration, a few tears, and a huge amount of pride in the achievements and efforts of our students, their families and all of the staff who have helped our graduates along the way.

The year 6 students will be enjoying one final ‘day out’ on today when they have a day of fun and celebration at the beach. A particular thanks is extended to the staff and parents who planned and facilitated the night and upcoming final activities. The ideas, efforts and time spent by this team of helpers ensured the Year 6 graduation was a lovely evening to complete the students’ official final days of primary school.

Congratulations to the following graduating students who received special awards and recognition on Wednesday evening:

Community Spirit and Leadership Award from Ms Claire O’Neil- Isabella Lewis

Neighbourhood Watch Citizenship Awards presented by Bob Johnson - Luke Padfield & Uditi Jain

Eden Foster Achieving Your Best Award - Alyssa Muller

Mount Waverley Rotary Award - Dwij Mehta

3 Rs school values award: Respect -Aaron Sikka, 

Responsibility -  Hana ElKhub, 

Resilience -  Chi Luong

Sporting Award- medallion - Louise Jiang

Arts Award- medallion - Taylor Pham 

Academic Award – medallion - Tam Nguyen

Student Semester 2 Reports and Transition

On Monday this week, students had an opportunity to spend time with their 2025 teachers in class groups for next year. I wish to thank all the families who took time to ensure any requests for student class placements based on educational needs, were provided before the final date to do so in October. Staff have spent many hours ensuring all requests were considered, as well as a range of other important factors, such as; dynamics, friendships, siblings, gender balance, special needs, etc. Our class sizes and structure (as noted in previous newsletters) is very stable for 2025.

Our Semester 2 Student Reports are now ‘live’ on Compass (from Monday, 16th December). Please take time to read though your child’s report and discuss with them their achievements, their attitudes towards their learning and the future learning goals.

Many thanks to the teaching staff that spend many weeks preparing and producing these reports.

Staffing & Class Structure 2025 – REPEAT

Staff Farewells and Celebrations

Last week we said farewell to some staff members who are taking leave in 2025.

Ms Megan Adaway will be taking time to enjoy the arrival of her new baby boy. We hope to see her back at ARPS in 2026.

Miss Celia Kelsall will be taking the 2025 year away from schools to travel and explore the world.

Mr Blake Ewald will be exploring opportunities at another school in 2025. We will congratulate Mr Ewald at assembly this week, as he was busy meeting his new class for 2025 on Friday last week when other staff were fare welled.

Mr Peel is taking a year (or more??) away from teaching to travel and consider his plans for the future. We took the opportunity last week to celebrate Mr Peel’s 35 years of service to education, with many years of that time at Albany Rise (including as a PE teacher for some of our current parents and staff!)

We wish all our leaving staff the very best for 2025.

Awards and Celebrations

Last week at assembly we congratulated many students, classes and teams on various awards won in 2024. Here are just a few:

Breakfast Club leaders and helpers in 2024. What a great job they have done again this year!

2024 Cross Country House Competition was won by FRASER. 

Our 2024 Talent Quest Winners: Siheli and Nuthara 

Mathletics Annual class award for the most number of certificates for the whole year- 34C

Mathletics top 3 ‘points scorers’ in Year 3-6 for 2024.

Mathletics top 3 ‘points scorers’ in Year F-2 for 2024.

Jolly Joggers class with the most ‘laps of the oval’ for the whole 2024 year: 56A

House Sheild Annual Award for the House with the most House points awarded for the whole 2024 year: Bradman house

Teachers Verses Student Annual Competition

It was a thrilling game of Volleyball this year (on Tuesday), with the Year 6 students eager to ‘thrash’ the teachers, after all the students have been practicing for months.

At one point in the match the teachers were well ahead. Then the students came back and were a few points ahead.

But the match was finally won by the teachers in a fiercely competitive Volleyball game.

Well done to everyone involved. The shield will be presented on Friday during assembly.

Swimming

Our students have enjoyed a highly valuable and enjoyable swimming program over the past 2 weeks, with staff and pool instructors ensuring students obtain the best possible learning from the program. Plans for 2025 swimming program are already underway and (as per this year) information about the swimming program will be available for parents early next year. 

Parent Contributions and Booklists 2025

A reminder, Parent Payments to Ross Office for 2025 are due on 11th December. 

Some parents have been asking if the recent access to the School Saving Bonus can be used for Stationary supplies. Unfortunately, the School Saving Bonus does not cover the cost of student stationary (such as pencils, scissors, writing books, scrap books, etc).

Ordering Student Book Pack and Payment Method: 

In 2025, all stationery packs and voluntary contributions will be purchased by families online. Order your Student Booklist Pack and pay your financial contributions at https://booklist.officebrands.com.au/Croydon  

Facilities and Minor works – FINAL UPDATE- Holiday works

Students have been thoroughly enjoying the upgrades and repairs to our Year 5-6 

Last week our community was informed of the timeline for Asphalt upgrade works will which be commencing during the holidays. Initial building compounds are due to be erected on the school site on 19th & 20th December. The contractors are aiming to have all of the works completed by the start of next school year.

Also, over the holidays, upgrades are occurring to the ARC building toilet block (junior students). Again, the contractors are confident the works will be completed ready for the junior students to use the refurbished toilets by the start of Term 1, 2025.

Additionally, upgrades to lighting will be occurring in the ARC and in classrooms across the school during the holiday period. This will be completed before the students return next year.

Finally, new posts and shade sails are being installed over the Year F-2 and 3-4 activity playgrounds early in Term 1. They will be a slightly different size but almost the same colours as our current shade sail configuration- replacing the current storm damaged shade sails in this area.

It certainly will be lovely to have all these facilities in place for the start of the new school year in 2025.

The Staff at Albany Rise Primary School wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas!

See you all in 2025

***Last Day of Term****

Reminder: Please note arrangements for the last day of term, Friday 20th December. Students will be dismissed at 1.30 pm following a final whole-school assembly that commences at 12.45 pm. Parents are invited to attend the assembly on this day. Students are asked to bring just their lunch due to the 1.30 finish, and please note there are no lunch orders on this day. Students may not need to bring school bags on the last day as almost everything will have been sent home by Thursday 19th December

Our final assembly will be held on will farewell the graduating class of 2024 and announce the 2025 School Captains and House Captains. As per our ARPS custom, students will form a guard of honour on the oval at the end of assembly to celebrate the final day with our Year 6 students. We encourage all families to take part.

School finishes at 1.30pm on Friday 20th December. Students must be collected by parents and guardians by 1.45pm. Teachers will be on Yard Duty until 1.45pm. Please be aware that Camp Australia will be offering their program from 1:30pm on December 20th, so if you are unable to collect your child at 1:30pm, please contact Camp Australia to make an afterschool care booking.

Judy Drew

Principal