Things To 

Know

SAVE THE DATE: WHOLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS CARNIVAL - MONDAY 11 AUGUST 

Where: Duncan Mackinnon Reserve on North Road

We are thrilled to announce that our Whole School Athletics Carnival will be held on Monday, 11th August at Duncan Mackinnon Reserve. This exciting event is a highlight on the Ripponlea Primary School calendar and brings together students from Foundation to Year 6 for a full day of friendly competition, teamwork and physical challenge.

All students will travel by bus to the venue and participate in a variety of athletic events, including relays, sprints, long jump, high jump, vortex throw, and more. With guidance and encouragement from Susie Massey, Mr Rambaran, and our House Captains, the day promises to be a fun and spirited celebration of sportsmanship and school pride.

This year, we are especially eager to see who will claim victory in the inaugural 2025 House Athletics Carnival – will it be Tunparrim, Bemin Boorong, or Warren? House spirit will be on full display, and we encourage students to come dressed in their house colours, ready to cheer and compete with enthusiasm.

To help make this day a success, we are looking for volunteers to assist with events, supervision and general support throughout the day. If you’re available and would like to lend a hand, please contact Perrine at the office. Your support makes a big difference, and we’d love to have as many families involved as possible.

A COMPASS notification with full details will be sent out tomorrow. Please keep an eye out for permission forms and further information.

Let the countdown begin to one of the most exciting days of Term 3!

BOOK WEEK - BOOK AN ADVENTURE

We can’t wait to dive into Book Week 2025 at our school, celebrating the 80th year of Australia’s Children’s Book Council of Australia’s annual event. Running from Saturday 16 August to Saturday 23 August, this year’s inspiring theme is Book an Adventure!, inviting students to journey through new worlds, ideas, and stories through reading 

🗓 Mark Your Calendars

• Parade Day: Monday 25 August — Dress up as your favourite book character, bring the book your character comes from, and join the fun!
• Author Visit & Book Fair: Friday 5 September — Author Jane Godwin joins us, and the Scholastic Book Fair will be open all week.

✨ Get Creative — No Costume Required

This year, we're encouraging creativity and imagination:

• Choose a character whose story reflects adventure, perhaps an explorer, a magical creature, or a curious thinker.
• No need to shop for costumes, past years have shown that homemade outfits from recycled or everyday materials are often the most imaginative and memorable.
• Please bring the book your character comes from so you can share it with classmates during the parade.

📖 Spotlight on Jane Godwin

We’re thrilled to welcome celebrated Australian author Jane Godwin, who lives in Melbourne and writes for children and young adults. Jane has been recognised with numerous awards including the 2024 Australian Book Industry Awards Hall of Fame induction and the Pixie O’Harris Award and publishes for Penguin Books Australia 

Some of her recent and beloved works include:

• A Life Song (2023) – Winner of the 2024 ABIA Children’s Picture Book of the Year, a lyrical celebration for young readers. 
• When Rain Turns to Snow (2020) – A beautifully crafted novel shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers and the Prime Minister’s Literary Award 
• Today We Have No Plans, All Through the Year, Little Cat and the Big Red Bus, What Do You Wish For?, and Sadie and the Silver Shoes — popular picture books by Jane, often illustrated by Anna Walker, full of warmth, gentle humour, and everyday adventure 
• Falling from Grace (2006) – A compelling young-adult mystery set in Victoria, combining psychological depth and a haunting sense of place. 

On Friday 5 September, Jane will speak to students and share her writing journey, what inspires her characters, her ideas for stories, and how books can become adventures in themselves.

🎒 How This Year’s Theme Fits

“Book an Adventure!” invites students to explore the worlds that books open up, from seas to cityscapes, fantasy lands to fiendish puzzles. Jane Godwin’s stories, whether the poetic imagination of her picture books or the emotional explorations in her novels, offer just that: journeys of wonder, courage, and discovery. 

✅ Parental Checklist

Book Week is one of the highlights of our year, a chance for students to celebrate reading, creativity, and storytelling alongside their peers. It’s a week when imagination takes the lead, costumes transform hallways, and every page invites a new journey.

We can’t wait to see which characters come alive this year and to explore books, authors, and adventures together!

Happy reading, and may your Book Week be filled with wonder!

BEFORE SCHOOL & AFTER SCHOOL SUPERVISION 

Student safety at Ripponlea Primary School is our highest priority, and the safe and appropriate supervision of students is a crucial element of our duty of care to them. Part of this duty is ensuring parents and students are aware of our student supervision arrangements before and after school. 

Before school: Ourschool grounds are supervised from 8:45 am to 9:00 am. Only the basketball court play area is supervised. Students are not permitted on the eastern-end playground (oval) before 9:00 am. 

After school: Our school grounds are supervised from 3:30 pm to 3:45 pm. Only the basketball court play area is supervised. Students are not permitted on the eastern-end playground (oval) after 3:30 pm unless participating in a pre-arranged activity, e.g.  Sports X. 

NB: Students on school grounds outside these times will not be supervised (unless they are attending a before or after-school care program or supervised extracurricular activity. 

Students must be under the supervision of a parent/carer if they are on the school grounds before 8.45 am or after 3.45 pm. RPS will not accept responsibility for students arriving at school prior to 8.45 am or remaining at school after 3.45 pm.

Parents/carers are requested to ensure that students do not attend school outside of these supervised times, unless they are attending before- or after-school care, or a pre-arranged supervised activity (e.g. Sport practice - Netball/Basketball Ripper Teams ). 

Families are encouraged to contact the Principal or Assistant Principal on 0395275728 or refer to Yard Duty & Supervision Policy for more information about the before and after-school care facilities available to our school community, or if you would like any further information about our student supervision arrangements.

For a copy of our school’s Yard Duty and Supervision Policy, parents can access a copy of the full policy on the school’s website, the COMPASS parent portal, or contact the school office. This policy includes Ripponlea Primary School’s student supervision arrangements across the school day, including before and after school.

THEIRCARE NEWSLETTER

PROMOTING RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY 

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are proud of the positive and supportive relationships we have with our families and wider school community. We know that the vast majority of interactions between staff and parents/carers are respectful and focused on working together to support each child’s learning and wellbeing.

However, as part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning and working environment, we remind all families that school staff have the right to feel safe and respected in their workplace.

The Department of Education has recently released updated resources to support respectful behaviour in schools. These will soon be displayed across key areas of the school and reinforce important messages about acceptable behaviour towards staff.

We ask that all families please be mindful of the following expectations when communicating with any member of our staff:

• Respect professional boundaries: It is inappropriate to ask staff confidential or personal questions, such as those related to their employment history, leave entitlements or experience.
• Make reasonable requests: Staff are not expected to respond to demands outside of their roles or responsibilities. Please direct all concerns or requests to the appropriate contact person.
• Use respectful language: Aggressive, rude, or offensive comments, whether in person, in writing, or online, will not be tolerated.
• Collaborate constructively: We welcome feedback and discussion, but this must occur calmly and respectfully, which promotes problem-solving and partnership.
• Responsible Social Media Use: Using social media platforms to criticise or shame staff, especially regarding confidential matters or decisions made by the school.

Such actions can significantly impact staff wellbeing and breach both privacy and departmental policies. 

We appreciate your cooperation in upholding these standards, and we thank you for your ongoing support in making Ripponlea Primary School a positive, safe place to work and learn.

If you have any concerns, please contact the school leadership team directly. Let’s continue working together to ensure a respectful and caring school culture for all.