Principal Team Message

BOOK WEEK PARADE WINNERS 

We are thrilled to congratulate our special winners for their outstanding creativity during the recent Book Week parade! Our students truly brought the magic of books to life with their imaginative costumes, making this event one of the highlights of the year.

A big thank you to our dedicated teachers, along with Emily Ingamells, who had the tough task of nominating the best-dressed students. These talented students were awarded special vouchers to use at the Book Fair, a well-deserved recognition of their hard work and creativity.

In addition, our School Captains also played a key role by selecting students who not only connected beautifully with their characters but also showcased unique and innovative costume designs—many with a little help from their parents.

Congratulations to all the winners! You have made the characters of books come alive in the most endearing way. We are incredibly proud of your efforts and can't wait to see what you come up with next year.

WEAR IT PURPLE DAY 

Last Thursday, Ripponlea Primary School was transformed into a sea of purple as students and staff proudly participated in Wear It Purple Day. This vibrant display was far more than a fashion choice—it was a powerful statement of our commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Wear It Purple Day was established in 2010 in response to a series of tragic events that underscored the urgent need for greater support for young people in the LGBTQIA+ community. Founded by two young Australians, this movement was born out of the belief that every young person deserves to be proud of who they are and to feel safe and supported, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Over the years, Wear It Purple Day has evolved into a nationwide celebration of diversity, acceptance, and love.

The choice of the color purple symbolises courage and pride, reflecting the resilience and strength of LGBTQIA+ youth. By wearing purple, we send a clear message that everyone has the right to live authentically and be proud of who they are.

At Ripponlea Primary School, our participation in Wear It Purple Day highlights our deep commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within our school community. We believe that every student, regardless of their background, identity, or beliefs, should feel valued and respected. Wearing purple served as a visual reminder of our ongoing efforts to create a safe space for all students—a place where differences are not only accepted but celebrated.

Throughout the day, our classrooms were filled with meaningful discussions about the importance of kindness, respect, and understanding. These conversations reinforced the belief that everyone, no matter who they are or whom they love, deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in Wear It Purple Day. By standing together in purple, we reaffirmed our commitment to building a school environment where every student feels safe, respected, and proud to be themselves.

Let’s carry this spirit of inclusion into every aspect of our school life, ensuring that Ripponlea remains a community where everyone truly belongs.

SPECIAL PERSONS DAY

What a heartwarming gathering we had at Ripponlea Primary School for our Special Person's Day! It was truly a celebration of the incredible individuals who play a vital role in the lives of our Rippers. 

As the sun shone brightly, the front of our school came alive with excitement, culminating in a thrilling moment when a local police helicopter soared overhead with sirens and we all waved a big hello, adding a touch of excitement to our special day!

Our visitors were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the engaging ways our teachers facilitate learning. They enjoyed a glimpse into the innovative teaching methods that make Ripponlea Primary School so unique. From reading some of the Book Week award-winning books to diving into creative reading and writing tasks, our guests were able to experience firsthand the dynamic approaches we use to captivate our students and enhance their literacy skills. 

Some of our younger students showcased their maths fluency tasks and even designed their own book covers—watch out for future illustrators in the making!

A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the special people in our Rippers’ lives—uncles, aunties, cousins, special friends, grandparents, family members and everyone else who makes a difference. 

We were thrilled to meet you all and hope you enjoyed your morning with us.

We’d also like to extend our gratitude for the delicious morning tea, the coffee van organised by TheirCare, and all the volunteers whose efforts ensured that the day ran smoothly. Your support and contributions helped make this event a resounding success. 

Thank you for being part of such a memorable day at Ripponlea Primary School!

GRATITUDE FOR OUR SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL COMMUNITY - VOLUNTARY FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS 

We are truly blessed by the generosity of our families this year through voluntary contributions. Despite the challenging financial climate many families are navigating, including rising interest rates and economic uncertainty, the value placed on our students’ educational resources remains unwavering. 

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all families who have contributed and continue to support our school. Your contributions are vital in ensuring our students have access to high-quality learning resources.

