LPS Snack Club
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LPS eNews
21 August, 2025
Principal's Message
A huge thank you to parents, carers and the Box Hill High School students who assisted our staff at our recent Athletics Day. We couldn't do it without you! Best wishes to the sixty-two students who will represent LPS at the District Athletics.
All Year 3 and 5 parents should have received their child's NAPLAN results (please check their school bag!).
All Year 3 and 5 parents should have received their child's NAPLAN results (please check their school bag!).
We were so pleased to again celebrate very strong results for our Year 3 and 5 students, maintaining our reputation as a high-performing school.
In Victoria, anticipation was high for the Year 3 cohort. These are particularly COVID-impacted students. Despite this, we were pleasantly surpised by our Year 3 results and our Year 5 students performed as highly as expected again. It was lovely to receive a personal message of congratulations about our results from one of the Department's Executive Directors last week.
As there were significant changes to NAPLAN in 2023, it will take the usual five years to establish trends from school data sets. We can already see that trend starting to form, with only minor cohort variations from year to year, despite the COVID factor.
Data has been provided to each school to indicate the percentage of students who achieved 'Exceeding or Strong' for each NAPLAN area. At LPS, our students performed as follows:
- Year 3 Reading 85% (2024: 91% and 2023: 82%)
- Year 3 Spelling 79% (2024: 89% and 2023: 70%)
- Year 3 Numeracy 81% (2024: 84% and 2023: 85%)
- Year 3 Writing 90% (2024: 92% and 2023: 90%)
- Year 3 Grammar and Punctuation 73% (2024: 82% and 2023: 68%)
- Year 5 Reading 90% (2024: 91% and 2023: 90%)
- Year 5 Spelling 78% (2024: 88% and 2023: 85%)
- Year 5 Numeracy 93% (2024: 89% and 2023: 91%)
- Year 5 Writing 87% (2024: 92% and 2023: 93%)
- Year 5 Grammar and Punctuation 80% (2024: 86% and 2023: 87%)
NAPLAN results are a reflection of the consolidated teaching and learning that occurs at every level of the school, so congratulations to our teachers and thanks to all parents for building these important foundations for future learning.
I believe that our improved and sustained NAPLAN results are partly due to the school's effective intervention programs over the last seven years. Whilst our students' results remain strong, they will have implications for Learning Intervention Funding next year.
From the end of this year, the Department will discontinue the Tutor Learning Initiative, introduced after COVID disruptions to schooling. Instead, NAPLAN and student achievement data will be used to determine each school's intervention budget.
As the Department will exclude students who receive disability funding from this new formula, we have been told to expect little or no intervention funding next year. There are very few LPS students deemed to 'need additional support' in the core areas of Reading, Writing and Numeracy. Nevertheless, we will need to reconsider how we offer targeted support to any students that the school identifies.
A reminder that 2026 Prep Enrolments officially close tomorrow. Please contact our office ASAP or click here if your next child's enrolment has slipped your mind!
You might have noticed some new plants around the Blacks Walk gate. The Blackburn Creeklands Advisory Committee has organised another planting day for 9am Sunday 31st August, and invites any LPS families to join them. We also heard from Whitehorse Council this week that they are starting work on the new path and ramp that will allow safe access through this gate for our families. You can read more on our Contribute: Community News page.
Finally, the 2025 Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Opinion Survey is available to complete online until Friday 19 September.
In 2023 and 2024, we had very low response rates. This year, we hope more families will complete the survey to provide us with valid and reliable feedback on school climate, community engagement, learning and teaching practices, student engagement and student outcomes.
The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones.
We encourage all families to complete the survey, which is available in twelve languages (and apologies if one of these isn't yours): English, Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese.
Resources are also available in additional languages to assist parents / caregivers / guardians who speak a language other than English at home. Please reach out to our school office for survey guides if needed, available in thirty-nine languages.
An email with a Personal Pin to access the survey will be distributed to 'Parent A' in all families in the next few days.
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
What's Happening?
