LPS eNews
2 Apr 2026
Principal's Message
We were delighted to welcome our new Spanish teacher, Miss Carla Osses, last week. Originally from Chile and a native speaker of Spanish, Carla has also been teaching in Melbourne schools. Consequently, we thank Laura Kelly, one of our regular and Spanish-speaking CRTs, who has filled in for the Spanish role for some time. We still plan to employ Laura in our classes as a CRT.
Thank you to all parents for their support and patience during the recent AEU industrial action, seeking better pay and working conditions for Victorian teachers. In circumstances like these, (and they are likely to occur again) we always communicate clearly via eNews or Sentral. When it became available, accurate information was conveyed to parents in our 5 March eNews, followed by the 19 March eNews update. As this indicated, a final Sentral email was distributed on 23 March, linking to an LPS website page. These platforms are part of a school communications strategy that ensures parents who speak any of our 35 community languages can all access information.
As parent-organised What'sApp or WeChat groups are not school communication channels, please ensure you refer to official information on school eNews or Sentral emails.
Looking forward to next term, our School Council Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 28 April. Please email our office if you'd like to attend. We do still have vacancies on School Council and would love to hear from any interested parents.
Over the break, we resume our school painting schedule. School Council has approved external painting of the main building. Apart from TeamKids, the school will be closed to visitors while scaffolding is erected and painters busily work to try to finish by the start of Term 2. Expect to see a refreshed LPS, with a new colour scheme, on your return!
As this is our final Term 1 LPS eNews, have a safe, enjoyable break everyone! School finishes today at 2:30 pm and resumes on Monday 20 April.
Kim
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
What's Happening?
Our Play Pod is finally open and full of 'loose parts' such as tubes, wood, wheels, 
etc. for our LPS students to use! These 'parts' are open-ended, meaning that they have no predetermined use and are adaptable to whatever and however the children wish to play. The process of both introducing and playing with them involves collaboration, sharing, thinking, problem solving and decision-making where the outcome is evident; better play experiences.
Loose parts play offers limitless possibilities.
Classes have had the opportunity to schedule a Play Pod session to explore and experience these resources over the last 2 weeks. Some photos are included in this eNews. From next term, the Play Pod will be open for use during lunchtimes.
Do you have any clean loose parts at home that you could donate to our Play Pod?
We are looking for foam building blocks, baskets, sand bags, fabrics, short lengths of PVC piping and connectors, thick cardboard and long cardboard rolls/tubes, cooking implements, mats, wheels, ropes, planks of wood, nets or anything else you think children could use. We would appreciate any donations you may have to be brought to the front office. Please ensure there are no nails or sharp bits, and that containers have not previously been used for food storage, chemicals or potting mix.
As this is our last edition of eNews for Term 1, a reminder that our ANZAC Day commemorative assembly will be held the first Friday back of Term 2 (April 24) due to ANZAC Day this year being on a Saturday. 
Please join us at 2:45pm in the hall as we commemorate those Australians who have served our country in times of peace and war. This will be followed by a shortened school assembly.
Happy holidays everyone!
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
Prep
This term in Inquiry, Prep students have been learning about ‘Community’. We have been investigating what community means, the communities we belong to, what our community celebrates and how people in our community can help us. We had the firefighters visit the school to talk about how they help us and how we can make sure we have a family evacuation plan if there was ever a fire in our house. We are all looking forward to them coming back next term and showing us their fire engines!
Many thanks to all the parents who attended our Prep Expo on Wednesday. The children thoroughly enjoyed showing off their community booklets that they have been putting together this term. They also got to share books and show famiies around their classrooms.
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Susan McLean
Parents please register - Growing up Online with Susan McLean
We invite all parents/carers at LPS to take up the opportunity to attend this important parent seminar.
Susan is a highly sought after and highly respected presenter and Australia's foremost expert in the area of cyber safety and young people.
Growing up Online:
An educational & empowering session for Parents and carers, Susan’s unparalleled knowledge leaves audiences shocked at the reality of the online world. It is a wakeup call to even the most switched on parent and is delivered with Susan's famous 'no nonsense' approach. The session will cover the positive benefits of technology as well as what parents need to be aware of:
Reality & Risk - The reality of the online world. It’s not a matter of if – rather, when.What are kids doing online - Learn the latests apps and platforms your kids are either on, want to be on or are being told about at school. TikTok, Omegle, Discord, Yolo, Wink & more.
Online Grooming - What is it and when/how does it occur?
Preventative measures. What are the warning signs & what to do if you suspect this is happening to your child.
