From the Principal
Welcome back to the final term of 2026! We hope everyone enjoyed a refreshing and relaxing break. It’s hard to believe we’ve reached Term 4, and before long, we’ll be celebrating the conclusion of another productive and successful year at Parkdale Primary. This term promises to be an exciting and action packed one, with a range of engaging learning experiences and special events for our students. This Friday, we kick things off with our Colour Fun-a-Thon, followed by the Art Trail next week, which will showcase the incredible artistic talents of our students. Throughout the term, students will also enjoy Japanese Day, Grade 3 Camp, Grade 5 Health Education, and swimming programs for Foundation, Grade 1 and Grade 3 students. We will welcome our future students through transition sessions for our 2027 Prep cohort, while current students will participate in a variety of excursions, incursions, the GATEWAYS Challenge and Bike Education for our Grade 4 students. As the year draws to a close, we look forward to celebrating student learning through Prep Portfolio Presentations, our Christmas Concert and, of course, the Grade 6 Graduation, where we will farewell our Grade 6 students.
Thank you: Colour Fun-a-Thon
Wow! Thank you to the incredible generosity of our school community, to date we have raised $26,000. Thank you for helping make this fundraising effort such a success.
This fabulous event would not have happened without the small but committed group of parents who organised the event and prizes. A big thank you to Karen B, Anna Mc & Koushik S-M thank you for your time, it was very much appreciated, and the kids had a great time. Thank you to Leane B in 5G for designing the logo.
We would like to acknowledge and thank the businesses & families for their generosity to support the PPS colour fun-a-thon: Pizza Nest (Shah family), 4 Cousins Parkdale, Station Stop Café (Parkdale), Steak Yo Claim (Parkdale), Parkdale Charcoal Chicken, Hinata Sushi Studio, YOMG Mordialloc, Pickleplay Dingley village, Parkdale Tennis Club (Krishna family), Maro pizza & pasta (Lobanov family), Wildsoul Wellness Mordialloc, Drummond Golf Cheltenham, Super Zu (Dingley Village), Ancrum family (Village Cinema vouchers), Bakers Delight Mordialloc.
A huge thank you to TheirCare for supplying the sausages and cooking the BBQ. We greatly appreciate your generosity and support of our school community.
Thank you also to the staff and parent volunteers who supported and ran the activities for the day.
Allocation of 2027 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 2027, 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 or Tracy R no later than Wednesday 21st October 2026. 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.
Pupil Free Days Term 4
We have two pupil free days scheduled this Term. Monday 2nd November (Assessment & Reporting) and Friday 4th December (Planning 2027).
2027 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 2027. Thank you to the families who have already informed us.
Farewell to Staff
This year, we will be saying farewell to several valued staff members as they embark on new chapters in their lives.
Tracy Richards will be retiring at the end of the year, after an incredible 40 years of dedicated service to education and 18 of those years at PPS. While she is retiring, we may still be fortunate enough to see her around PPS in 2027 as a CRT.
Helen Bradnam (first aid)/admin) is also retiring at the end of the year after four years at PPS and twenty with the Department. We may still see Helen returning from time to time to support us in a relief capacity.
In November, Jarrod Sing will be farewelling PPS as he and his wife begin an exciting new chapter, relocating to Queensland (I am very jealous).
Although currently on family leave, Lauren Macafee has relocated to Canberra to be closer to family. Similarly, Lucy Wilson, who is also on family leave, has relocated to Geelong to be closer to family.
We are grateful for the dedication, care, and commitment each of these staff members has shown during their time at Parkdale Primary School and wish them all the very best for the future.
Kind regards
Leanne Bradney