Things To 

Know

YEAR 1 PHONICS CHECK

This term, our Year 1 students will be taking part in the Phonics Screening Check, a new statewide assessment introduced by the Department of Education. The Department is collecting this data from all schools to better understand how well Victorian students are developing the essential building blocks of reading.

The Phonics Check replaces the English Online Interview that families may remember from previous years. Instead of a broad literacy conversation, this check is focused specifically on how well children can connect letters (graphemes) with the sounds (phonemes) they represent – the foundation of early reading.

During the check, students are asked to read a list of both real and made-up words aloud to their teacher. This helps us see how confidently they can “decode” unfamiliar words using their phonics knowledge.

The information gathered will:

• Help teachers identify each child’s strengths and next steps
• Ensure targeted support is provided where needed
• Contribute to the Department’s statewide picture of reading progress in the early years

Families don’t need to prepare children for this – the Phonics Check is simply one of the tools we use to make sure every child is developing strong foundations as a reader.

SPECIAL PERSONS DAY 2025

Mark your calendar! This year, we will be holding our annual Special Persons Day Morning Tea Event on Tuesday the 9th of September from 9:45am to 11:30am. 

Chat to your child about who they would like to invite and we will be handing out hard copy invitations for our special people on Friday. 

This is a great opportunity for students to show the special people in their lives along to RPS, to show them their classrooms, do an activity together and share a lovely morning tea. 

SAUSAGE SIZZLE - 11th SEPTEMBER

THE IMPORTANCE OF ARRIVING AT SCHOOL ON TIME

At Ripponlea Primary School, learning begins promptly at 9:00 am each day. Our mornings are carefully structured to maximise student learning, starting with phonics instruction, a vital part of developing strong reading and writing skills.

When students arrive late, even by just a few minutes, they miss essential teacher directions and the first part of explicit teaching. This puts them at an immediate disadvantage, as they must try to catch up while the lesson is already underway. Entering the classroom late can also feel awkward or unsettling for a child, which can impact their confidence and sense of readiness for the day.

Late arrivals don’t just affect the individual student – they disrupt the entire class. When a student walks in after the lesson has started, the attention of other children is drawn away from their learning, breaking the focus and flow that are so important for moving knowledge from short-term memory into long-term understanding.

We know mornings can be busy and unpredictable, but arriving at school by 8:45 am allows children time to unpack, greet their friends, and be fully prepared for the first bell. This small change ensures they begin the day calm, confident, and ready to learn – and it helps us make the most of every learning minute.

Thank you for supporting your child’s learning by making punctuality a priority.

CCTV AT OUR SCHOOL

Ripponlea Primary School has decided to use a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system at our school.

Our school has an obligation to ensure the school environment is safe and secure, and fulfil our duty of care to students, staff and visitors.  The CCTV system will assist our school to fulfil these obligations and to prevent and manage other inappropriate behaviour on school grounds. CCTV will also provide enhanced capability to protect our school’s assets against vandalism and theft.

We will follow Department of Education and Training policy requirements for the design, installation, management and use of the CCTV systems. This policy is available at: CCTV in Schools – Installation and Management.

We will also place a CCTV Privacy Notice on our school website with more information about our school’s use of CCTV before it is rolled out on 25th August 2025. 

If you have any questions or concerns at this stage, please contact: Natalie Rose, Principal, on 95275728.

RESPECTFUL RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTH AND CONSENT EDUCATION AT RPS

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are committed to providing our students with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to build safe, healthy, and respectful relationships throughout their lives. Our approach aligns with the Department of Education’s expectations and curriculum requirements, ensuring that all learning is age-appropriate, inclusive, and relevant to the world our students live in today.

