Things To 

Know

2024 HOUSE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL  CALLING FOR VOLUNTEERS

FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 

We are getting excited about the upcoming House Athletics Carnival at Duncan MacKinnon Reserve. The Carnival is not just another school event; it is a day filled with camaraderie, sportsmanship, and friendly competition. It provides our students with an opportunity to showcase their athletic abilities, step outside their comfort zone, build lasting memories, and strengthen the bonds that make our school community so special.

Volunteers are the backbone of any successful event, and the House Athletics Carnival is no exception. Without your unwavering support, organising this event and ensuring its smooth operation would be an arduous task. 

Marshals are essential for guiding and supporting the students as they participate in different events. While our wonderful teachers will be present to supervise the students, they cannot manage the logistics of the events and simultaneously oversee the participants. 

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our school office as soon as possible. 

Here is the schedule for the day, which requires lots of volunteers.

BOOK WEEK CELEBRATIONS 

AUTHOR VISIT - LEIGH HOBBS 

WEDNESDAY 14th AUGUST

We are thrilled to announce that the beloved Australian author and illustrator Leigh Hobbs will be visiting Ripponlea Primary School on Wednesday, August 14th, just before the launch of our Book Week celebrations.

About Leigh Hobbs

Leigh Hobbs is best known for his charming and humorous children's books. His iconic characters, including Old Tom, Mr. Chicken, Horrible Harriet, and Mr. Badger, have captured the hearts and imaginations of readers around the world. Hobbs’ work is celebrated for its unique blend of wit, warmth, and whimsical illustrations, making him a favourite among children and parents alike.

Books Available for Purchase and Signing

Families will have the special opportunity to order one of Leigh Hobbs' delightful books and have it personally autographed. This is a wonderful chance to own a treasured keepsake and to inspire your child's love for reading and creativity.

Don't miss out on this exciting event that promises to be a highlight of our Book Week festivities!

See Flyer Below for More Details: 

BOOK WEEK PARADE - MONDAY 19 AUGUST

Get Ready, Ripper Staff and Students!

It's that time of year again! Time to rummage through your costume cupboards and bring to life one of your favourite book characters. Book Week is just around the corner, and we can't wait to see the incredible creativity of our students.

When: Monday, 19th August

Hosted by: Mr. Braden Leech, School Captains, and Vice Captains

Our School Captains and Vice Captains will be judging the best costume from each year level. We know how imaginative and resourceful our Ripponlea students are, and we’re excited to see what you come up with this year.

Parents, we encourage you to recycle and reinvent previous costumes. There’s no need for expensive store-bought ones – sometimes the simplest costumes are the best. Let's showcase our Ripper creative spirit!

Perhaps Leigh Hobbs' recent visit has inspired some of you. Whether you're channelling Old Tom, Horrible Harriet, or any other beloved character, we’re looking forward to a day filled with fun and fantastic costumes.

Get ready to unleash your imagination and celebrate Book Week in true Ripponlea style!

LITTLE RIPPONLEA LIBRARY 

At Ripponlea Primary School, our students' love for reading is evident in their enthusiasm for exploring the rich reading resources provided by the school. Our families deeply value these provisions, and this shared passion for literature has inspired a new initiative to further promote the joy of reading within our community.

The Ripponlea Kinder Committee has established a little community library at the front of the school. This delightful addition aims to create more opportunities for everyone to indulge in their love for books. We hope that everyone enjoys the wonderful selection already available and that many will contribute by placing some of their own books for others to enjoy.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Kinder Committee for establishing this little community library. Their efforts have brought a wonderful new resource to our school, and we look forward to seeing it grow and thrive as a cherished part of our community. Happy reading, everyone!

REcYcLinG foR reFuGEes

‘Guys, it’s time for counting,’ says Isaac, and that’s what we do. 

Alby, Isaac, Sia, Frida, Hugo and Arlo, they all helped in the last week of last term, sorting and counting eligible glass and plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and liquid paper board drink boxes – all being gathered and processed to help soon welcome and settle an Aghan refugee family in Melbourne. 

‘This box is overflowing,’ says Alby.

‘I could swim in this many cans,’ says Hugo. 

We tally them up, one tub at a time, and add all the totals: 45 glass bottles, 77 plastic bottles, 244 cans, and 22 juice drink boxes (most of them put in the tub by Alby, after a children’s birthday party – thank you Alby!). 

Grand total: 388 items. Each worth 10 cents. 

Last night I transferred $38.80 into our fundraising bank account, and put all the children’s names with the donation. It can be seen, here: Shout For Good

(Also – for better bookkeeping - I’ll soon transfer the amounts of previous weeks, adding the names of all who help each week).

We all give in our own ways. 

Parents and children at Ripponlea Primary School are bringing in containers to their school, and donating them to this cause. I am giving mostly my time – being at the school to do this, but also driving often to Dandenong to process the items, and the other week I drove there to door knock real estate agents and find a rental property for the Afghan family, soon to arrive. Other school parents have taken it upon themselves to give even more, donating directly to this initiative. 

Thank you all for being part of this giving circle! 

By term’s end we’ll likely have raised the $500 I challenged the children to gather. Great job!

I cannot be in this week – got a labouring job I’ve committed to, we all do what we need to do to get by – but I’ll be back at Ripponlea next Wednesday, itching to count cans with the kids!

Dugald