POPS Paper

From the Principal

August 28, 2025

DISCO FUN!

Last night, our school hall came alive with music, lights, and lots of dancing at the annual School Disco! Students had a fantastic time showing off their best moves, enjoying the fun atmosphere, and spending time with friends.

 

A huge thank you to the Year 4 parents who worked hard behind the scenes to make the evening such a success, Mrs Cornwell, Mrs Conley, Mrs Murray, and Mrs Apostolopoulos and the many parent helpers who assisted with the event on the night. Your time, effort, and enthusiasm are truly appreciated.

 

It was a wonderful community event that created lasting memories for our students. It was heart warming to see our wonderful staff attending the event and supporting our wonderful Parent's Association.

CHINESE INCURSION

Our students had a fantastic day participating in a traditional dance session, followed by a cultural performance featuring Peking Opera, a Guzheng solo, Chinese Kung Fu, and the famous Sichuan Opera Face Changing.

 

A big thank you to Limei for organising such a rich cultural experience for our students. Events like these are so valuable, they help broaden our students’ understanding of different cultures, promote respect and appreciation, and break down barriers that can lead to racism, including incidental comments that may be offensive or discriminatory.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

At our school, we know that good attendance plays a big role in both learning and wellbeing. Being at school every day helps students stay on track with their learning, build strong friendships, and feel connected to their peers and teachers.

 

Of course, we understand that illnesses happen, and sometimes families may take holidays during the term. While we don’t recommend holidays during school time as they can impact student progress and connections, we are here to support families in managing any challenges around attendance.

 

As part of our process, we regularly monitor attendance:

  • At 3 or more days of absence in a term – your child’s teacher will check in with you to see if there’s anything we need to be aware of.
  • At 5 or more days of absence – Mrs Debono will make contact to see how the school can provide assistance.
  • If needed, Mrs Bullen and I will work with families to develop an attendance plan to best support their child.

By working together, we can help every child make the most of their learning opportunities and feel connected at school.

PARENT /  GUARDIAN OPINION SURVEY

Our school is participating in the annual Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey offered by the Department of Education, and we invite you to share your feedback.

 

This survey helps us better understand families’ views on school climate, student behaviour, and engagement. Your input is valuable in shaping our school’s improvement priorities and professional development needs.

  • Survey dates: Monday 18 August – Friday 19 September 2025
  • Format: Online, takes about 20 minutes to complete
  • Access: Available anytime on a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone
  • Languages: Available in English plus 10 other languages (Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese). 

We encourage every family to take part. Please note, only one survey response is needed per family.

Survey Link:https://research.orima.com/parent

PIN is: 405955

Student Acheivements

Congratulations to Evie B (3H), Molly B (1D), and Avie R (1D) who represented our school at the Trident Gymnastics In-House Competition last Sunday. Each competed across bar, beam, vault, and floor, earning gold in their age group (Evie – Level 3; Molly and Avie – Level 1).

Congratulations to Katarina R (3O) and Blaze M (1D) who competed in the Victorian State Cheerleading Championships, achieving an impressive third place! They now look forward to representing at the Nationals in October, a wonderful achievement and a proud moment for both students.

 

Ms Garrity

Principal

 

Don't forget to:

Key Dates 

Term 3 Week 7

Mon Sep 1- Assembly 9 am/ District Cross Country

Tues Sep 2- Father's Day Stall

Wed Sep 3- Foundation Healsville Excursion

Wed- Fri Sep 3- 5-  Yr 4 Soveregin Hill Camp

Fri Sep 5- Father's Day Breakfast