Principal's Report

Principal Report

Carols! Oh What Fun…..

What a lovely celebration and community occasion we enjoyed last night at our Carols. All of the students looked amazing in their Christmas colours, and the smiles on everyone’s faces for the dancing and singing was sensational. Many thanks to our staff for providing the BBQ for our parents/carers and for all the rehearsal efforts prior to yesterday. A huge thankyou also to all the families who came along to make it such a memorable evening. 

A super special thank-you to Mr Redfearn (performing Arts teacher) for his preparation and coordination of the Carols. Even our special visitor from the ‘North Pole’ was impressed with our efforts!

Swimming Term 4- Commencing on Monday 9th December

Our Swimming program for 2024 commences on Monday 9th December. Due to some year levels having more students attending than expected, and other year levels not so many students attending, some adjustments to the timetable have been required:

Please ensure students who are swimming bring a named bag with a towel, dry underwear, thongs and hair-ties/brush for long hair (if needed). PLEASE NAME EVERYTHING clearly.

Students who are not attending swimming are still expected to attend school every day.

Assembly Update & Final School Day for 2024

On Friday 13th December, we will be holding a special Assembly to farewell staff taking leave in 2024, and to share annual awards for House Points, Mathletics, Jolly Joggers and a range of other annually recognised achievements. We would love to see our parents/carers at the assembly to celebrate with our students and farewell staff on this day. Assembly starts at 2.45pm on 13th December. 

Our final assembly will be held on Friday December 20th, commencing at 12.45pm,  where we 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 them to make a booking.

Holiday Facilities upgrades- Asphalt

From 19th December, the Asphalt upgrade works will be commencing at ARPS, with the last 2 days of school providing time for the contractors to install the building compounds and safety fencing. The contractors are aiming to have all of the works, including the removal of 2 large trees and planning of 4 more, to be completed prior to students returning on 29th January. Let’s hope for fine weather so they will complete the asphalt works on time!

The asphalt areas to be renovated are shown in the map below (highlighted light red):

School reports – Monday 16th December

Our Semester 2 Student Reports will be ‘live’ no 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.

Thanks to the teaching staff that spend many hours preparing and producing these reports.

Accessing the School Saving Bonus

Parents and carers of students enrolled at a government school for 2025 will access their School Saving Bonus via an email sent from the Department of Education.

A School Saving Bonus email will be sent per child, so parents and carers with multiple children will get an email for each child in their family. The emails may arrive at different times.

The email contains a unique code for the $400 bonus and access to the School Saving Bonus online system.

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus online system, download the step-by-step user guide (DOCX, 945KB) or watch this video. User guide translations are also available in 14 languages.

Please check junk or spam folders for this email. For enquiries, please use the School Saving Bonus enquiry form.

Allocating the School Saving Bonus

Families can choose how they allocate and spend the School Saving Bonus funds using the online system. The School Saving Bonus can be used towards 2025 school costs, which may include:

• camps, trips, excursions and incursions
• swimming and sporting programs
• outdoor education programs
• graduations
• school uniforms
• textbooks (such as secondary Chemistry or Maths text books- NOT stationary supplies)

To find out more:

https://www.vic.gov.au/receiving-school-saving-bonus

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 

Thank You to Our School Council 

Our dedicated School Council meets each month during the school year to undertake their important role in the governance of Albany Rise PS. The work of our School Council focuses on oversight of important areas such as the school finances, buildings and grounds, school policy, strategic planning, parents and friends fundraising and out of school hours care provision. 

We have an outstanding school council in 2024 with excellent representation provided by parents and carers and members of our teaching and education support staff. Working in partnership our school council maintains a strong focus on continuous improvement and making sure that our students receive a high-quality education. 

Having worked in school councils now for many years I feel well placed to say that the councillors I have worked with at Albany Rise, have always been, and continue to be amazing. What I really enjoy is the sense of unified purpose and mutual respect all members bring to this work as it enables us to make a real difference for our wonderful students. 

We will be holding school council elections in February 2025 and we are always on the lookout for new members to join. There are no special skills required and if you talk to any current councillor I sure they would encourage others to consider this opportunity. 

On behalf of everyone in our community I want sincerely thank our school councillors for 2024. 

School Council President – Katrina Summersett

School Council Vice President – Chris O’Shea

School Council Treasurer – Andrew Muller

School Council Secretary – Bronwyn Clarke

Parent Members – Elaine Calfacacos, Gopi Kudipudi, Edwin Lampugnani, Anjana Janardhanan

DET Members – Collette Wilkinson, Narelle Seremetis, Michael Mottershead

Our final School Council meeting for 2024 will be on Wednesday 11th December at 6pm (commencing at school).

Whole School Transition

Today we held the first of 3 transition sessions being held to support our students as they are promoted to their next year level for 2025. As our students progress from one Year level to the next, it is important that they feel prepared for what lays ahead. Our Whole School Transition Program supports our students with their level to level transition, through three carefully planned sessions in December. During these visits, students go as a cohort to spend time in the next year level’s learning spaces, with the current teachers of those levels. Here the students get to know other teachers and the key differences between their current year level and the one ahead. Students have a chance to ask questions and get to know students they may not have been in a class with before. 

The program culminates with our final session on Monday 16th December, where students will meet with their 2025 grades and teachers where possible. 

Judy Drew

Principal