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. 

The Member for Isaacs, Mark Dreyfus KC, the Attorney-General, attended our Assembly of Friday to present some of our students with a  ‘Junior Civic Participation Award’. This award recognises young students who have shown outstanding efforts in helping their school community and the wider local community. It celebrates and encourages students who participate in activities such as volunteering, leading school projects, and supporting fellow students.

The recipients of the Junior Civics Participation awards were:

Shanaia C – Year 2

Spencer Q – Year 3

(receiving their awards for raising awareness and funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital and Cystic Fibrosis Awareness)

Maddison M – Year 5

Amelie L – Year 5

Mina W – Year 5

Romany F – Year 4

Maya L – Year 4

(for their leadership and involvement of school events through the Student Representative Council)

We join Mark Dreyfus in congratulating these students and encourage them to continue their great work and community spirit.

On Tuesday afternoon we hosted an Inclusive Education session with a delegation consisting of three educators from Hong Kong and two Victorian Department of Education – Diverse Learners staff. It was lovely to share the inclusive practices that are implemented at Aspendale Primary within whole class settings, small groups or for individuals. The session included a presentation and concluded with a school tour, where our visitors saw our practices in action.

Planning Week

Our teaching staff have spent time this week reflecting on our teaching and learning programs in Term Two and planning future programs for Term Three. Thanks to our staff for their commitment to this and to our students for continuing with their learning across the week.

Student Led Conferences

Monday 24^th June is a Curriculum Day to allow the opportunity for our students to showcase and share their learning with their families and teachers through the Student Led Conference. Bookings are now open through Sentral. When booking times for siblings, please be mindful that the allocated booking times are 10 minutes apart, but the Student Led Conference will go for 15-20 minutes. Bookings close Sunday evening.

Attendance – Every Minute Counts!

As the weather gets colder, we know it can be a little harder to get up and going in the morning. We would like to remind everyone that our students start learning at 9.05am, with the expectation that they are in their classrooms by 9am ready to follow the morning routine.  

End of term:

A friendly reminder that we will finish at 2:30pm next Friday 28^th June for the end of term 2.

Kind regards,

Amelia

Natalie Tideman – Specialist leader 

Visual Art 

Foundation students are in the process of weaving colourful birds in response to reading the Dreamtime story, ‘How the birds got their colours’ 

Lessons go outdoors! - The Year 1’s commenced a unit where they looked at the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh. As we are coincidentally growing some in our garden, we thought it would be a great idea to go and sketch them from direct observation outdoors – en plein air (like the French Impressionists!). The students loved it and it sparked many conversations too.

Year 2 African-inspired mask work will be hanging in their classroom space shortly. Please take a look at the many textures, layers and shapes created, next time you are at school. 

Year 3 Sandra Silberweig - inspired foil embossed portraits are complete and looking shiny and colourful around the school. 

Year 4 are in the process of making clay hands which they are carving symbols to tell us things that are important to themselves. These were created after looking at the symbol of the clay hand in indigenous Australian artwork.

Year 5 - after looking at The Hermannsburg Potters, a group of Western Arranta artists who are renowned for their pottery. The pottery is recognised for its unique forms and depiction of distinct Western Arranta Country, culture and values. Using inspiration from these potters students are making their own vessel out of clay. 

Year 6’s just completed their mixed-media Magiclay portraits of someone who inspires them These  are on display in the main corridor. Students are now working on clay teacups working in collaboration with their Chinese lessons.

Art Show - Assistance requested - Event held late in Term Four

We are looking for parent helpers to assist with the hanging of the Art Show. We will have 600 pieces of work to frame and hang. It is relatively time consuming, so any assistance with this on a Thursday lunchtime or afterschool would be greatly appreciated. Please let Ms Tideman know your availability. This could be a framing job which could be done in the comfort of your own home. 

Performing Arts…..Your performance opportunity awaits!

As of next term we offer the students regular performance opportunities in the form of lunchtime music/dance/drama concerts and when singing the national anthem. 

Lunchtime concerts  

Regarding the lunchtime concerts, students need to put their name down on a list in the Performing Arts room, with the name of the person/people performing and the name of the song/item that they will be performing. This is on a first in first serve basis. We look forward to holding them on the last Wednesday in the month, commencing July 31st. We will post the dates on the performing Arts room window, once we’ve collated the list. It is essential that the songs are checked to ensure that the lyrics are clean and appropriate for our primary school student audience. These concerts will be performed on the deck outside the Performing Arts room. If it rains, we will hold them in the Performing Arts room/gym with the wonderful assistance of our Performing Arts leaders: Isabel, Obi, Angus and Frankie.

Calling all National Anthem singers (Years 4 to 6)

You may have noticed a few soloists singing the national anthem this year. We wanted to give students who have been having singing lessons and those who have singing experience (lessons or choir experience) an opportunity to practise singing to a large crowd. We already have several names on a list. Please encourage your child to see Ms Tideman if they would like to put their name down. She will show them what to do on the day in order to organise themselves independently and know where to stand. It is essential that they rehearse with the correct words in front of them. 

APS Choir – Rehearsals are going to be held on Wednesdays for the remainder of the year. Our upcoming rehearsals are for NAIDOC Week and Father’s Day. The APS Choir will have the opportunity to sing a song during the lunchtime concerts also.


STEM

This term in STEM students have completed a Biology unit. Foundation to Year Two students have been learning about parts of a plant and its functions by investigating the plants in our school grounds which they have thoroughly enjoyed. Year Three and Four students have been learning about animal classification: vertebrates and invertebrates by investigating creatures in our school yard to further research. Students in Year Five and Six have been studying how animals adapt to their surroundings through natural selection.

Due to overwhelming support for our exciting and well over due Trivia Night of fun, auctions and raffle prizes, we have nearly sold out of tickets.  Get in quick to secure your spot. Invite your friends, neighbours or family (strictly adults only) along to this fabulous night.

A huge THANK YOU to those who have already purchased tickets, your support is greatly appreciated. 

 

We look forward to being able to provide new and updated equipment for our students (your children), including playground upgrades, with the proceeds from our Trivia Night.

 

Check out these incredible auction items available exclusively at our Trivia Night!

We would like to thank families who have paid for students to participate in their year level Enhancement Program.

This program (which includes incursions and excursions) is on a user pay basis and must be paid for the student to participate.

The office will shortly begin to contact any families who have not yet paid.

If you have not paid but wish for your student to participate in this program, please do so as soon as possible via Sentral or at the school office.

Students who are not participating in the program will have access to a free alternative activity when required.

Please note, that families that receive CSEF may request to have it applied to this fee.

Our business manager Amelia Mastorakos is available on 9580 3255 and at amelia.mastorakos@education.vic.gov.au if you wish a confidential discussion regarding payment assistance.

The Premiers’ Reading Challenge is again under way and already in the first few weeks we have had over 100 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 Caitlin Beer (Year 1).

APS - VIOLIN AND VIOLA LESSONS 2024!

Introducing Peter O’Shea

Aspendale Primary School has a new violin and viola teacher this year!

Our new violin teacher is Peter O’Shea. Peter is a vibrant local string teacher. Peter has experience in teaching both individuals and groups, and is currently working both in schools and home studio settings.

Peter has studied at Monash University and University of Melbourne. He enjoys playing a teaching a diverse range of World Music (Fiddle Music) AMEB, ANZCA and Suzuki repertoire and pedagogy.

He has produced is own Elementary Violin teaching Book “Violin Fever Volume 1”.

We look forward to having Peter become part of the Instrumental Teachers’ team at APS and part of the community.

Please contact Peter directly if you would like to find out further about our program run by Peter.

Peter O’Shea (B.A. Music, Grad Dip Music, Dip Music.)

Email: posheamusic@gmail.com

Phone: 0409193004

Uniform Store Update:

We warmly welcome State Schools Relief as Aspendale Primary School’s new uniform supplier from the start of Term 3 (Monday 15^th July).

Items will be available for purchase in store or online.  Most uniform items will be available from the start of Term 3 . 

Store Address: Factory 1/8 Johnston Court, Dandenong South VIC 3175

Hours of Operation: 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday

Contact Phone Number: 03 8769 8400