Thanks to your generosity, every curriculum area—from mathematics and literacy to STEM and languages—has been allocated a budget for purchasing essential student resources. This funding has enabled us to enrich our students’ learning experiences with a variety of resources including rich texts, reading materials, library books, and classroom supplies.

Our commitment to providing a strong classroom learning program goes hand in hand with maintaining a clean and enjoyable indoor and outdoor environment for our students. Every weekend, we thoroughly inspect and clean our yard, removing any sharp objects and ensuring that the grounds are safe and enjoyable throughout the week. Our ongoing maintenance includes mowing and garden services and addressing any other upkeep needs that arise in our 102-year-old building.

Recently, thanks to your contributions, we were able to sanitize, repair and clean our synthetic oval and mini-pitch. Our soccer and football students are eagerly enjoying these refreshed play areas. Additionally, we’ve invested in exciting new equipment for our structured play area, including giant Jenga, Snakes and Ladders, Chess, Portable Goals, Crochet Sets and Connect Four.

With Term 4 approaching, we are excited to launch a new games area with our new storage containers, brimming with activities which will enhance our outdoor play experiences. 

We look forward to the continued growth and beauty of our school environment, and we eagerly anticipate the start of the Accessible Building Project.

Once again, thank you to all our families for your incredible support and contributions. Your commitment is instrumental in creating a vibrant, well-resourced, and nurturing environment for our students.

RPS CAMPING PROGRAMS

At Ripponlea Primary School, we focus on the holistic development of our students through real-world experiences like camping. These trips are essential to our mission of fostering personal and social growth.

Unlike many schools with limited camping programs, our students start with a "Big Night In" in Year 1 and a Year 2 Sleepover, which build resilience and independence. By Years 3/4, they tackle outdoor challenges in Victoria, including high ropes, mountain biking, and flying foxes. 

In Year 5/6, students explore Warrnambool’s coastal region, engaging in surfing, beach games, and learning about local ecosystems and history.

The school carefully selects camping venues and providers, considering costs and ensuring high-quality, unique experiences with high levels of staffing and compliance. 

Next term, we are excited to offer these opportunities to students in Year 1/2, as well as Year 3/4 students who will attend the YMCA campsite known as Mount Evelyn.

Camping teaches practical life skills such as cooking, navigation, and problem-solving. It also builds confidence and prepares students for future challenges. Additionally, it fosters an appreciation for the environment and enhances social skills through teamwork and collaboration.

Our camping experiences are complemented by curriculum-aligned activities, like the tour of Canberra, which deepens students' understanding of civics and citizenship.

Despite challenges related to new agreements and teachers' work hours, we are committed to providing these invaluable experiences. Through careful planning and collaboration, we ensure our students benefit from these enriching opportunities.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK 

We want to extend a sincere thank you to all the families who provided valuable feedback regarding our reporting and communication on students' progress in learning at Ripponlea Primary School.

Your responses have highlighted some important factors for us to consider in our next reporting cycle in December. A large majority of families expressed interest in increasing the frequency of parent, teacher, and student conferences, both in June and December. 

Additionally, many of you have suggested that our reports should include more detailed information, such as areas of achievement, areas for improvement, and guidance on how families can support their child's learning at home.

We greatly appreciate your input, and we will be working to incorporate these suggestions to ensure that our reporting process is as effective and supportive as possible.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and engagement in your child's education.

RPS LANGUAGE PROGRAM REVIEW UPDATES

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the families who have contributed to the review of our language program at Ripponlea Primary School. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us enhance and tailor our program to better meet the needs of our students.

We have also sent a similar survey to our teachers and students to gather a comprehensive view of our current program. Once we have analysed this data, we will discuss it further at the next School Council meeting.

If you haven’t had the chance to share your opinions yet, it’s not too late! Please take a moment to fill out the survey and let us know your thoughts. Your input is crucial to making informed decisions and ensuring the best possible educational experience for our students.

Thank you once again for your continued support and involvement.

Until next fortnight!

Natalie Rose             &                        Marta Campbell 

      Principal                                         Assistant Principal