LPS eNews
17 December, 2024
Principal's Message
We end the year on a high note after publication of all schools' NAPLAN results. Laburnum was ranked 23rd of all Victorian government primary schools and 54th when combining government, Catholic and independent schools. Once again, we are delighted with this outcome for our students and thank our fantastic teachers for their dedication, as well as the community for your support.
With no sign of the dire school staffing shortage abating, we feel very relieved to have a full staff currently in place for 2025. We are fortunate to have such flexible and willing staff to ensure all teaching roles are filled. However, as teaching positions are continuously advertised throughout the holidays, there could still be changes to our Staff List and allocations. Staffing is not finalised until school resumes. For our current 2025 staffing - please click here.
Parents will notice that some teachers have moved up to the next year level with their current cohort (but not whole class). This is quite deliberate, as we follow some learning from Finland's education system, designed to maximise staff knowledge of students and their learning needs.
In 2025, we welcome Sarah Bignell as our new Leading Teacher: Disability and Inclusion. Also joining LPS from other Victorian, Western Australian and International schools are classroom teachers Natalia Schulstad, Sasha Guy and Jade Allin.
We offer a sincere thank you to all those staff who are leaving, for your many contributions to LPS and our profession:
- Haydn Dwyer is moving interstate;
- Chloe Wilson is headed to New Zealand;
- Ruth Field and Felicity Henderson-Wilson take the next steps in their careers and
- long-serving technician Leanne Clegg is leaving the school after almost ten years of service, troubleshooting thousands of ICT issues in her time here.
School Council has had an important additional role this year in providing their support for multiple school building projects, which are thankfully almost finished and ready to become part of a more contemporary LPS!
After a huge year, I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our wonderful staff, teachers, education support staff and Leadership Team, who have seamlessly continued their core business while new building designs, landscaping, furnishings, cabinetry, locks, alarm and bell systems have hijacked the usual roles of the Principal Class team. Best wishes to all our staff for a very relaxing, well-deserved holiday.
Warmest wishes to our Year 6 students as they move on to twenty-three different secondary schools. To all families who are leaving LPS, good luck for the future and thank you for your contributions to our school.
School finishes this Friday 20 December at 1:30 p.m. and resumes for Year 1 - 6 students on Thursday 30 January. As usual, next year's term dates can be found here.
As this is our final eNews for 2024, we wish all families a safe and happy holiday. If you are celebrating Christmas, or Chinese New Year in January, enjoy this special time with family and friends.
Kim
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
Next Generation Learning @ LPS
The school will remain closed over the holidays to allow some major earthworks, landscaping and completion of our new capital works building. Due to the presence of heavy machinery, OSHClub is relocating for some days and can provide more details to parents.
The new building remains on schedule and has reached an exciting stage, with cabinetry and indigenous-design carpets installed. There is minor internal finishing to complete, including the lift which is for staff only, room numbering, and phones and technology for classrooms.
Outside, major concreting has been undertaken as part of the landscaping around the building. Some native animal prints will complete the finish of these pathways and entrances. We are hopeful that our senior students will start 2025 in this magnificent learning space, subject to a Certificate of Compliance being issued.
The Year 3/4 playground faces imminent completion, with shade sails installed and rubberised soft fall completing a wonderful new play space.
Once the builders remove their construction sheds, works will occur on the northern side of the Art room to restore the area that has been an access route for builders over the last year. We look forward to using the outdoor classroom, chess and vegetable garden next year.
Additionally in the holidays, the as-designed permanent fencing and furniture will be added to the Junior School playground. We are grateful to our Parents Group and OSHClub for their support of the final stage of this well-loved playground.
Finally, carpenters will begin repair work on the Performing Arts Centre before painters finish a much-needed makeover of this building.
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
School Council Update
Hi all,
As we wrap up another great year at our school, School Council would like to share our final newsletter update for 2024. It’s been another busy year that was full of achievements and community spirit.
Looking back, there’s much to celebrate:
- Academic Success: Our kids once again achieved exceptional NAPLAN results this year, a testament to the hard work of our students, teachers, and leadership team.
- Sustainability Initiatives: The installation of 69kW of solar panels is a big win for our school. It not only reduces our power bills but also reinforces the values of environmental responsibility and sustainability for our kids.
- Building and Grounds Improvements:
- The Junior School playground has been completed and is a real favorite for our younger students.
- Our major building project is nearing completion. This transformative new learning environment will be a fantastic space and we are really looking forward to it opening.
Acknowledging Our Community
- Parents Group: From the Bunnings BBQ to the Mother's Day stall, Father’s Day Breakfast, Mango Drive, and more, our Parents Group remain tireless and continues to build a strong sense of community while raising funds for vital projects like the junior school playground. Thank you to everyone who contributed to these initiatives.
- Fathering Project: Another fun year of events that brought families together in lots of meaningful ways. If you haven’t joined one yet, try to make it a priority in 2025.
Thank You to Our Staff and Students
To our teachers, administrative staff and leadership team: thank you for your dedication, especially in navigating another challenging year with teacher shortages. Your commitment to our children’s learning and wellbeing is really appreciated.
To our Year 6 students: as you move on to high school, we hope you take pride in your accomplishments and look forward to your next chapter with confidence. You’ll always be a welcome part of our school community.
Looking Ahead
So, as we close out and reflect on 2024, we look towards 2025 with optimism. From the continued development of our facilities, to the ongoing focus on academic excellence and wellbeing, there’s much to look forward to.
Whatever your family’s plans are for the holidays, we wish you a safe and relaxing summer. Thank you for being part of our school community, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year.
Chat soon,
Matt
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
What's Happening?
Our final assembly for 2024 will commence this Friday at 9.15am. A reminder to our Year 6 parents to please join us afterwards for morning tea in the Staff Community Centre.
A 2025 School Map has been uploaded to the Sentral Parent portal, showing where to find each year level. This will be replaced by a fully detailed map soon. Parents please note that most room numbers in the school will change in 2025, as we accommodate new buildings and remove some old ones.
As our term concludes on Friday, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Laburnum families a relaxing and safe summer holiday break. Sending our best wishes to the families who are moving on from LPS at the end of this year.
See you in 2025!
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
$400 School Saving Bonus and 2025 Parent Payments
Thanks to everyone for your patience as all government schools manage the challenges of this positive initiative. Like anything new, the Department is providing advice to all schools about challenges or glitches reported by parents or schools.
Please understand that, at the busiest time of the year, our office staff are working on enrolments and leaving students, Parent Payments, Stationery Starter Packs and our usual end of year finance, HR and compliance tasks. School Saving Bonus (SSB) transactions will take time to process and then appear on your Family Statement when you next receive one.
Due to the other priorities above, if you email the school about the School Saving Bonus, it may take some time to receive a reply. Here are some tips to help streamline the common enquiries we are receiving:
To use your SSB $400, please make sure that these important two steps have been completed.
- Log on to the SSB portal and choose 'uniforms' or 'school activities'
- Choose the amount that you wish to use for either or both
Schools cannot 'use' your SSB monies until the allocations have been made.
If you have chosen the uniform option, you should receive a voucher to use at Spartan School World. Take this voucher to the store and choose your uniform supplies.
If you have chosen the activities option, and after you have chosen the amount to allocate the amount, the school will receive a message alerting us about your SSB request for activities. Then you need to contact the school, via email, to inform us which activity you wish to use the SSB funds on.
Please include your child’s name and class.If you have allocated SSB funds to part of an activity cost (such as Year 6 camp), you will need to make payment for the remaining portion when due, Please do this in the usual ways - by phone or in person at our office.
Sentral will not show part payments. This will be shown on your Family Statement as separate payments towards the same activity you have nominated.
CSEF payments still require an email to the school, even if combined with SSB funds for payment of an activity cost.
Thanks to those parents who have successfully navigated this process to make payments. We are all learning how to do this together :-)
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
Prep
The Prep students have had an amazing time with their buddies this year! From the beginning, our buddies have been there to guide and support the Preps as they settled into their first year of school at Laburnum PS.
Throughout the year, we’ve enjoyed a variety of activities together. We played engaging maths games, read books, and worked on creative projects, such as making SunSmart posters to remind everyone about staying safe in the sun.
To show our gratitude, the Preps wrote thank-you cards for their buddies and were thrilled to receive thoughtful cards in return. It was a lovely way to reflect on the friendship and support that has been such an important part of their first year.
We are so thankful for everything our buddies have done for us and can’t wait to see them again in 2025!
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Contribute: Parents Group News
Happy Holidays from Parents Group!
LPS Parents Group would like to extend a big thank you to all parents and carers who helped and volunteered throughout 2024. From lunch order helpers to running entire events – a lot of work goes into making these events happen, and we couldn’t function without our volunteers - so thank you!
This year parents group fundraised approximately $6,000 - some of this money went towards the 2024 Year 6 graduation and the majority will be put towards finishing off the junior school playground area.
Have a safe and happy break and see you in 2025!
The Athlete’s Foot - Community Giveback Program
Will you be looking to purchase new shoes for your child for the new school year? If so, please consider shopping at The Athlete’s Foot Forest Hill. For EVERY pair of shoes you or a family member purchase, $5 is donated back to our school. Simply nominate Laburnum Primary School at the time of purchase at The Athlete’s Foot Forest Hill Chase store.