From the Assistant Principals, Kathy and Niyati
We also loved seeing the beautiful manners shown by Laburnum students, siblings, parents, grandparents...everyone!
A reminder to please bring a fork or spoon if you would like one of the bowls - we cannot provide cutlery.
Enjoy this edition's recipe for Baked Ricotta & Spinach Gnocchi - a toasty winter dinner.
What a fantastic start to Snack Club we have had! Our hard-working Year 4 leaders have done an exceptional job and been instrumental in the organisation and promotion of this wonderful initiative.
We also loved seeing the beautiful manners shown by Laburnum students, siblings, parents, grandparents...everyone!
A reminder to please bring a fork or spoon if you would like one of the bowls - we cannot provide cutlery.
Enjoy this edition's recipe for Baked Ricotta & Spinach Gnocchi - a toasty winter dinner.
How can parents help build their children's resilience? Here's an interesting read...
Why Parents Should Feel Good About Saying ‘NO’ to Their Children Saying ‘no’ frequently to your young children may be the opposite of your parental instincts. But according to Georgia Manning ‑ counsellor, psychotherapist and the director of Wellbeing For Kids ‑ saying ‘no’ to your kids is one of the best things you can do for them.
Manning puts this down to the fact that many parents have shied away from saying ‘no’ to their children because of the ‘self-esteem movement’, where anything that could potentially damage a child’s self-esteem was frowned upon. But as a result, ‘the pendulum has swung too far’.
‘We’ve gone from not being emotionally attuned with our children to thinking that protecting them from any discomfort or things that they don’t want to do is a way of showing love.’ "...a key focus of ‘good’ parenting is setting up your children with long-term life skills."
It’s the idea of ‘short-term pain for long-term gain’… While your children may be disappointed when they hear the word ‘no’, it will make them much more prepared for the reality of adulthood, where we all have to hear that word more often than we’d like.
If you're interested in finding out more, read the rest of the article on the Melbourne Child Psychology Blog here.
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
The Fathering Project
We welcome Rodney Eade, champion AFL player and coach, to our next Fathering Project event Games and Catch up!
Don't forget to register before Tuesday 9 September!
It's never too late to join The Fathering Project! If you would like to join, use the QR code below.
Don't forget to register before Tuesday 9 September!
It's never too late to join The Fathering Project! If you would like to join, use the QR code below.
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
Junior School - Years 1 & 2
Year 1
Year 1 students have had a very busy fortnight combining all our in-class learning while going to swimming lessons each day. Although we were definitely a little tired towards the end, we powered through! You will be pleased to hear that the bus drivers gave Miss Fielding rave reviews regarding our behaviour.
The Year 1s are such superstars!
We have just finished a Science unit all about changes to the sky and landscape. Students identified natural elements of the sky and landscape (clouds, trees, stars, moon, etc.) by exploring our school. We discovered that changes in seasons have an impact on our landscape. The trees we see heading down to the oval have green leaves in Summer and Spring, orange leaves in Autumn, and no leaves at all in Winter. Our lessons discussing the night sky were definitely a crowd favourite.
We represented our understanding of the moon phases through craft, creating our own constellations using star stickers. Watch this space to find out what we learn about next in our inquiry unit!
To kick off Term 3, Year 2 have also been involved in our swimming program. For two weeks, the Year 2 students and their teachers have travelled on the bus to use the pool at Nunawading Aquatic and Fitness Centre with the ‘Just Swimming’ teachers.
Learning to swim and water safety falls under Heath and Physical Education in the Victorian Curriculum. The program is integrated into our weekly schedule, with students practising Laburnum Primary School values as we demonstrate Integrity, Resilience, Respect and Curiosity travelling to, and while in, the pool. We will also use our memories and knowledge of swimming to help us write some descriptive and persuasive pieces of writing over the next few weeks.
The swimming sessions have included improving swimming ability, learning water safety and a celebration at the end where everyone joins together to play games.
We have all had a great time and can’t wait to do it again next year!
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Thrive: Parent Webinar - The Stand Up Project
Are you supporting a young person impacted by bullying? You’re not alone.
