Congratulations to 1D who achieved the best attendance for the week ending 21st August, 2026.

Congratulations to 2B who achieved the best attendance for the week ending 28th August, 2026.

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.

Beat the Bell

Arriving at school on time helps students start their day feeling calm, settled and ready to learn.  Students need to arrive prior to 8:45am.

Raising Children Network recommends having a morning routine to help children get ready for school.

Here are some simple ways to help your child beat the bell:

• Get ready the night before. Pack the school bag, prepare lunch and put the school uniform ready.
• Have a morning routine. Try to do things in the same order each morning. This helps children know what to do.
• Allow extra time. Give your family enough time to get ready and leave home before the gates close.
• Reduce distractions. TV, tablets and phones can make it harder to get ready on time.
• Encourage your child. Praise your child when they get ready and are ready to leave on time.
• Get enough sleep. A good night’s sleep can help children wake up feeling ready for the day.
• Give children responsibility. Encourage children to get dressed, pack their bag and put their lunch in their bag when they are able to do these things themselves.

Small steps make a big difference

Getting ready the night before and leaving home on time can help your child arrive at school before 8:45am, ready to start their day.

SCHOOL UNIFORM – DOBSONS – BUY EARLY & SAVE!

Specialists

On Wednesday, 26^th August, we were fortunate enough to host some staff from the Western Bulldogs AFL in schools program. The children ranging from Year 5/6, Prep and Year 2 participated in a range of skill drills during their PE lesson. The staff were enthusiastic and provided an enjoyable experience for everyone. Testing reflexes, handballing, kicking and even a tackle bag were part of the activities. Even wearing their book parade costume didn’t deter them from having fun.

If your child would like to play AFL, look out for Auskick events around the community – https://play.afl/play/auskick

Our Learning in Years 1

Term 3 in Year 1

It has been such an exciting term for the Grade 1s as they have been learning about Green and Growing in Inquiry.

Students began the unit with gaining an understanding of how plants grow, what they need to survive and why plants are so important to humans! A new favourite word in the classroom is PHOTOSYNTHESIS!

Grade 1s started the unit being creative with an opportunity to design their own plant.

Students have also enjoyed planting their own seed by using the method of damp cotton balls in a ziploc bag. Students were able to see the growth of their plant and record their observation in their plant journal; it has been an exciting journey!

They got their hands dirty by planting their gown grass seeds in soil.

As students were learning and understanding the life cycle of a plant, connections were made to animals and insects that also have a life cycle. A trip to the Melbourne Zoo has been the highlight of the unit, students were able to see the butterfly house, lions, gorillas and tortoises! They are given an exciting opportunity to learn from a Zoo educator to explore with a hands-on experience with different animal skins and shells.

Our Learning in Years 2

Year 2 Learning – Literacy & Inquiry

Welcome to our Year 2 Newsletter!

This term, we have intertwined our Literacy and Inquiry learning as we explored how plants and animals live, grow and survive in different environments.

Throughout these units, students investigated the essential needs of living things, including air, water, food and shelter, and explored how different environments, or habitats, provide these needs.

In Literacy, we began our learning with the mentor text Seed to Sky: A Life in the Daintree. This engaging story explores the Daintree Rainforest, one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Students learnt about the needs and life cycle of trees while being introduced to rainforest creatures such as cassowaries, insects and snakes.

Students also conducted an exciting seed-growing experiment where they investigated how sunlight and water affect plant growth. We planted four seeds under different conditions:

🌱 Seed A: Sunlight + water
🌱 Seed B: Sunlight + no water
🌱 Seed C: No sunlight + water
🌱 Seed D: No sunlight + no water

Through our observations, students discovered that Seed A thrived the best when it received sunlight and regular watering.

To demonstrate their learning at the end of the unit, students created a triorama and fact file about an animal from the Daintree Rainforest.

In Inquiry, students explored and classified animals into five groups: amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds and fish. We investigated the different features that help us identify which animal group a living thing belongs to.

Students also developed their understanding of how external features, such as wings, fur, beaks, leaves and roots, help living things survive in their environments.

As part of our learning this term, students participated in an exciting Ecolinc incursion. This experience consolidated our understanding of animal groups and explored how animals’ features, coverings and adaptations help them survive in their habitats.

Students communicated their thinking using everyday and developing scientific vocabulary and used their critical and creative thinking skills to ask questions, provide reasons and draw conclusions.

It has been a wonderful term of exploring, investigating and discovering the amazing world of plants, animals and their habitats! 🌿🐾🦋

A Message from First Aid

Glasses for Kids – Mid Term Reminder – Consent Forms

👓 Glasses for Kids – Prep to Year 3 Students

Families of Prep to Year 3 students are reminded that our Glasses for Kids visit is scheduled for Term 4.

If you have not already done so, please complete and return your child’s consent form by Friday, 18 September 2026 (the end of Term 3).

You can complete the consent form online or return the paper copy that was sent home.

Online Consent Form:
https://stateschoolsrelief.snapforms.com.au/form/gfk-consent-form

If you require the consent form in another language, translated versions are available at:
https://stateschoolsrelief.org.au/support-programs/glasses-for-kids/resources/

Thank you for returning your child’s consent form by the due date to assist us with planning for the program.

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

Keep up the great work!

Students of the Week – Ending 21st August

Students of the Week – Ending 28th August

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

We hope you had a lovely day!

Hamyra PG

Adab Singh 2C

Jaswin 34G

Ahmed 56H

Aubrey Maria  PB

Ali PD

Emillia 1E

Eli 2C

Eliana PF

Seerat  1F

Selassie 2E

Leila 2G

Teghvir 1H

Samay Singh  34A

Samarth 34B

Siera 34E

Momcilo 34E

Tanpreet 34I

Shivaay PF

Arjan 2A

Rosalee 34B

Haven  34C

Maneet Kaur   34H

Abigail 34G

Willow PB

Moana PC

Harvey PF

Kairo 1B

Anna 56G

Nahom PF

Kaira 1G

Aubrielle PC

Aurora PA

Anyuon 2B

Raphael 56B

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

Important Dates – Term 3

Saturday 29 August – Friday 4 September – Numeracy Week

Tuesday 1 September – Years 3/4 Maths Competition – Thornhill Park Primary School & St Padre Pio Inter School Maths Competition

Wednesday 2 September – Prep to Year 2 Maths Incursion, Year 5/6 Rugby Tag (selected students only)

Thursday 3 September – Thornhill Park Primary School – Art Show, Father’s Day Stall & Years 3/4 Maths Incursion

Friday 4 September- Father’s Day Stall & Open Afternoon for Father’s Day – 2pm

Wednesday 9 September – Friday 11 September – Year 5/6 Camp Weekaway

Tuesday 15 September – Prep Ballart Wildlife Park Excursion

Wednesday 16 September – House Spirit Day

Friday 18 September – Last Day of Term 3 (early finish time of 2:30 pm) & SRC Fundraising Event