From the Principal

Melbourne United 

We were very fortunate to have players from the Melbourne United basketball team visit the school and put on a show for us last Wednesday.  The Grade 2-6 students participated in a clinic and then we finished with the whole school watching the players in action.  It was a great day for the students and staff.

Art Show Trail 

Tomorrow, Friday 25th October is our Art trail.  Mrs Richard and the students have done an amazing job creating wonderful art pieces ready for the parents to come and view.  The morning session is from 8:30am-9:00am, and the afternoon session 3:00pm-3:30pm.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no assembly on this day.

Pupil Free Day – Monday 4th November 

Whole school Staff Professional Practice Day is on Monday 4th November, this is a pupil free day.  TheirCare will operate a pupil free day program, if you require this service, please book directly through TheirCare.

2025 School Year

If you have a child in Foundation to Year 5 who will not be returning to PPS next year, could you please inform the office or the class teacher via email ASAP.  This will assist with planning for class structures and staffing for 2025.

SunSmart - Hats & Sunscreen

Please ensure your child has a school hat, navy and wide brimmed and named.  No Hat, No Play.  Sunscreen is available; however, we encourage children to bring a small tube of sunscreen which can be kept in their bag, and they can apply this before they go outside. 

Hats & OSHC If your child attends before or after school care they will need to keep their hat in their bag or have a spare hat in their bag, as the children will not be allowed to go to their classrooms before or after school. 

A reminder that OSHC has access to the school grounds from 3:40pm, we ask that all parents make their way out of the school grounds by the 3:40pm bell, thank you. 

Sport

The sporting calendar is jam packed this term.

Congratulations and well done to our Girls Basketball Team who won the district final last Wednesday.  The Girls will play in the Regional final next week on Thursday 31st Oct.

Congratulations and well done to our Boys Basketball Team who played in the district finals last Thursday and finished second in their pool. 

Congratulations to the students who participated in the Regional Athletics on Monday.  We have several students who will compete in the State final on Wednesday 6th Nov. Bo G, Audrey H, Mila B, Chloe Mc (Relay) Hamish F, Jacob F, Jude W, Jordan B, (relay), Hamish (100 & 200m), Jacob (triple jump) 

Lawn Bowls

We have our first ever PPS lawn bowls team participating in the Regional Final on Friday, we certainly have some very talented bowlers. Good luck team.

Rugby and Cricket

We also wish our girls and boys rugby teams all the best competing in the district final on Friday.  

Good luck and all the best to our cricket team who will be competing in the final on Thursday 29th October. 

Congratulations to Akira S who was selected to represent the state in U12s SSV Team Vic Soccer.  The team played in the national tournament in Perth and placed 3rd in the tournament receiving a bronze medal. 

Allocation of 2025 Classes

When developing individual classes each year, teachers consider several factors including academic ability, social competencies, gender, students who work well together, those who may not work well together and friendship groupings. Whilst the students are consulted about current friendships, it is only one of the criteria considered because building new relationships is also part of our education process and an important skill for students to develop.  The placement of students is a complex process where teachers put great thought into their planning. They discuss, reflect, and review their decisions over a period of time.

On occasions parent perspective can also add information to support this process. If you have any valuable information regarding class placement for your child for 2025, that is above and beyond what the classroom teacher and leadership team already know of your child, you may make a written request for consideration.

Any parent request must be in writing/email to Leanne B, Tracy R or Jarrod B no later than Friday 25th October 2024. Information will only be considered if in writing and received by the due date. Requests will not be considered after this date.

Naming a specific teacher, gender or nominating other students will not be considered.  Children are given the opportunity to list friends they would like to be with and are guaranteed at least one student from their list. 

If parents have written requests in previous years, we do not retain these as students’ needs change from year to year. If the consideration of the previous year is still important, a new letter should be written.

There may often be a reason why your request is not granted. It is therefore important not to indicate to your child that you have made a request as this may lead to unnecessary disappointment. 

I encourage you to trust our school’s judgement and value our teachers as professionals, as the wellbeing of every child in our school is our prime consideration. 

Let’s celebrate our amazing teachers

It’s Hats Off to Teachers on Friday 25 October! – Happy World Teacher’s Day

Tomorrow let’s celebrate our teachers and thank them for all the work they do to educate, inspire and empower the students at PPS.

Thank you for the dedication, passion, and impact you bring to shaping young minds and building a brighter future. Teachers are more than just educators; they are mentors, role models, and sources of inspiration who guide students through their academic and personal journeys. 

Thank you to the PPS staff for your incredible contributions as teachers and express our gratitude for their unwavering dedication and hard work.  Every day, our staff at Parkdale PS go above and beyond, creating a supportive learning environment that helps each child thrive.

We are truly grateful for all that you do. Know that your hard work is recognised, valued and appreciated. Today, we say thank you. Happy World Teachers' Day!

Kingston Grants Program School Awards

Following an extensive review and public consultation, Council endorsed a new Kingston Grants Program in October 2023, which was officially launched on 1 January 2024. As a part of this review, several changes were made to the previous program, including a realignment of the grant streams offered to the community. 

Council offers the opportunity for individual students to apply for funding through the Individual Development Grants stream. The Individual Development Grants - Achievement category aims to support individual Kingston residents with up to $600 to compete, perform or represent at a State, National or International level in their chosen discipline.

For further information about the Kingston Grant Program, including our Guidelines, please refer to our website at Kingston Grants Program.

If you have any questions, or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1300 653 356 or community@kingston.vic.gov.au.

Kind regards

Leanne Bradney