We are already approaching the end of Term 3.  It has been a busy three weeks with students attending swimming, camp, an excursion and sporting events.  Before we know it we will be in holiday mode and preparing for 2026.

Enrolments for 2026

We are aware that around 60 students will be headed to the new Catholic School – St Pedro Pio at the start of next year.  Please confirm your attendance at that school for 2026 once you receive confirmation from them that you have been accepted.  We are sad to see people leave us, but we understand that everyone has the right to choose where they send their children to school within their zoned area. At Thornhill Park PS, we will continue to provide a high quality education for your children and ensure development and growth as our recent data improvements have shown.

We also ask that if you have children who are eligible for Prep in 2026 and you are yet to enrol them, that you get an enrolment form from the office as soon as possible.  Transition programs for Preps will begin in Term 4.  We currently have over 120 Preps enrolled for 2026.

Hats

A reminder that hats are required for all students for Term 4.  Hats are available at our uniform supplier Dobson and the office.  Students who do not have a hat will be asked to sit in the shade during play times.  Please note that beanies are not Sunsmart and not considered hats. This can often be a cause of distress for many students.

Uniform

A reminder that students need to wear our school uniform at all times.  It is important to have windcheaters, polos, hoodies or bomber jackets with our school log on them.  We do not permit ‘jumper or jacket’ type items that do not have our school logo on them, however wet weather jackets can be of your choice and children can wear these when outside on colder days.

Camp

We had our first camp of the year earlier this week.  The Year 3/4 students had a great time and got to experience a bit of time away from home developing some independence and taking part in unique experiences.  We thank the teachers who took time away from their families to attend.  The Year 5/6 camp will be in the last week of this term.  Camps for 2026 have already been locked in and we are working to book in a 2027 venue.

Parent Survey

The parent survey is currently open.  I would like to thank the over 85 parents who have now done the survey.  The information is extremely useful in assisting us in continuing to provide the best possible experience for your children.  Please take the time to complete this if you have not already done so.  Details are on Class Dojo.

Book Week

Last week was an amazing Book Week experience for our students.  We all had a great time.  A huge thank you to the students and parents for being a part of the festivities.  We also sold over $5900 at our Book Fair.  We thank you for your contributions to this as we have raised over $1700 from Scholastic as a result of these sales.

Swimming

Swimming is now over for the year.  We have had a successful year in running this program and we are looking for ways to make it even better next year.  We cannot stress how valuable it is for children to learn how to be safe around water.

Coffee and Chat

I will be starting a series of coffee and chat sessions with parents over the rest of this year to just have a chat about the good things that happen at our school, to provide updates on our progress as a school and to listen to parent feedback on whatever you decide to speak about.  The first one will be on Tuesday September 9th at 9am.

Maths Week

Next week is Maths week.  We will be running a Father’s Day Maths event on Friday 5th September at 2pm before assembly.  It will be an orienteering adventure and those who submit a completed sheet will go in the draw to win a prize.

Father’s Day Stall

Our Father’s Day stall will be on Thursday 4th September and Friday 5th September.  Students are encouraged to purchase a gift for their Father or a significant male in their life.  Gifts range from $1-$7.  We would ask that students bring a reusable bag with them to carry their items.

Have a great weekend.

Darryl Spiteri

Principal

Congratulations to 2C who achieved the best attendance for the week ending 22nd August, 2025.

Congratulations to 34G who achieved the best attendance for the week ending 29th 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.

2025 Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey:

WE WANT OUR PARENTS / CAREGIVERS / GUARDIANS TO TELL US WHAT THEY THINK!

Our school is conducting the annual Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey offered by the Department of Education and is seeking your feedback. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behavior, and student engagement. The survey is optional and confidential; however, we encourage and appreciate your participation.
Our school will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies.

The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey will be open online from Monday 18 August to Friday 19 September 2025.

All families are invited to participate in the survey. Instructions will be available on COMPASS.

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones.

The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Resources are also available in additional languages to assist parents / caregivers / guardians who speak a language other than English at home. Please reach out to your child’s teacher, or the school directly for survey guides in your language.

The results of the survey are used to plan improvements across the school. This year we have introduced services such as Occupational Therapy and Psychs in Schools as a result of information from this survey. We value your feedback and want to ensure you, and your children have the best possible experience at our school. We thank you in advance for taking the time to fill out this survey.

Please speak to the office if you would like more information.

X-FACTORY – School Performance – DATE CHANGE

We are conscious that we have had a lot of extra-curricular activities happening this term and this not only puts extra pressure on staff and students who are involved in the performance, but also a financial burden on families.

We have therefore decided to postpone our X-FACTORY EXTRAVAGANZA school performance until Thursday 23 October 2025.

This will give the performing students and organisers extra time to finesse the production as well as additional time for families to purchase tickets.