We deliver this learning through 'Talking The Talk', a specialised platform developed by Vanessa Hamilton, a leading educator in the field of respectful relationships and sexuality education. This program provides tailored, age-appropriate resources and concepts for each year level, helping students develop an understanding of topics such as:

• Respectful and inclusive behaviour
• Healthy friendships and relationships
• Understanding and respecting personal boundaries
• Body safety and consent
• Online safety and respectful communication

Families have already received correspondence via Compass detailing the specific themes covered in their child’s year level. To strengthen the partnership between home and school, families are also able to log in to the Talking The Talk portal, enabling them to access the same resources and support further meaningful conversations at home.

These programs are embedded within our whole-school Scope and Sequence for Mental Health and Wellbeing, ensuring a consistent and developmentally appropriate approach from Foundation through to Year 6.

In 2025, we will also reintroduce key concepts linked toanti-racism education through Schools Standing Up To Racism, a resource developed by the Centre for Multicultural Youth. This will empower students to recognise and respond to racism, stand up for themselves and others, and contribute to a more respectful, inclusive community.

Through these combined initiatives, we aim to equip our students with the confidence, empathy, and understanding to navigate relationships, make safe choices, and actively contribute to a culture of respect and inclusion, both inside and outside the school gates.

Here are some links to great websites to support conversations about racism with young children and teenagers:

https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/family-life/teens-racism/racism-talking-with-children-teenagers

https://www.unicef.org/parenting/talking-to-your-kids-about-racism

BOOK WEEK - SPOTLIGHT ON JANE GODWIN

We’re thrilled to welcome celebrated Australian author Jane Godwin, who lives in Melbourne and writes for children and young adults. Jane has been recognised with numerous awards including the 2024 Australian Book Industry Awards Hall of Fame induction and the Pixie O’Harris Award and publishes for Penguin Books Australia 

Some of her recent and beloved works include:

• A Life Song (2023) – Winner of the 2024 ABIA Children’s Picture Book of the Year, a lyrical celebration for young readers. 
• When Rain Turns to Snow (2020) – A beautifully crafted novel shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award 
• Today We Have No Plans, All Through the Year, Little Cat and the Big Red Bus, What Do You Wish For?, and Sadie and the Silver Shoes — popular picture books by Jane, often illustrated by Anna Walker, full of warmth, gentle humour, and everyday adventure 
• Falling from Grace (2006) – A compelling young-adult mystery set in Victoria, combining psychological depth and a haunting sense of place. 

On Friday, 5 September, Jane will speak to students and share her writing journey, what inspires her characters, her ideas for stories, and how books can become adventures in themselves. 

PROMOTING RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY 

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are proud of the positive and supportive relationships we have with our families and wider school community. We know that the vast majority of interactions between staff and parents/carers are respectful and focused on working together to support each child’s learning and wellbeing.

However, as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning and working environment, we remind all families that school staff have the right to feel safe and respected in their workplace.

The Department of Education has recently released updated resources to support respectful behaviour in schools. These will soon be displayed across key areas of the school and reinforce important messages about acceptable behaviour towards staff.

We ask that all families please be mindful of the following expectations when communicating with any member of our staff:

• Respect professional boundaries: It is inappropriate to ask staff confidential or personal questions, such as those related to their employment history, leave entitlements or experience.
• Make reasonable requests: Staff are not expected to respond to demands outside of their roles or responsibilities. Please direct all concerns or requests to the appropriate contact person.
• Use respectful language: Aggressive, rude, or offensive comments, whether in person, in writing, or online, will not be tolerated.
• Collaborate constructively: We welcome feedback and discussion, but this must occur calmly and respectfully, which promotes problem-solving and partnership.
• Responsible Social Media Use: Using social media platforms to criticise or shame staff, especially regarding confidential matters or decisions made by the school.

Such actions can significantly impact staff wellbeing and breach both privacy and departmental policies. 

We appreciate your cooperation in upholding these standards, and we thank you for your ongoing support in making Ripponlea Primary School a positive, safe place to work and learn.

If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact the school leadership team directly. Let’s continue working together to ensure a respectful and caring school culture for all.