RPS Chatter December 2025

With 2 weeks left of the 2025 school year, there is no time to slow down!  Still to come this year, we have:

• Year 6/7 orientation day
• “Moving on up” Day
• 2026 Foundation meet the teacher
• Year 6 Graduation
• Year 6 open water course
• 2026 meet the teacher
• Distribution of end-of-year reports
• Whole school Assembly (with a special performance from Rage against the Canteen)
• Final Clean-up/pack up
•  Announcement of our 2026 school leaders
•  Final School Assembly (9:15 am Thursday 18th December on the netball court)

No wonder we are all feeling (and hopefully not looking) a bit tired!

 

“Moving on up, I’m moving on out…time to break free, nothing can stop me”

Don’t know about you, but every time we start talking about “Moving on Up” day, I start singing that song, and it gets stuck in my head…and yes, that is probably showing my age 😊

On Tuesday, we will be holding our annual “Moving on Up” sessions, where students visit their 2026 year level.  They will rotate through a few tasks and get a chance to look at possible class structures (i.e. which personalities work well together, and which ones don’t).  We always endeavour to structure our classes in the best interest of every child, focusing on who they work well with rather than who they are friends with.  Once that is sorted, then we match our staff to the classes.  It’s like a human game of chess with lots of different pieces all moving at the same time.

 

It’s that time of year when the Chatter gets hijacked by some staff…. take it away, Fletch and Gemma:

Fletch: After five wonderful years as an Education Support staff member and the past year and a half as a classroom teacher, it’s with bittersweet feelings that I share that I’ll be leaving our school at the end of the year. This community has shaped me both personally and professionally, and I’m deeply grateful for the students, families, and colleagues who have made my time here so meaningful. I will always hold a sense of belonging to RPS, and I’m looking forward to popping in to visit. Although I’m excited to spend next year travelling, it’ll be really hard to say goodbye. Thank you for everything.A

Fletch

Gemma:  It is with a very heavy heart (and a lot of tears!!) that I say goodbye to this wonderful community. The students and families of RPS are the ones who made me a teacher, and I am endlessly grateful for your trust and support throughout my time here. As I begin the next chapter of my teaching journey, I’ll be moving into a 5/6 role at Armadale Primary School. While I may be leaving RPS, I’m certainly not going far, so please say hello when I inevitably bump into you all at Swan Street Coles!  Thank you for the memories, the laughter, and the love. RPS will always hold a piece of my heart.

Gemma 🙂

 

I can now officially announce our teaching lineup for the 2026 school year:

• Aimee Robinson
• Camilla Govier-Friend
• Daisy Sprague
• Emily Wilson
• Harriet O’Connor
• Hayley Coates
• Isobel Thomas (returning after a year’s leave)
• Isabella Walker (joining our team from Guthrie St Primary School in Shepparton)
• James Troutbeck
• Josh Hurn
• Julian Bowring
• Karen Lynch
• Kath Faichney
• Luke Davy
• Maddie Clark
• Megan Dell
• Pauline Wallis
• Rachel Foster
• Russell Sivewright
• Sarah Devine
• Sarah Golin
• Sarah Tehan
• Tammy Jensen

Our Education Support team will be confirmed (hopefully) by the end of next week.  We will have a special edition of our Chatter at the end of week 11, announcing our full lineup and who will be teaching where.

Trialling AUSLAN in 2025 has been an overwhelming success for both students and staff, and it has been wonderful learning and growing together. I am pleased to share that we will continue with weekly AUSLAN sessions moving forward.

After working closely with a parent working party, we have also identified a way to introduce Mandarin sessions for interested students. These will begin in Term 2 and will follow a similar structure to our other extracurricular programs (such as Creative Music, Chess Club, and Drama Time), where parents pay for their child’s participation. Further information will be provided during Term 1, 2026.

We will trial the Mandarin program for three terms before reviewing whether it is something we wish to continue beyond 2026.

Thank you to the parents who emailed to share their thoughts about our LOTE options for 2026; the broad range of perspectives was greatly appreciated. A special thank-you to Erika, Pamela, Tracy, and Jenny for giving up your time to participate in the working party meetings. Your contributions were invaluable, and this option would not have been possible without your insight.

Our school has been a haze of colour, laughter and excitement today for our bi-annual colour run….at the time of writing this, the sliming is yet to occur (and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to that….).

We weren’t just running around getting colourful and slimed for no reason.  This year, all fundraising profits will be going towards our STEM lab next year!

Eleanor and her amazing team of volunteers have put together a memorable and fun experience for all our students.  All students involved have had a great time.  I think staff and students will need to have a shower when they get home!

 

And finally….

• Don’t forget to order your book packs before December 14th to get your discount
• Our FINAL chatter for 2025 will be on Wednesday, 17th December.  That edition will include important dates for the 2026 school year.
• Our FINAL day of the 2025 school year is Thursday, 18th December.
• FINAL assembly on netball courts Thursday 18th December, commencing at 9:15 am
• Students dismissed from their learning space at 3:30pm

Things are incredibly busy for everyone at this time of year.  It’s a nice reminder that with so much going on, it’s easy to forget to misinterpret information.  If you ever need clarification, be sure to check our website or call the office so we can set you straight.

That’s all from me this week.  I look forward to seeing you around the school grounds for the next two weeks before our summer holidays begin.

Until then…. Stay safe. Stay healthy.  Stay happy and remember to be kind to yourself and others

Megan 😊

Foundation: 

• Rose F – For your effortless leadership and being a role model to her peers. You take initiative and always try your best in your learning. Well done, Rose!
• Lily S – For your incredible narrative writing about Halloween. You took on feedback to improve your writing by adding adjectives and worked hard to make your story engaging for the reader. Well done, Lily!

 

Year 1/2 

• Jimmy P – Congratulations on always showing respect and being an excellent friend. Bravo, Jimmy, you’re a star!
• Harper M – her excellent attitude and wonderful engagement in her learning tasks this week! Awesome Job, Harps!!

 

Year 3/4 

• Raphael B – For doing a great job of listening during group learning discussions. Well done on your focus, co-operation and maturity during collaborative learning.
• Bulut C – For doing a great job of listening during group learning discussions. Well done on your focus, co-operation and maturity during collaborative learning.
• Isaac M – For doing a great job of listening during group learning discussions. Well done on your focus, co-operation and maturity during collaborative learning.

 

Year 5/6

• Maeve S – being such a polite, respectful and hardworking student who consistently gives her best effort and sets a wonderful example for others.
• Gwen W – Your smile and positive energy bring so much joy to our class, keep up the good work Gwenny!
• Milly B – Your outstanding dedication and leadership in your Earn and Learn role as Chief of Police. You have shown great responsibility, professionalism and care for our class. Well done, Milly!
• Anna A – For being an enthusiastic and dedicated learner who brings great energy to every lesson. Her effort, positivity and willingness to challenge herself has been deeply appreciated.
• Nikolas D – For the commitment, focus, respect, and eager-to-learn attitude you’ve shown so clearly throughout this week. Congratulations Nik!
• Gigi G – For the wonderful positive attitude she brings to class every day. Your effort has been truly Gi-gi- enius, Gigi!
• Javier R – Your hard work and dedication to your learning, and sharing your wonderful thoughts and ideas with our class. We wish you all the best during your final week of Primary School! Well done, Javier!
• Alaia A – Alaia for an amazing effort and result in last week’s beep test! 15.4 levels of power performance!
• Sofia C – For your outstanding attitude to learning and Science and brilliant leadership during your time at RPS!