From the Principal

POPS SWIMMING PROGRAM

Our school swimming program kicked off this week. Our Year 5 and 6 students began their sessions at Aquanation, Ringwood, building their confidence and skills in the water.

Next week, our Year 2, 3, and 4 students will participate in their swimming program at Aqualink, Nunawading, and later in the term, our Foundation and Year 1 students will enjoy their sessions at Healthways Aquatic Centre, Ringwood.

Swimming is an important program at Park Orchards Primary School, not only for building fitness and swimming technique but also for fostering essential water safety skills that are crucial for all students. We are excited to see our students develop both confidence and competence in the water through these engaging and educational sessions.

We thank our staff and instructors for supporting this valuable program and encourage families to talk with their children about the skills they are learning along the way. 

I would also like to thank Mrs Bullen, who has done an enormous amount of work coordinating and ensuring these programs run smoothly for our students.

POPS COMMUNITY LINKS

I am so proud of the strong community connections that continue to flourish at Park Orchards Primary School. These partnerships reflect one of our school’s greatest strengths, our commitment to building belonging and supporting children as they begin their educational journey.

Storytime at POPS

On Monday, we welcomed around 20 preschool children and their adults to our Storytime session. It’s been wonderful to see this program grow throughout the year, from just a handful of children to a full room of eager listeners! Storytime is a fantastic way for us to connect with families from local kinders and the Park Orchards ELC, helping children feel comfortable and excited about joining POPS.

Thank you to Mrs Puckering and the Library team for the fabulous display, it really stands out as you enter the GEM Centre.

Community House Captains

Our Community House Captains, Summer C, Xavier M, Lacey E, and Josh N, have visited the 3 year-old Park Orchards Kindergarten children, spending time playing and interacting with them. Over the next few weeks, Georgia H, Xander M, Makalo B, and Eeevee K will also take part in these visits. It’s been wonderful to see our Year 6 leaders showing care and enthusiasm as they represent our school in the community.

Year 4 Kinder Visits

Our Year 4 students have also begun visiting the 4 year-old groups at Park Orchards Kindergarten as part of the Foundation transition program. They are very excited to meet the children who will become their buddies next year and to begin forming those early, supportive connections.

These initiatives highlight the caring spirit of our school and our shared goal of nurturing confident, connected learners from the very beginning of their journey.

STUDENT ACHEIVEMENTS

Nadia L (4/5G): Congratulations on winning a bronze medal at the State Chess Tournament last Monday!

Tara W  (6D): Congratulations for donating your hair to Sustainable Salons who make charitable wigs and fund life-changing programs. 

Congratulations to our Junior Hooptime Regional Basketball Future Star Girls ‘Owls’ team! The team won their regional final last Wednesday and will now progress to the State Hooptime Future Stars Finals on Thursday, 4 December.

Stop the Press! Regional Athletics

What an incredible team effort from our girls in the relay today! It was a photo finish for the top three in their heat, and our team came away with a silver medal,  2nd place! 🥈We’re thrilled to announce they’re off to the State Finals! 🥳

Planning for 2026

As we plan class structures for next year, we ask that families not returning to POPS in 2026 notify us in writing as soon as possible. This helps us finalise class groupings and staffing. If you know families considering enrolling at POPS, please encourage them to contact us soon so we can include them in our planning.

Families wishing to share information to support class placements are asked to email Mrs Bullen and me by Friday, October 31. Please note that while we value insights about your child’s learning and wellbeing, specific teacher requests cannot be accommodated.

Please visit:

From the Classroom page to read about the Year 5/6 History excursion.

Student Wellbeing page to read about 20 Questions to Ask Your Children.

Warm regards,

Bronwyn Garrity

Week 4:

Mon Oct 27 - 31- 2/3/4 Swimming

Mon Oct 27 - AOM Assembly - 9 am / Cupcake stall - 3:30pm

Tues Oct 28 - School Council Mtg- 7pm

Fri Oct 31- World Teacher's Day