As we approach the Labor Day long weekend, I would like to bring a few things to your attention.

Labor Day Holiday

Please note that Monday is a public holiday for the Labor Day long weekend.  We will see you on Tuesday.

Crossings and driver safety

Please ensure you are encouraging your children to use either the School Crossing or Traffic Lights when crossing the road.  Can I please remind all parents and students that this is important to the safety of all in our community?  I would also ask drivers to pay particular attention to the traffic lights.  We have had reports of people not stopping at the lights when they turn red.  School pick up times can be frustrating for everyone, however it is 10 – 15 minutes out of your day.  Patience in this space is paramount and will keep our community safe.

New gate on Tower St

We have created a new entrance on the oval side of the teacher car park to ensure safe passage for all in the morning and afternoons.  Please ensure you are now using that space instead of walking through the staff car park.  Thank you to those parents who have acknowledged this change as a positive one for our community.

Money given to children for canteen

Lots of children, particularly in Prep, are reporting that they are having their money taken by others when going to the canteen.  This is often Prep children not understanding the value of money and thinking it is ok to take it so they can have something too.  We would also ask that children do not buy things for other children at the canteen due to allergies, etc.. Please speak with your children about this if it is familiar to them.

Have a wonderful long weekend and enjoy the sunshine.

Darryl Spiteri

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per student is: $154 for primary school students.

HOW TO APPLY: Contact the school office to obtain a CSEF application form or download from www.education.vic.gov.au/csef.  If you applied for the CSEF at your child’s school in 2024 you do not need to complete an application form in 2025 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.  Applications close on 21/04/25

Congratulations to 1A who achieved the highest attendance

for the week ending 28th February.

Congratulations to 56D who achieved the highest attendance

for the week ending 7th March.

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.

At Thornhill Park Primary School, we have programs and support to ensure all children can thrive.

Our wellbeing team support our students at their point of need. We ensure we use a broad range of strategies and supports to enable our students to achieve the best possible outcomes.

We offer the opportunity for students to participate in small groups to develop social skills or friendship building skills.

Parents/carers have the opportunity to discuss the learning needs of their children at regular teacher meetings and discuss how the home/school relationship can be enhanced.

Once social skill program we offer is The Zones of Regulation.

Why Teach Self-Regulation?

Regulation is something everyone continually works on whether we are aware of it or not. We all encounter trying circumstances that can test our limits. If we can recognize when we are becoming less regulated, we are able to do something about it to manage our feelings and get ourselves to a healthy place. This comes more naturally for some, but for others it is a skill that needs more attention and practice. This is the goal of The Zones of Regulation​.

Sorting Our Emotions Into Four Zones

Feelings are complicated. They come in different sizes, intensities, and levels of energy that are unique within our brains and bodies. To make them easier to talk about, think about, and regulate, The Zones of Regulation organises our feelings, states of alertness, and energy levels into four coloured Zones – Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red. The simple, common language and visual structure of The Zones of Regulation helps make the complex skill of regulation more concrete for learners and those who support them. We learn to regulate our Zones to meet our goals and task demands, as well as support our overall well-being.

zonesofregualtion.com

Our Learning in Years 1 & 2

Our Learning in Grade 1
Term 1 is off to a fantastic start, and we are excited to share the progress and enthusiasm of our Grade 1 students as they dive into new learning experiences! We’ve seen great growth in their confidence, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to develop throughout the term.

Phonics
In our Phonics sessions, we’ve been focusing on building our confidence and skills with letters and sounds. The students have been using sound boards to help them practice and reinforce their understanding of phonics. These hands-on activities are not only supporting their ability to decode words but

also helping to build stamina for both reading and writing. As they become more familiar with the sounds and letter patterns, we are noticing greater fluency in their reading and a boost in their confidence when they write.

Numeracy

In Numeracy, we have spent the last two weeks exploring patterns. The students have been working on recognizing, creating, and continuing patterns in a variety of forms. We’ve been noticing whether the patterns are AB, A

BC, or more complex variations, which has helped the students develop a deeper understanding of how patterns work in math and in the world around them. They are eager to continue exploring patterns and applying their knowledge in new ways as we move forward in the term.

We’re looking forward to seeing how their skills continue to grow and develop this term!

Our Learning in Grade 2

This term we are starting our Literacy unit with a Novel Study! We are learning how to analyse a fantasy text, looking at plot, characters and settings in fiction stories. Our novel this term is Victor’s Quest. We are all excited to learn how Victor will be triumphant in his quest to find a bride, and see what magical encounters he has along the way! The importance of reading every night is crucial for the development of your child’s confidence and fluency in reading. Please make sure they are reading on a nightly basis and filling out their diaries each day. 

In Numeracy, we have started our term with place value to build on our knowledge of digits and numbers. We are ordering, representing, reading and writing numbers up to 1000. Students are using concrete materials to help build representations and show numbers in different ways. We will also look at time including seasons, calendars, days and months. This is something you can continue to work on at home through conversations with your child. 

Inquiry is all about belonging and emotional safety. We are learning to identify and regulate our emotions, and healthy ways to cope with stress. Auslan will link in with Numeracy when we learn months of the year, days of the week and the seasons. We will also revisit greetings, feelings and some question words. Ask your child  to demonstrate these for you at home! 

In Term One, students are still required to wear a wide brimmed hat each play time, and stay hydrated by bringing a water bottle they can refill throughout the day. Please remember to update Compass if your child is going to be away. If there are any concerns or questions please contact your child’s teacher through Class Dojo. 

Thank you, we are looking forward to a great year together!

Grade 2 Team

MULTIMEDIA

During this week in Multimedia,  the Year 3/4 students have started to explore Stop Motion. They have experimented taking multiple images of a small character and then seeing how movement occurs through this process. Next week, the students will bring an object or small toy from home to include into their Stop Motion videos.

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

Keep up the great work!

Students of the Week – Ending 28th February

Students of the Week – Ending 7th March

Congratulations to the following students who are celebrating a birthday in February & March!

We hope you had a lovely day!

Reyansh 1C

Lio 34A

Luca 34F

Harnoor 56F

Shreya 1D

Adorian PF

Kyra PH

Moiz 34A

Chikaima 34C

Rahat PH

Ambar 2C

Amber PD

Aria 56A

Aiden 34C

Dante 56D

Vedansh Reddy PA

Avi PH

Sehaj Kaur 34D

Akaalikrat 34G

Leia PC

Polat 56D

Adem PF

Ish 2E

Parteet 56B

Ay-Jay 56D

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

Important Dates – Term 1

• Naplan commencing from Wednesday 12th to Monday 24th March
• Monday 10th March – Public Holiday Labour Day
• Wednesday 13th March – Cross Country Year 3 to 6 Incursion
• Monday 17th March – Friday 21st March – Prep Swimming
• Monday 24th March – Friday 28th March – Year 1/2 Swimming
• Friday 21st March – Harmony Day
• Friday 4th April – Term 1 ends

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