Cyberbullying - What it is, where it happens, what it looks like, how to prevent and what to do if it occurs. Also the legal consequences and the possible criminal charges.
Sharing Nudes - The taking and sending of explicit images.The social and emotional consequences as well as the Law and the serious issue of Sextortion.
Problematic Gaming - How to manage digital devices in your home to avoid problems and what to do if/when they arise.
Exposure to damaging content - Including online pornography & sites that encourage suicide, self harm & eating disorders.
Top Tips – how to assist the children in your care to stay safe online with rules, parental controls and restriction passcodes.
The session will conclude with time for questions.
DATE - Thursday 21 May
TIME - 5.30-7.00pm
LOCATION - Hall
To assist with planning, please register here to confirm your attendance:
Registration for Susan McLean Parent Seminar |
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
Senior School - Grades 5 & 6
Grade 5
To conclude our Inquiry Unit, Making a Democracy, Members of Paliament Paul Hamer and Gabriel Ng visited our school to discuss their role in our democratic system.
The session gave students valuable insight into how Australia’s political system works, building upon their knowledge from the unit. Many students also had the opportunity to ask thoughtful questions about Australia’s democracy and gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day life of a politician.
Our Science Unit this term is Light and students have enjoyed participating in the many experiments that have taught us how light travels in straight lines, reflects off surfaces, and creates shadows. Throughout the unit, students have explored how mirrors can change the direction of light and drew simple ray diagrams to show its path. We have also investigated how different colours of light combine, building an understanding of how white light is formed.
Grade 6
During inquiry, we have been exploring Australian democracy and investigating political issues at the federal, state and local levels of government. As part of our learning, we formed our own political parties with the shared goal of raising awareness about important issues within the wider community.
To support our understanding of how government works, Gabriel Ng and Paul Hamer visited us to share their knowledge and experiences in politics. This was a valuable opportunity for us to learn more about real-world decision-making and deepen our understanding of democratic systems.
Working collaboratively, we selected specific issues connected to our political parties and conducted research to build our knowledge. We then created persuasive speeches and a variety of campaign materials including posters, signs, pamphlets and even advertisement songs, to communicate our ideas and inspire action.
To celebrate our learning, we held an Inquiry Expo where we welcomed parents and carers to explore our work. Visitors had the opportunity to listen to our speeches, view our campaign materials and learn more about each political party before casting their vote in our election.
We felt excited (and a little nervous!) sharing our ideas and waiting for the ballot results. We enjoyed the experience of forming our own political parties and bringing our ideas to life. Thank you to our parents and carers for attending and supporting us at our Inquiry Expo!
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
ICAS: test arrangements
The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools, or ICAS for short, is an independent, skills-based assessment program, designed to match and test skills that are learned in the school classroom.
Every year Laburnum Primary School participates in the ICAS competition in English, Mathematics and Science. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to challenge themselves academically.
Entry is available to students in Years 4, 5 and 6 ONLY.
As ICAS is not part of the Victorian curriculum provided to all students, the tests will be held before school on the following dates:
- English ICAS test – Tuesday 11th August, 7:45am
- Science ICAS test – Tuesday 18th August, 7:45am
- Maths ICAS test – Wednesday 26th August, 7:45am
Families enter their child through the ICAS Parent Payment System. To enter follow the link below and use the school access code to enrol your child.
Access details for parents:
Your school access code is: ZPF593
Your parent page link is:
https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/ZPF593
LPS enrolments close on 27 July. All enrolments must be made by this date.
If you enrol your child, please mark these dates in your calendar. Students cannot sit missed tests.
More information will be provided closer to the test dates.
QR Code for the parent page link:
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Contribute: Parents Group News
We have a few exciting things coming up in term 2, look out for more information and dates after the school holidays. Happy Easter and enjoy your break!
The Inaugural Mother’s Day breakfast
This year Parents Group will be holding the first ever Mother’s Day Breakfast! The mums will be treated to a delicious continental breakfast. (And later in the year the dads will be spoilt with the first ever Father’s Day stall happening in September!).
Trivia Night
Trivia night will return in 2026 after a successful and fun event in 2025.
Rolf’s Pie Drive
Rolf’s Pies will be for sale during term 2.
Container Deposit Scheme – Raise Money for Laburnum Primary School!
Laburnum Primary Scheme is a Donation Partner of the Container Deposit Scheme. Next time you are getting your container refunds please consider donating to Laburnum Primary School as part of the school's fundraising efforts.
How to Donate:
Step 1: Collect your cans and bottles, please refer to the poster below for acceptable containers.
