We are in the final quarter of what has been a busy year.  It is not slowing down as we accelerate towards Christmas.

Transitions

Our Prep transitions sessions will begin soon.  In the meantime we have been welcoming all of the local kindergarten students to our school to get a taste of what school will be like for them.  If you have a child who will be in prep next year and you are yet to enrol them, please get onto this as soon as possible.

Hats

Term 4 is a hat term.  Students are expected to wear a broad brim or bucket hat.  Failure to do so means that they need to sit in the shaded areas for play time.  We have had some students talk to us about it being a money making exercise for the school.  This is incorrect!  We do not make any profit from the sales of hats as we sell them at the same price as the uniform shop.  School hats are preferred, but not the compulsory item that students need to wear.  Students can wear any bucket or broad brim hat.  Caps are not permitted.  Hats are required as part of the Anti-Cancer Council’s Sunsmart Policy.  It is important for students to look after their skin in the warmer weather and prevent being burnt.  Sunscreen and sunglasses are also recommended.

Production

Our first ever Production – X-Factory is nearly here.  Our Year Prep to Two students will be getting a performance on Wednesday afternoon, followed by a 3-6 performance on Thursday morning and the big event on Thursday night.  We are now sold out and 250 tickets have been sold.  Popcorn and drinks will be available for purchase from the canteen on the night and it would be appreciated if a gold coin donation or similar could be given on the way in to the show to help to pay for the equipment that has had to be hired.  The children have worked very hard with Ms Falls and Diane to get this production up and we look forward to this being a part of the fabric of our school as we continue to grow.

Please note that only people with tickets are permitted to attend.

Grade list for 2026

We are in the process of creating Grades for 2026, so if you have any specific request for me to consider can you please put them through in writing to our school email address.  thornhill.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au  Please understand that I will not consider requests to have or not have specific teachers.

Melbourne Cup Weekend holidays

A reminder that there will be no school on the Melbourne Cup weekend.  Students will not be required to attend on the Monday or Tuesday.  Please contact Big Childcare to ascertain whether there will be a holiday program for the Monday.  This is potentially subject to demand.

Skyla and Mya Berryman

We wish Skyla and Mya the best of luck as they represent Victoria in the National Championships in Ballarat starting next weekend in the sport of touch rugby.  We know they will do an awesome job and hopefully they can come home with a gold medal.

2026 enrolments

Please let the office know if you will be leaving us in 2026.  We are aware of quite a few students heading to St Pedro Pio next year, but we need you to let the office know to confirm this if you are yet to do so.  It is very important for us to know due to staffing.

Have a great weekend

Darryl Spiteri

Principal

Congratulations to 1A who achieved the best attendance for the week ending 10th October, 2025.

Congratulations to Prep B who achieved the best attendance for the week ending 17th October, 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.

Grass Pollen Season Has Begun: What You Need to Know

Today marks the official start of the grass pollen season in across much of southern Australia. For many, spring brings warmer weather and blooming landscapes. But for the one in four Australians who experience hay fever and the millions living with asthma, this time of year can also mean itchy eyes, runny noses, and increased breathing difficulties.

Why October Matters

Grass pollen is the main outdoor allergen during spring and early summer. Each year, from 1 October to 31 December, AirHealth monitors daily pollen levels and provides forecasts to help the community prepare and manage their health.

High pollen days can trigger hay fever and asthma symptoms. Particular weather conditions such as thunderstorms can lead to dangerous events like epidemic thunderstorm asthma. The devastating event of November 2016 showed just how serious these conditions can be, highlighting the need for timely forecasts and public awareness.

How We Monitor Pollen

Our team operates specialised monitoring equipment across Australia to capture daily pollen counts. Using these data, along with weather information, we produce accurate forecasts for the coming days. This real-time information helps people with asthma and allergies make decisions about their daily activities, whether that is adjusting medication, closing windows on high pollen days, or staying indoors when risk levels are extreme.

What You Can Do This Season

• Check the daily forecast: Home – Melbourne Pollen Home – Melbourne Pollen. Make sure you enable notifications, so you receive alerts when conditions change.
• Follow your treatment plan: If you have been prescribed preventer medication or carry an asthma inhaler, make sure you are using them as directed.
• Prepare for high pollen days: Keep windows and doors closed and consider staying indoors if pollen levels are high.
• Stay alert for thunderstorms: Combined with high pollen counts, storms can rapidly worsen symptoms, especially for people with asthma.

