From the Principal
This week, our Grade 3 students enjoyed a visit to Parkdale Secondary College to watch their production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It was wonderful to see so many of our former Parkdale Primary students performing with such confidence and talent on stage. Our students thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
This term, our Grade 6 students are reading The Magician's Nephew. Each week, a small group will meet with me to discuss the novel and share the work they have completed in their reading workbooks. I was incredibly impressed by the quality of their responses, their thoughtful recounts and their excellent understanding of the opening chapters.
Next week, our Foundation students will celebrate an exciting milestone, 100 days of primary school. It is always a fun day filled with smiles, laughter and creative activities as they reflect on all they have learned since starting school. While they've reached their first 100 days, there are approximately 1,230 days of primary school still to enjoy.
Our Grade 5 students and teachers head off to Mt Martha on Wednesday for what promises to be an exciting and memorable camp. We wish everyone a fantastic few days filled with fun and new experiences.
Celebrating Our 2026 NAPLAN Results
Last week, our Year 3 and Year 5 students received their 2026 NAPLAN results. We are incredibly proud of the outstanding achievements of our students and the dedication of our teachers, whose commitment to high-quality teaching and learning has contributed to these excellent outcomes.
Year 3 Results
Reading: 87% of students achieved Strong or Exceeding
Writing: 99% achieved Strong or Exceeding
Spelling: 77% achieved Strong or Exceeding
Numeracy: 85% achieved Strong or Exceeding
Grammar and Punctuation: 75% achieved Strong or Exceeding
Year 5 Results
Reading: 92% of students achieved Strong or Exceeding
Writing: 92% achieved Strong or Exceeding
Spelling: 87% achieved Strong or Exceeding
Numeracy: 96% achieved Strong or Exceeding
Grammar and Punctuation: 83% achieved Strong or Exceeding
Year 3 to Year 5 Growth
The growth our students have demonstrated between Year 3 and Year 5 is equally pleasing, with the following percentage of students achieving medium to high growth:
Reading: 85%
Writing: 78%
Spelling: 72%
Numeracy: 83%
Grammar and Punctuation: 77%
These results reflect the strong foundations in literacy and numeracy that our students have developed from the very beginning of their schooling. Through explicit, evidence-informed teaching and a sustained focus on continuous improvement, our students have built the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to apply their learning successfully.
These results reflect the hard work and commitment of our students, the expertise and dedication of our teachers, and the strong support of our families. Working together, we continue to create a learning environment where every child is encouraged and supported to achieve their best.
While we are extremely proud of these results, it is important to remember that NAPLAN is just one measure of student achievement. It provides a snapshot of how students performed on the day and is one of many assessment tools we use to monitor progress and guide our teaching.
We are equally committed to developing confident, resilient and respectful young people who work well with others and approach learning with a positive mindset. These qualities may not appear in NAPLAN data, but they are just as important and play a significant role in preparing our students for future success.
Congratulations to our Year 3 and Year 5 students on their outstanding achievements.
AMC, Spelling Bee, Premiers’ Reading Challenge
We are thrilled to announce that numerous students are engaging in three significant academic initiatives this term. The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC), challenges students from Years 3 to 6 with problem-solving questions. The Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee, open to students in Years 3 to 6, will take place very soon. Additionally, students are participating in the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge.
If you would like your Grade 3-6 child to participate in this year’s Spelling Bee, please check Compass and follow the instructions on the link.
Illness – Unwell Students
As we enter the cooler months, we are seeing an increase in colds and flu. While we understand the importance of regular school attendance, we kindly ask that if your child is displaying symptoms or feeling unwell, please keep them at home. This helps prevent the spread of illness to other students and staff.
Gastroenteritis Reminder: If your child has experienced vomiting or diarrhoea, they must remain at home for at least 48 hours after the last episode before returning to school. This precaution helps keep our school community healthy and safe.
Keeping our school community well
Parents, carers and students are encouraged to:
· wash and sanitise their hands regularly
· avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
· cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing · stay at home if unwell
· stay up to date with flu vaccinations.
-stay home if unwell
Donations
We will be hosting a Colour Run/Walk-a-Thon fundraiser in Term 4 and are seeking support from our wonderful community. As part of the event, we would love to offer prizes to our participants. If you, your family, friends, or any local businesses are able to donate vouchers or prizes, we would greatly appreciate your contribution.
No voucher or prize is too small; every donation helps make this event exciting and rewarding for our students!
If you’re able to help, please get in touch. Thank you so much for your support.
Congratulations to Jarrod S and Kelsey, who were married over the holiday break. We hope they enjoyed celebrating this very special occasion with their family and friends.
Kind regards
Leanne Bradney