Principal's Report

FUN FIESTA 

What a fantastic community event full of great food, rides and entertainment we had at our Fun Fiesta Last Friday. The Community support, through donations, volunteers, visitors to our school and contributions was outstanding. Despite the heat, everyone clearly enjoyed the event, with this year’s Fun Fiesta raising approximately $6000- our greatest effort over the past 10 years! There are so many people to thank for their efforts leading up to the event and on the day. To all our parent volunteers on the day (a list will be provided on the ‘Fun Fiesta’ page in next week’s newsletter along with certificates at assembly on 6th December), many, many thanks for your time and contributions. For all our staff who stayed to support the event, a huge thank you for your extra time at school. To all the families who donated items, vouchers, gifts and prizes- your contribution has helped make our Fun Fiesta fundraising a great success.

Some special mentions of support to Bronwyn Clarke, Amanda Lewis, Ann Dunford, Jade Horua, Adam Summersett (parents) who put in many hours before, during and after the Fun Fiesta to ensure the communication, preparation, booking of contractors, risk assessments and more were completed.

For Daniel Redfearn (Performing Arts teacher), leading all the activities on the main stage, including the choir and talent quest- what a great job!

And to everyone who came along and supported our school- thanks for contributing to our fabulous Albany Rise Primary School community!

Working Bee Sunday 24th November- Resilient Efforts!

Whilst our Working Bee was cancelled due to the weather on Friday, two families decided to ‘soldier on’ and complete a few key tasks. Many thanks to the Summersett Family, who completed a big clean up of our Frog Bog and viewing platform in the garden area at the north of the school. The area looks so much better and is much more accessible.

And thanks to Ann Dunford (grandparent) who has worked tirelessly on Sunday and during this week, to ensure all the resources, prizes, and supplies from recent events are carefully packed and stored, ready for use in the future. This help is greatly valued!

Market Day

Yesterday our Year 6 students held a wonderful Market Day event, fundraising for the end of year celebration activities. The stalls were very carefully planned, with excellent advertising, financial planning and production of some wonderful foods and crafts for sale. Students in all year levels enjoyed the opportunity to purchase goods and support the Financial literacy program for our Year 6 students. Many thanks for the support from all our families to ensure this event was successful.

Parent Helpers Afternoon tea & Thank you!- Tuesday 3rd December

With so many parents/carers volunteering their time and effort at events all year, our staff would love the opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support and engagement in learning at Albany Rise. I encourage all parents who have had any support role at ARPS this year, no matter how big or small, to come along to our ‘Thank You’ afternoon tea and celebrate all our successes together with ‘our’ children this year, on Tuesday 3rd December at 2.15pm. This is a great time for an informal catch up with staff and other parents, a lovely afternoon snack, and prefect timing to collect students at the end of the day.

We do hope as many of our supportive parents/carers (and grandparents) can come along as possible.

GREEN TEAM news

Many community members will be aware that our Albany Rise ‘Green Team’ (Environmental student leaders) recently achieved an award as part of the Monash Council ‘Actions for Earth: Schools Sustainability Challenge 2024’. The Team led by Simone Cheslett (staff- you may have met her at the plant stall during the Fun Fiesta) have undertaken a number of key actions to support and promote sustainability across our school.

This has drawn the attention of several grassroots community groups, eager to also promote sustainability.

Below is an invitation for ARPS students/families to attend an upcoming community event:

Love our National Parks – what are they and why we need more of them

📆 Tuesday 3 December 2024, 6:30 pm to 8 pm

📌 Oakleigh Hall, 142 Drummond St, Oakleigh

Entry is free but places are limited so make sure you sign up. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/love-our-national-parks-a-community-celebration-tickets-1068986731089 

There is an exciting lineup: 

• We have requested a Welcome to Country by a Wurundjeri Elder.
• Writer, teacher and forest lover Sophie Cunningham is our MC.
• The Wilderness Society will tell us what people are saying about their love of national parks. 
• Matt Ruchel from the Victorian National Parks Association will tell us why we need more of them.  
• Professor Paul Sunnucks from Monash University, an Oakleigh local, will explain the importance of large areas of connected habitat and tell us a good news story about the helmeted honeyeater. 
• Steve Meacher, President of Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum will be accompanied by young Greta who speaks passionately about her love for Victoria’s threatened faunal emblem.

They would love to hear from our students if someone would like to speak at our Love National Parks evening. 

Or they may wish to send in art work or write about forests and biodiversity, tree and/or habitat planting, or creating a habitat structure we would love to showcase their work. 

They look forward to seeing folk from our school community there and having a fun, informative evening! There will be paper Leadbeater's possum finger puppets for children to assemble and take home and a giant map of Vic where they can stick hearts on the natural places they love to visit. Also, speeches will be short and sharp, there'll be animal costumes and a primary school student will teach us about the endangered Leadbeater's Possum.

If there are any budding native artists or speakers in our community, I encourage you to take part in this local community event.

Parent Contributions and Booklists 2025

A reminder, Parent Payments to Ross Office for 2025 are due on 11th December. 

Ordering Student Book Pack and Payment Method: 

In 2025, all stationery packs and voluntary contributions will be purchased by families online. Order your Student Booklist Pack and pay your financial contributions at https://booklist.officebrands.com.au/Croydon 

For more information or assistance- please contact the office.

Swimming Term 4

All students from Foundation to Year 6 are strongly encouraged to take part in the school swimming program. Many thanks to the majority of parents who have already indicated their child’s inclusion in the swimming program at Doug Ellis Swimming pool. Information, permission and payment for the swimming program is available on Compass parent portal.

Judy Drew

Principal