Principal's Message

Principal's Report

Welcome to the start of Week 3 of Term 2. We spent the first two weeks in our "Learning to Learn" phase of the curriculum. During this time, we focus on routines and procedures, exemplifying the positive Big 10 Essential Habits required to succeed in 2025. It is rigorous and precise. We have been coaching teachers to be their best by visiting their classrooms and offering feedback on affirmations and improvements. 

Starting this week, our full-on academic program begins. We have been working hard to create every lesson in every classroom to remove variability from class to class and to ensure quality control of curriculum materials. With teachers being coached on how to be 'warm-strict' and the standardisation of the curriculum, our test question of "If a family had triplets in three different classes, would the quality of education remain the same?" is exemplified. It is a high standard and one to which we aspire. We are not there yet, but we will succeed in the next year or so. Creating every lesson has the added benefit of cutting down on teacher workload. This helps attract and retain the best staff so it is a worthy focus. Set content frees time for teachers to focus on the quality of curriculum delivery - and not the imperative of being up all night planning content.

In last week's Newsfeed, I requested that parents leave the school grounds by 4:30pm at the latest to allow staff who lock the gates a smooth exit after a long day at work. This was largely complied with and I am very grateful. If there is a volunteer willing to stay and be the last person out the gate (in order to secure the school) please send an email to our South Melbourne address and we will give it a trial. If we don't get that volunteer, then leaving at about 4:20pm (reminding others to do the same) is very helpful. We want you to enjoy the grounds, but we need to balance the safety and security of the school with that desire. I apologise for those who love staying in the school with their kids past 4:30pm. 

Getting to Know Your Child Chats (GTKYCC)

All staff are excited to meet you this coming week. I will assume every reader has booked in to see their child's teacher. We keep this data so we can see who is engaged with their child's education. Please make the booking or make contact with your child's classroom teacher via email to arrange a suitable time. This week is preferable as we have released all staff from after school meetings to create the time. It gets more inconvenient in the upcoming weeks due to meetings for staff occurring after class hours. 

Remember, this is not the chance for your child's teacher to report to you - it is the reverse. We want you to talk about your child so we have a more complete picture of your child and your family. It really helps create that trusting relationship. 

Please refer to the Compass Newsfeed about all the finer details regarding GTKYCC.

Key Dates - End of Term 1, Start of Term 2

In order to assist your planning for holidays and childcare, I wanted to give a heads-up for your diaries. Note the following key dates which mark the end of Term 1 and the start of Term 2:

• Friday 4 April: Easter Hat Parade and Raffle. Last Day of Term 1 (2:30pm Finish - OSHClub Running - make a booking online if you need childcare after 2:30pm)
• Saturday, 4 April to Monday, April 21: School Holidays - days off all inclusive
• Monday, April 21: Easter Monday Public Holiday - no classes, no OSHClub
• Tuesday, April 22: Curriculum Day (no classes, OSHClub running - make a booking online if you need child care)
• Wednesday, April 23: First Day of Term 3
• Friday, April 25: ANZAC Day Holiday - no classes, no OSHClub

That first week back in Term 2 only has two days of classes - so please plan ahead.

Positive Chronicles: 

At SMPS we want to celebrate our students doing well and displaying our school values of Character, Community and Learning. Teachers will sometimes share these good news stories with our parents through Positive Chronicles. When your child’s classroom teacher completes a Positive Chronicle about your child, you will receive an email from Compass. 

This email will direct you to Compass where you will be able to read about your child displaying one of our school values. These Positive Chronicles will remain on your child’s Compass page for the school year. 

Excursions and Invisits

Please pay attention to this message as we don't want your child missing out on Excursions and Invisits.

An excursion is when your child's class leaves the school premises (usually at a distance via bus or public transport). Typically, this is to places like the Zoo.

An invisit is when we arrange expert visitors to take sessions with the children to enhance the learning program. An example would be a woodwork class.

These cost money and it is user-pays. If you have not paid your Excursion/Invisit fees - your child will not attend.

When payment has not been made and a child misses out on these experiences, this can be very confusing for them on the day. They have to be placed in another class and they sometimes feel sad. Parents sometimes get upset because they want their child to go, but have not read about how to pay the fees or have just forgotten. 

We don't want this to happen - so please pay the fees if you want your child to attend.

Colin in the office has made the fee-paying process very transparent. Contact him if you are still confused and he will walk you through it. The next page has details on School Savings Bonus and Camps and Excursions Funding (if that is your choice of payment method).

If your child comes home and has not been on an excursion/invisit that occurred, please understand that it is not the school being nasty or negligent. It is the process that has not been followed at your end. We want to help. Please help us by attending to the situation prior to the excursion/invisit taking place. 

Our first invisit for the year is February 16 and it involves the Year 1 students - so please get onto it. A note of warning, we are really challenged by the School Savings Bonus process so forgive us if we are a bit uneven until we master this new system. 

Prep Morning Drop Off

The Prep team have discussed the morning drop off process for Prep families commencing from Week 3. The team believes the Preps are not yet ready to walk upstairs without 1:1 support from parents and will continue the process we have used this week. 

• A member of leadership on Prep duty will meet families at the bottom of the stairs on the Ground Floor.
• Parents are able to walk with their child/children to Level 2.
• Parents will use the Prep 'Kiss and Go' zone in the foyer near the Level 2 basketball court.
• Preps will stay until 2:40pm starting this week (Fridays are still testing day - no school for students unless they are being tested)

Visit by Finnish Principals

We have up to 12 principals from Finland visiting the school on Monday this week and a further dozen or so Italian principals later on this week. Word of mouth spreads internationally and these visits follow on the heels of the 40 educators from India who visited in 2024. 

The Finnish system is known as a high performing organisation, constantly topping the international data rankings for student outcomes. The fact that leaders from this country choose South Melbourne PS as their only school to visit means something - and we are proud to showcase outstanding teaching (and students) to these esteemed visitors.