From the Assistant Principal

Autumn weather has officially arrived, and with the changing season comes many opportunities for connection, learning and community engagement across SMPPS.

Koorie Afternoon Tea

This Wednesday, 20 May during Session 6, we will be hosting our Koorie Afternoon Tea (location to be confirmed). This is a valuable opportunity for families, staff and community members to come together to discuss how we can continue strengthening voice, agency and belonging for our Koorie students and families at SMPPS.

At SMPPS, we believe that meaningful partnerships with families and community help create stronger outcomes for students. Everyone is warmly welcome to attend. Please sign in at the office on arrival and Dee will direct you to the meeting space.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week will be held 27 May – 3 June. This important week provides an opportunity for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, while continuing to build respectful relationships and understanding.

Our Koorie Engagement Lead, Rachel Azzopardi, will be supporting staff learning this week by sharing resources and ideas to help teachers thoughtfully plan learning experiences that deepen student understanding of reconciliation, truth-telling and the importance of recognising and celebrating First Nations cultures and perspectives within our school community.

National Sorry Day

Members of the Port Phillip community are invited to attend a free lunch to commemorate National Sorry Day on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. This event provides an opportunity for reflection, acknowledgement and community connection. Please see the attached flyer for further information if you are interested in attending.

Hats & Hair

As we move into the cooler months, our “no hats” season has now commenced and will continue through until mid-August.

A reminder to families that, in line with our Uniform Policy, students with hair touching their shoulders are required to have it tied back. While reducing the spread of head lice is one important reason, tying long hair back also supports student safety during play, sport and physical activity.

We appreciate families working in partnership with us to support safe and active participation for all students.

Supporting a Focus on Learning – Toys, Trading Cards and Balls from Home

Following recent communication regarding trading cards, we would also like to thank Mr. Huynh and our Student Representative Council (SRC) for their work in ensuring each classroom now has dedicated sports equipment available for student use.

To support inclusion, fairness and a strong focus on learning and positive play, we kindly ask that students use the school-provided balls and equipment wherever possible, rather than bringing items from home. We also request that toys remain at home to prevent valuable or special items from becoming lost or damaged at school.

Providing shared equipment helps ensure all students have equal access to play opportunities and supports positive social interactions across our playground spaces. We appreciate your ongoing support in helping us maintain inclusive, safe and engaging learning environments for all children.

Finally, a sincere thank you to Valerie Augustini and Stephanie Drakeford, our two Year 1 parents who have generously volunteered to take over the running of our Second-Hand Uniform Stall from Mel Jones. Our school community is strengthened by the many families who contribute their time and energy to support SMPPS, and we are incredibly grateful for their willingness to step into this important role.

Kind regards,

Sam Smrekar Thompson

Assistant Principal