Things To 

Know

END OF YEAR REPORTING - VIRTUAL PARENT/CARER - TEACHER CONFERENCE/MEETING 

As we approach the conclusion of another successful year of teaching and learning at Ripponlea Primary School, our staff are finalising student reports and reflecting on the remarkable progress made by every child throughout Semester Two. 

These reports provide a comprehensive overview of each student’s achievements, growth, and areas for future learning, aligning with the Victorian Curriculum and our school’s commitment to continuous improvement.

In recognition of the importance of strong partnerships between home and school, we are offering families the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher to discuss their end-of-year report, learning progress, and goals. 

These OPTIONAL Parent/Carer–Teacher Meetings will take place via Webex throughout the day, providing flexibility for families to connect with teachers from home or work.

Meeting Schedule:

• Monday 8 December: Foundation families
• Tuesday 9 December: Year 1/2 families
• Wednesday 10 December: Year 3/4 families
• Thursday 11 December: Year 5/6 families

Bookings will be available through Compass, not our usual School Interview system. 

Further details and booking instructions will be communicated closer to the date.

We look forward to celebrating each child’s achievements and continuing to strengthen our partnership with families as we prepare for another exciting year of learning in 2026.

BHN LUNCHTIME EXPECTATIONS & BODY IMAGE PROJECT AT RIPPONLEA  

About the project:

Better Health Network Health Promotion team is working alongside our teachers, students and their families to create environments where all children grow up to love food and appreciate their bodies. Through deep reflection and capacity building, the BHN team support schools to create value alignment and practice guidance of how to safely support children and young people around food and body image. 

The why:

School settings play a critical role in shaping how children perceive and speak about their bodies, through lunchtime rituals, classroom learning, and staffroom conversations. Teacher attitudes & language, curriculum content, peer relationships, and school culture can either reinforce appearance-based norms or act as protective factors (Tylka & Piran, 2019). Across the BHN catchment (Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston, Port Phillip and Stonnington), body image remains a primary concern and priority for local schools.

In the early years of a child’s life, research highlights that:

• Children with body dissatisfaction and weight bias are more likely to engage in disordered eating behaviours, with 19% of childcare professionals having seen children reject food because ‘it will make them fat’ (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, 2016).
• At age 5, 90% of boys and 92% of girls have indicated a preference for not inviting children in a larger body to their birthday party, and perceiving thin-to-average sized children as ‘good’ (EMBodIED Research, La Trobe University).
• Up to 68% of primary school-age children have reported appearance-related teasing from peers (Damiano et al. 2018).

Seeking Focus Group participation

As a part of the Lunchtime Expectations project, we are seeking parent/guardian participation in key reflective practice focus group sessions. We want to hear from families on their experiences of eating opportunities at home and at the school. 

These insights together with those of the teachers and students will help to contribute to a positive lunchtime environment at Rippopnlea Primary School. 

Date: Wednesday 12th November, 2025 

Participants: Families – Option 1

Venue: Staffroom, Main Building 

Date: Friday 14th November, 2025

Participants: Families – Option 2

Venue: Staffroom, Main Building 

Your participation will help to shape the school's practices and ensure we are fostering an environment where children grow up to love food and appreciate their bodies. If you are interested in participating, please get in touch and register on this Google Form.

https://forms.gle/YtMyAdwecw3swGuz9

If you are interested to learn more, please get in touch with the team via abast@bhn.org.au and kdimaio@bhn.org.au 

EXCITING UPDATES FROM THEIRCARE 

Our OSHC providers, Nadia (Area Manager) and Sonia (Founding Member), have been collaborating with our School Council to further enrich the Before and After School Care experience at Ripponlea Primary School. 

To ensure the program reflects the needs and interests of our families, we invite you to share your feedback through the TheirCare OSHC Family Survey, which has been sent via COMPASS. Your ideas will help shape the programs, menus and routines offered to our students.

Introducing TC Titans – New Sports Program!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of TC Titans, a structured 5-week sports program held during after school care:

• Mondays – Basketball
• Wednesdays – Soccer
• Commencing: Monday 27 October
• Cost: No additional cost (included in the standard OSHC session fee, with rebates applicable)
• Includes afternoon tea and a full afternoon of activities
• Students will build their skills each week and receive a certificate upon completion

This program has been developed in response to student interest and is a fantastic way for children to stay active, build confidence and have fun with friends.

📞 Bookings are essential: Visit TheirCare | Where Kids Love To Be or call 1300 072 410.

We look forward to hearing your feedback and seeing our students engage in these exciting new opportunities!

🎶 House Music Competition – Family Invitation 🎵

Get ready for one of the most exciting and joy-filled events on the Ripponlea calendar — our Annual House Music Competition!

We are delighted to invite all families to join us for this special celebration of creativity, teamwork, and musical talent.

📅 Date: Friday 12th December

🕙 Time: 2:30 pm

📍 Venue: School Hall – Barrbunin

Throughout the term, our students have been rehearsing with enthusiasm, dedication, and plenty of Ripper spirit! Each House has prepared a performance that showcases their unique energy, collaboration, and flair for performance. Under the guidance of their teachers and House Captains, students have worked together to choreograph, sing, dance, and bring their musical theme to life.

The House Music Competition is more than just a performance; it’s an opportunity for students to express themselves, build confidence, and strengthen connections across the school. Every performance reflects weeks of practice, creativity, and the pride our students have in representing their House.

We encourage families to come along, cheer on our young performers, and share in the joy and excitement of this wonderful school tradition. Let’s fill the hall with music, colour, and community spirit as we celebrate all our amazing Rippers!

We can’t wait to see you there and discover which House will take home the 2025 House Music Trophy!