Ms D Principal Message

Welcome Back!

I hope all our families enjoyed some special time together over the spring break. A big congratulations to our Brisbane supporters on a remarkable three-peat! I hope the premiership returns to Victoria in 2027!

It has been lovely to welcome everyone back and hear about students’ holiday adventures, from getting lost in a favourite book to family road trips and visits to other cities and countries. Our staff have also come back refreshed and ready for a busy, rewarding Term 4.

As this newsletter goes out, our Grade 3 and 4 students, staff and I have arrived safely at Portsea Camp for a few days of team building, adventure and fun. Camps give students a chance to work together, try new things and build independence and resilience in a setting very different from the classroom. They also give staff a chance to connect with students in new ways and build the trusting relationships that help every child feel safe and supported at school.

At Toorak Primary, we’re proud to offer a wide range of experiences, both at school and beyond, that enrich learning and personal growth. Thank you to all our families for supporting your children to take part. I’d also like to thank the families who have contributed to our Hardship Fund through parent contributions. So far this year, your generosity has helped over 12 students attend camp who might otherwise have missed out. It is a wonderful example of the care and community spirit that make our school so special.

Next Monday, our Grade 5 students and staff head off to Somers Camp for their own adventure. They’re especially looking forward to the activities planned, including time at the beach, and I know it will be a fantastic experience for everyone.

School Review Update

Last Thursday, Toorak Primary School took part in our School Review, an important process that happens every four years to reflect on our progress and set our direction for the future.

The reviewer, our Senior Education Improvement Leader (SEIL), challenge partners, the School Council President and our leadership team spent the day on site. The morning was spent observing literacy and numeracy lessons in classrooms and meeting with parent, staff and student representatives to hear their views on our strengths and areas for future improvement. In the afternoon, the panel worked with the leadership team to set strategic goals and targets for the next four years.

The panel highlighted several clear strengths of our school:

• strong curriculum planning and delivery
• consistency of practice across classrooms
• calm, engaged learning spaces
• consistently high expectations for all students
• a culture of continuous improvement

I’d like to thank our parent representatives for giving their time and for their honest, thoughtful feedback. Your input is invaluable, and we will use it to guide improvements, particularly in how we communicate with our school community.

Further details about our confirmed goals and targets will be shared once the review report has been finalised.

Art Show Thank You

Last term’s Art Show was a wonderful celebration of creativity across our school, and I’d like to sincerely thank Michelle Reynolds for leading it so successfully. Michelle’s vision, organisation and many hours of work brought the whole event together, and the result was something our entire community could be proud of.

The student artwork on display was outstanding. Every piece showed the imagination, effort and growing skill of our young artists, and it was a joy to watch students proudly show their work to family and friends.

A big thank you also goes to our Events Team for organising and hosting the Paint and Sip nights and the lemonade stall. Your hard work and generosity with your time added so much to the occasion. We are also very grateful to TheirCare for sponsoring and hosting the barbecue on the night of the Art Show, which was a much-loved part of the evening. 

Thank you to all our families for supporting the Art Show fundraising, whether you bought tea towels or art smocks, joined in the dress-up day, purchased artwork or came along to the show. Together, we raised just over $10,000, which will go towards a new kiln so that students can create artwork with clay in the future. We can’t wait to see what they make!

Grandparents Open Morning

On Friday 23 October we invite our grandparents or special friends into our classrooms from 9:10am - 9:45am.  We invite them to come into our school hall from 9am for a cuppa and a biscuit before they move into the classrooms.

Hats

A reminder to all families that Term 4 is a hats-on term at Toorak Primary School. In line with our SunSmart policy, all students are required to wear their school hat (wide brimmed or legionnaires) when outside during recess, lunch, PE, and any outdoor activities.  Caps do not meet SunSmart guidelines.

Please check that your child’s hat is clearly named and ready for the start of term. If a student does not have their hat, they will be asked to stay in the shaded under the tree between basketball courts for the duration of the break.

Thank you for helping us keep all of our students safe in the sun!

Safety and Respect Beyond the School Gate

As the weather warms up and more students walk, scoot and ride to and from school, it’s a good time to remind everyone about staying safe on the way.

We ask families to talk with their children about safe travel habits. Use the designated crossings and follow the directions of our crossing supervisors. Stop, look and listen before crossing any road or driveway. Walk scooters and bikes through busy areas and near the school gates. Younger students should be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. A quick conversation at home goes a long way in helping children make safe choices.

Many of our students and families enjoy spending time in Brookville Gardens after school, and it’s wonderful to see it used as a place to play, catch up and connect. Brookville Gardens is a shared community space, though, used by local residents, families and visitors of all ages. When our students are there, they are representing Toorak Primary, and we expect them to show the same school values they show every day in the classroom and the playground. That means being respectful of other people using the space, using kind and appropriate language, and taking turns and sharing.

It also means looking after the gardens themselves. We have recently become aware of grass areas being dug up, which damages the space and spoils it for everyone. We ask that students leave the lawns and garden beds as they find them, put rubbish in the bins and treat the environment with care, so that Brookville Gardens remains a beautiful place for the whole community to enjoy.

Students in the gardens after school are in the care of their parents or carers. We appreciate families supervising their children and reinforcing these expectations at home.

Thank you for your support in helping our students be safe, respectful and responsible members of our wider community.

Leaving TPS? Moving House? Moving Overseas? Visa Expiring?

If you have any intentions to unfortunately leave TPS in the next 6 months, please let the school office know. Your decision doesn't need to be confirmed and doesn't mean your child loses their spot if you change your mind, but giving us a heads up is very helpful. This information is vital for the school to budget and plan for staffing in 2026. We don't want any children to be placed in classes that are too big or only have a few students, but this relies on us knowing who will be here. If you suspect you may be moving house, travelling overseas or you know your visa is expiring, please inform the school via email: toorak.ps@education.vic.gov.au at your earliest convenience.

Regards

Suada Dzaferovic

Principal