This event is to give students the opportunity to perform to the school and wider community. It is also about bringing the community together and displaying our school culture.

We are also hoping, if we can get a full house, the proceeds from the ticket sales, will not only cover the costs involved in running a production like this such as stage, audio equipment and chair hire, but also raise some funds that we can use towards school improvements and facilities.

However, we do also realise that for larger families, $10/ticket can work out to be expensive. Therefore, we have now included the following family package options to include a more cost-effective option:

General Admission $10 per ticket (adults and children)
Family of 4 (2 Adults, 2 Children) – $40 per family
Family of 5 (2 Adults, 3 Children) – $40 per family
Family of 6 (2 Adults, 4 Children) – $40 per family

Tickets must be purchased prior to the event via Compass Tix (Posters with the QR code are displayed around the school and have also been sent home via Compass and DoJo). Please ensure you choose the correct package for the number of adults and children in your family as your seat allocation will be based around this, and entry will only be applicable for the number stated on your ticket.

If you have already purchased tickets, they will automatically be transferred to the new date.

Ticket sales will close on Wednesday 15 October, unless sold out prior. Seats are limited so please get in quick.

Thank you for your continued support of our school.

‘Slumber Party Dance Off!

We’re excited to announce our Pyjama Themed School Discos!

• P–2 Disco: Thursday 4th September @ Lunchtime
• 3–6 Disco: Friday 5th September @ Lunchtime

Location: School Gym
Entry: Gold Coin Donation (funds go towards the Year 6 Graduation)
Dress: Oodies, PJ’s, robes, sleep attire. Bring along your favourite sleep items (stuffed animals, toys, blankets, etc).

It’s going to be lots of fun with great songs to dance to, we can’t wait to see everyone there!’

Father’s/Special Person’s Day Thursday 4th September & Friday, 5th September!

We are excited to celebrate Father’s/Special Person’s Day Thursday 4th September & Friday, 5th September!

As part of the celebration, students will have the opportunity to visit our special gift stall and purchase a small present for their dad, grandpa, or another significant person in their life.

Details:
• Gifts will range in price from $1 to $7
• One gift per student, unless a second gift is required, for example: step-parent, etc.
• Please ensure your child brings a reusable bag to carry their gift home.
• Don’t forget to send money with your child on the day. No large notes, just small change.

This is always a much-loved event and a great way for students to show appreciation to the special people in their lives.

SCHOOL UNIFORM SALE!  DOBSONS!

Dobsons is the official uniform supplier for our school.

Caroline Springs Store (Opposite Bunnings)
12 Panamax Rd, RAVENHALL VIC 3023
Phone: (03) 8348 5477
Email: carolinesprings@dobsons.com.au

Store Open Hours

Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 2:30pm
Sunday: Closed

Our Learning in Years 1

Literacy

Grade One students have read the Pig the Pug books together. They learned about the characters, important messages in the stories, and how the stories connect to their own lives. They also talked about the stories and noticed how the author used words to make the books fun to read. Students also participated in Book Week Dress up day where the theme was “Book an Adventure”

Numeracy

Students practiced subtraction by using models and exploring how addition and subtraction are connected. They learned about the whole-part-part idea and used the “count back” method to understand numbers better. They also used their number facts, number lines, and hands-on materials to help their thinking. Students also explored 2D shapes by finding, naming, and describing them. They also looked for shapes in everyday things and made shapes using different materials and objects.

Our Learning in Years 2

Literacy
Students commenced the term by exploring descriptive information texts. They learnt to identify the purpose, organisation, and key features of these texts. They created ‘All about…’ books based on animals of their choice, organising their books into subheadings that included classification, habitat and diet. Using double bubble maps, students compared and contrasted animals such as big cats and whales and dolphins, learning to use comparing and contrasting vocabulary such as ‘tigers and cheetahs both live in trees’ and ‘unlike jaguars, tigers are excellent swimmers’, to show similarities and differences. From this, they summarised key points and then expanded their ideas into their own descriptive information texts.

For the remainder of the term, our focus will shift to procedural texts. Students will learn how to recognise an author’s purpose and explore the importance of directional language when writing and reading procedural text.

In Numeracy, students have continued to strengthen their number knowledge through skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s. They have used this skill when looking at patterns and have practised identifying whether a pattern is increasing or decreasing. To strengthen their number knowledge further, students have explored double numbers and the connection these numbers have with multiplication. We have also learnt how to divide numbers by sharing into even groups and through the use of repeated subtraction. In shape, students are continuing to recognise and describe shapes using language such as opposite, parallel, curved, and straight. We are also learning to identify and demonstrate quarter, half, three-quarter and full measures of turn in everyday situations. Students are learning to apply this knowledge to time, by reading an analogue clock to the hour, half-hour and quarter hour.