Register here for a FREE webinar designed for parents and teachers to confidently support young people affected by bullying - whether they’re directly involved, witnessing it, or unsure of their role.
Dr. Zach Greig, The Stand Up Project Founder, and internationally recognised bullying prevention expert, and Amanda Marshall, Youth Engagement Project Founder, and youth engagement specialist, will guide you through expert insights and strategies to support a young person impacted by bullying.
What We’ll Cover
You’ll gain practical tools and advice to help you support your child and/or students in all of the following areas:
Understanding Bullying from All Perspectives
What actually counts as bullying? What causes it?
In-the-Moment Support for Young People
What do you do or say if your child or student tells you they’re being bullied - or if they’re the one showing bullying-like behaviour?
When Kids Don’t Want to Tell
What if your child doesn’t want you to involve the school?
Tools to Teach Your Child
What are some practical ways to teach boundary-setting, speaking up, and handling online issues?
Working with Schools
How do you raise concerns with a teacher - and what should you do if things aren’t improving?
Knowing Your Rights & Responsibilities
What are the legal rights and responsibilities of students, parents, and teachers in building safer, more respectful school communities?
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Middle School - Years 3 & 4
Year 3
Year 3 have been exploring, adding and subtracting numbers using different strategies. First, students identify the most effective strategy to use to add or subtract two numbers. When adding numbers, we look at each place value, add the numbers in each place, and then add those totals together. Students showed different ways of solving equations by working vertically, writing on whiteboards around the classroom, and explaining why they used specific methods to add and subtract certain numbers.
In Writing, students teamed up to create a sentence that was a statement and explored how to turn that statement into a question or an exclamation. It was fantastic to see their creativity and teamwork as they created sentences and then made them more interesting.
During Science Week, we had the opportunity to work with and mentor our Prep buddies. We created paper helicopters that used air resistance to float and spin to the ground. We all enjoyed going outside to drop the helicopters from various heights and watch them twirl to the ground.
It was wonderful to see our Year 4 students participating in various events at our recent House Athletics. Some favourites were the 100m Sprint, Shot Put and Long Jump! We were proud of everyone challenging themselves and giving their best effort throughtout the day.
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Specialists: P.E
Athletics day
On Thursday 7 August, Laburnum Primary School held its annual Athletics Day—and what a fantastic day it was! Students from Years 3 to 6 took part in a range of track and field events, including sprints, shot put and long jump.
Throughout the day, our students showed outstanding commitment to our school values of resilience and integrity. They gave every event their best effort, supported one another, and treated their peers, teachers, and helpers with kindness and respect. It was wonderful to witness such positive sportsmanship and team spirit from everyone involved.
A big congratulations to the students who performed exceptionally well and have qualified for the District Athletics Carnival.
We would like to say a huge thank you to our amazing teachers for their support and organisation, and to the parent helpers who generously gave their time throughout the day. Events like these simply wouldn’t be possible without your help, thank you!
We also had some former Laburnum students from Box Hill High School return to assist with the day, which was absolutely fantastic. It was wonderful to see them back at our school, giving back to the community.
Well done to all our athletes for making the day such a great success!
What's Happening in PE........
Prep
Prep students have been focusing on developing their jump rope and punting skills. In jump rope, they are building coordination, rhythm, and timing as they practice basic skipping techniques. Punting activities are helping students improve their foot-eye coordination, balance, and kicking precision. These engaging activities are designed to enhance their overall movement skills in a fun and enjoyable way.
Years 1 - 2
Students are working on developing their overarm throw and bounce skills. Through various drills and games, they will refine their throwing technique for distance and accuracy and improve their ability to bounce a ball with control.
Years 3 - 6
Students have been focusing on invasion games—activities that promote strategy, teamwork, and spatial awareness. Through fun, game-based sessions, they are developing key skills such as ball control, passing, and positioning, while learning the fundamentals of sports like soccer, handball, and basketball.
Level Sport
In their weekly 1-hour Level Sport sessions, Prep students continue to build on the jump rope and punting skills introduced in their core PE lessons, refining coordination, timing, and footwork.
