Things To 

Know

REMINDER

RIPPONLEA BIKE BUS - NEW PROJECT LAUNCHED BY NOEL HANSSENS

Hi Ripper cyclists!

My wife Emma and I (Noel) are enthusiastic cyclists and frequently cycle with our boys to school.  Starting next Friday (the14th), we will trial a "bike bus" cycle to school to socialise and encourage group cycling and have some fun.

Each Friday morning for Term 1 we will cycle with our Rippers Alex (3/4A) and Michael (Foundation) taking the below route, rain, hail or shine - other cyclists are welcome to join, meeting us along the route.

We will depart at 8.15am and take a slow ride into school with music.  For safety, we will ride on the footpath .  This is designed to be an inclusive ride - all cycling levels, bike types and speeds are welcome.

This idea was shamelessly stolen from the Bike Bus in Portland, Oregon.  You can see some fun videos of them here https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7O_R7fRcn8/?igsh=MWFvNHZ1dGRuYnlxZg== (there is even one where Justin Timberlake joins them).

SPECIAL GUEST ZOE DANIEL TO ATTEND OUR LEADERSHIP BADGE CEREMONY 

We are thrilled to announce that Zoe Daniel will be joining us as our special guest for this year’s Leadership Presentation and Badge Ceremony on Friday, 14th March at 2:45 PM. This is a significant event in our school calendar, where we proudly acknowledge and celebrate the students stepping into leadership roles across our school.

Zoe Daniel is the Federal Member for Goldstein and a highly respected journalist, foreign correspondent, and author. Before entering politics, she spent decades reporting on major global events for the ABC, covering politics, economics, and international affairs. Now, as an Independent MP, she is a strong advocate for integrity in politics, climate action, and community engagement. We are honored to have her speak to our students about leadership, responsibility, and making a positive impact.

This ceremony will be particularly special as we will not only be presenting badges to our Year 5/6 student leaders but also recognising our junior SRC representatives and Sustainability Classroom Leaders. Leadership comes in many forms, and we are proud to acknowledge students across all year levels who are stepping up to make a difference in our school.

If your child has been nominated for a leadership role, we will be reaching out to you directly. We encourage all families to save the date and join us for this important occasion.

We look forward to celebrating our student leaders and welcoming Zoe Daniel to our school community!

CALLING NOMINATIONS FOR SCHOOL COUNCIL 

At Ripponlea Primary School, we highly value and actively encourage parent involvement in various school activities. Our strong sense of community is reflected in the many ways parents and carers contribute, including through School Council, classroom programs, working bees, excursions, Snack Shack (canteen), fundraising events, and school improvement projects.

The Role of School Council

Ripponlea Primary School has a strong partnership between staff, parents/carers, School Council, Ripper Families, and the broader community. Together, we strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for our students and celebrate their many successes. As the heart of our community, the school provides a welcoming space for families to collaborate and support student learning.

We invite you to help shape the vision and future of our school by joining our School Council. This important group consists of both parent representatives and school staff and meets monthly to discuss and implement key initiatives. Council members play a vital role in:

• Shaping school policies
• Maintaining facilities and grounds
• Overseeing financial operations
• Ensuring high-quality education for all students

School Council Structure & Meetings

The Ripponlea Primary School Council meets eight times per year and comprises twelve members:

• Eight parent representatives
• Four Department of Education and Training (DET) representatives

This year, we have three parent positions available and one Department of Education (DOE) representative position open for nomination.

Additionally, sub-committees meet separately and report back to the Council. Parents are welcome to join any committee without needing to be formally elected to School Council.

Committees & Areas of Focus

We have the following committees chaired by School Council members:

• Facilities & Environment
• Finance
• Governance
• Ripper Families
• Publicity & Marketing
• Sustainability

Seeking Expertise

This year, we are particularly looking for parents with experience in finance and accounting to support our financial planning and oversight. 

How to Get Involved

Elections for School Council members officially begin in February each year. If you are interested in making a meaningful contribution, please consider nominating for a position.

