Returning From Leave

Although I was unable to be present for the final weeks of Term 3, I heard from a distance and from students and staff I've spoken to this week, that it finished with a real bang! One of the highlights was the Science Expo celebrating student discoveries after the school wide term focus on science. Thanks to all the parents who visited and helped to put STEM education at the front and centre in our learning community. From all accounts, it was a remarkable experience for all and one, I was sorry to have missed it.

I wanted to express my gratitude and thanks to all those who stepped up during my absence. It is a powerful reminder of the depth of skills and abilities that are spread across the school. It was terrific (perhaps a little disconcerting) to hear that the school thrived in my absence!

This week, students have celebrated the completion of the school wide puzzle four times with a whole school reward. Students chose to head down to the Rosanna Parklands for a picnic and what a time they have had! Don’t miss the pictures on Facebook.

In Term 4, we look forward to continuing the high expectations for success set in the first three terms.

Changes Changes Changes

As noted in a previous Compass post, our new ramps outside of the Lower Building and the Admin Block are nearing completion. Fencing is scheduled to be removed today and the areas opened up. A few final garden areas need to be worked on before works completely leave this area. Temporary timber rails will be replaced with modular permanent rails once they arrive. While the northern end of the Admin Block has seen the addition of electric doors, the front doors will be added on Saturday.

The focus of works will now move to the front of the school and entry. Over the coming week, a number of changes to the entry will require us to close the front pedestrian gate. This will include realignment of fencing, removal of the current sloping steps and the pouring of concrete to replace and extend the pathway to meet the new entry. Some parking at the indented drop off zone on Grandview Grove may be effected over three to four days while this entry work is completed. Such disruption will be minimised as much as possible, and parents will be informed via Compass.

Dance Curriculum and Assembly

Students have bounced, bopped and grooved to music in this initial week of Term 4. It has been an energetic re-entry, that has even the most hesitant of students joyfully involved. While some students began on Monday watching from a distance, by Tuesday and Wednesday they were actively engaged. It was a reminder to me of the high expectations that we have here at Rosanna that encourages all to be engaged participants in learning. What a great start to the term. A special thanks Kate Arnot and to Dance Curriculum for leading us all this week and reminding us of the importance of dance.

Parents Callout to Attend and Get Involved in Assembly on Friday 10 October - 2pm Start

Don't miss out on joining us on Friday afternoon for what will be a wonderful celebration of the dancing and fun we have experienced over the last week. Each class will perform a short dance they have learned to the rest of the school and parents. We are hopeful that lots of parents can join us. We will even invite parents to join us dancing at the end of the performance. All are welcome for a Friday afternoon dance with their children, to have fun and remind ourselves of the freedom of dance!

The assembly and dancing will move to the Basketball Court for the big afternoon on Friday. A brief assembly will be held celebrating student learning and behaviour from 2:00pm. The 45-minute assembly will be followed by the fun performances at around 2:45pm. It will certainly be an afternoon to remember for a long time so don’t miss out!

Towards 2026 Classes

Planning a Move in 2026?

One of the significant priorities for term four will be to support students’ as they transition into 2026. These processes place students at the centre as many decisions around staffing, learning spaces, budgets and a range of other factors are made. In order that resources at our school are allocated efficiently, we need to know if your family is leaving the school and will not be present in 2026. Thanks to those families who have already informed us. Please let your classroom teacher know or give me a call.

2026 Class Composition: Parents and Student Preferences

Once we are clear on the students who will be with us in 2026, we will put a school structure in place to support teaching and learning. Teachers will then be able to thoughtfully consider each students’ needs in allocating them to a class. During this complex decision-making process, staff consider a range of factors including social, emotional and academic needs, along with creating balanced class groups. We are hoping to maintain the current straight Prep, Yr1 and Yr2 structure with the 2026 cohorts.

Each year at this time we invite parents to share their thoughts and information which may affect their child’s class placement for the following year.

The process of placing students into new classes is both complex and layered. A whole range of interconnected factors go into decision making. These factors include; academic performance, social and emotional development, behaviour, independence, relational groups, student history, as well as student and parental preferences. The focus on shaping classes for the coming year is always on building connected learning communities that are balanced throughout the whole school and support the needs of all students.

1. Students’ Learning Friends

Over the coming days students will be invited to create a group of five Learning Friends for the coming year. We will do everything we can to ensure that each student has at least one learning friend in their 2026 class. This list of friendships will be sent home with students so that parents can have input and share in the discussion and identification of Learning Friendships with their child/ren. Parents are asked to discuss these choices with their child, make changes if required, sign it and return it to the classroom teacher by Friday 24 October.

2. Parents/Carers Reflections

If there are specific requests for student placement in 2026 that are not covered in students’ identification of learning friendships, you can make a request in writing to the principal. It is important to note that parents are invited to make this request each year and simply because a request has been made last year, it will not be considered the following year.

Recognising the complexity of the process, I ask that your requests be limited to no more than three suggestions that may be a request to separate or pair students. Any parent requests should be sent to the school email - rosanna.ps@education.vic.gov.au. The request should include ‘2026 Class Placement’ in the subject line and be received by Friday, 24 October. Any correspondence received after this date cannot be considered.

In shaping classes, teachers make every effort to consider all factors presented, but we cannot guarantee that all requests will be accommodated. All will be considered. It is important to note that requests for specific teachers cannot be accepted.

Welcome 2026 Preps

(Thursday 16 October)

Planning for our new 2026 Prep students is well underway with the orientation sessions. If you have a child who will turn five before 30 April next year and intend for them to start school, could you please ensure that you have completed an official enrolment form.

We have planned for a positive start to their first year of primary education and are eager to have them involved in the orientation process. If you know of others who are eager to enrol their child, please remind them to phone us or send through an email to the office.

On Thursday morning next week, we will see our 2026 Prep students embark on their first orientation. This important orientation session to Rosanna Primary is a significant opportunity for our incoming students to get to know the faces and places of our school.

While students will be enjoying the chance to get to know each other, their parents will have an opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of life with a primary school child.

Planning Family Holidays

We are always shaping our year to ensure parents have the best opportunities to enjoy family holidays outside of allocated school days. Family holidays scheduled during teaching and learning days can dramatically impact student learning and student connectedness. I encourage all families to ensure that their child is at school every day to maximise their learning outcomes.

Melbourne Cup Weekend

(Monday 3 November)

A reminder that Monday 3 November (the day prior to the Melbourne Cup Public Holiday) is scheduled as a Curriculum Day. This day will see teachers focus on assessment and report responsibilities as we transition towards the end of the year and look towards 2026. TheirCare will be available for working parents. This is a non-teaching day.

Preps Diving into Swimming

(from Friday 10 October)

Our Prep students will be soaked to the core during their swimming lessons this term. The instructional component to these experiences are paid for by the school while parents pay for the cost of transport and entry to Ivanhoe Aquatic Centre. We are thankful that these structured lessons, along with other experiences in the water, will support students in their growing confidence and water safety ability.

Big Day Out Scheduled

(Wednesday 17 December)

We’re looking forward to celebrating with Kaboom Sports on the last Wednesday of the school year. More information to come but please add it to the diary.