Things To 

Know

PLANNING FOR 2025 - BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION TOGETHER

At Ripponlea Primary School, our preparations for the 2025 school year are well underway, with thoughtful planning across multiple areas to ensure the best possible outcomes for students, staff, and families. Key factors like teacher placements, input from parents and carers, student numbers, and recruitment processes—guided by merit and equity principles—are all carefully considered to align with our community’s needs and priorities.

We are currently working on teacher placements for 2025, ensuring we match staff strengths to the needs of each year level. Recruitment processes are being conducted transparently, following merit and equity guidelines, to bring the best possible educators into our team.

The ability to run classes and determine our overall structure depends heavily on the number of students enrolled. It’s important to highlight that schools are funded based on student enrolments, not the number of teaching staff. This means that maintaining an optimal student population allows us to run balanced and sustainable classes without compromising the quality of education.

Planned Class Structure for 2025

Below is the proposed class structure for 2025, based on current enrolment numbers and planning:

This structure reflects our current projections, ensuring we can balance student needs while making the best use of available resources. Adjustments may still be made if there are changes to student numbers, so it’s essential that families communicate any intentions to leave Ripponlea at the end of 2024 (other than Year 6 graduates). 

Being aware of any upcoming departures also ensures that the school operates effectively without running a financial deficit. With accurate enrolment figures, we can make decisions that protect both the learning environment and the school’s long-term financial health.

SAVE THE DATE - ZONES OF REGULATION PARENT WORKSHOP 

We are excited to invite you to a special workshop on The Zones of Regulation, presented by the knowledgeable Jade Sacker. This invaluable session will equip you with practical tools to support your child's emotional development, helping them learn to regulate their feelings—a crucial skill for life.

At Ripponlea Primary School, students have been actively engaging with The Zones of Regulation framework, learning how to identify their emotions and respond in constructive ways. As we head into next term, students will dive deeper into lessons 11 to 17, continuing to build essential strategies for managing emotions positively and productively.

The workshop will offer you insights into how the Zones of Regulation work, giving you practical tips on how to apply this learning at home. By reinforcing these strategies, you'll be helping your child develop self-regulation skills that will not only complement their learning at school but also build a foundation for lifelong emotional well-being.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to better understand how to support your child as they navigate their emotions. Together, we can create a consistent approach between home and school, empowering our children to thrive.

BIKE SHED UPDATE

As you may be aware from our newsletter, our building works will impact the use of the bike shed for storing students' bikes and scooters. Unfortunately, we are unable to determine the exact duration of this project at this stage. 

Currently, we do not have a secure alternative location on school grounds for bike and scooter storage. However, we have identified some possible options:

• Students can use the bike racks at the front of the school.
• Bikes can be chained along the fence line near the crossing.
• Alternatively, bikes can be locked at one of the trees/signposts on Carrington Grove 

We encourage families, especially those coming from a longer distance, to bring a bike lock and use these available options to secure their bikes. We also kindly request families to consider organizing walking groups or using school buses as alternatives during this period.

We are also exploring the possibility of utilising space at the back of the Barrbunin. However, we have concerns about security in that area due to the alleyway and the potential for theft.

We understand this situation may be inconvenient and appreciate your patience as we work through these changes. We aim to encourage physical exercise and sustainable transport as much as possible.

Please ensure that, if biking to school is the only option for your child, they use a sturdy bike chain for added security. Also, note that bikes and scooters left in the yard or classrooms are considered a safety hazard, as all paths need to remain clear for health and safety reasons.

Thank you for being so understanding.

SCHOOL SAVING BONUS

 In Term 4, 2024, families with a child enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025 will receive the one-off $400 School Saving Bonus.

The $400 School Saving Bonus provides families with support for education-related costs, such as school activities and/or school uniforms and textbooks.

The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home-schooled students, TAFE students and students attending kindergarten in 2025.   

Actions for parents and carers

Before 18 October 2024, the Department of Education is asking parents and carers to:

• Complete enrolment: If your child, or children are changing government school for Term 1 2025, or starting Prep or Year 7 in 2025. For more information, read about Enrolling in School. 
• Check your contact information: Ensure your email address and phone number is up to date with us. You can check this information by contacting us directly.

We need to ensure your contact information is up to date as the Department of Education will email you twice:

• in October, to verify your email address
• in November, with your $400 School Saving Bonus and access to an online system.

Please check your junk mail regularly to make sure you do not miss an important email.

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, download the School Saving Bonus Information sheet for government school parents and carers or visit vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus