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. 

ANZAC Day March and Service

On Friday morning it was wonderful to see our school represented by students from across the school in the Longbeach RSL Sub Branch’s ANZAC Day March to the Chelsea cenotaph. We joined with many other community groups to march along Station St and then observe a wreath laying service, where two of our school captains, Abby Smith and Koby McNaughton, represented our school. Thank you to our students and families who were able to join us on the day and thank you to the Longbeach RSL Sub-Branch for inviting us to join in this important community event.

Year One and Two Building Works

Our Year One learning area now has the sliding glass doors installed. It’s been great to move through this space in the second half of the week and see our daily phonics sessions taking place, along with the explicit teaching of literacy and numeracy. Thank you to our staff and students for your flexibility and understanding as we have completed the building works in your learning area. There are some finishing touches to take place in this space and this will occur over the next school holidays.

Our Year Two learning area has been plastered and floored this week and is almost ready for painting.

Election Day Sausage Sizzle and Bake Stall

Thank to our Community Events team for your organisation of our election day sausage sizzle and bake stall this Saturday. Our school hall will be a polling booth and we appreciate the support of our community in volunteering in the lead-up or on Saturday to allow our sausage sizzle and bake stall to happen. All proceeds will be contributed to upgrading our chairs and tables for community events.

If you are interested in volunteering to help on the day, we are looking for a couple more helpers between 12-2. Please contact Sarah Cornell at sarah.cornell@education.vic.gov.au

if you are available.

Mother’s and Friends Afternoon – Friday 9^th May

We look forward to welcoming Mum’s and friends into our school next week ahead of Mother’s Day on Sunday 11^th May. Please see the flyer later in this newsletter for more information.  

School Uniform

With the weather becoming a little chillier in the mornings, we anticipate to see more school jumpers and jackets being worn. Please remember to clearly name all of your uniform items, so in the event they are misplaced they can be returned.

Foundation 2026 School Tour

Enrolments are now being accepted for Foundation 2026. Prospective families can contact our school office to arrange a school tour.

We are holding a group tour during Education Week on Tuesday 20^th May at 9:30am, please contact the office to book your place on this tour.

What an amazing start to Year 2 we’ve had! Our students have come back, ready to learn and get to know each other and new teachers too. Each day we have been adding to our Year 2 Routines Playbook so we know what and how to approach the different parts of our day.

We line up in our classes in the courtyard and walk in together. We also have learning partners in Year 2 and work with our learning partner when we move around the school, work on a task and go to the toilet. For our Inquiry unit this term we are focusing on Who We Are in particular building connections with one another and sharing what makes us special and unique. Our students decorated a sneaker including what they like, favourite subjects and family members. We have also been talking with our families about the history of our names and we are looking forward to all sharing our name story. 

In Year 2 we have our Essential Agreement: 

• We are kind
• We all belong
• We are safe
• We are fair

The Essential Agreement is how we work together, communicate, and respect each other within our Year 2 community. It is a shared set of values that help foster a positive learning environment that is a safe, predictable space for all students to learn and grow. 

Year 2 Inquiry Happenings (Term 2)

Year 2 has been busy learning about living and non living things. The children have been developing their scientific understanding and curiosity through hands-on activities, discussions, and real-world experiences. As part of our learning, we had the incredible opportunity to participate in an engaging incursion where students had the chance to hold live stick insects. The children explored these creatures up close, noticing how they moved, breathed, and interacted with their environment. By holding and observing the insects, the students gained a deeper understanding of what makes something living—such as movement, breathing, and growth.

 

Students also worked on sorting and categorizing a variety of objects and animals into two groups: Living and Non-Living. They carefully examined the characteristics, textures, colours, and shapes of various items. They learned that living things can grow, reproduce, move, and respond to their environment, while non-living things cannot. Another exciting aspect of the unit was sorting animals based on various characteristics, such as size, texture, colour, and habitat. Students discussed and compared animals' unique traits and grouped them accordingly. This led to rich discussions about the diversity of the animal kingdom and the environments in which different animals thrive. Through this process, students began to appreciate the many different ways living things adapt to their surroundings and how every living thing has a unique role in its ecosystem.

