Principal's Message 

Dear Yarra Road Community,

As I pen my final newsletter as Principal of Yarra Road Primary School, I am filled with gratitude and reflection. When I arrived here, we were just emerging from the challenges of COVID—a time that feels both distant and recent. Navigating that period while integrating into this community was no small task, but it quickly became apparent just how special Yarra Road is.

Over my time here, I have been privileged to work with incredible students, dedicated staff, and supportive parents. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has served on School Council during my tenure. A special mention goes to David Macrae and Mark Kennedy, whose leadership as School Council Presidents has been invaluable, as well as the many active parents who have contributed tirelessly to our school.

I am also incredibly grateful for the trust and patience shown by the staff throughout my leadership over the past three years. Enduring a leader’s quirks, vision, and decisions is no small feat, and I have been fortunate to work alongside a team of professionals who strive for the best outcomes for our students.

While my chapter at Yarra Road comes to a close, I take pride in the progress we have made together and the foundations we’ve laid for the future. The connections I’ve formed with this community will stay with me and I encourage everyone to give Karen Butler, your new Acting Principal, even greater support and kindness than you showed me.

I leave the education sector at a time when many other educators are also departing. It’s a moment for reflection. Schools often face immense pressures—whether from departmental directives, societal expectations, or shifting community dynamics. Yet, at our core, our purpose remains simple: to engage positively with students, teach them what they need to succeed, and ensure everyone in our community is Safe, Respectful, and Kind. To those who may feel compelled to question or criticise how schools manage challenges, I encourage thoughtful reflection. Many decisions are made in response to external pressures, and they are always guided by the best interests of all students.

Working in the education sector for over 20 years across five schools and their communities has been an incredibly fulfilling journey and a truly rewarding career. I am deeply grateful for the lessons I’ve learned, the meaningful connections I’ve formed, and the countless moments of growth and achievement I’ve witnessed in students. These experiences have shaped me both personally and professionally. Being a Principal has been a professional goal of mine, and I want to express my sincere thanks to the Yarra Road community for giving me the opportunity to achieve that here. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead such a wonderful school.

Finally, I’d like to wish everyone a safe and restful festive season and congratulate the 

students for their Carol’s performance on Wednesday night. It really does feel like the end of what has been a fantastic year now. May you enjoy time with loved ones over the holidays and return refreshed for the year ahead.

Have a great end to the week and an even better weekend.

Alfred Knee 

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Alfred Knee, a past student and valued community member. Alfred attended Yarra Road Primary School when our school opened in 1925, nearly 100 years ago. He attended our 90th Birthday Celebration in 2015 and you may have noticed Alfred’s photo in the foyer of our office. Alfred’s cousin, Elsie, informed us of his passing at the age of 104 last week.

Semester 2 2024 Student Reports

Semester 2 2024 Student Reports will be available to you via Compass this Friday afternoon (13th of December, 2024). A Compass notification will be sent letting you know when they are open.

It is advisable to download and save a copy of this, and all other student reports, to your own device for future reference. This is particularly important for Year 6 students and any other students who will be leaving Yarra Road at the end of this term. Once students have exited the school, access to their Compass account ceases.

School Council

School Council President

As the 2024 year comes to an end, I would like to start by thanking everyone in the Yarra Road community that have contributed to the school, in one way or another, for your efforts this year.

Yarra Road Principal

It is with much sadness from a school and personal perspective that we will be losing Ken to the private sector.  Whilst I fully appreciate and support Ken in moving into this new phase of his life, it is important that we reflect on the positive impact he has had in a relatively short time (he tells me it feels much longer!) at Yarra Road.

Much of Ken’s work in addressing areas of need has gone unseen by the majority of the school community. The ‘back of house’ governance elements that were in need of attention were significant and these have largely been addressed, or have a plan in place, to ensure not only our compliance, but the best outcome possible for our school.  The results are starting to show through evidence by Yarra Road Primary School achieving the highest possible ratings both in the financial audit and the school performance report covering the learning and wellbeing domains.

Ken came to Yarra Road at a very difficult time with us all emerging from the COVID-19 years and a significant downturn in enrolments at the school.  Through his hard work and leadership, the impacts of this time have been worked through by supporting our kids in bringing them back to a ‘normal’ schooling environment.  Our enrolments have steadied and are beginning to rise – I thank Ken for his hard work directly, but also in supporting other staff and school council members' initiatives in addressing these areas.

Ken leaves Yarra Road a better place than he found us. 

Physically, we have had significant upgrades to several areas in the school, including the Junior School toilets and the top basketball court, along with having rooves across the school repaired to stop water damage after every heavy rain.

But as important as the infrastructure is, it has been the rebuilding of the school community and spirit that was so heavily impacted through 2020 and 2021, which I think is most significant.

To lose Ken, not only from Yarra Road, but the entire education sector, is an indictment on the Deptartment of Education.  It is a loss of talent that any business / organsiation should be deeply concerned about.

On behalf of the Yarra Road Primary School community, I would like to wish Ken all the best and thank him for his commitment and effort whilst at Yarra Road over the past few years – you will be missed.