Auslan

This term we have been learning lots of new signs in Auslan! We have learned how to describe ourselves, our friends and animals using phrases such as “LONG HAIR, TALL, GLASSES”, or “BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES, FOUR LEGS”. We can use signs for places, activities and subjects at school to describe our daily routine, and tell our peers what we did on the weekend.

We are learning more about grammar and sentence structure, as well as ways to gain people’s attention to help us communicate in Auslan. To ask us what we’re doing on the weekend, sign “YOUR WEEKEND DO WHAT”      and we can tell you in Auslan!

Inquiry:

In Term 3, students have been learning about Our Past and Present. In this unit, students investigated how daily life, technology, and places have changed and stayed the same over time. They explored how people’s lives, work, travel and communication have been affected by new technologies. In addition, students have learnt about the significance of people and local places within our community. The rest of the term will be spent exploring Country and Place and how these places are significant culturally and spiritually to Indigenous Australians and how we must care for them.

Child Safety Standards

The Child Safe Standards are compulsory minimum standards for all Victorian schools to ensure they are well prepared to keep children and young people safe and protect them from abuse.

The Child Safe Standards include requirements to keep children, young people and students safe, including:

• involvement of families and students in child safety
• schools’ focus on safety for Aboriginal students
• better management of child abuse risks in online environments
• governance, systems and processes for keeping students safe.
• The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority is responsible for regulating the compliance of schools with the Standards. Schools are required to comply with the Standards as part of the prescribed minimum standards for registration.

Useful Services

There are services that you can contact to access more information, and in some cases, to speak to somebody about your concerns.

• National Child Abuse Helpline (Child Wise)

Phone: 1800 991 099

A toll-free number with access to expert advice from trained counsellors and an opportunity to speak up about child abuse.

• Kids Helpline

Phone: 1800 551 800

For any time and for any reason – free, private and confidential phone and online counselling 24 hrs a day 7 days a week.

• Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation)

Phone: 1800 650 890

Headspace can help if you are aged 12 or over and you are going through a tough time. National Child Abuse Helpline (Child Wise)

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

Keep up the great work!

Students of the Week – Ending 22nd August

Students of the Week – Ending 29th August

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

We hope you had a lovely day!

Jeannette 2C

Adab Singh 1E

Ahmed 34D

Emillia PA

Eli 1G

Seerat PB

Leila 1B

Selassie 1E

Teghvir PB

Samay 2B

Siera 34E

Momcilo 34F

Samarth 34G

Tanpreet 34D

Rosalee 34A

Maneet 2D

Yovin 34C

Anna 56E

Kaira PH

Anyuon 1F

Raphael 56B

Anmol  34F

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

Important Dates – Term 3

• Monday September 1st – Year 3-4 Divisional Athletics (selected students)
• Thursday 4th & Friday 5th September – Father’s Day Stall
• Pyjama Themed School Discos – P–2 Disco: Thursday 4th September @ Lunchtime (Gold Coin Donation (funds go towards the Year 6 Graduation)
• Pyjama Themed School Discos – 3–6 Disco: Friday 5th September @ Lunchtime (Gold Coin Donation (funds go towards the Year 6 Graduation)
• Friday 5th September – Father’s Day Open Afternoon from 2.00pm onwards
• Thursday 11th September – R U OK? Day
• Monday 15th September – Year 5/6 Camp – Ace Hi Ranch
• Wednesday 17th September – Year 3/4 Melton Network Maths Games Day (selected students only)
• Friday 19th September – Footy Day Fundraiser
• Friday 19th September – Term 3 Ends at 2:30pm

Important Dates – Term 4

• Thursday 23rd October – ‘X-FACTORY EXTRAVAGANZA ‘ – 6.00pm – 8.00pm 

Dear Parents,

Sport Star Academy (SSA) is delighted to announce an upcoming partnership with Thornhill Park Primary School to run sporting programs onsite directly after school, on weekends and during the school holidays and we would like to know which days/times are the most convenient for your child(ren).

Fill out your details below by 5th September 2025 to redeem a FREE first session for your children. 😊
https://forms.gle/tNHufW2EnpcWHyks6

SSA is a leading provider of sporting programs in 390+ schools across Australia and understands that each child has a different pathway. Whether that’s from beginner to elite, shy to confident or solo player to team player, these programs are a child’s pathway to thrive. 🌱

We look forward to having you join in on the fun! 😊

If anyone would like to register their interest, via basketball.flames@outlook.com would be greatly appreciated.

Free Footy Tickets

Match Details:

• Game: Western Bulldogs vs Hawks
• Date: Saturday, 30th of August
• Gates Open: 6:15 pm
• Location: Mission Whitten Oval

This is a fantastic opportunity for families to experience AFLW live, enjoy the atmosphere, and support the team.

To redeem tickets, please use the link and password below:
LINK: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/event/130062D8A2D51A97?did=community

PASSWORD: AFLW25COMMUNITY

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