Step 2: Take your containers to your preferred refund point (reverse vending machine, over the counter or collection depot).
Step 3: Download the CDS North Zone app (if you do not have it already)
Step 4: Select 'Donations and choose Laburnum Primary School.
If you do not have the CDS app, the assistant at the collection depot can also search for Laburnum Primary School on their device.
For more information on the Container Deposit Scheme please visit the website at https://cdsvic.org.au/
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
Specialists: Performing Arts
Grades 4, 5, 6 begun the term immersing themselves in our Ready to Learn program, by examining our school behaviour matrix and how this relates to Performing Arts. Each grade developed a Performing Arts Matrix as a framework for ensuring that our sessions promote: being an effective audience member and performer, creating a supportive space for creating, an appreciation for resources, growth in confidence, ways to challenge ourselves and the application of curiosity and enjoyment.
Students have been studying Gustav Holst's 'Planets' to explore the concepts of ideas, rhythm, timbre, texture, dynamics, performance and response. Composed between 1914-1917, there are seven movements each named after a planet of the solar system and reflect their astrological significance. Making and responding have had a particular emphasis as students listened to each suite and explored what inspired Holst in each composition. They have been introduced to the orchestra. This has included learning about the different types of instruments and how they are organised. They have gained an appreciation for Holst's work and the instruments he highlighted for their sound and unique ability to create atmosphere.
The beginning of our term focussed on ‘The Dragon Awakens’ dance which culminated in a performance at school assembly, coinciding with Chinese Lunar New Year. Students took the lead when choreographing the piece, including wearing the head pieces that they designed and created in Art. We thank Ms Farlow for supporting us with this. Students have learned that dance is a universal human expression used for storytelling, ritual, and celebration and deeply reflects cultural identity. They appreciate that in some cultures it can take many years of training to be given the privilege of becoming a performer. The term is concluding with students learning how to read music. The sound of Hot Cross Buns can be heard from the Performing Arts room as experts across classes support their peers as they learn to read and play music.
This term, students have been experimenting with Chants to explore the elements of music through creating simple compositions reflecting on and refining musical ideas. Chants are the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds. They have listened to new and known chants, identified elements of an effective chant and examined rhythm and rhyme to enhance motivation and the conveying of a message. Initiated by the students, they began with writing house chants. They then explored chants in jazz music and are concluding the term with a focus on the birth of Rap including learning about where rap first emerged and its significant contribution to culture. They are also exploring the elements of Music and how they combine to evoke emotion and communicate meaning.
Curiosity • Respect • Integrity • Resilience
The Fathering Project
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
Grade 6 - Year 7 Transition Information
Information Night: Monday 27th April, 5 - 6:60pm.
Please click on the image for more information. 
OPEN Day: Tuesday 28th April, 6pm.
Please click on the image for more information. Scan the QR code to secure a place.
School tours are a wonderful way to see Box Hill High School in action, and bookings are now open for a tour of the school for prospective parents/carers and students.
Not only will visitors see classes in operation, but there will also be opportunities to ask questions, meet BHHS staff and students and hear from a member of the Principal Class Team. Explore the school on a tour and find out more
about how BHHS provides the perfect balance between academic, social, and emotional growth and development in its students.
School tours at BHHS will run from 10 February – 7 May. Bookings are now open at Trybooking.
As there will be no Open Afternoon during 2026, we encourage you to book your place on a School Tour if you are considering Box Hill High School for your student’s needs in 2027 and beyond.
Free resources for families of adolescents aged 10 to 14 years
The Department of Education has launched an Easing into adolescence webpage for families of students aged 10 to 14 (Grade 5 to Year 8).
The webpage has information and strategies you can use to help ease your child into adolescence and secondary school. These include:
- a guide to emotion coaching. Staff from The University of Melbourne’s Tuning in to Teens Kids program developed the guidance.
- how to support your adolescent with their studies and more generally. Parenting expert and clinical psychologist Andrew Fuller helped develop this resource.
Subtitles for videos by The University of Melbourne on the webpage are available in 10 languages. You can select your preferred language on the translations page.
Our Vision: Learn • Thrive • Contribute
Contribute: Community News
Click on these links below for Community News or information:
 TeamKids Out of School Hours Care 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.  We’re bursting with excitement to let you know that bookings for our Autumn Holiday Program are now officially OPEN for Laburnum Primary! See what’s happening at our school → https://downloads.teamkids.com.au/laburnum_primary.pdf |
 Please click on the Chess Club image for Term 2 registration. |
 Digimaker will start in Term 2. Please click on the logo for information. |