Things To 

Know

📚Premier's Reading Challenge📚

The Premiers' Reading challenge is back for 2026! This year’s theme is ‘Stories to discover. Stories to tell’. 

The challenge runs until 4th September 2026. It’s all about discovering new books, and a love of reading. The Challenge isn’t a competition. Everyone is on their own reading adventure. Students who complete their reading goal will get a certificate signed by Jacinta Allan and past Premiers of our state. 

Once you have signed up, you will be able to access the challenge book list. Most of the books that students read during the Challenge should be taken from the list. It is important that students read books appropriate for their year or reading level. During the Challenge, a student will read a certain number of books that are suitable for them. While the number of books can be varied for a student, the general guidance is:

• Prep to Year 2: Read a total of 15 books, with 10 or more of those books from the Challenge book list
• Year 3 to Year 6: Read a total of 30 books, with 20 or more of those books from the Challenge book list

If you would like to register to take part in the challenge, please email Izzy (isabelle.garcia@education.vic.gov.au) to request your username and password.

 More information can be found here.

SNACK SHACK CLOSED NEXT WEDNESDAY 

Please be advised that Snack Shack will be closed on Wednesday the 6th of May, sorry!

Back on Friday the 8th! 😊

Supporting Learning Through Curriculum Contributions

At Ripponlea Primary School, we are incredibly proud of the rich, engaging and high-quality learning experiences we provide for every student, every day. A key part of making this possible is the voluntary Curriculum Contributions made by our families.

Curriculum Contributions go directly towards classroom budgets, empowering our teachers to purchase high-quality, purposeful materials that support daily teaching and learning. These are the resources that bring lessons to life supporting hands-on exploration, creativity, collaboration and deep thinking across all areas of the curriculum.

In classrooms, these contributions help fund:

• Literacy resources such as mentor texts, class novels and guided reading materials
• Mathematics equipment including hands-on manipulatives, games and problem-solving tools
• Inquiry learning resources that support investigations, experiments and project-based learning
• Printing, consumables and classroom organisation materials that ensure smooth daily operations

Our specialist programs particularly benefit from these contributions. They enable us to provide:

• Visual Arts: a wide range of quality art materials including paints, canvases, clay, textiles and craft supplies
• Physical Education: updated and diverse sports equipment to support skill development and active participation
• Performing Arts: props, instruments and resources that allow students to express themselves creatively
• Japanese: cultural materials and engaging resources that deepen language learning and intercultural understanding

Curriculum Contributions also support:

• Digital learning tools and classroom technology
• Science and STEM materials for experimentation and design
• Replacement and replenishment of shared resources across the school
• Additional classroom texts and resources that align with our whole-school instructional approach

While many families will be familiar with the individual book packs from Maxim, it is important to understand that Curriculum Contributions go well beyond these items. They fund the shared resources that all students access daily the materials that often sit behind the scenes but are essential to delivering a high-quality education.

At times, these contributions may not always be immediately visible, but their impact is felt in every classroom, every lesson and every learning experience.

We are deeply grateful to all families who have made voluntary contributions. Your support makes a tangible difference to the opportunities we can provide and ensures our teachers are well-equipped to deliver engaging, inclusive and high-quality learning programs.

Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s learning.

Junior Playground Update

After a significant number of years of planning, we shared last year that the School Council has received the final concept designs for our new Junior Playground. Alongside the design, we have also received a professional Opinion of Probable Cost.

This is an exciting step forward, but also a challenging one. The works cannot be staged due to the need for full excavation, removal of the existing playground, and extensive ground works before installation can begin. 

As a result, the total cost for the project is estimated at approximately $200,000, a major investment for our community, but one that will create an inspiring and enduring space for our students.

