Principal's

Message

EVERY DAY COUNTS

At South Melbourne Park Primary School, we prioritise regular school attendance. We will work with families to ensure students are in class with their peers and teachers and enjoying all the benefits that brings.

Attending school every day means experiencing what counts – the learning, friendship, fun and opportunities that can shape your child’s future.

We understand that there are times when your child will need to miss school but to ensure minimal disruption to their education, please consider scheduling family holidays or medical/dental appointments outside of school time. If your child is well enough to attend but is worried about friendships or schoolwork, please encourage them to come to school. Avoiding school can make these feelings worse and can create a negative pattern of behaviour. 

If your child is having difficulty attending school, talk to their teacher about getting support. Ms Abbott and Ms Thompson, who make up our Wellbeing team, are also available for support and advice. 

A reminder that families need to send me an email at  south.melbourne.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au to seek approval for extended family holidays, where missing school is unavoidable.  

TEACHERS WEAR UNIFORM DAY

I don’t think I’ve worn pigtails since Grade 3, and I certainly wasn’t directing traffic back then. We’re incredibly lucky to have such wonderful teachers and ES staff at SMPPS who always keep kids at the heart and never take themselves too seriously. Thank you to our amazing staff for bringing the 2nd SWPBS reward to life.

DROP OFF AND PICK UP ARRANGEMENTS

Please note that the Kiss and Drop is no longer available. I kindly ask that parents do not use the service road outside of the designated Kiss and Drop period, as we want to keep our kids and families safe as they walk, scoot, and ride to school. Please also be aware that drivers may incur a fine if they use the service road, as this area is a clearway before and after school.

The AGP bump‑out works are well underway, and the Lakeside carpark is now open for parking before and after school. A huge thank you to our parents, staff, and our gorgeous SRC reps who have supported the Kiss and Drop over the past five weeks. We’re very much looking forward to returning to normality.

If you are parking at the Lakeside carpark, please use the crossing on Aughtie Drive to walk to and from school. The crossing will be supervised this week while heavy vehicles continue to operate in the area. From Week 10 it will no longer be supervised, but I strongly encourage all families to keep using it to ensure our kids stay safe and to model positive road‑safety behaviours.

THEIRCARE ACCESS

TheirCare families, please note that the access point will now revert to the sandpit gate before and after school. The gate will be locked between 8.30am and 8.45am, which is when the school officially opens and playground supervision begins.

ENVIRONMENT AND FACILITIES UPDATES

• Over the Term 1 break we are hoping to replace the linoleum in the area at the back of the gymnasium, which has bubbled.

• The subfloor of the Art Room must be replaced. We are currently in the process of applying for funding through the Victorian Schools’ Building Authority. A completion date will be communicated once it is confirmed.

• I continue to advocate for a better playing surface on the kick‑off area. We are currently in negotiations with Parks Victoria regarding a licensing agreement that would allow us to fundraise and apply for grants to install synthetic turf on a large section of land adjacent to the school. This would also be accessible by the community.

• The 3 remaining classrooms on level 1 Discovery are scheduled to be enclosed in the Term 2 break.

It has been a very busy term at SMPPS. With this being the last newsletter for the term, I would like to wish you all a safe and relaxing term one break, commencing on Good Friday, 3rd April. We look forward to seeing you back on Monday, 20th April.

Nicole

Nicole