From the Principal

I hope everyone had a relaxing long weekend and made the most of the amazing warm weather we’ve been enjoying. It’s hard to believe how quickly the term is flying by, with only three weeks left until the end of Term 1! Today, we say farewell to Michelle Byrne as she begins her family leave. We wish Michelle and Michael all the very best as they prepare to welcome their first child in April. 

NAPLAN

NAPLAN began this week for students in Grades 3 and 5.  Students completed writing and reading this week. Next week students will complete language conventions and numeracy.  NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance. 

Swimming

Congratulations to the PPS swim team who competed at the division finals on Wednesday. The team swam exceptionally well and demonstrated great team spirit.  We wish the following students (U12/13 Girl’s relay team Bo G, Emily M, Grace C, Asha J) all the best at the Regional Finals.

School Council

School Council plays a vital role in the educational opportunity and outcomes of all students at PPS. Nominations for School Council have closed however, we still have two more vacancies, if you are interested in nominating for School Council, please contact the school office or Leanne.

Our first meeting of the new council is on Monday 17th March which is the AGM. At this meeting, the Annual Report will be tabled. Community members are welcome to attend the tabling of the annual report, please let the office know if you will be attending. Once finalised the Annual Report will be made available to the school community via the website and our newsletter. 

Hats & OSHC If your child attends before or after school care they will need to keep their hat in their bag or have a spare hat in their bag, as the children will not be allowed to go to their classrooms before or after school. 

House Cross Country

The house cross country for children in Grades 3-6 will be held on Friday 28th March at Gerry Green oval.  Parents are welcome to come along and support the children. 

Grandparents and special visitor afternoon

This afternoon Grandparents and special visitors have been invited to visit to Parkdale Primary School.  This is always a very special day, and the children love the opportunity to show their special visitor their classroom and some of their work.

Principal Network Conference 

We had the opportunity to attend our Network Principal Conference, where we engaged in research and presentations reflecting the Victorian education priorities. A key focus for all schools is the implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM), understanding the science of learning, and adopting evidence-based strategies to enhance teaching and student outcomes.

Key highlights from the conference included presentations from Dr. Lorraine Hammond, Dr. Nathaniel Swain, and Emina McLean, with a strong emphasis on cognitive load theory and delivering a high-quality, knowledge-rich curriculum.

At Parkdale Primary School, we are in a strong position, having implemented many of these priorities over the last 18 months. Our approach includes:

-A strong phonics program supporting early literacy development

-A knowledge-rich curriculum incorporating novel studies with both fiction and non-fiction texts 

-Engagement norms and protocols designed to reduce cognitive load for students-The implementation of VTLM 2.0 in 2025, with a focus on enabling learning and explicit teaching elements

As we continue to refine and strengthen our teaching and learning practices, we remain committed to providing the best possible education for our students.

School arrival 

We have several children who are arriving and waiting at the gates well before 8:45am. 

Teachers are officially on duty for 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the school day, therefore there is no supervision before this time. 

If your child attends a sport session before school, it is important that you ensure that the coach is present before leaving. These sessions begin at 8:00am.

Mobile Phones

A reminder – If your child brings a mobile phone to school it needs to be in a named plastic bag and placed at the office.  Children are unable to use mobile phones on school grounds. 

Lockdown Drill 

We will hold our first emergency management drill for the year next week. This drill will involve an alarm sounding and all children practicing a lockdown in their building.  We practice several drills throughout the year including off-site (Gerry Green oval), on site (the oval), and shelter in place (the gym) procedures. Following the drills, all staff evaluate the effectiveness of the drill and make any relevant suggestions for future drills.

Cultural Diversity Week Monday 17 March to Sunday 23 March.

The theme, ‘Embrace the journey – shape our future’, highlights the unique and shared cultural journeys that define our diverse communities, encouraging us to honour our own cultural stories and those of others, fostering understanding, belonging and connection.

Multiculturalism is a core part of the Victorian identity, our character and way of life. Our state is home to people who speak 290 languages and have 314 different ancestries. It's also a place where anyone can contribute and belong.

Cultural Diversity Week is a time to celebrate the power, influence, and stories of Victoria's rich multicultural communities. 

Smile Squad is coming to PPS in Term 2

The Smile Squad team from Better Health Network Parkdale are coming to our school Term 2.  Further information will be sent out in the coming weeks.

End of Term 1 - Early Dismissal 

End of Term 1 is on Friday 4th April.  End of term assembly will be at 2:00pm with students being dismissed from their rooms at 2:30pm.

Kind regards

Leanne Bradney