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 5 & 6

Last term was jam packed with not only learning but many other activities – Book Week, sports events, swimming, SES and performance incursions, wrapping it all up with camp in the last week.

We’ve launched into Term 4 with great energy and enthusiasm, ready for the busy term ahead building on the strong foundations from the first semester. This term, students will continue following to engage in rich learning experiences across the curriculum.

A highlight this term is our Entrepreneurial Projects, where students will be developing their own business ideas and gaining real-world skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation. 

Later in the term Year Six students will celebrate the end of their primary school years with a day out at Funfields and then celebrate with their families at their Graduation ceremony. 

Literacy:

This term in Reading, students will develop their skills of analysing and critiquing texts, specifically author choices and the impact they have on the reader. In Writing, students reflect on the texts they have explored in Reading and apply this knowledge to their own texts. Students will explore three text types – mythical narratives, persuasive speeches and poetry/raps.Students will continue to develop their spelling knowledge through the Words Their Way program, and they will develop their Speaking and Listening skills through discussions and speeches.

Numeracy:

This term in Numeracy, students will work on  developing their skills across a range of areas. They will learn to  calculate time and elapsed time, and explore probability using fractions, decimals, and percentages to describe likelihood of an event occurring. In Statistics, students will conduct investigations, collect and represent data using tables and graphs, and use fractions, decimals, and percentages to compare results and draw conclusions. In Number and Algebra, students are working with equivalent fractions and applying strategies to add, subtract, and multiply them through problem-solving tasks that connect their number knowledge to real-world situations.

Inquiry:

This term in Inquiry, students are taking on an entrepreneurial project, working in teams to design and develop their own product or service. They’ll move through brainstorming, planning, designing, and marketing before selling to the school community. This hands-on experience builds teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and financial literacy skills while giving students real-world business insight.

AUSLAN 

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

Wellbeing 

This term in Wellbeing, students will explore the topics of violence, friendship, and seeking support through the Respectful Relationships program. They will learn to recognise different forms of violence and understand its impact on individuals and communities. Students will reflect on the importance of healthy friendships, identifying positive qualities in relationships and developing strategies to manage conflict respectfully. 

Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships

Thornhill Park Primary School is a proud Respectful Relationships school.

Respectful Relationships education is part of the Victorian Curriculum and delivered by all Victorian government schools. It supports students to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed for respectful relationships, and helps to build respect and equality across the entire school community.

Term Four will see students engaging in the topic below:

Topic 8: Positive gender relationships helps students develop an age-appropriate understanding of gender-based violence, safe and unsafe behaviours and consent. Students also develop self-care, peer support and help-seeking skills they can use in response to situations involving gender-based violence.

You can view the progression of an activity below from Topic 8, as it is taught in Grade 1/2, 3/4 and 5/6.

If you have any questions about Respectful Relationships education, you can contact Lucy Bull, or visit the Victorian Government’s Respectful Relationships page: https://www.vic.gov.au/respectful-relationships

Respect my space, Respect my body – Year 1 and 2

Advice for young people

How to look after your own mental health and wellbeing, support a friend, and where to get help.

If you or a friend need help with mental health

You don’t have to tackle mental health challenges on your own. Talk to a trusted adult and find support through your school or community.

Your mental health and wellbeing

It’s great that you’re taking the time to understand your own mental health and what you can do.

We all face challenges that test our mental health.

It’s normal to feel sad, upset and angry at times. And some stress is a normal part of everyday life. Everyone’s moods move up and down. We can start the day feeling great, and our mood might change by lunch.

But if you feel sad, angry or stressed most of the time, it’s a sign you need help.

You might want to talk about:

• handling relationships
• how you feel about your body
• things happening at home
• your emotions
• things making you feel uncomfortable or unsafe
• the way you’re managing stress or a tough time

Signs you might need help with your mental health

You might need help if you’re:

• losing interest in activities you normally enjoy
• withdrawing from friends and family
• feeling ‘low’, stressed or worried a lot of the time
• finding ordinary things, like getting schoolwork done or doing jobs at home, harder or overwhelming
• being easily irritated or getting angry over little things
• taking more risks
• having a lot of negative thoughts
• changes to sleeping patterns
• feeling like you’re eating too much or not enough.