LABURNUM PRIMARY SCHOOL SECOND-HAND UNIFORM SHOP
OPEN First Friday of the Month: Term Time Only: 3.00 pm - 4.00 pm Thank you, |
ALL DONATIONS VERY WELCOME Please ensure donations are washed, clean and in good condition. Only school branded clothing (i.e. no Target, Kmart, Big W, etc. brands). nds). |
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Senior School - Years 5 & 6
As part of their preparation for moving to Year 6, the Year 5 students have looked back on their 2024 learning journey. They have shared many memorable moments and highlights they will treasure. Here are some of their reflections:
What is the most important thing you learned this year?
Chuck Z – The most important thing this year that I learned is to write a news report.
Scar O – The most important thing I learned this year was to try more things.
Joselyn T – The most important thing I’ve learned this year is division. It has helped me improve a lot in my learning, and I believe it will help me a lot in the future.
Caelan M – I’ve learned about angles because there were things I didn’t know before.
What did you enjoy learning most this year?
Inara B – I enjoyed building a scene for the Gold Rush.
Aiden C – I enjoyed playing new games in PE and making items in inquiry to sell to people.
Ivy R – I enjoyed learning music.
Lexi Z – I enjoyed having camp.
Aria R – I enjoyed learning about the gold rush and poetry styles.
Rhiannon S – I enjoyed learning about advertising and marketing products in our own business.
What was new learning for you this year?
Bowen P – New learning for me was that camp isn’t what you expect. We didn’t toast marshmallows, and the food was actually pretty good.
How were you successful this year?
Lachlan W – I was successful because I went to Division Athletics for 100m sprint and 4 x100m relay.
Scar O – I was successful because I used my brain a lot to show curiosity.
Caelan M – I ran laps to get ready for cross country and ended up at District.
How might what you learned this year help you in the future?
Manning W – What I learned this year that will help me in the future is the speeches; they will help me and others speak on stage.
What are you looking forward to learning in 2025?
Vivienne K - I'm looking forward to learning more Mathematics and take a wider view on philosophy. I’d also like to learn advanced algebra and gravity. Year 6 will be a good year for me to learn.
Tilly W – I’m looking forward to learning what is like being in Year 6.
Iverson B – I am looking forward to Year 6 camp.
Year 6
Year 6 Step-Up Week: From Primary School to High School!
In Year 6, we’ve been reflecting on the amazing memories we’ve made during our primary school journey, all while gearing up for the exciting (and slightly nerve-wracking) adventure that is high school. To help us get ready for this next chapter, we had our very own Step-Up Week – where we transformed into high school students for the week!
Our classrooms were turned into buzzing hubs of learning across various high school subjects, and our curiosity led us on a whirlwind tour of Visual Communication and Design, Graphic Design, Textiles, Digital Technologies, and STEAM.
We followed a high school timetable, hopping from one classroom to the next, ensuring we had the right equipment and, of course, racing against the clock to make sure we weren’t late to class!
Here’s a peek into the week’s highlights:
Textiles with Miss Bonollo: We rolled up our sleeves and dove into the world of embroidery and cross-stitching. We learned that cross-stitching isn’t just something your grandma does while watching TV – it’s actually a fun and creative form of counted embroidery that creates beautiful, tiled designs with little crosses.
Sustainability with Mr Appleby: Mr Appleby taught us that being sustainable isn’t just a buzzword – it’s about rethinking how we use resources. We learned how to give old materials a second life by repurposing them into something new and useful – just like recycling, but with a twist of creativity!
Graphic Design with Mr Dwyer: Mr Dwyer channelled his inner graphic designer and helped us explore different perspectives through the world of digital artwork. We got creative with our designs and found that perspective isn’t just about where you’re standing – it’s about seeing things in new, exciting ways!
Visual Communication and Design with Miss Loucas: Miss Loucas unleashed her inner artist as she guided us through one-point perspective drawings. We learned the tricks of the design trade and how to make our artwork look like it’s popping off the page – no magic wand required!
Digital Technology with Ms Kantor: Ms Kantor took us on an electrifying journey into the world of circuits. We discovered that circuits are like the hidden highways that let electricity flow – kind of like the roads in our phones and light bulbs, but much cooler.
Step-Up Week has definitely made us feel more prepared for high school!
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Contribute: Community News
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Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
LPS Superstars
Congratulations to our latest superstar, gymnast Elmie B.
Elmie participated in the 2024 Junior Victorian Championships on 20 October 2024. She did all four apparatus (Vault, Uneven Bars, Beam, and Floor) and placed 3rd for Floor and 5th for Bars. She also placed 12th All Around among 76 other gymnasts competing in the same group. She also competed in the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Level 5 Division 2 group.
We are very proud of you, Elmie!