Principals' Message 

Hello parents and friends,

We have had a fantastic fortnight at Templestowe Park. Our PFA Colour Run is due to take place this afternoon and the entire community is so excited for this fabulous event.  The weather is perfect and we can’t wait for it to take place.  We will post lots of photos of the event in our next newsletter.

We have some outstanding achievements to share with our community.  One of the greatest things we do at TPPS is to provide students with so many opportunities to participate in academic, sporting and cultural competitions outside of our school.  Last week we were informed that Chloe A (5M) has been shortlisted in the Red Room Poetry competition. The Red Room Poetry competition invites students and teachers to use their words to make positive climate action. For every nature poem received, a tree is planted to help heal habitats and create a POEM FOREST for future generations. Since 2021, over 17,100 poem trees have been planted. Chloe’s poem titled, ‘Another Grain of Sand’ has been shortlisted from over 5,400 entries.  To put this into context, there were only 12 poems shortlisted in the Upper Primary section. Chloe is an extremely talented writer and we are so proud of her.  To read Chloe’s beautiful poem, please click here.

We are also happy to announce that Charlotte L (2L) has been awarded the ‘NAIDOC Medal of Excellence’ (one of 25 awarded across Victoria) for the outstanding picture she coloured in for the NAIDOC Week national schools competition. Our Grade Prep – 2 students entered the colouring in competition and our Grade 3-6 students, the poetry writing competition.  Charlotte did an amazing job and we are so proud of her. 

Finally, I wish the very best to our numerous sporting teams that will be competing in the State finals in the coming weeks.  This has been one of the best sporting years in school history and we are so excited for these teams.  We will provide reports about these events in upcoming newsletters.   

Remembrance Day

On Monday, we held a commemorative ceremony at TPPS to acknowledge Remembrance Day.   Remembrance Day is held on 11 November each year as this is the anniversary of the Armistice of 1918 that ended fighting in World War I.  Our Grade 6 Leaders, Blake and Delta, led our ceremony beautifully as they explained the history of Remembrance Day and read the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.  The poem was written by a young World War 1 soldier named John McCrae. John was on the battlefields in 1915. After our speeches we held our minute of silence and Ms Somerville played the ‘Last Post’ on the cornet for the entire school.  This was a particularly touching moment and I thank Ms Somerville for her beautiful rendition. Lest we forget.  

2025 Parent Payments 

You will notice on your Newsfeed under Course Confirmation that the 2025 Parent Payments are now available to be paid on Compass. 

The process on how to pay the charges is outlined in the attached letter and guide on the Compass Newsfeed. 

You will notice in 2025 that the student charges for Prep and Grades 1-6 are different.  In 2025, we have introduced two new student workbooks to the Grades 1-6 booklist.  Please see more information on what these levies cover in the attached letter. 

In 2025, the school will be undertaking a major project to build a shelter over our basketball court and lay synthetic grass over our asphalt courts. This is a large project that will be fully funded by the school. The shelter will provide a covered space for PE lessons and whole school events. Parent contributions assist us to undertake major projects such as this one.

Thank you for your vital contribution to our voluntary levies.  Without your contributions we would not be able to offer our extensive and diverse learning programs, purchase the excellent resources we have and improve our facilities to the level that we do.

If you have any further queries please contact the school office.

Class Placement Forms for 2025 

As we move towards the end of the 2024 school year, over the next few weeks, staff will commence the process of creating grades for the 2025 school year.  Whilst this sounds like a straightforward task, creating grades is a complex process.  

What factors are considered when making grades?

The objective of making classes is to ensure they are as balanced as possible.  Factors teachers and principal staff consider are learning needs, behaviour, gender, learning and social networks, social and emotional maturity, class placements in previous years, opportunity for students to broaden their friendship groups and family situations (eg. twins, cousins, siblings).

Why has my child not been placed with one of their five nominated friends?

All children are placed with one of their five nominated friends.  While this question is often asked, when the handwritten forms of the students are checked it proves that a mistake was not made.  Quite often students forget who they selected or inform their parents they have not been placed with at least one friend when in fact they have.  

Can I request a particular teacher for my child either in writing or through discussion with my child’s present teacher? 

No, this is not part of the class placement process. 

Can I provide information to support the informed placement of my child? 

Yes, parents will be able to provide information that is not known by the school in an online form. 

Why haven’t my requests been approved? 