How to ask for help (and start a difficult conversation)

• It can be hard to start a conversation about mental health. Just telling someone you need help is a great and brave first step. Or you might want to go straight to your school or an organisation that can help.
• You might worry about how the other person will react. But family, teachers and mental health professionals are here to help. Even if they can’t solve your issues, they can find experts who can help.
• Finding someone you trust can also be hard. The main thing is that you feel safe with the person and trust them.
• Read 6 steps to help you tackle difficult conversations.

Who you can talk to

Talk to anyone you trust or feel safe with…

At school:

• your teacher
• the wellbeing staff
• a friend at school or outside school.

At home:

• a parent or carer
• an aunty, uncle, grandparent or other family member
• a family friend.

In your community:

• your local GP or other health professional
• your sports coach
• a friend’s parent or carer.

Helping a friend

Mental health problems can happen to anyone any time, and it’s nobody’s fault.

Friends often turn to each other for help before seeking out an adult, an expert (like a psychologist) or a service (such as headspace).

What’s the best way to keep a friend safe? When you think they need help, tell a trusted adult.

If you’re worried about a friend’s mental health, it’s essential that you speak to a trusted adult. It’s one of the best ways to look after them, even if you promised not to tell anyone. In serious situations, telling a trusted adult and getting help may be the only way for your friend to get better.

It can be hard reaching out to help a friend. You might worry they’ll get angry at you or stop talking to you out of fear or embarrassment. They might say they don’t need help. But the most important thing is that your friend gets better.

Signs your friend might need support

A friend may need mental health support if they:

• don’t seem like themselves
• are pushing friends away or don’t want to hang out any more
• lost interest in doing things they used to enjoy
• seem low, stressed, or worried
• get easily irritated or angry
• take more risks (such as with drugs or alcohol, things they do, or gambling)
• have low self-esteem or put themselves down a lot
• talk about trouble sleeping or not getting enough sleep
• you’re concerned about their changed habits and routines.

How you and your friends can support each other

• reach out, offer support, and let them know you care
• do things you enjoy together
• let your friend know there’s help available
• share your own mental health challenges with them.

More guidance on how to support a friend:

• How to help a friend going through a tough time
• How to help a friend.

Apps to help you support a friend are The Check-in and Chats For Life.

Important Dates – Term 4

• Monday October 6th – Term 4 begins
• Thursday 23rd October – ‘X-FACTORY EXTRAVAGANZA ‘ – 6.00pm – 8.00pm
• Friday 31st October – World Teacher’s Day – Student to dress up as teachers – Fundraising event
• Monday 3rd November – Curriculum Day (student free day)
• Tuesday 4th November – Melbourne Cup (Public Holiday)
• Thursday 6th November – ‘Living Safely with Dogs Incursion’ – Year 1
• Thursday 6th November – T20 Cricket – Year 3/4 (selected students only)
• Thursday 13th November – Soccer – Year 3/4 (selected students only)
• Friday 14th November – Maths Games Day – Year 5/6 (selected students only)
• Wednesday 3rd December – Funfields Excursion – Year 6 students only
• Thursday 4th December – End of Year Celebration & Awards (4pm – 6pm)
• Tuesday 9th December – Whole School Transition Day
• Wednesday 10th December – Year 2 Westgate Indoor Sports Centre Excursion
• Wednesday 10th December – Year 6 Graduation (4pm – 6pm)
• Friday 12th December – Pyjama Day Fundraiser
• Friday 19th December – Term 4 ends @ 12.30pm

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

Keep up the great work!

Students of the Week – Ending 10th October

Students of the Week – Ending 17th October

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

We hope you had a lovely day!

Gurfateh PC

Vivaan 1G

Jade      2E

Zayd      34H

Jane      34A

Zayden 56D

Connor 56F

Jordan PG

Nika      1F

Samer  34G

Aroha   56C

 Jeremiah Perenise 2C

Eliza      34F

Vaisaili 34G

Ele         PG

Gracelyn PH

Essa      PG

Izaan     56C

Asaia    PB

Aarav    56B

Dante   PA

Noah    PC

Ally        PD

Leul       1B

Lavin    34B

Nihaaljeet 56E

Aiden    1G

Mila-Rose 56A

Hasrat 56F

Neil Eoin PA

Ekam 34B

Sophie 34D

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

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

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