Looking forward, the change in principal, which will potentially occur twice in a short period of time, will take some adjusting from us all.  As Ken is likely to already have explained, an interim principal has been appointed for the 1st term of 2025, with the process to appoint an ongoing person from the start of 2nd term to commence early next year.  I welcome Karen Butler from Balwyn Primary School for 1st Term 2025 – I look forward to her guiding and leading our school early next year. 

As with any change, there will be an element of uncertainty for all – our staff and teachers, our students and our families.  Together, as a collective, we will need to support each other and the new Principal/s as they find their feet and become part of our wonderful school.

I have no doubt that, just as Ken did, a new Principal/s will bring new ideas and ways of doing things.  We must all challenge ourselves to work with these changes in order to ensure the best outcomes for everyone in our community.  We cannot resist for the sake of resisting – we must challenge the notion of wanting to keep doing something just because we always have done it.

100 Years of Yarra Road Primary School

Planning for our milestone year is progressing with a number of people coming together in a committee to discuss ways to mark this historic occasion.

School Councillor, Pam Jones, has stepped up to lead this planning work and once the events are approved, there will be plenty of opportunities for all those who want to be involved to get their hands dirty in the execution of these activities.

It will be an exciting and historic time for the school, so get on board and be part of it – there will never be another chance!

End of Year

Finally, on behalf of the School Council, I would like to congratulate our graduating class of 2024 and wish you all the best as you start the next phase of your schooling journey. Thank you for your contribution to Yarra Road Primary School.

To those families who are ending their time with Yarra Road, some of you have been around for a long time and we will miss seeing you next year - be it every day at pick up or at the school events.  Thanks for your time and contribution to the school and don’t be strangers!

Thank you to our awesome Parents Association, led by Elissa and Jayde, for their hard work in supporting the fundraising activities in the school and a huge thanks to all the School Council members who have worked behind the scenes helping our school to be all it can be.

I would also like to acknowledge Lindy Dowell, who has stepped down from the School Council recently, for her time and contribution.

Thanks also to Kate, Shelley and Charlee for all your hard work in the office supporting all aspects of our school.

Lastly, thanks to the Teachers & Education Support Team for leading, guiding, mentoring, and teaching our kids this year – enjoy a break and reload for 2025.  Special mention to Daniel Quick, who is heading off on a new adventure – all the best at Lilydale High next year.

I hope everyone has a wonderful break over Christmas and comes back ready for a big 2025.

Parents Association

The Parents Association (PA) would like to wish all the families and staff a wonderful Christmas and wish you a safe and festive holiday period with loved ones. Thank you to the school community for your support in 2024.

Jayde, Michelle and Elissa have spent the year leading a very dedicated and hard working group of parents who volunteered in 2024, with event sub-committees being something we have done a bit differently this year. Trivia night, Big Day Out Disco, Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day and Christmas Stalls, and the PA Colour Run, were some of the main fundraising events for the year, and always the most successful. We look forward to sharing the total fundraising amount for 2024 - which we will hopefully have available soon!

2024 has given us some wonderful opportunities to work with likeminded parents to be creative and make an impact for the students.

Jayde, Michelle and Elissa have decided that they will not be returning in 2025 to their current PA leadership roles. 

We would love to see some new parents involved in the PA in 2025. Below are some of the roles that will be available from March at our Annual General Meeting. General members are also warmly welcome. If you have any questions or queries please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

PA Roles for 2025

• PA President

• PA Vice President

• Treasurer

• School Council Rep

• Year Level Reps- Prep, 1/2, 3/4, 5/6

• 100 Year Subcommittee PA Rep 

• Donations Officer 

• Sub-committee leaders for events to be decided by the PA team of 2025.

We have some exciting events planned for Term 1 2025 and wish you a Merry Christmas.

Thanks, 

Elissa, Jayde and Michelle

Student Voice & Agency Forum at YRPS 

Yarra Road Primary School is committed to including opportunities for all of our students to have a voice in what happens at school. Their voices are important regarding not only what happens in the classroom, but what happens across the school. An example of student voice is when our senior students approached Mr Darby about building a GaGa pit. He listened to their ideas, worked with them to formalise their request, and with the help of Mr Hanley, even built the pit - which is now standing proudly on our school oval. Student voice within the classroom helps to not only provide important feedback to teachers, but also gives the students some choice regarding what and how they demonstrate their learning. 

In addition to student voice, student agency / learner agency or having ownership, responsibility and understanding of their own learning needs, helps to not only engage students, but also to extend upon their current skills and abilities. Recently a group of volunteer students from Years 4 - 6 worked together to reflect upon how they believe students at Yarra Road have a voice and how they currently demonstrate student agency. Importantly, they discussed the opportunities afforded to students by classroom teachers. The students developed a list of ideas on how we can further enhance student voice and agency throughout YRPS. These thoughtful ideas will be presented to leadership and the wider staff to strengthen our commitment to our students. Congratulations and thank you to all of the students involved.

A New Year of Learning 

Please click the link below to view useful information and resources made by the Victorian Government for parents, guardians and carers to assist your child's learning in 2025. 

Second Hand Uniform Request

We currently have a very high demand for second hand uniform, especially sizes 6 and 8. If you have any items that are no longer needed, we would greatly appreciate your donations. 

Please ensure that all items are in good, or very good, condition and have been washed before donating. 

Donations can be handed into the school office or at the uniform shop when it is open.