Principal`s Message
"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are." Mason Cooley
As we prepare to celebrate Book Week, it’s a timely reminder of the power of reading. Whether it’s escaping into a fantasy world, discovering new ideas, or building empathy through stories, reading truly is magic. At our school, we are committed to nurturing a love of reading in every child, and we’re excited to bring stories to life in classrooms and across our community next week.
There was a real buzz of excitement on Monday as our Year 5/6 students received their brand-new laptops! This investment in technology is part of our ongoing commitment to equipping students with the tools they need for modern learning. These devices will support a wide range of learning opportunities from research and collaboration to creative projects and digital literacy. It’s wonderful to see students already engaging with their new devices in meaningful and responsible ways.
Book Week
Book Week kicks off next week, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this year’s theme: “Book An Adventure.” We’ve added many of the shortlisted Picture Books and Young Reader titles to our library collection, and students will be exploring these wonderful stories in class.
Don’t forget Thursday is Dress-Up Day! We can’t wait to see all the amazing book characters come to life in our school. Whether it’s a wizard, a wild thing, or a wandering hero, we look forward to a day full of imagination and fun.
Year 1 Phonics Check
Our Year 1 students will also be participating in the Victorian Government’s Phonics Screening Check next week. This short, one-on-one assessment helps teachers understand how well students are progressing in their phonics knowledge—an essential building block for reading.
Students will be asked to read aloud a mix of real and made-up words, using their understanding of letter-sound relationships to decode them. The check takes around 5–7 minutes per student and is conducted by their classroom teacher in a quiet space.
This assessment is part of a broader shift toward evidence-based literacy practices. It helps us identify students who may need additional support early, allowing for targeted intervention. While participation is optional in 2025, it will become mandatory for all Year 1 students in Victorian government schools from 2026.
Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey
The Parent Opinion Survey, conducted annually by the Victorian Department of Education will be open on Monday. This survey gives families the opportunity to share their views on our school’s climate, communication, student engagement, and wellbeing.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable, it helps us understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve. We invite all families to participate, and the survey is available in multiple languages to ensure accessibility for all communities.
Individual login details will be sent home on Monday via Compass post and email.
You can complete the survey online from any compatible device. We strongly encourage all families to take part so we can gather a broad and representative view of our school community.
Enrolments for 2026
A reminder to families who have received an offer for a 2026 Foundation place please respond as soon as possible to confirm your child’s enrolment. This ensures you don’t miss out on important transition information and communications in the coming months.
A big thank you to all families who have already confirmed their place for next year. If you know of any other families in the community with children starting school in 2026, please encourage them to contact the school as soon as possible.
Additionally, if your family is planning to leave our school at the end of this year, please let us know as soon as possible. This helps us plan accurately for staffing and class groupings for 2026.
Student-Free Day – Friday 22 August
A reminder that Friday, 22 August is a student-free day. Our staff will be engaging in professional learning focused on new assessment tools that will help us deliver more accurate, point-of-need learning for every student. Please contact Leapkids to make a booking.
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews will run on Thursday September 18th and bookings will open at the end of August. More information to follow.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s learning journey.
-Scott Burton, Principal