For further details, feel free to speak to any of our current School Councillors: Tarryn Holland, Colin Smith, Skye Holcombe-Henley, Julie Pearce, Romany Tauber, Kara Merrin, Suzete Ribiero, Lee Wallace, Julie Nield & Braden Leech

Nomination forms can be collected from the school office or emailed directly to you upon request. For assistance, please contact Natalie Rose.

We encourage you to take part in this rewarding opportunity to support our school community!

ESTABLISHING OUR SCHOOL BAND/MUSICAL ENSEMBLE 

🎶 Calling All Talented Rippers! 🎶

Mr. Michael Redman is looking for skilled musicians to join the school band or a musical ensemble! If you’ve been playing a musical instrument for three or more years and are confident in your abilities, this is your chance to shine.

Requirements to join:

✅ At least three years of experience playing your instrument

✅ Commitment to weekly rehearsals on Fridays at 8:00 AM

✅ Willingness to perform at assemblies and special events

✅ Dedication to continue for at least one school term

If your child is interested in joining, families can contact Mr. Redman at rednotes@iinet.net.au. We hope to see a fantastic group of Rippers ready to make music together! 

🎵 Stay tuned for more details.

STAYING CONNECTED WITH SEESAW

At Ripponlea Primary School, we use Seesaw as a digital portfolio to showcase student learning and keep families informed about their child's educational journey. This Friday, our teachers will release the first blog of the year, sharing key updates about the start of the school year, important reminders, and what’s coming up for your child’s year level.

Activating Your AccountTo stay connected, we encourage families to activate their Seesaw accounts. If you haven’t done so yet, please contact your child’s teacher for support in setting this up.

Seesaw is a Private and Secure Space

Your child’s Seesaw account is private and password-protected. Students do not see each other’s portfolios or photos, ensuring a safe and personal learning space.

How We Use Seesaw

• Student Learning Portfolios: Teachers and students upload work samples, reflections, and achievements.
• Fortnightly Curriculum Updates: Every two weeks, families will receive updates about classroom learning, helping you stay informed about what’s happening at school.

Important Reminder: Seesaw is not used as a parent communication portal. If you need to contact your child’s teacher, please do so via email.

We look forward to sharing a fantastic year of learning with you through Seesaw!

2025 Voluntary Financial Contributions

To view the fee structures for each year level, please refer to the links below:

• Foundation
• Year 1/2
• Year 3/4
• Year 5/6
• Stationary Orders

SCHOOL SAVING BONUS INFORMATION

School Saving Bonus – How to Use It

Families can now allocate their School Saving Bonus using the online system. This bonus can be used to help cover the cost of 2025 school expenses, such as:

✅ Camps, excursions, and incursions

✅ Swimming and sports programs

✅ Outdoor education

✅ Graduations

✅ School uniforms and textbooks

How to Use the Bonus

You can choose how to spend your School Saving Bonus through the online system. The bonus can be used at your school's designated textbook or uniform suppliers, either in-store or online, or through State Schools' Relief until 30 June 2025.

If your school does not have a uniform, or if you prefer unbranded school uniform items, you can still use the bonus through State Schools' Relief.

What Happens if You Don’t Spend It?

Any unused funds after 1 July 2025 will automatically become a school activities credit, available for use from August 2025. This credit can go towards school activities like excursions and camps. However, if you need to use the bonus for school activities in July 2025, make sure to allocate it in the online system before 30 June 2025.

Donating Your Bonus

Families who do not wish to use their School Saving Bonus can donate it to the school to support students in need. If you’d like to do this, please contact the school directly.

Let Us Know Your Allocation

To help our administration team, we kindly ask families to email the school at ripponlea.ps@education.vic.gov.au with a copy of their allocation confirmation and details of how they wish to use the bonus.

For any questions, please reach out to the school office.

SCHOOL CROSSING & ROAD SAFETY

As we start a new school year, we thought it might be a good time to remind all parents and students about the parking and school crossings surrounding our busy school. 

Glen Eira Council has created a fabulous two and half minute video that explains parking signs, how the school crossing operates and aims to promote safety surrounding our schools.  It encourages students to walk or ride to school too, even if only from a few blocks away, to help ease traffic congestion, improve healthy activity and to help the environment.

Please watch this video by clicking on this link: https://vimeo.com/795049475/01d1dc8db4 

Thank you!