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Past issue · Issue 3
Demo Primary School
Learning Together, Growing Together
From the Principal's Desk: Celebrating Everyday Growth and Community Connection
As we cross the halfway mark of Term 3, I am continually inspired by the resilience, kindness, and genuine curiosity our students bring to their classrooms every single day.Walking through the campus this week, the energy and buzz of learning across all grade levels was unmistakable. From our Foundation learners proudly mastering their initial phonics sounds to our Year 6 leaders actively mentoring younger peers during lunchtime yard duty, our school values are clearly in action. True learning and growth do not just happen on formal assessment days; they happen in those everyday moments of perseverance when a difficult mathematics problem is finally solved, or when a student steps out of their comfort zone to present in front of their peers.A crucial driver of this consistent progress is everyday attendance. Every single day at school matters, building not only vital academic building blocks but also the social emotional skills and friendships that help our children flourish. Thank you to all our parents, grandparents, and carers for your ongoing partnership in getting our learners through the school gates on time, equipped with their hats, healthy lunchboxes, and a readiness to learn.As the chilly winter mornings slowly begin to hint at the approaching spring, please take note of the upcoming community events and excursion deadlines listed in the calendar below. My door is always open, and I look forward to catching up with many of you at our whole-school assembly this Friday afternoon!
Creative Arts Extravaganza: Rehearsals Underway for 'The Time Machine'!
Excitement is reaching fever pitch across the school as rehearsals officially kick off for our biennial whole-school musical production, "The Time Machine: A Journey Through the Decades!"Every grade has now been assigned a specific musical era—from the swinging 1960s and disco 1970s right through to the neon-lit 1980s and the futuristic 2050s! Students have been working hard with our Performing Arts team during weekly rehearsals, memorising dance choreography, learning lyrics, and developing their stage presence.What families need to know:
Performance Dates: Wednesday, October 21st and Thursday, October 22nd at the Civic Hall.
Costumes: Simple, low-cost costume guidelines for each class will be emailed home by classroom teachers next week. We focus heavily on utilizing clothing items you likely already have at home!
Tickets: Online ticketing will open on Monday, September 14th via TryBooking.
We cannot wait to watch our students shine on the big stage!
Winter Uniform & Lost Property Reminder: Please Label Everything!
As the chilly Melbourne winter mornings give way to sunny afternoons, our campus is experiencing a familiar seasonal phenomenon: the rapidly growing mountain of lost property!Our lost property bins outside the gym are currently overflowing with school jumpers, bomber jackets, beanies, and drink bottles that have been shed during lunchtime games. Unfortunately, more than half of these items have no names written on them, making it impossible for our student leaders to return them to their rightful owners.How you can assist us:
Take five minutes this week to check that your child’s first and last name are clearly marked on the tags of all uniform garments using a permanent fabric marker or iron-on label.
Encourage your child to check the lost property tubs before leaving school each day if they are missing an item.
All unclaimed and unnamed uniform pieces left at the end of Term 3 will be washed and donated to our Secondhand Uniform Shop.
Year 6
Year 6 Science Spotlight: Blast Off into Space Exploration!
Step into our Year 6 classrooms this term, and you might just think you’ve entered NASA mission control! As part of our Earth and Space Sciences curriculum, our senior students have been investigating the fascinating physics of rocket propulsion, gravity, and aerodynamics.Over the past fortnight, students worked in collaborative engineering teams to design, build, and test water-propelled bottle rockets. Using recycled 2-litre plastic bottles, cardboard fins, and clay ballast, students applied the scientific method to test how different fin shapes and water volumes affected flight stability and launch altitude.The unit culminated in an exciting launch day on the school oval yesterday, where several student rockets successfully soared over 20 metres into the air! This hands-on investigation not only deepened their understanding of physical forces but also highlighted the power of resilience, modification, and teamwork when a prototype doesn't launch perfectly the first time.
Whole School
Calling All Volunteers: The Great Friday Sausage Sizzle!
Our Parents & Friends (P&F) Association is hosting a lunchtime Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser on Friday, August 21st, with all proceeds going directly toward our new senior playground climbing wall!To make this delicious day a success, we need your help! The P&F is putting out the call for enthusiastic parent, caregiver, and grandparent volunteers to assist with cooking, assembling, and serving sausages between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Even if you can only spare an hour to flip burgers or hand out napkins, your support makes a massive difference.Important details for families:
Sausages in bread (with or without onions and tomato sauce) are $3.50 each.
Halal, vegetarian, and gluten-free options will be readily available.
Orders and payments must be submitted via the online canteen portal by Wednesday, August 19th at 4:00 PM. No cash will be accepted on the day.