As we come into the final weeks of our Sharing the Planet unit students will share their knowledge about living things through an information report on an animal of their choice. We are looking forward to seeing what they produce! 

 
Wellbeing News

This term our whole school focus is on the value of Integrity and the message of our Play is the Way program is that we need to ‘participate to progress’. These are photos of some Year 1 and Year 5 students playing ‘Islands’ and ‘Piccadilly Circus;.

Below is a copy of our weekly focuses for this term:




Peer Mediation

This week our Year 6 peer mediators began visiting the junior playground to assist the younger students in the yard. All our Year 6 students undertook peer mediation training last term, and this week saw our PBL leaders take turns to spend half their lunchtime outside in their bright orange vests. Our year 6 students are able to assist with facilitating games, navigating minor social issues, finding outside resources eg. balls, sandpit toys, finding playmates or directing students to the yard duty teacher as required.

Student Wellbeing Protective Behaviours Program

Over the next few weeks all year levels will be conducting sessions regarding protective behaviours and keeping their bodies safe. Statistics regarding unwanted sexual activity in children are a concern, and as such we believe all children need to be empowered to be able to talk about their bodies and follow the mantra, “We all have the right to feel safe”. Sessions will cover topics such as saying no, identifying body early warning signs, types of secrets, consent, and establishing a safety network. More detailed information regarding the lessons will come out in fortnightly parent emails.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or Leanne Peterson (Wellbeing Learning Specialist).

This year is the 29th annual National Reading month, an initiative designed to encourage families to read together on a regular basis to create strong reading habits. 

Take part in National Reading Month by making a commitment to read together for at least 10 minutes every day for the month of May.

You can sign up at https://scholastic.e-newsletter.com.au/NFRM2025 or just keep track of your family’s  reading for yourselves.

This is a great way to check off some books for the Premier’s Reading Challenge, if you are participating, or just to build positive reading habits in your household.

Please contact us via our school email to express your interest - 

aspendale.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Premiers’ Reading Challenge

The Premiers’ Reading Challenge is again under way and already in the first month we have had over 140 students register which is fantastic. This program is a great way for students to share and record their reading experiences from both home and school. Once registered, students will be provided with their own login details to record the books they read online.

All students completing the challenge receive a certificate and book to encourage their continued love of reading. If you have not registered yet there is still plenty of time to do so by picking up a form from your classroom teacher and dropping it in to the box outside the office. If you have any queries please speak to Leanne Peterson (Year 5), Sarah Cornell (Year 5) or Georgia Bourke (Year 1).

The Canteen will reopen next week (1 May) and be open each Thursday and Friday for Term 2.

There will be some small changes to the menu, some old favourites returning to the menu and some new items added.
Be sure to check it out!
Also in line with the rising costs of supplies- there is a small increase in price to sushi.
Sushi will still be available each Friday and be same high quality. We have worked hard to keep costs for all items at an affordable level so families can enjoy lunches from the canteen on a regular basis.

SELLING LIKE HOTCAKES! 

Come one, come all, to the most amazing APS event of the Year!
Yes!
You guessed it, our Parent Social Fundraiser is fast approaching and tickets are selling like hotcakes. Purchase single, or table tickets, whatever takes your fancy. 

Dress to impress (1920s theme), raise a glass, and have a fun night of laughs and shenanigans!!!

If you missed out last year, be sure to get in quick this year as this is certainly a night not to miss.

Simply go to the website below or scan the QR code to book your spot!

Another huge THANK-YOU to Dana & Dude Balloons and Events for supplying the wonderful balloon displays for our 100 Years Celebration afternoon on Friday 16^th May.

Thank- you Dana!

A message from Soccajoeys Springvale, a fun and engaging soccer program designed for children.

We’re currently running programs for kids aged 5 - 13 and would love the opportunity to share this with your school community.