Assistant Principal's Message

Assistant Principal Report

Year 5/6 Summer Gala Day 1 of 2 Thursday 29th Feb (Interschool Sport)

Last Thursday, the year 5 and 6 students participated in our first District Interschool Sports event for the year. The ‘Gala Day’ style of competition involved students selecting one sport of their choice and competing against other schools throughout the day. It has been pleasing to hear our students represented Albany Rise with pride and consistently demonstrated our values of respect, responsibility, and resilience.

Our house captains shared scores for each of the events, including ‘special player mentions’, highlighting both individual and team successes. Congratulations to all the students who participated. There were some outstanding results and we are proud of your efforts and achievements! 

Thank-you to the teachers, Education Support staff and parent helpers for coordinating and assisting on the day. Our second Gala Day will occur first week back in term 2, Friday 19th April. 

GO ALBANY RISE!

Working Bee last Friday 1st March

Unfortunately, we only attracted a small number of helpers at our working bee last Friday. As a result, we completed some of the main priorities, with many others rolled over to the next working bee.

We were able to:

- move a large amount of concert and parents association items from the old storage        cupboard to our new store room-

- build shelving to house items for storage (thanks Adam Summersett!)

- sort and tidy in the Art Room

- tidy some of the kitchen/garden

Thank-you to the following families who either attending our working bee or donated money to supporting our working bee:

                        - Akuratiyage family               - Clarke family 

                        - Kilibarda family                     - Mr. Redfearn & Claire

                        - Muller family                         - O’Shea family

                        - Styczen family -                    - Summersett family

                        - Vardanyan family

I will be presenting a certificate of gratitude to these families at assembly this Friday. A small team, but big hearts! Thank you all so much.

Tidying up after Storm Damage

Last Monday we had a team of workers finally get to us to chop up fallen tree limbs and remove hanging branches after the recent storm damage. Unfortunately, there was so much to be done that the team will need to return later next week. 

There are several remaining sections: notably long the Zita Street fence, in front of the canteen, in both staff car parks and along the front of the school, that still need attention. Good news: We have been able to use the mulch created for some of our playground spaces along the edge of the oval. 

Thanks for your support as we slowly reclaim our outdoor spaces.

Important Reminder for all Parents and Guardians: Our Health is Important!

This week we have had a number of students arrive at school unwell, and therefore needed to go home. One even before 9.30am! 

It is important to remember that if your child displays symptoms such as a runny nose, headache, has a temperature or is sneezing, they should not be brought to school. 

A sick student is not going to learn, however, they are likely to pass on germs to others and make them sick. Please be considerate to your child, as well as others in our school community. Keep ‘sickies’ home! They need plenty of rest and fluids, so they can be back to school, ready to learn, as soon as possible.

Compass, Class Dojo and General Communication

It has been wonderful to see so many parents using Compass to report absences, access the newsletter and provide permissions and payments for upcoming events. The Compass parent portal allows parents to see student reports (past and current) and is a great source of information about upcoming events. The large number of parents using the portal so far this year has been fantastic in maintaining effective home/school communication. Similarly, many parents have been accessing information via Class Dojo. Whilst this communication tool is generally more classroom focussed, it is a handy forum for quick reminders.  It is also a simple way to make direct communication with classroom teachers. Our school truly appreciates the efforts of parents to stay informed via the various communication platforms available. For your Class Dojo sign-in, please see your child’s teacher and for a Compass password, please contact the office.

Mobile Phones/Smart Watches at School

All students at Albany Rise Primary School are aware that student mobile phones or smart watches are not to be taken into the classroom, playground or any events during school hours. The Department of Education has provided schools with policy information to ensure all students’ privacy and property is protected. Students who have mobile phones or smart watches when they arrive at school are expected to hand their device at the office before school commences at 9am and collect after the bell at 3.30pm. 

2025 Enrolments:

Changes are coming to the enrolment process for 2025. Under the new system, families will be directed to a new online portal where they can fill out an application for enrolment digitally and submit documents such as birth and immunisation certificates. The new process is being rolled out by the state government in the Inner and Outer East and parts of Southern Region. Mulgrave sits on the border of these three areas, so all families will be expected to use the new system. More information will be sent home in the coming weeks, with the system due to go live early in Term 2.

In the meantime, school tours will be available on a fortnightly basis, on Thursday mornings from 10.30am. New families are encouraged to book in for a school tour to find out more about our school and our programs. 

A reminder we must follow the priority order of placement, which is:

1. Students residing inside the school’s zone
2. Siblings of students currently enrolled
3. Students from outside of the school’s zone.

We expect to be able to provide support for families in term two when the system goes live, but in the meantime, if you know that you have a child starting in 2025, please contact Janine Wilson (office manager) or Collette Wilkinson (office assistant) in the office to gather some basic information from you. 

Michael Mottershead

Assistant Principal