We acknowledge the traditional Aboriginal custodians of the lands, waterways and skies of the Bunurong Peoples of the Kulin Nation where we gather, learn and grow at Aspendale Primary School.

We pay our respects to past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of all nations,  and their ongoing cultural, spiritual and educational practices.  

We extend this respect to all Torres Strait Islanders and any First Nations peoples who learn or visit these grounds. We thank you for sharing and caring for the land we are learning on.

New version of the Acknowedgement of Country
Above is an updated Acknowledgment of Country that has been written in consultation with staff, students and members of our community. We recieved positive feedback and approval from our friends at the Bunurong Land Council in 2023. 



Aspendale Primary School commemorated Reconciliation Week.
We understand that for many members of the APS community, this is a challenging time.

Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Now more than ever, these conversations are important to be having. 

As a school, we commemorated the week by focusing on developing our sense of community and connections with a whole school event. 

Our School Captains made a video during camp to commemorate the week. It starts with our school's Acknowledgement of Country. You can watch the video here. 


Thank you to Gus, Surina, Warren & Edie for helping create the video. You all did an amazing job understanding the purpose of the week. 

Dear parents and carers,

100th birthday

Our first celebration for our 100th year is quickly approaching. Our annual Night on the Green will take place on Friday 21st February from 5-7pm. We look forward to musical entertainment from different members of our community, food stalls and our book sale across the evening.

This week we were excited to receive an official letter from the Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, to acknowledge the significant milestone in our school’s history. You can read a copy of the letter further in the newsletter.

Daily Structured, Synthetic Phonics Teaching

In the second half of 2024, the Department of Education announced several key directives, the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0, the Postive Classroom Management Strategies and the implementation of a structured, synthetic phonics program from Foundation-Year Two. Aspendale Primary School had been working towards a consistent approach to the daily, structured, synthetic teaching of phonics and in 2024 we utilised the Phormes teaching and learning resource to facilitate this. This week all of our Foundation to Year Two classes have commenced this program and I have appreciated getting to see each group establish their routines and dive into this key part of the curriculum.

You can learn more about Phormes by visiting their website:

https://www.phormes.com/

School Council

Next Thursday, nominations for our 2025 School Council open. Nomination forms can be collected from the school office.

Our School Council is a valuable and essential component of our school community, providing governance and representing the different elements of our school community. We have several vacancies on our Council in 2025 with members finishing up as their family moves onto high school. We are keen to welcome new members to Council to further represent our parents and carers across the school community, allowing us to make informed decisions as a school leadership.

Amelia Busutiil, Amelia Mastorakos and myself, along with our current School Councillors, are all eager to chat with any parents or carers who would like to more about what’s involved in being a member of School Council. If interested, please contact the school office via email or the phone or approach us in person for more information.

Year One Building Works

Working with School Council and several of our sub-committees, our Year One building works are scheduled to begin on Monday 24th February. The works will involve removing the internal stud walls and installing several operable doors, allowing the space to become more flexible.

Bike and Scooter Safety

Many of our students are being active in going to and from school, enjoying riding their bikes. If you child is doing this, please remind them of the need to walk their bikes and scooters in school and along the footpath outside our school. Our staff are also reminding them of this community safety expectation.

Enjoy the cool change over the next few days,

Tom

We look forward to our first exciting event for the year which should also be a fabulous start to our 100 Years of APS celebrations. Please bring along your picnic rugs, and cash for our food trucks and fundraising stalls for our new playground coming soon. (Eftpos will also be available.)

Keep a special eye out for some past students, families and staff who may also pop along to help us celebrate!

Do you know any past students, families and/or staff?

We'd love for them to attend all or either of our upcoming celebration events, Night on the Green and/or our Special Celebration Assembly (in May). Simply forward them the following link to a Google Form registration and RSVP so we can cater accordingly.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSff1p56DrT0ZHwcXmG6ahENC-1ZM_cE8G4-2Eiwbqc55CbK7A/viewform?usp=header

New Volunteer Induction Process for Aspendale Primary:

At Aspendale Primary School we welcome volunteers to assist with many different events and programs at the school from reading, helping in the library or canteen, to excursions, camps, and sporting events.

The strong connection with our volunteers is a valued part of our school culture and partnership within our community. We have streamlined our volunteer induction process for 2025.

If you think you’d like to get involved as a volunteer, you can read the Volunteer Policy here: https://www.aspendale.vic.edu.au/source/Volunteers%20Policy%202024.pdf

Then complete the Volunteer Induction.

Volunteer Induction Process:

1. Read the online Volunteer Induction Pack: https://www.aspendale.vic.edu.au/source/Volunteer%20Induction%20Pack%202024.pdf
2. Bring valid Working with Children card to office
3. Read the OHS Induction Sheet
4. Sign the Volunteer Induction declaration sheet at the office
5. Look out for opportunities to begin volunteering!

