Practice Makes Permanent

One of the things I believe wholeheartedly is that learning is a journey, not a destination — and every single day our children take another step along that path. To help them grow, students need to build their attention, their working memory and their ability to process new ideas. And the secret ingredient? Repetition. Not in a boring, drill-sergeant kind of way (the way we all learnt in primary school), but through consistent, enjoyable habits that become part of everyday life.

That means reading every night, revisiting those spelling words regularly and keeping up with weekly home learning tasks. It also means giving our kids a little breathing room — some downtime to simply be kids! The brain actually needs that quiet time to reorganise itself and lock in everything it has been learning. So don't feel guilty about switching off and letting your child just play!

A Word on Home Learning

I get stopped in the yard quite often by parents wanting to chat about homework, and honestly I love those conversations! It's a topic a lot of families feel strongly about, so I want to be upfront with you about what the research tells us.

The truth is, homework at primary school level doesn't always deliver the big results we might expect. When it's short, focused and purposeful it can make a real difference, but the broader benefits tend to be modest. That's why at Park Ridge we've made nightly reading the heart of our home learning approach.

We ask every student to read each night — and wherever possible, to make it a family moment. Read together, take turns, listen to your child share the story, or simply have a chat about what they've been reading. That conversation matters enormously. It deepens comprehension, strengthens oral language and builds the kind of thinking skills that will serve your child for life.

But perhaps the most valuable thing of all is the habit itself. When children learn that learning doesn't stop at the school gate, they carry that mindset with them forever. That sense of curiosity and drive to keep improving is something no textbook can teach — it grows from the routines we build together, at home and at school.

What a Night! Open Night Wrap Up

What a beautiful evening we had for Open Night on Tuesday last week! The weather certainly played along, and it was just wonderful to see so many families filling our classrooms and specialist spaces. Watching families and children exploring activities together, laughing and learning side by side — that's exactly what our school community is all about.

Our specialist program is something I'm genuinely proud of, and I hope you got to see a little of what makes it so special. A huge, heartfelt thank you to every single one of our staff who put so much care and effort into making the night so warm and memorable. You're all incredible.

Lost Property — Let's Reunite Those Jackets!

I'll be honest, the lost property situation never ceases to amaze me! With cold mornings warming up into lovely afternoons, jackets are coming off and being left all over the yard. My mum's solution when I was little was to make me tie my jumper around my waist. And if I lost it? Well, let's just say it was a very long, very cold winter!

Please have a chat with your child about keeping track of their belongings — it's a lovely little life skill to practise. And if items don't have a name on them, they're almost impossible to return. So grab a laundry marker and get labelling!

If you're missing anything, come and visit our lost property in the Foundation building, just opposite class 2-12. As much as we try to find lost property a home, there is always quite a collection waiting to be claimed!

2025 Annual Report

Each April we publish our Annual Report from the previous year, and I have to say — this one has me absolutely beaming!

Our 2025 Annual Report is now available on the school website, and I want to take a moment to share just how proud I am of what our students, teachers and families have achieved together.

Our NAPLAN results are the best we have seen in years. I mean that genuinely — not just a little improvement here and there, but a result that reflects the extraordinary effort, dedication and growth happening in our classrooms every single day. Our students performed well above the state average across multiple areas, and the progress we are seeing from year to year is a testament to the hard work happening on both sides of the classroom door.

But great results don't happen in a vacuum. They are the product of passionate teachers who go above and beyond, families who show up and stay engaged, and students who come to school ready to give it their best. This is very much a community achievement, and every one of you deserves to share in that celebration.

Beyond the numbers, the Report also reflects the incredible work we continue to do around student wellbeing, inclusion and whole child development. Academic growth and personal growth go hand in hand here at Park Ridge, and both are trending in exactly the right direction.

I encourage you to take a few minutes to read through the full Report on our website. I think it will leave you feeling just as proud and excited about the future of our school as I am.

The best part? We are just getting started.

Please feel free to pop in for a chat with either Carrie, Brendan or I, should you wish to discuss anything.

Our doors are always open!

Take care,

Mr. Dale Blythman

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