Principal's Message

Monday 26th & Wednesday  28th   February

‘Meet and Greet’ Interviews

Parents of students from Year 1 - 6

Monday 26th February

Foundation Information Session &

Welcome BBQ 3.30p.m.

Principal Report

Our student leaders have made a wonderful start to the year, taking on their new roles with enthusiasm and demonstrating our core values; respect, responsibility and resilience. We are so proud of their efforts so far and look forward to everything they will achieve this year at Albany Rise.

On Monday 12th February, a group of 16 school leaders will be attending the GRIP leadership conference in Melbourne. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn new skills in leadership, share their ideas with student leaders from other schools, and come back to ARPS to share their learning with the peers and teachers. I know they will make us very proud.

On Friday 16th February, Ms Eden Foster MP will be attending our Leadership badge presentation at 3.45pm in the hall. Students in a range of leadership positions, including our recently selected Junior School Councillors, will be presented their badges in front of the whole school assembly, parents and community members. 

We encourage parents/carers to attend the assembly on 16th February and support our ARPS student leaders as they begin their formal roles and leadership opportunities for 2024. 

“Quality Beginnings Celebration Morning” Friday 9th February from 9am – 11.20am. 

At ARPS we have a ‘whole school’ games morning to celebrate the start of the 2024 school year and embed our skills of teamwork, kindness, resilience and pride!  At the start of each new year, students work with teachers to establish positive practices and protocols for working in the classroom and yard with peers and adults. Students learn our Values, our Code of Conduct, our positive behaviours and our high expectations at Albany Rise. We cel

This year we will again be running the program with the support of our Year 6 Buddies and House Vice-Captains. Parents are welcome to come and join us at school on the day (and young siblings).

Over the past 2 weeks our whole school has been working towards developing consistent understandings, routines, values and practices as part of our Quality Beginnings 2 week program. 

Tomorrow (Friday 9th February) we are excited to be celebrating our Quality Beginnings program across the school during our celebration morning. This special event allows all students to demonstrate many of the cooperative, resilience and social skills they have been developing as part of this program.

At assembly tomorrow,  (2.45pm), we will complete the program by sharing class values that form part of our whole school ‘puzzle’.  Staff across the school have worked as a team to ensure the best possible start for students throughout the school.

Many thanks to all the parents and staff who we know will continue to support our students throughout the year as we build our School Wide Positive Behaviour practices across the school community. 

HATS!

At ARPS we adhere to our ‘No Hat no Play’ policy to ensure students are kept as safe as possible from harmful UV rays when at school. It is vital that every, single student bring their named school hat to school every day. I urge parents to ensure their child has a hat at school to ensure they do not miss out on playtimes outside, and that students are not left to sit in the shade during sports and other outdoor learning sessions.

Families who may need financial support to purchase a hat may be able to collect a 2nd hand hat from the office. Parents can access the ARPS Sunsmart policy from the school website: https://albanyrise-ps.vic.edu.au/about-us/policies/ 

Student Toys and items at school

Generally, students are discouraged from bringing personal items, such as special toys or objects to school. Special toys can be easily lost or broken in a school environment.

There are many items that are not appropriate to have in the school grounds, which students occasionally bring to school. Parents/carers are reminded that several items/ personal belongings should not be bought into the school grounds, including:

• Mobile phones- these must be handed to the office by students on arrival at the school and will be returned at the end of the day
• Chewing gum- this is not allowed at school
• Vaping apparatus- this is not allowed at school
• ‘swap cards’- eg Pokemon- these can be easily lost or destroyed. Some classes provide special days/ opportunities for students to bring these cards to school- please check with the class teacher before sending these cards to school
• Soft toys and any other toys- again, check with the class teacher. Some students are easily distracted by toys at school and these toys and objects are often best left at home. Remember, the school is not responsible for the loss or destruction of toys bought to school.
• Any object that resembles a weapon (eg. Plastic light saber, water pistol, etc) - this is not allowed at school.

Balls are GREAT to bring to school, provided they are named, not too expensive (in case they are lost or go over the fence) and are used in a way that demonstrates inclusive and caring behaviours. The school has no insurance or responsibility for lost personal belongings that are bought to school. 

School Council- Nominations

Information relating to vacancies on School Council will be sent home (hard copy) on Friday 9th February to every family. Please read the information carefully and consider joining parents and staff on the 2024 ARPS School Council. This group helps shape the educational direction, facilities decisions and fundraising activities for the school.

Notices sent to all families will include information regarding the 2024 ARPS School Council Election process. If you decide to stand for election, you can arrange for someone to nominate you as a candidate or you can nominate yourself. Nomination forms can be picked up at the school office from Friday. Once the nomination form is completed, return it to the school office by the due date on the notice. 

New School Councillors - There will be four parent positions become available on School Council this year. If you are interested, please give me a call, or see me before or afterschool and I’ll tell you all about it. You can also do your own reading at this link:  https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/school-council-overview/overviewx 

Parents who have been on School Council really enjoy it and frequently comment on how much more they know about what’s going on in their child’s school. School Council nomination forms will be available from the front office from Friday Feb 9th, 2024.

Judy Drew

Principal