From the Principal
We cannot believe we are already halfway through Term 2. The mornings are becoming cooler, and with winter just around the corner, the term is certainly flying by.
Aerobics
Congratulations to the PPS Aerobics teams who competed on the 9th and 10th of May. The Grade 5 team achieved an outstanding 3rd place overall, while the Grade 6 team were crowned 1st overall champions. These fantastic results are a wonderful reward for the commitment, dedication and hard work both teams have shown throughout their training. Both teams will compete in the State finals in June. Thank you to Mrs Mackenzie and Miss Watson for coaching the teams throughout this semester.
District Cross Country
After postponing the District Cross Country last week the weather on Thursday was perfect. Congratulations to the PPS Cross Country team who competed at Karkarook Park.
We are pleased to announce that the PPS team placed first overall, an outstanding achievement and a testament to the hard work and determination of our students. Good luck to the 25 students progressing through to the Division Cross Country on Wednesday 27th May. Once again, our students displayed exceptional team spirit, resilience, and behaviour throughout the event. Thank you to Mr A, Mr Blacklaw, Mr Grimwade also Ms Sell, Mrs Mackenzie,
Miss Brownlie, Mrs Wicks and the parents who supported and trained the team in the lead up to the competition.
Illness – Unwell Students
As we enter the cooler months, we are seeing an increase in colds and flu. While we understand the importance of regular school attendance, we kindly ask that if your child is displaying symptoms or feeling unwell, please keep them at home. This helps prevent the spread of illness to other students and staff.
Gastroenteritis Reminder: If your child has experienced vomiting or diarrhoea, they must remain at home for at least 48 hours after the last episode before returning to school. This precaution helps keep our school community healthy and safe. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Annual Report 2025
The Annual Report celebrates Parkdale Primary School achievements across learning, engagement and wellbeing throughout the year. PPS was also recognised in the Herald Sun’s Victoria’s Top 100 Public Primary Schools, ranked 47th out of approximately 1,140 public primary schools across the state. This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of our amazing staff, the efforts of our students who arrive each day ready to give their best, and the ongoing support of our parent community.
Below is a summary of our 2025 outcomes in Learning, Wellbeing and Engagement. The Annual Report was presented to School Council at the April meeting and endorsed.
Learning
Parkdale Primary School continues to prioritise academic excellence and strong learning outcomes for every student. A consistent whole-school approach to planning supports high quality teaching and learning across all year levels. Our Professional Learning Communities enable staff to work collaboratively, analyse student data, and refine teaching practices to better meet students at their point of need.
Student achievement remained very strong in 2025.
Teacher judgements show that 97.4% of students achieved at or above expected standards in English, and 98.4% in Mathematics. NAPLAN results also reflected this success, with over 94% of students in Years 3 and 5 achieving in the strong or exceeding categories in Reading and Numeracy, well above state and similar school averages. Growth data from Year 3 to Year 5 was also positive, with 77% of students demonstrating medium or high growth in Reading and 87% in Numeracy.
Wellbeing
Student wellbeing remains a priority at Parkdale Primary School. We aim to provide a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where every student feels valued and connected to their school community. Wellbeing lessons were embedded within the curriculum through the Respectful Relationships program, and students participated in specialist wellbeing sessions. Our programs were further supported by external providers and our school wellbeing team, while staff engaged in professional learning to strengthen their understanding of student engagement and wellbeing.
Survey results continue to reflect strong outcomes for our school community. In the Attitudes to School Survey, Sense of Connectedness was 81.4% and Management of Bullying was 78.2%, both above state and similar school averages.
Parent opinion results were also very positive, with 89.9% positive endorsement, while staff survey results indicated a 90.7% positive school climate.
Engagement
Parkdale Primary School continues to foster a positive and inclusive learning environment where students feel engaged and connected to their learning. Staff participated in professional learning focused on strengthening positive relationships between teachers and students, and teaching teams worked collaboratively to share best practice and support improved student outcomes.
Student attendance remained strong in 2025, with the average absence rate at 15.8 days per student, lower than both state and similar school averages. All year levels-maintained attendance rates of 91% or higher, supported by strong communication and partnerships with families.
Student voice and leadership also remain important priorities, with opportunities provided through the Student Representative Council, leadership roles and student forums. Whole school events such as camps, excursions, assemblies, sporting events, AMC, Gateways and the whole school concert also contributed to a vibrant and connected school culture. Overall, 2025 has been another positive year for our school. The annual report for 2025 will be available on our website at the end of term 2.
Semester One Reports 2026
One of the statewide industrial actions earlier this year related to teachers not providing personalised written comments on student progress reports this semester. Due to industrial action taken by the AEU and the extended duration of the matter, full descriptive comments will not be included in this reporting cycle. Families will still receive clear information about their child’s progress through a progression point, which indicates the extent to which students are demonstrating the expected standards in the Victorian Curriculum.
As a result, semester one reports will include an outline of the learning covered in Literacy, Numeracy and Inquiry, along with the focus areas for Term 3. Specialist reports will provide an overview of the learning completed during Semester One.
The Semester One report will provide a teacher judgement against the Victorian Curriculum achievement standards for all curriculum areas taught during the reporting period. These judgements are shown on a five-point scale: Well Above, Above, Standard, Below and Well Below. Work habits and behaviour will also be reported using the following scale: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Satisfactory and Needs Attention.
We understand that written comments are valued by families, and we appreciate your support and understanding during this period of industrial action. Teachers will continue to support and monitor students’ learning and progress throughout the semester.
Parents and carers will have the opportunity to discuss their child’s academic progress in more detail during Parent Teacher Interviews on Wednesday 24th June. There will also be an opportunity to meet with specialist teachers on this day. More information will be sent out in June regarding parent teacher interviews.
Prep/Foundation Enrolments 2027
Enrolments for 2027 are now open for foundation/prep students. To our current families with a child commencing Prep in 2027, please ensure you fill out the enrolment form via the link on our website.
Kind regards
Leanne Bradney