Year 1 and 2 students will similarly focus on further developing their overarm throw and bounce techniques, while Year 3 and 4 will enhance their understanding of invasion game strategies and tactics through engaging, team-based activities.
For students in Years 5 and 6, Level Sport sessions are dedicated to refining skills in their selected summer sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, and Cricket. Through targeted drills and practice, they’ll work on more advanced techniques as they prepare for upcoming interschool sports competitions.
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Contribute: Parents Group News
Mooncake Fundraiser
This year we will be holding a Mooncake fundraiser to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival
(中秋节 Zhōngqiū Jié) on the 6th October 2025. This is a traditional Chinese celebration which focuses on family reunion and gatherings, to celebrate this we will be selling mooncakes to share with your family and friends.
What is a mooncake? Mooncakes are the iconic food of the festival—round pastries filled with sweet fillings like lotus seed paste, red bean, or salted egg yolk.
You can place your order here: www.trybooking.com/DEQSS or scan the QR Code
Orders close Thursday 4th of September (or when sold out as stock is limited) and mooncakes will be available for collection on Friday 12th September 3-4pm.
Father’s Day Breakfast – Friday 5th September
Our annual Father's Day Breakfast is coming, where you can bring your dad or special person to school for breakfast! It’s being held at school on Friday 5th of September between 7:15am-8:45am outside the school hall.
Tickets are $9.50 each for children & adults. Ticket holders can enjoy a sausage roll, pie, cereal buffet (incl. gluten free option), pastries and hot/cold drinks. Terry, our regular barista from Vivere Coffee will also be there with his coffee cart for coffee purchases (only for adults) on the day.
Breakfast orders must be received by 5pm Friday 29th August - Book HERE (https://www.trybooking.com/DETRX)
Bring your own bowls, plates, mugs and cutlery, and a rug/chair to sit on. You are also most welcome to bring your own food (no need to pay if you aren't eating our breakfast).
This event is for Laburnum Primary School students only.
Volunteers Needed:
We will also need lots of volunteers on the day to help serve the breakfast. Please sign up using the following link: https://signup.com/go/FLeDBTW
Footy Pie Day 2025 – Thursday 18th September
Parents Group will again be offering hot lunches (pies, sausage rolls etc) for Laburnum’s annual Footy Pie Day on Thursday 18th of September – more information coming soon!
2025 Pie Drive – Thank you!
Thanks to everyone who placed an order for Tony’s Pies! This fundraiser raised a total of $1264.00 which will go towards funding the new Sensory Garden that is currently being built in the school playground.
Huge thanks for Angela M for all her work running this successful and delicious fundraiser.
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
Contribute: Community News
Blacks Walk News (from James L, LPS parent & Blackburn Creeklands volunteer)
Last month on a chilly Sunday morning members of the Blackburn Creeklands Advisory Committee and local volunteers began planting out the area just outside the school in Blacks Walk on either side of a planned new pathway to the new gate near the bike shed. We haven’t been able to use that new gate due to a large step from the new concrete slab down into the Blackburn Creeklands; however, works have commenced on a new path.
It was great to see some Laburnum families involved in the planting. There’s another opportunity on Sunday 31st August at 9am at the same location for more planting and getting to know those who care for the Creeklands on a regular basis. Volunteers who care for their local environment often report physical and mental wellbeing benefits along with making new connections with other locals. We look forward to watching the new plants grow just outside the fence and during school drop offs and pickups when the new gate opens.
As well, as it is the Wattle Day working bee (Wattle Day is officially on 1st Sept) the committee and volunteers will be planting out a small number of wattles in a central area of Blacks walk due north of the school gate area. After morning tea they may have a small talk on Wattle ID if there is enough interest.
Click on these links below for Community News or information:
 TeamKids Out of School Hours Care Click here for our first TeamKids newsletter. Please register your child here - it's free to register and you'll always have that option for childcare, even in unexpected circumstances. More information is on our website here.
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 Please click Chess Club image for registration |
 Please click here to view information and registration for Digimaker. |