We look forward to welcoming you as a Volunteer in 2025!
Kind regards,

Amelia Busuttil

If volunteering at the canteen is something you have considered please do not hesitate and reach out. We will be opening canteen Thursday and Friday in 2025 but volunteers are essential to make this happen.

It is a welcome supportive environment and the kids love seeing familiar faces working in the kitchen. No experience necessary. Just a willingness to pitch in and have fun serving the sweetest customers in Aspendale!

Volunteer forms can be collected from the school office or if you have any questions please reach out to Meg at canteen@aspendaleps.vic.edu.au

Visual Arts - Jude Hale and Nat Tideman (Year 2 and Foundation)

Performing Arts - Stela Matthews and Nat Tideman (Year 1)

Physical Education - Katie Scott

STEM - Nat Tideman and Lina Pietrasik (Year 3 and 4)

We have had an exciting start to the year in our specialist classrooms. Interesting and engaging programs have begun and students have taken time to get to know our classroom routines and teachers. STEM and Chinese lessons are in different rooms to last year, while the Year 1 building is getting building enhancements - we quite like our new rooms!

Chinese

Our year began with the wonderful Lunar New Year celebrations. The Chinese leaders brought our Chinese dragon around to classrooms and the leaders informed us about the Year of the Snake and the cultural significance of the celebration which was very enjoyable. Students have participated in some culturally relevant, engaging activities with Ms Ma as they enjoy these celebrations. 

Performing Arts

We have started the year off with a bang! Classrooms begin the year, fundamentally learning about rhythm and rhythm notation from Year 1 to Year 6.

Auditions - Musical production

Auditions for our musical production are well underway. Students were provided with this opportunity in their Performing Arts lessons and students who are interested in having a singing role put their name down to audition. These have been running every lunchtime for a week now, with Ms Matthews, Mr Dowling, Miss Thomas and Ms Cornell have enjoyed hearing the wonderful voices of our talented students. It is such a rewarding experience to witness our students step out of their comfort zones to participate in this activity, being risk-takers. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this. Soon, Ms Matthews will write the musical script, ensuring those students who would like to get a line or two in the production, can be involved.

The Night on the Green - Next Friday 21st Feb

Next Friday, we look forward to hearing our instrumental music teachers perform and families to come along to enjoy this fabulous event. Bring your picnics, happy spirits and dancing shoes as we enjoy a fun evening where we welcome families to our school. 

STEM

This year in STEM, we have begun the second year of our cycle of subjects. Term One involves the study of physical sciences, with some engineering design tasks also part of the term activities. Hands-on activities will be provided wherever possible. Next week, Year 5 and 6 students will begin to learn about electricity and make use of the electrical equipment we just purchased. Your children may have questions for you at home, with regard to the electricity used in the house. Year 3 and 4 are learning about heat and how it is transferred; Year 1 and 2 are learning about forces: pushes and pulls and Foundation will be exploring how the human body and toys move. Design activities will form part of learning activities at each year level. If you have any questions about this subject at school please don’t hesitate to contact Ms Tideman.

Physical Education

Term One for Physical Education program is always action packed. It is fair to say that Ms Scott will be very busy organising and coordinating the following activities for our students in Term One:

1. Swimming trials
2. Lightning Prem.
3. Swimming program 
4. All girls cricket program - 4 weeks (already started)
5. Volleyball clinic Year 5 & 6
6. House Cross Country
7. Running Club
8. House Athletics (Year 4-6)
9. House Cross Country (Year 3 -6)
10. District Swimming
11. Hockey Roadshow (Year 3 & 4)

Students have been turning up to Running Club in huge numbers. It has been so wonderful to see the number of parents running, walking and generally being supportive to everyone there. Thank you so much for your support. It is thoroughly enjoyable to see our students taking on this challenge and working toward improving their fitness, even on hot mornings! Thank you to Mrs Scott who comes in early to set this up and also to Jude Hale who assists with this program every week.

Visual Arts   

This term students are examining how colours are used and interpreted in a variety of ways around us. 

They will investigate the following lines of inquiry:

*Looking at colour can evoke feeling within us

*Combinations of colours, put side by side, can change how they are interpreted

*Primary colours are used to mix other colours

*Shapes can look similar to things that we know

Students throughout the year levels will be using a variety of artists as inspiration to create their artworks-; Mondrian, Eric Carle, Rebecca Cool, Pete Cromer,  Ken Done and Jenny Kee. 

**Please don’t forget to send your child to school with an art smock and a brown art folio (that we give to students in Foundation). They were sent home last year and need to be returned to school. Thanks to everyone who has done this already.