Principals' Message 

Hello Parents and Friends,

We have had a fantastic fortnight at TPPS.  Our Prep camp was held last night and they had an amazing time undertaking a range of activities hosted by SEDA and their very own disco.  They also enjoyed a yummy sausage sizzle for dinner.  Our Prep’s have had such a fantastic year and we are so pleased that their first camp experience went so well.  A big thank you to the Prep teachers and parent volunteers who organised the night and made it possible.  It is greatly appreciated. 

Our senior students have achieved spectacularly in their sporting endeavours over the last fortnight.  Our Grade 5/6 Boys Basketball team won the School Sport Victoria (SSV) State Championship last week!  Additionally, our Girls 9v9 AFL team came second in the SSV State Championship on Wednesday. 

To put these achievements into context, there are over 1500 primary schools in Victoria.  For TPPS to be in the top two schools for these popular sports is unprecedented and an amazing feat.  Congratulations to both teams, their coaches and parents.  To read more about this, please click into the Learning @ TPPS section. 

Next week, we have numerous teams competing in the State Hoop Time Basketball Finals. We will update you all on how they have fared in our next newsletter.  2024 has been a very successful year for TPPS in multiple academic, creative and sporting competitions.  We are so proud of the achievements of our students. 

Have a wonderful weekend! 

 PFA Colour Explosion Fun Run!

Two weeks ago we held our Colour Explosion Fun Run and we had a fantastic time!  The weather was perfect for the event and our students had a wonderful time. Our PFA were spectacular in organising the event and we would like to thank Aylin Eser and Kate Claringbould for the amazing work they did to ensure the Colour Run was such a smashing success.  Additionally, a huge thank must go to the Tim Fitzpatrick who hooked up the water to the back oval and the parents and friends that assisted on the day.  The Colour Explosion Fun Run is such an enjoyable event for our community and we are so grateful to Aylin and the PFA for planning such a great event.  

2025 Parent Payments: Please Make Your Payment by Friday, 13 December

You will notice on your Newsfeed under Course Confirmation that the 2025 Parent Payments are now available to be paid on Compass. 

The process on how to pay the charges is outlined in the attached letter and guide on the Compass Newsfeed. 

You will notice in 2025 that the student charges for Prep and Grades 1-6 are different.  In 2025, we have introduced two new student workbooks to the Grades 1-6 booklist.  Please see more information on what these levies cover in the attached letter. 

In 2025, the school will be undertaking a major project to build a shelter over our basketball court and lay synthetic grass over our asphalt courts. This is a large project that will be fully funded by the school. The shelter will provide a covered space for PE lessons and whole school events. Parent contributions assist us to undertake major projects such as this one.

Thank you for your vital contribution to our voluntary levies.  Without your contributions we would not be able to offer our extensive and diverse learning programs, purchase the excellent resources we have and improve our facilities to the level that we do.

If you have any further queries please contact the school office.

School Structure for 2025 

We are pleased to announce the Leadership, Class, Specialist and support/extension structure for 2025.  We will have twenty-four classes in 2025. 

The school is making its greatest investment ever in curriculum design by releasing our two Learning Specialists out of the class for four days a week as we implement our new teaching and learning model.  Mrs Irene Lucas and Mr Oli Konakoff will share classes with Mrs Elena Karabatsos and Mr Kitney.  Irene and Oli will work closely with Mrs Robyn Twyford (Head of Learning and Teaching) to design learning programs based on the research based ‘Science of Learning’ practices. Additionally, Mr Jared Kitney will be released from teaching for one day a week to lead Mathematics learning.

In 2025, Mrs Narelle Sime will spend three days within the classroom and two outside so she can lead the new Disability Inclusion initiatives that will be introduced to Inner East schools next year. 

Mr Neil Mitchell and Ms Natalie Durnford will take Leave Without Pay (LWP) in 2025. We wish them well with their endeavours next year. I am happy to announce the following teachers will be joining TPPS in 2025:

• Mr Bradley Jones ( formerly of Lalor East PS)
• Jonny Pepi (formerly of Toorak PS)
• Amy Yang (current replacement teacher at TPPS) 
• Alex Michael (Graduate)

This structure allows us to use all available teaching spaces and to facilitate a workable timetable.  Across the school we will maintain a class average of just under 23 students, well below the average of 26 that is outlined in the 2022 Victorian Government Schools Agreement. 

In 2025 we will continue to offer a substantial support/enrichment and EAL programs.  This includes Maths extension class and the new MacqLit systematic reading intervention program for students from Grade 3-6. 

Our outstanding specialist programs will continue in 2025. 

Please see the 2025 school structure below.

Teaching/Learning and School Structures for 2025 

The Victorian Education Department have introduced the Victorian Teaching and

 Learning Model 2.0 and have instructed all schools to implement the model over the next three years.  As we have informed you, we have undertaken considerable work in the Science of Learning in 2024 and have seen great success. We are excited to make further changes to our teaching and learning programs and school structures in 2025. In the coming weeks, a parent information evening will be held to explain and discuss the changes from the Department of Education and our school.  Please stay tuned for the meeting time and date on Compass. 

TPPS Annual Christmas Concert & Art Show – Wednesday, 18th December 

• Art Show 4:00 – 5:00pm
• Christmas Concert – 5:00 – 6:30pm 

Our Christmas Concert and Art Show is set to take place on Wednesday, 18th December. The night will kick off at 4:00pm with the Art Show in the main building corridor and the Christmas Concert will be held on the synthetic courts from 5:00pm.  All year levels will sing a Christmas carol and there may even be a special visitor from the North Pole!

All families are invited to bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the company of the school community before the concert begins at 5:00pm. 

We are looking forward to sharing a fun and festive night with you all!

2025 Prep Transition 

Our final Prep Transition took place last Thursday morning.  After three previous transition sessions, our Prep students found out their teacher and grade for 2025.  There were smiles all around as the new Preps settled into their classrooms and enjoyed their final visit before they become TPPS students.  Our parents had a productive final transition session too. We would like to thank Kate Claringbould (PFA President) and Cara Barry (Prep 2024 parent and staff member) for speaking with our new Prep parents about the first year of school.  Cara appeared via a prerecorded video as she was in Sydney supporting her daughter at the Australian Dance Championships. We can’t wait to hear about the results!   

Principals’ Award

At our last assembly we were so pleased to present the Principals’ Award to Miranda W in Grade 5. Miranda is an excellent student who always gets the most out of herself regardless of the curriculum area.  This is extremely evident with her writing, where she engages fully in the whole writing process. Miranda meticulously revises and edits her pieces, along with seeking and applying feedback, to ensure that every piece is completed to the best of her ability.  Additionally, the pride she shows in her work, combined with her high artistic ability, ensure that her bookwork and published pieces are always immaculately presented. Miranda always shows everyone the utmost respect and makes responsible choices, but her silent acts of service is where she shows her best leadership. She is regularly the last person out of the classroom, turning off the lights or cleaning up someone else’s mess and does this without the need for recognition or accolades. These moments of kindness and care are always noticed and we thank you for them. Well done, Miranda! 

Are you Leaving Templestowe Park in 2025?

We ask that you let us know if you are considering moving or have enrolled at another school in 2025.  We require this information as soon as possible in order to establish grade structures for the start of the new school year.

If your child is currently in Grades Prep to 5 and will not be at Templestowe Park in 2025, please notify the school office by emailing to:-  templestowe.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mark Roberts                       Brian Cleary                                        Robyn Twyford 

PRINCIPAL                           ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL                  ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL