Ms D Principal Message

Welcome Back

Welcome back to what I know will be another wonderful term! I hope you and your families enjoyed a well-deserved rest over the school holidays. For me, the break provided a valuable opportunity to pause, reflect, and feel truly grateful for the privilege it is to lead this extraordinary school community.

It is not lost on me how special Toorak Primary School is — the warmth of our families, the dedication of our staff, and the boundless energy and curiosity of our students make this a genuinely remarkable place to be every single day. I returned to school this term with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for everything ahead.  Over the past 7 days being back in classrooms is always a positive time allowing me to witness the students and teachers in action, connect with students and continue to develop those positive relationships.  In Prep D early last week I was quickly humbled when the students corrected me when I gave the incorrect direction to the dictation routine - I quickly heard Mrs D, we don’t draw the word lines for dictation, we only do it for the sounds in words.  It clearly demonstrates that routines and high expectations are set from day one here at TPS and even our youngest students are quick to establish and understand how we do things. 

The Importance of Every Day at School

 As we settle into Term 2, I want to take a moment to highlight just how important regular school attendance is for every child. Every day at school counts.

The Department of Education's Every Day Counts — or "Hero" — message reminds us that students who attend school every day are given the best possible opportunity to develop their skills, build friendships, establish routines, and achieve their full potential.

When a child misses school — even occasionally — they miss vital learning experiences, social connections, and continuity. We know that consistent attendance is one of the single greatest contributors to long-term educational success. Be their hero — make every school day count.

 Year 2-4 Swimming Program

The year 2 to 4, eight day swimming program commenced on Monday. From what I witnessed yesterday down at the pool, the children were showing high levels of resilience and a can do attitude as they continued their learning journey.  There were some very brave year 2 and 3 students having a go at diving from the blocks.  This year we have subsidised the swimming program to reduce the cost to families by $40.00 per student.

Exciting Playground Updates

Over the school holidays, our grounds have been transformed with some wonderful new additions. We are thrilled to announce the installation of our brand new cubby houses, mud kitchen, and exploration tables. These purposefully designed spaces have been created to encourage imaginative play, collaborative learning, and hands-on exploration — all of which are central to how children learn and grow. The feedback from students in the first days back has already been overwhelmingly positive, and it is a joy to see the delight on their faces as they discover these new spaces.  Once again I would like to thank our school community for raising the funds for this developmnent.

But the good news doesn't stop there! Further exciting works are planned for our school grounds. During the holidays, I met with a landscape designer to begin planning the development of our Brookville Road and Canterbury Road garden areas. These spaces have significant potential to become beautiful, functional, and educationally rich environments. We are currently awaiting the finalised plans from our landscape designer before submitting them to Buildings and Grounds for approval. We will share more details with the community as these plans progress, and we look forward to your ongoing support.

 Solar Panel Upgrade — A Greener Future

Toorak Primary School continues to grow in its commitment to sustainability, and I am pleased to share a significant milestone in that journey.

Over the holiday break, our old solar panel system was officially decommissioned. In its place, a brand new, state-of-the-art solar system will be installed on 1 June 2025. This upgraded system will meaningfully add to our school's sustainable approach, reducing our environmental footprint and modelling responsible energy use for our students. Teaching sustainability is not just something we do in the classroom — it is something we live as a school community.

Curriculum Day - Thursday, 7 May

Please note that Thursday 7 May is a Curriculum Day and therefore a student-free day. Our dedicated teaching staff will be engaged in two important areas of professional work.

School Vision and Values Review

One of the most important foundations of any school is a shared vision and set of values - a clear articulation of who we are, what we believe, and what we strive for together. Our teachers will spend dedicated time on this day evaluating our current school vision and values, reflecting on whether they authentically represent our community today and where we aspire to go. Importantly, this is not a conversation for staff alone. We believe wholeheartedly that every voice matters - students, families, and educators alike. 

Alongside the staff review, we will be launching a parent survey to gather your perspectives on our school vision and values. This survey will run alongside a corresponding student survey, ensuring that the views of our whole community — students, parents, and staff — are heard and considered in this important process.

We encourage every family to participate when the survey lands in your inbox. Setting a strong, community-endorsed vision and values is the cornerstone of a thriving school culture, and your voice is essential in shaping that.

Curriculum Documentation and School Review Preparation

Our staff will also use the curriculum day to engage in focused work completing and refining our curriculum documentation. This work is an important step in preparing for our upcoming School Review in Term 4. A school review is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, examine our practice, and identify where we can grow and improve. Thorough curriculum documentation ensures we enter that process with confidence and clarity.

Term 2 is full of exciting opportunities and I look forward to sharing the journey with you all. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or thoughts - our door is always open.

With warmth and gratitude,

Suada Dzaferovic

Principal

Toorak Primary School