Principal's Desk
Term 3 - Welcome back!
So the year continues to rattle along at a rapid pace with some of our big events now just on the horizon.
Our Approach to Toilet Use During Learning Time
At Park Ridge, we are committed to maintaining a calm and focused learning environment where every minute of learning counts. To support this, we’re making a small but important shift in how we manage student toilet breaks during class time.
While we will always apply common sense and ensure students can access the toilet when they genuinely need to, we are also working to help students build good habits and routines. Here’s what this looks like:
During direct teaching time, students are encouraged to remain in class and avoid leaving for the toilet unless it’s urgent.
Where possible, students should use the toilet before or after explicit instruction—ideally during independent work time, breaks or transitions.
Before attending specialist classes, teachers will take their class for a toilet break to minimise disruption during these important sessions.
For longer specialist blocks, time will be provided for a break during the session.
This small adjustment helps protect valuable learning time, minimises unnecessary movement around the school, and ensures students can fully engage in the rich learning experiences planned for them.
As always, we’ll apply professional judgment and respond with care when students need support. Our aim is simply to develop positive routines that support both learning and student wellbeing.
Lost property around the school
After returning to school this term, there has been a huge amount of lost property accumulating around the school. Jumpers, drink bottles and lunch boxes are found in almost every doorway, and there is a flurry of students searching for their lost belongings after break times. Over the past week, staff have been delivering these named lost school uniforms to their rightful owners. If your child has lost an item, please encourage them to look in our lost property bins outside F-10.
School Uniform
As the winter months continue, getting school uniforms washed and ready for the following day can be a difficult task to navigate. Also with this cold weather, there is a need to stay warm with large jackets. My own Year 6 son is currently in the thick of playing football and basketball at recess and lunch, returning home each night with a mud-ladden school uniform.
Luckily here at Park Ridge, we have a second-hand uniform sale on Thursday, 31 July from 2:45pm to 3:30pm. We have had volunteers already sort these items to ensure they are of a high second-hand quality - come on down to grab a bargain!
With this sale later this week, and as the winter months continue, we want to remind you of the importance of maintaining our school uniform standards. Our school uniform, consisting of navy and yellow, fosters a sense of community and pride among our students. Even during the colder seasons, it is essential that children continue to wear the school uniform while at school. Please ensure they have the appropriate layers and outerwear to keep warm while adhering to our uniform policy.
Thank you for your cooperation and support in upholding our school’s values.
Staff Car Park - reminder
When picking up or dropping off your child, please remember the staff car park is a no pedestrian zone. Throughout the day we have multiple deliveries and staff arriving and leaving work, so it's important that we have no pedestrians walking through the carpark.
School Pick Up / Drop Off Zone
The safety of our students, staff and community members is paramount. We would like to remind all members of our school community to adhere to the road rules and parking signage, particularly during drop off and pick up times.
We request that parents/carers who use the short-term parking at the front of the school, ensure they adhere to the parking restrictions. If we all use this area as a drop off zone, it will help improve the flow of traffic immensely along Wentworth Avenue and surrounding streets.
When parking at the front of the school, please reverse into car spots with care and be courteous to other drivers. As per Victorian road rules, when driving out of a car park indicate, check mirrors and blind spots and give way to all vehicles and pedestrians on the road. This includes giving way to drivers who are reversing into car spots and waiting for them to park before you drive out of your car spot. Please be mindful of your speed on the road and please do not block driveways while parking or queueing on Wentworth Avenue or Burchall Crescent.
Please ensure you adhere to parking limits as there have been numerous reports to local council already this year of parents/carers who have been parking in spaces for longer times than permitted.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Please feel free to pop in for a chat with either Carrie, Brendan or I, should you wish to discuss anything.
Our doors are always open!
Take care,
Mr. Dale Blythman