Things To 

Know

ACKNOWLEDGING IDAHOBIT DAY AT RPS 

This year, Ripponlea Primary School is proud to acknowledge IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia) on Friday, May 16. This significant day is a time to reflect on and celebrate the diversity within our community, and to stand up for the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status.

IDAHOBIT Day is observed worldwide on May 17 to raise awareness about discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community and to highlight the ongoing fight for equality. This day serves as a reminder that everyone deserves respect and equal treatment, no matter their identity. It is an opportunity for schools, workplaces, and communities to show solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community, raise awareness, and continue efforts towards creating a more inclusive and accepting society.

We invite all students to show their support and stand together in celebration of diversity and inclusion. On Friday, May 16, students are encouraged to wear rainbow colors to mark the day. This can include clothing or accessories in shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet—the colors of the rainbow flag that symbolize LGBTQIA+ pride and solidarity.

Students can wear a mix of these colors, create rainbow-themed crafts, or simply show their support with a colorful accessory like a wristband, headband, or badge. Wearing these colors is a visible and vibrant way to show unity, kindness, and respect for everyone in our school community.

Let’s come together to celebrate love, equality, and respect on IDAHOBIT Day! We hope this day serves as an opportunity for students to engage in meaningful conversations about diversity, acceptance, and kindness. We also encourage families to discuss the importance of inclusion and how we can all play a role in creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

Together, we can make Ripponlea Primary a place where all students feel valued and respected for who they are.

SOFT START MORNING ROUTINES - BEGIN IN TERM 2 AT RPS 

We’re excited to introduce Soft Start routines from the beginning of Term 2.

Here’s what it means for you and your child:

🔹 Students go directly to their classrooms from 8:45 am onwards.

🔹 Families are warmly invited to walk their children to class—this is a lovely way to connect with teachers, classmates, and be part of our vibrant learning spaces.

🔹 Teachers will guide students through the morning routines appropriate for their year level.

🔹 Foundation students are already experts! They’ve been practising these routines since Term 1.

💡 After drop-off: 

Students are welcome to head back outside to play only once they have placed their bags in their lockers/on hooks and set up their learning spaces for the day. They must return to class as soon as the music starts.

🚪 Students can only enter the buildings once teachers open the classroom doors and begin supervision. If a teacher is not yet in the room, please stay with your child until they arrive.

⏰ Important Reminders:

• No student should be dropped off before 8:45 am.
• Students must be supervised at all times before school.
• There will be no more lining up in Term 2 and Term 3!
• The back gate will be closed—entry is via the basketball courts or any other school building entry.

🚸 Afternoon Pick-Up Update:

At the end of the day, all students will be brought to the front of the school.We’re especially excited to welcome our Foundation families to join the whole school community at pick-up time.

🙏 Please note:

Mornings are a busy time for teachers as they help students get “Ripper Ready.” For in-depth conversations about your child, we encourage you to make a time with the teacher outside of these hours.

Thank you for supporting this calm and connected start to the day—we can’t wait to see you in the classrooms!

PUPIL FREE DAY - TUESDAY 10th JUNE

We’d like to let our families know that Tuesday 10th June will be a Pupil-Free Day at Ripponlea Primary School. This date has been approved by our School Council to allow all staff to participate in a Professional Practice Day.

On this day, students are not required to attend school. We encourage families to make alternative arrangements for the care of their children.

So, what is a Professional Practice Day?

These days are set aside across all Victorian government schools to give teachers and education staff dedicated time to work on planning, assessment, and professional learning—without the usual responsibilities of a teaching day.

At Ripponlea, our staff will use this time to:

• Plan high-quality lessons that match student needs and interests
• Review learning data to support every child’s progress
• Work together on refining our curriculum across all year levels
• Strengthen our approach to student wellbeing and inclusion

By investing in these days, we are ensuring that your child receives the very best learning experiences in the classroom.

We thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we continue to grow and improve our teaching and learning pedagogy.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with the school office.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY CONSULTATION: EMPOWERING FAMILIES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS 

At our school, we believe that the input of our families is an essential part of creating an environment that fosters growth and success for our students. Community consultation has been at the heart of many of our initiatives, as it helps us ensure that our programs and practices reflect the needs and aspirations of our school community. Two key areas where we’ve recently sought input from families include school reports and the Languages Other Than English (LOTE) programs, and we are now seeking further feedback to continue enhancing our offerings.

Consulting on School Reports: Fostering Collaboration for Student Growth

One of the most notable examples of community consultation occurred when we restructured our school reports. After consulting with families, we introduced a more holistic approach by including future learning goals for each child and offering suggestions for how families can support their child's learning at home. This change was made to help families feel more connected to their child’s learning journey, providing them with tangible steps to reinforce educational concepts and ensure academic progress continues beyond the classroom. This initiative was designed to build a stronger partnership between home and school, with families empowered to actively engage in their child’s growth.

Consulting on the LOTE Language Program: Reflecting Community Diversity

Another key area where we sought family input was in determining which Languages Other Than English (LOTE) program to offer our students. Language education is an essential part of our curriculum, promoting intercultural understanding, global citizenship, and multilingualism, all of which are values we hold dear at our school. We engaged with families to gather their preferences and to ensure that the language offerings align with both student interest and community needs. This feedback was invaluable in shaping a program that reflects the diversity of our school and community, ensuring that our students have access to language learning that is both relevant and enriching.

Seeking Further Feedback: Your Opinion Matters

As we continue to refine and improve the programs and initiatives we offer, it’s essential that we continue to listen to our families. In last year’s Parent Opinion Survey, we received valuable insights into the strengths and areas for improvement at our school. Now, we would like to take this a step further and gather more specific feedback on two important questions:

1. Does the school provide diverse programs for your child's interests and abilities?
2. Do the academic standards at this school provide adequate challenge for your child?

These questions aim to help us understand how well our programs are catering to the varied interests and abilities of our students and whether our academic standards are offering the right level of challenge. Your input is crucial as it will help us make informed decisions about the future direction of our curriculum and extracurricular offerings.

How Can You Contribute?

We invite all families to provide their input through a simple Google Form. Your responses will give us the insights we need to make adjustments that better meet the needs of our students, ensuring that we offer diverse, challenging, and engaging programs. Please take a moment to complete the form and share your thoughts on what would best support your child's interests and academic growth. Your feedback is invaluable in shaping the future of our school.

We are committed to working together with our families to create a learning environment that is supportive, challenging, and inspiring for every child. Thank you for your continued partnership as we strive to provide the best possible education for all our students.

https://forms.gle/LBzfKcuEjgz9pHr5A