Highlights from the Concept Design

The revised design responds to the feedback from both the School and School Council and includes:

• A custom cubby designed for imaginative and creative play.
• Additional sandpit in the lower terraced garden area.
• Productive gardens with ‘Food Cube’ wicking beds, offering opportunities for hands-on sustainability learning.
• Opportunities for First Nations artwork, with identified spaces where a local artist could help bring cultural storytelling into the playground.
• Play equipment options with vertical elements that maximise play diversity in a compact space, with examples provided at a range of cost points.
• Seating areas, with both formal and informal opportunities for students and families to gather.
• Bluestone ‘crazy paving’ and updated surfacing recommendations for durability and to keep our school buildings free of tracked-in dirt and gravel.

The design team has also suggested that our Garden Committee could help select plant species, ensuring the plantings are both beautiful and sustainable.

Next Steps

The School Council will now turn its attention to funding and fundraising opportunities. While $200,000 is a significant target, this project represents a long-term investment in our students’ play, wellbeing, and connection to nature.

Junior Playground Update – Visible Impact, Future Vision

Following our recent School Council discussions, we are pleased to share how we are taking meaningful and visible steps forward for our students, while still keeping our long-term playground vision firmly in sight.

As outlined, the full redevelopment of the junior playground remains a significant project, with approximately $200,000 still required to bring this vision to life. This includes major works detailed above. While we continue to build towards this goal, we are also committed to ensuring that the funds already raised, particularly through Rippers on the Runare being used in ways that students can see, use and benefit from right now.

Immediate Playground Additions

To support this, we will be investing in two exciting and highly engaging play resources:

Nudel Kart Rover

The Nudel Kart Rover is a mobile, purpose-built cart designed to support loose parts play. It will be stocked with a variety of open-ended materials such as pipes, connectors, wheels and crates, allowing students to design, build and create their own imaginative structures.

This type of play:

• Encourages creativity and problem-solving
• Supports collaboration and teamwork
• Develops resilience and independence
• Allows students to take ownership of their play

Importantly, it brings flexibility to our classrooms and structured play, enabling different play experiences each day.

Gaga Pit

The Gaga Pit is an enclosed, octagonal play space used for the fast-paced and inclusive game of gaga ball. It is simple to learn, highly engaging, and suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities.

The Gaga Pit:

• Promotes active play and physical movement
• Encourages inclusion and participation
• Supports social interaction and teamwork
• Provides a structured yet fun playground option

It has been a highly requested addition and is known to quickly become a favourite in school playgrounds.

Balancing Now and the Future

While we are excited to introduce these new additions, it is important to emphasise that they form part of a staged approach. We are intentionally setting aside funds as we continue working towards the larger junior playground redevelopment.

This approach ensures that:

• Students benefit from improvements now
• Our community sees the impact of fundraising efforts
• We remain financially responsible and transparent
• The long-term vision for a high-quality junior playground remains achievable

We thank our community for your ongoing support, generosity and trust. Every step—whether big or small is helping us create a vibrant, engaging and inclusive environment for our students.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF) - DON'T MISS OUT!

Did you know eligible families can receive $400 per child to help cover school activities in 2026?

The Victorian Government’s Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps reduce the cost of things like:

• 🏕️ School camps and trips 
• 🏊 Swimming and sports programs 
• 🌿 Outdoor education 
• 🚌 Excursions and incursions 
• 🎓 Graduation/valedictory events 
•  

💰 What’s changed? From 2026, funding has increased to $400 per student (previously much lower), making a real difference for families.

✅ Who can apply?

Families holding a valid:

• Health Care Card 
• Pensioner Concession Card 
• Or eligible under special consideration 

📅 Key Dates

• Applications open: 28 January 2026 
• Applications close: 26 June 2026 

📝 How to apply

• Complete the application form (available from the school office or attached here) 
• Submit it to the school as soon as possible 

👉 Families can include multiple children on one form if they attend the same school.

📄 You can also access the official application form here: https://www.vic.gov.au/camps-sports-and-excursions-fund

💬 Why apply?

If you’re eligible, this funding goes directly toward your child’s school costs — camps, excursions, sports — the things that make school memorable.

Even if you’re unsure, we strongly encourage you to apply — we can check eligibility for you.

If you’d like help with the form or have questions, please contact the office — we’re always happy to help 💛