Principal’s Message

Welcome Back

The start of the 2023 school year has been very smooth. Unlike a lot of our friends in local schools, we are fully staffed with ample teachers and educational support staff to provide an excellent teaching and learning program for your children. Our students have returned ready to learn, with a calm environment in classrooms and the yard that has been very pleasing to see. We have a busy term planned and a very diverse range of experiences organised to engage and excite our school community.

Our New Staff

We welcome the following new staff to the team:

Jenny Loorham – Assistant Principal

Xanthia Beninati and Nicky Carter - Tutoring Staff

Michelle Hubbard – Administration and First Aid

Anthony Lentini – E Learning

Krystal Ioannidis – Year 3

Indiana D’Angelis and Carryn Maffescioni – Education Support

Sarina Marchant – Generalist Teacher

We are also happy to see Julie Nixon back around the school after her leave in Term 4. Luke Poyser will return himself in Term 2, after he and his wife Ange spend the first few months of the year together looking after their new arrival – baby Violetta!

Building Project update

Our Computer Room has been moved and reinstated and is nearly ready to go. The concreting has been completed to provide safe entry and is currently receiving a fresh coat of paint. Students will be back in there on Monday. The foundations for the new building are now complete and the slab will be poured very soon.

Important upcoming dates

Please note that we have some important dates coming up. Prep PMP will be held in the Gym each Friday afternoon. Prep parents can contact the office if they are available to assist Mr Scanu and his team. Family Fun Night is scheduled for March 30th from 4pm – 7pm. Year 6 Camp is in Term 1, on March 15th – 17th.

Ambulance Cover

We would like to remind families that the Department of Education and Training does not provide personal accident insurance or ambulance cover for students. Parents and guardians of students who do not have student accident insurance/ambulance cover, are responsible for paying the cost of medical treatment for injured students, including the cost of ambulance attendance or transportation. If your child presents at the sickbay urgently requiring an ambulance, we will call one to assist. If you are not an ambulance member – this cost unfortunately will be passed on to you.

Prep BBQ

Last Wednesday afternoon from 4:30pm until 6:30pm we had a wonderful turn out for our Prep BBQ! As the first formal event for our newest students starting their schooling, we celebrated with a chance for families to meet our teachers, view their classrooms and snack on a sausage as a lead-in to their first day on the Thursday. Thank you to all the families who could attend and to the staff who assisted. A special acknowledgment to Mr Surkitt and Mr Scanu who helped me cook on the night, and to our new After-Hours Care group ‘Their care’ who sponsored the event and paid for the sausages. Bakers Delight Rivergum were also very generous in donating the bread on the night.

Canteen in Term 1

We are having some challenges with our canteen due to building works. We apologise for the interruptions to this service. The plan is for the next stage of works to occur over the Term 1 holiday break. However, I cannot guarantee this will be the case, so I will keep families notified via Compass. Currently the canteen is back in full operation. A special thanks to the parents who volunteered their time last week to sell icy poles whilst the canteen was closed.

Assembly

PPPS students will be attending Assembly next Monday morning at 9:10am. Assembly will be held fortnightly this term on the following dates: February 13th and 27th and March 27th. Parents/Guardians/Grandparents are all welcome to attend.

Regards,

Regards,

David Whewell | Principal

PARKING AND SAFETY AROUND THE SCHOOL

Information from the City of Whittlesea