Principal's Report

Thursday 8th May - Student Photos

Please note this date in your calendar.

Special Assembly for long Serving staff – Friday 2nd May

Tomorrow (Friday 2nd May) at 2.45pm, we will have a special assembly for long serving staff commencing extended leave (and unlikely to return). 

We will be celebrating and acknowledging the incredible work of Mrs Trish Johnston (teacher) and Mrs Janine Wilson (Education Support / Office Manager) over decades at Albany Rise Primary School. 

Mrs Johnston first commenced at Albany Rise in 1994. She has taught at every level and has led and participated in countless school events, camps, sporting activities, community groups and has been a wonderful mentor and leader for staff in curriculum, teaching and learning. She has built strong relationships with families, staff and especially students, many of whom are now ‘grown up’ and benefiting from the life lessons they had in Mrs Johnston’s classes.

Mrs Wilson started at Albany Rise in 2000, initially as an Education Support staff member in classrooms, before becoming our Office Manager (over 15 years ago). Mrs Wilson has been at the forefront of policy reforms, administrative updates, enrolment processes, inducting new families and staff, first aid leadership and the day ot day coordination and running of various administration tasks of the school. Mrs Wilson has coordinated and participated in numerous school events, from Trivia nights to BBQs, working bees and Book Fairs. Most importantly, Mrs Wilson has been the friendly ‘face’ of our school for anyone entering our school office.

We do hope many of our families will be able to come to our Assembly on Friday to share in our celebrations with these 2 amazing staff.

Mothers’ Day (and special person) stall- Wednesday 7th May

Our annual Mothers’ Day stall, coordinated and facilitated by our Parents’ Association, will be occurring next week on Wednesday 7th May. There are many wonderful gifts for students to purchase on the day. Purchasing of gifts is arranged through Compass, with the very reasonable cost of $7 per student. Students who have paid via Compass, will be able to choose from various items ranging in price from $1 to $7. Many thanks to our Parents’ Association for again organising the opportunity for our families at ARPS.

Year 5 & 6 interschool sports Gala Day - TOMORROW (Summer Sports)

Our Year 5/6 students commence their ‘Gala’ Friday interschool sports events, competing with other district schools in Summer sports from TOMORROW. The students will be competing in the following events and venues:

Parent/carer help is welcomed (provided you have a current Working With Children Check). You can confirm your ability to support the program by contacting the school.

Students should arrive back at school just in time to take part in our special assembly tomorrow.

Election Day BBQ- Helpers still needed for the afternoon ‘shift’

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED we are still in need for more helpers for our Election BBQ this Saturday. Times to be filled are 1pm - 3:00pm. Thank you to the families that have already done so. Please contact the office ASAP if you can assist this fundraiser!

ANZAC representation at the Shrine Service

On Monday 28th April, our School Captains and Vice-Captains attended the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, (with 2 staff members) to present a wreath on behalf of the school at the ANZAC service for schools. The students represented the school beautifully and also learnt a lot from the experience, some visiting the Shrine for the first time.

Musical - Poster Competition and Badge Competition

Students in all year levels are encouraged to take part in our poster and badge competition as part of our musical promotion for 2025. Detailed information about both competitions will be available to students in classrooms very soon. The winning poster will be used for promotional purposes, including on the WIN board at the front of the school prior to the event, and on the cover of the Musical programs on the performance nights. Winning badge designs will be used for creating badges for sale prior to the event. 

Songs, Costumes, staging and auditions are all underway- with Year 5 and 6 students able to audition for roles from next week. Information about the audition process will be available to students from Friday (tomorrow). Students in all classes will be commencing the learning of songs and dances in the next few weeks. 

We are really excited about our show for 2025, and looking forward to the fantastic engagement and learning that will result for all students through performing to an audience in a professional venue.

Student supervision and Safety

Parents/Carers are reminded that staff supervision of students at school commences at 8.45am each day. Students arriving at school prior to 8.45am are not supervised by staff. Ideally, students who need to be at school earlier than 8.45am, should be enrolled in our fabulous before school program (which commences from 6.45am).

Breakfast club is available to students on Tuesday and Thursday morning, before school. Doors usually open around 8.40am.

Students arriving very early in the school yard (either being dropped off early, or riding/walking to school) can result in safety and supervision concerns. Early student arrivals can also result in staff abandoning their before school planning, meetings and class preparation, to manage students arriving early (including calling students into the office to be seated for safety purposes until staff rostered to supervise from 8.45am are available). Having students arrive very early can disrupt the schedules of several staff, including teachers and administration staff.

Parents/Carers are urged to please ensure that students arrive at school from when supervision is scheduled with staff no earlier than 8.45am. Parents/Carers are also reminded that staff supervision of students is scheduled until 3.45pm each day. Staff regularly have meetings and professional learning scheduled from 3.45pm-4.45pm. Students should not be in the school yard unsupervised after 3.45pm. Afterschool care is available from Camp Australia until 6.15pm, if required.

Consent Education in Government Schools

The teaching of consent is mandatory in all Victorian government schools. The Consent Education Guidance supports schools to teach students about consent in an age-appropriate way from Foundation to Year 12.

At ARPS, staff access the Department of Education resources for Consent Education. The age-appropriate resources include learning activities that help students develop social skills and apply them in a positive way in their learning and relationships. While there are specific activities that support consent education, these teaching and learning materials are also designed to provide a foundation through which to advance social and emotional capabilities and resilience. The resources tailor the topic of consent and protective behaviours for different age groups, including early and mid-primary resources with a focus on body autonomy, appropriate and inappropriate forms of touch, expressing permission or consent in communications with others, and help seeking in relation to abuse and harassment by peers or adults. 

Examples of the need for these skills may include; teaching children to keep their hands and feet to themselves and not hurt others if frustrated, learning how to respond if someone says ‘you can’t play’, how to get help from an adult or teacher if another person (adult/child) hurts or touches you in a way you don’t like, what to do if someone calls you a mean word or says something ‘rude’, and how to ‘read’ and respond to other people’s emotions.

You can learn more about consent education here: Consent Education resources for Victorian Government Schools 

For students in Year 5 and 6, a separate puberty education program is run at ARPS, with parent information and consent, later in the school year.

Education week 2025 @ ARPS

ARPS will be holding our annual Education Week activities and open day events from Monday 19th May.  This year’s theme is, ‘Celebration of Cultures’

The school has many great opportunities for community and family involvement during this week including:

You can find out more about the Victorian Government Education Week and resources here: Education Week | vic.gov.au

Judy Drew

Principal