To volunteer your time, please sign up via the digital roster link sent out in yesterday’s school alert!
Premier’s Reading Challenge: The Final Countdown!
The clock is ticking on the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge, and our students are reading at an absolute record-breaking pace! With just three weeks remaining before the online portal closes on September 11th, now is the perfect time for a final reading push.To successfully complete the challenge, students in Foundation to Year 2 must experience or read 30 books, while students in Years 3 to 6 must read 15 books (with 10 selected from the official challenge list).How parents can help at home:
Set aside 15 minutes of quiet, device-free reading time before bed each night.
Log in to the online portal with your child to update their verified reading list.
Celebrate their progress! Every student who completes the challenge receives a special certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier.
If you have lost your child’s login coordinates, please email your classroom teacher or see Mrs. Higgins in the library. Happy reading!
Whole School
2027 Foundation Enrolments: Sibling Applications Now Open!
It is hard to believe we are already planning for the 2027 school year! We are currently accepting Foundation (Prep) enrolment applications for siblings of currently enrolled students.We know how quickly the primary school years fly by, and we want to ensure all our existing families secure a placement for their younger children before we open enrolment offers to the broader public next month.If you have a child who turns five by April 30th, 2027, please download an enrolment form from our school website or collect a physical enrolment pack from the administration office. All sibling applications, along with a copy of your child's birth certificate and immunisation history statement, must be submitted by Friday, August 28th.If you know local families interested in joining our school community, please let them know our next open campus tour is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th at 9:30 AM.
Green Team Triumph: Launching 'Nude Food' Tuesdays!
Our passionate student-led Green Team has been busy auditing our school’s waste, and they have challenged our entire school community to make a positive environmental impact! Starting next week, we are officially launching Nude Food Tuesdays.Every Tuesday, we encourage all students and staff to bring a waste-free lunchbox to school. The goal is to eliminate single-use plastics, cling wrap, foil, and pre-packaged snack wrappers from our school yard and landfill bins.Simple ways to pack Nude Food:
Use reusable silicone pouches, beeswax wraps, or small Tupperware containers for sandwiches and snacks.
Buy yogurt or crackers in larger tubs and portion them into smaller reusable containers at home.
Pack fresh fruit and vegetables in their natural "skin" packaging!
The grade with the least amount of plastic waste each week will be awarded the prestigious Golden Compost Bucket at Friday’s assembly. Let’s work together to reduce our footprint!
Year 4 · Year 5 · Year 6 · Year 3
Raising Digitally Resilient Kids: Upcoming Parent eSafety Webinar
In an increasingly connected world, supporting our children to navigate digital spaces safely is a team effort between school and home. To assist families, we are partnering with the eSafety Commissioner’s Office to host a free, one-hour parent webinar on Wednesday, September 2nd at 7:00 PM.This interactive online workshop is tailored specifically for primary school parents and caregivers. The session will explore practical strategies for setting healthy screen-time boundaries, managing online gaming chats, understanding age restrictions, and fostering open discussions about digital privacy and cyberbullying.Far from being technical or overwhelming, the webinar provides simple, actionable advice you can implement at home right away. A registration link and setup guide can now be found under the "Parent Resources" tab on our school app. We strongly encourage all families to tune in for this valuable session!
Whole School
House Athletics Carnival: Get Your House Colours Ready!
The most anticipated sporting event of the term is just around the corner! On Friday, August 14th, our entire school will head down to the community reserve for our annual House Athletics Carnival.Students from Foundation to Year 6 will compete in a variety of track and field events, from the 100-metre sprint and relay races to novelty sack races and long jump. This day is all about participation, team spirit, and encouraging one another to give their personal best.What students need on the day:
House Colours: Wear a t-shirt in your house colour (Kookaburra Yellow, Wallaby Red, Koala Blue, or Platypus Green).
Sun & Weather Protection: A broad-brimmed school hat is mandatory (No Hat, No Play applies), along with sunscreen and a warm jacket between events.
Sustenance: Pack a packed lunch, plenty of healthy snacks, and a refillable water bottle.
Parents, grandparents, and friends are warmly invited to bring a camp chair and cheer from the sidelines!
Don't Miss Our Book Fair
Mark your calendars! From Monday, June 15th to Friday, June 19th, our school library will transform into a bustling literary wonderland. This year’s theme, “Catch the Reading Wave,” brings hundreds of exciting new titles, from captivating graphic novels to thrilling sci-fi adventures.
Students will visit during their scheduled library times, and doors will open to families every afternoon from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Every purchase directly funds brand-new books and digital resources for our classrooms. Don't miss out on the fun—come find your next favorite story!