All family requests are seriously considered and recorded. At times, family requests can be conflicting (to another family’s request, to the student’s requests, or from the professional opinion of the teacher).

Do teachers request certain student placements into their classes? 

No, teachers are not assigned to a class until after the classes have been approved. Teachers focus on class balance to ensure a successful year for all students. 

When I get my child’s class placement, can I request that it be changed? 

The class placements are considered final. Changes are not made due to the fact they cause a chain reaction and impact on the class balance. We consider the learning and wellbeing of each individual during the placement process and families must realise their child is part of a complex equation in school placements. If the school has made an obvious error, a change may be made.

How can I help my child during this process? 

Families can help by supporting the informed decisions of the staff and ensuring all conversations with their children are positive and encouraging.  Hold a conversation with your child and discuss who would be suitable to list as 5 possible classmates in 2025.

Where it is considered that special circumstances may have a significant impact on a student’s educational, social or personal development, parents may wish to make a request regarding their student’s placement. To do this, the electronic 2025 Class Placement Form can now be accessed at the following address.  The personal information provided is treated confidentially and will only be viewed by the principal team.

https://forms.gle/FsRUsxiHyfppkUVa8   

This form is not to be used to request a particular teacher or for friendship groups.  Students will have an opportunity to nominate five friends and are guaranteed to be placed with at least one of them. 

Please complete the form (by clicking on the link above) by Monday, 18th November. Late responses cannot be accepted as the classroom placement process begins immediately after this date. 

The selection of classes is a long and considered process with many factors considered when making a decision. The submission of this form does not guarantee the request, however, the information contained will be considered.

Parent Seminar - Toolbox | Parents Emotion Regulation Session - Wed Nov 20 7-8pm (Online)

I am pleased to inform you that our school has received funding to enhance student attendance and engagement. To support this goal, we are partnering with Toolbox Education throughout Term 4. Toolbox Education has already started working with a targeted group of students, and our staff will engage in professional learning. Additionally, we are excited to offer an online parent workshop. Please see the attached file for an overview of the session. 

The online session will be held next Wednesday, 20th November, via Zoom. Clinical psychologist David Berlinski will be presenting.

Topic: Toolbox | Parents Emotion Regulation Session at Templestowe Park Primary School

Time: Nov 20, 2024 07:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/97166847252

Meeting ID: 971 6684 7252

The content is designed specifically for parents and carers and is suitable for those with children in primary school years. However, to encourage open discussion, we recommend that only adults attend.

As you know, consistent attendance and active engagement are essential to a student’s success and long-term educational outcomes.

If you have any questions about the session, please feel free to contact me directly.

Kind regards,

Narelle Sime 

Leading Teacher – Student and Community Wellbeing & Disability Inclusion

narelle.sime@education.vic.gov.au

TPPS Annual Christmas Concert & Art Show – Wednesday, 18th December 

• Art Show 4:00 – 5:00pm
• Christmas Concert – 5:00 – 6:30pm 
• Wednesday, 6th December 5:00 – 7:00pm

Our Christmas Concert and Art Show is set to take place on Wednesday, 18th December. The night will kick off at 4:00pm with the Art Show in the main building corridor and the Christmas Concert will be held on the synthetic courts from 5:00pm.  All year levels will sing a Christmas carol and there may even be a special visitor from the North Pole!

All families are invited to bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the company of the school community before the concert begins at 5:00pm. 

We are looking forward to sharing a fun and festive night with you all!

2025 Prep Transition 

We have now completed three out of four Prep transition sessions and we have had a fantastic time with our new students.  The 2025 Prep students have been visiting the different Prep teachers and sharing their classroom experiences with new students each week.  At the final Prep transition on Thursday, 28th November, our students will spend a session with their 2025 Prep teacher and classmates.  It is such an exciting time for our Preps and their parents and we look forward to this amazing group commencing their learning journey at TPPS in 2025. 

Are you Leaving Templestowe Park in 2025?

We ask that you let us know if you are considering moving or have enrolled at another school in 2025.  We require this information as soon as possible in order to establish grade structures for the start of the new school year.

If your child is currently in Grades Prep to 5 and will not be at Templestowe Park in 2025, please notify the school office by emailing to:-  templestowe.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mark Roberts                       Brian Cleary                                        Robyn Twyford 

PRINCIPAL                           ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL                  ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL