Welcome back to school for Term 3.  We hope that you had a wonderful break and your children are ready to work hard this term.  This term starts off with lots of action as we take part in our first House Sports at the Cobblebank Athletics track.

Athletics

We have had Athletics Days before, but we have never competed for teams and House Spirit.  Teams compete in a range of activities from sprints to throwing and jumping activities to try and beat other students in their age group.  Any students who participate in events win points for their teams, so it pays to be present to help the team win.  We hope everyone has had a great day.

Enrolments

We are starting to plan for 2026.  At this stage we have over 100 Preps enrolled for the new year and expect quite a few more.  In order to help us with employing teachers for the new year and to ensure we have enough buildings, we need you to let us know if you are leaving at the end of the year or if you are enrolling younger siblings if yet to do so.  We appreciate your support on this matter.

Parking and Drop offs

As mentioned before, the morning drop off is getting much better however we still have parents who insist on getting out of their car and leaving it in the drop off zone.  This is not only frustrating for other road users, but causes chaos on the road at the front of the school.  This is simply unnecessary and if you intend to get out of your car in the morning it would be preferred if you find a parking spot in the nearby streets.

Afternoon drop off is still poor as people fail to follow basic road rules and drive on the wrong side of the road due to people blocking the road whilst waiting for their children.  Please try and come up with a more permanent solution for you and your children during pick up times as this is not a parking area and is very dangerous.  This will be undoubtedly worse as the new school opens and we continue to grow.  We thank you for your continued cooperation in this space as it is important for the safety of all of our community.

Beanies

We have a new school beanie.  These are only available at the office for $15.

Parent Meetings

Over Term 3 you will be invited to attend a meeting with your child’s teacher to discuss your child’s progress.  These meetings are at least 15 minutes long and enable you to ask lots of questions about how we can work together to ensure your children are achieving their absolute best.

Have a great weekend

Darryl Spiteri

Principal

Congratulations to Prep A who achieved the best attendance for the week ending 25^th July, 2025.

Congratulations to Year 3/4 G who achieved the best attendance for the week ending 1st August, 2025.

PRIMARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education. Students learn new things at school every day – missing school puts them behind.

If your child is sick or absent, you are required to notify school as soon as possible on the day of absence using one of the following methods:

1. Online: log the absence directly using Compass.
2. Telephone: the school office and let the staff know your child’s name, class, date of absences and reason.

Notifying the school of your child’s absence either prior to, or on the day that they will be away, helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of children and will fulfil your legal responsibility.

Why do I need to notify the school if my child is absent?

Schools need to know when and why a child is absent and you need to know if your child isn’t at school.

If your child is absent on a particular day and you have not contacted the school to explain why, the absence will be marked as unexplained.

This system also promotes daily school attendance. Going to school every day is the single most important part of your child’s education, they learn new things every day – missing school puts them behind.

What is your responsibility?

You are legally required to ensure your child attends school every day or you must provide an explanation for their absence. You should let the school know in advance of any upcoming absences or let them know in the morning if your child won’t be at school. Avoid making routine medical and dental appointments during the school day or planning family holidays during the term.

Recognising great attendance and punctuality.

Our attendance target is 96%.  Each week, we reward the class with the highest attendance (which includes getting to school on time!), with our school mascot, Ripwell in their classroom for the week.

Please note – Tuesday 5th August is a Curriculum Day.  No students are required at school on this day.

Big Childcare will be open and available for families who require care.
To book, please contact Big Childcare directly:

📞 Phone: 0474 918 334
📧 Email: thornhillpark@bigchildcare.com

📢 IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

PAYMENT & CONSENT FOR SCHOOL EVENTS VIA COMPASS ONLY

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Please be advised that payment and consent for ALL school events MUST BE completed online via Compass only.

To complete this process:

1. Log into Compass and click on Events.
2. Select the red “Process Now (Online)” button.
3. Fill out the form, which will allow you to:
   • Provide contact details specific to the event day (optional)
   • Provide any relevant medical information (optional)
   • Provide electronic consent (type your name in the box)
   • Enter credit/debit card details for payment, if you have not done so already.

Once submitted, you will receive an email confirmation from Compass.

🚫 Please note: Cash payments are NOT accepted.

If you have any questions or require assistance, feel free to come in or contact the office at 8764 3990.

Please see refer to the video link for help: https://youtu.be/do-OFCok-Uc

New beanies for sale

What is Anxiety?

Occasional anxiety and stress are normal human experiences. Both stress and anxiety lie on a continuum and can affect our thoughts, emotions, bodily functioning and behaviours. However, stress is a reaction to challenges or demands in our environment whereas anxiety is an internal emotional state that is often experienced when stressed. Anxiety typically involves anticipation of future threats, such as worries about losing a loved one or having to speak in public. Feeling anxious can be an adaptive response to situations which are perceived as threatening, and can lead an individual to take action or to avoid the perceived threat. However, while brief transient anxiety is normal, persistent, heightened anxiety is not and students may need targeted support.

Children are likely to experience anxiety in three ways. First, anxiety affects the way children think. Anxious children will have thoughts that centre around a perceived threat. For example, they may worry that they will be laughed at or may get hurt. Second, children experience anxiety in their body. Bodily symptoms may include a racing heart, shaky hands, restlessness, muscle tension, headaches, difficulty concentrating and/or sleeping. Third, anxiety affects children’s behaviour. When children are anxious, there is a related behavioural response (typically avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations). For example, refusing to go to school on the day of a test, avoiding asking questions/seeking help in class, not joining in with peers.

If you have any concerns around your child and them displaying signs of anxiety please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher of one of the Wellbeing Team Members (Scott Bartlett, Emma Stott, Donna Payton or Sharon Kenshole)

BULLYING NO WAY WEEK – 11 to 15 August 2025’

Bullying No Way Week: National week of action.

The week of 11 to 15 August 2025, is Bullying No Way Week and is about the important roles school, family and community play in helping young people feel accepted, respected and a sense of belonging.

The theme for 2025 is Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up.

It takes courage to spark change.

Bullying is everyone’s responsibility.  It takes a community to be brave and address bullying behaviours, within and beyond the school gate.

Students can be bold, kind and speak up to support others being bullied. Trusted adults are there to support children and young people as they learn how to be kind to each other and report bullying.

This Bullying No Way Week, we’re asking students, schools, families and communities to be bold and say something, be kind and support someone, and be proud to speak up against bullying.

Everyone has a role in preventing bullying. This year we’re encouraging students and school staff to speak up and foster safe spaces where everyone feels supported, respected and all voices are heard and valued.

For more information about Bullying No Way Week and bullying prevention, visit the Bullying No Way website Bullying No Way

Also see Kids Helpline school resources and eSafety’s cyberbullying hub.

Our Learning in Years 5 & 6

We’ve launched into the term with great energy and enthusiasm, building on the strong foundations from the first semester. This term, students are diving deeper into rich learning experiences across the curriculum.

A highlight will be our SES incursion, where students will explore how these emergency services operate and how they support communities in when an emergency such as natural disasters occur. In week 5, students will participate in a swimming program and the term will end with our camp at The Ranch, Mornington Peninsula.

Literacy:

This term, students will focus on writing explanation texts and newspaper articles. In Reading, they will examine text structures, identify main ideas, and enhance their understanding through various non-fiction texts. The information gathered during Reading sessions will support their writing on natural disasters. Students will also continue with the Words Their Way program to improve their spelling, vocabulary, and understanding of word patterns. Speaking and listening skills will be developed through group discussions, presentations, and collaborative tasks, emphasizing effective communication and attentive listening.

Numeracy:

This term, students started by exploring concepts of length, mass, and volume. They engaged in practical measurement activities using everyday objects to deepen their understanding of measurement units and how to convert between them. Students will also investigate maps, location, and navigation by designing and using their own maps featuring grid references and coordinates. In Number, the emphasis is on developing strategies for multiplication and division, and applying these skills to financial mathematics through real-life tasks such as budgeting and shopping. 

Inquiry:

This term, students will explore natural disasters, looking into how they happen, where they occur, and the reasons behind them. They will study events such as bushfires, floods, earthquakes, and cyclones, and reflect on how these disasters affect people and the environment. Students will also learn about how communities can prepare for and respond to these events, gaining insight into prevention measures and emergency responses through research and real-life examples.

AUSLAN 

This term, students will build their Auslan skills by exploring common handshapes used in signing and how they help form meaning. They will also learn vocabulary related to clothing and the classroom, using signs in context through games, conversations, and visual supports.

Wellbeing 

This term, students will explore gender and human development, learning about the changes people experience and the importance of respecting diversity and individual rights. Students will participate in discussions and tasks that encourage them to consider the experiences and opportunities of others based on gender. They will develop empathy and understanding to promote respectful relationships and inclusive attitudes.

Congratulations to the following students who received awards during our assemblies!

Keep up the great work!

Students of the Week – Ending 25th July

Students of the Week – Ending 1st August

Congratulations to the following students who are celebrating a birthday in July & August!

We hope you had a lovely day!

Siyan PF

Rehmatdip Kaur 1B

Eloise 1D

Keziah 2D

Ilma PF

Anna 1B

Ava PD

Mataius 56E

Gurneet 56F

Emil PD

Lexi 56E

Msgana PD

Sableen 34D

Gursanjh Kaur PE

Sakina 2B

Gislaine 2D

Jasmine 34G

Chloe  34A

Mia 34G

Rebecca 56A

Manmeet 1D

Salote 34G

Zion 34E

Tj 2A

Joseph 34F

Mishel PF

 Jashan 56D

*Please note that birthdays are only published up until the date of publication.  

Important Dates – Term 3

• Term 3 starts Monday 21st July to Friday 19th July
• Tuesday 5th August – Curriculum Day – Student Free Day
• Wednesday 6th August – Year 3/4 Basketball
• 9th – 17th August – National Science Week
• Monday 11th August – 15th August – Year 3/4 Swimming
• 18th – 22nd August – Children’s Book Week – Book an Adventure
• Friday 22nd August – Book Week Costume Parade (9am in the gym)
• Monday 18th August – 22nd August – Year 5/6 Swimming
• Friday 22nd August – Book Week Dress Up Day
• 25th August – 27th August – Year 3/4 Camp – Lady Northcote
• Thursday 4th September  & Friday 5th September – Father’s Day Stall
• Friday 5th September – Father’s Day Open Afternoon
• Monday 15th September – Year 5/6 Camp – Ace Hi Ranch
• Friday 19th September – Footy Day Fundraiser
• Friday 19th September – Term 3 Ends at 2:30pm

Come along and try Karate! Increase your confidence, learn new physical skills and have FUN in a safe and nurturing environment.

THORNHILL PARK PRIMARY SCHOOL GYM – WEDNESDAYS 4PM (AGES 4+)

To register for 2 FREE SESSIONS, please call 0407320333 or visit our website www.artofdefence.com.au