From the Principal

As we enter the final week of May, we also say goodbye to Autumn. We are already halfway through the term; staff are focussing on preparing for mid-year reporting and it’s a great time to reflect on how much the children have grown both academically and socially. We encourage families to ensure children are coming to school with clearly named jumpers and jackets, as the mornings are certainly getting cooler.

Lunch Service – Classroom Cuisine

We are excited to announce the launch of a new lunch service at Parkdale PS, designed to provide families with a convenient and affordable alternative to daily lunch preparation.

Classroom Cuisine is a Melbourne-based company that has been delivering high-quality school lunches for over 16 years. This service aims to alleviate the daily pressures of lunch preparation for parents while offering nutritious meal options for students.

Key Details:

Fridays, beginning 30th May. (NB: There will be no orders for Friday 6th June this is a curriculum day or Friday 4th July this is the last day of term)
Ordering: orders can be placed online up until 8:30am on the day of delivery.
Menu Options: a variety of 2 or 3-course lunch packs.
Delivery: lunches are delivered directly to the school, labelled with your child’s name and class.

Classroom Cuisine offers a diverse menu catering to various dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options. Their kitchen operates as a nut-free environment, ensuring safety for all students.

How to Order:

Visit www.classroomcuisine.com.au

Register as a new user or log in to your existing account.
Select the desired date (Fridays during the trial period).
Choose your preferred lunch pack and complete the payment process. classroomcuisine.com.au
For more information on menu options and pricing, please visit the Classroom Cuisine website.

NB: This is a lunch service; therefore, students will still require fruit/snack as the lunches will be delivered to school after 1:00pm.

A menu was attached to the information sent out via Compass last Friday.

WWCC – Cards Expired

Department of Education requires all volunteers with a Working with Children Check WWCC to complete a Volunteer OHS Induction Checklist. We have several parents whose WWCC cards have expired. Please check your card ASAP and renew As Soon As Possible.

A Volunteer OHS Induction Checklist was sent home to be completed and returned to the office as soon as possible. Please refer to the Volunteer Induction Handbook 2025 to complete the Volunteer OHS Induction Checklist. Located on the Parkdale PS website.

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 WWCC 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

Division Cross Country

Congratulations to the PPS Cross Country team who competed in the Division Cross Country at Cornish on Wednesday. Our students did an outstanding job participating in the run, showing great determination and resilience. Good luck to the seven students (Abi R, Cleo N, Erica C, Eva R, Jordan B, Ed T, Aidan B) progressing through to the Regional Cross Country.

Aerobics

Congratulations to our Aerobics teams who competed on Saturday in Rowville. The Rockin' Robics team placed 2nd in their category and Starburst team placed 1 in their category. Thank you to Miss Ulrich, Miss Watson and Mrs Mackenzie who attended the competition and trained the students.

Illness – Unwell Students

As we enter the cooler months, we are seeing an increase in colds and flu. While we understand the importance of regular school attendance, we kindly ask that if your child is displaying symptoms or feeling unwell, please keep them at home. This helps prevent the spread of illness to other students and staff.

Gastroenteritis reminder: If your child has experienced vomiting or diarrhoea, they must remain at home for at least 48 hours after the last episode before returning to school. This precaution helps keep our school community healthy and safe. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Due to the current high levels of illness affecting many schools, it has been increasingly difficult to secure casual relief staff. As a result, there are times when we have no alternative but to split classes.

Staff Carpark

We kindly remind all families that for the safety of our students and community, the staff carpark is not to be used as a walkway to enter or exit the school grounds.

We understand that the carpark may seem like a convenient shortcut, but with vehicles moving in and out, it poses a significant safety risk – particularly during busy drop-off and pick-up times.

To keep everyone safe:

Please always use the designated pedestrian gates and pathways.
Talk to your children about safe and appropriate entry points to the school.
Avoid walking through the carpark, even if you are accompanying your child.

Our priority is the safety and wellbeing of every student. Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe school environment.

Punctuality: Arriving at School on Time

At PPS, we know that a great day of learning starts with being on time. When students arrive at school before the bell, they set themselves up for a calm, confident, and connected start to the day.

Why is being on time important?

Smooth Start: Arriving before 9:00am allows students to unpack, settle in, and be ready to learn right from the first instruction. Please note access to the school grounds begins at 8.45am.
Stronger Connections: Morning routines are a valuable time for students to connect with their teacher and peers, helping to build a sense of belonging and wellbeing.
Consistent Learning: The first few minutes of the day often include key instructions, morning messages, and introductions to learning tasks. Missing these can make it harder to catch up.

We understand that every family has busy mornings, and sometimes things happen that are out of your control. But arriving just a few minutes earlier each day can make a big difference to your child’s learning, confidence, and success.

Prep/Foundation Enrolments 2026

Enrolments for 2026 are now open for foundation/prep students. To our current families with a child commencing Prep in 2026, please ensure you fill out the enrolment form and return to the office by the due date, 4th July.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Mr Hendricks and his wife on the arrival of their 2nd child. A little girl, Gigi.

Welcome

We warmly welcome Jiva Cory, who will be replacing Steph Strong as she commences family leave in June. Jiva will take over 1S from Tuesday 10th June.

Curriculum Day

A reminder that next Friday 6th June is a pupil free day. If you require the use of TheirCare please book directly through them asap.

Reminder: Monday 9th June is the King’s birthday public holiday.

Kind regards

Leanne Bradney