100 Days of Prep

There was a noticeable increase in the number of canes, grey hairs and hunched backs as the students entered the grounds this morning. The celebration of the 100 Days of Prep is one of the highlights for the year. This morning at assembly, our Preps paraded across the stage for the rest of the school, complete with wigs, glasses, braces and hats. After recess, they made quite the raucous as they were entertained by Micky Trickster, magician extraordinaire.  The look of wonder and delight in the faces of the Preps was delightful. 

Our Preps, and their teachers and families, should be proud of how they thrived in their first 100 days of schooling. This week, I took a session with Prep B and was so impressed by their maturity, attitude and sense of curiosity. 

Security

Recently I have had contact from the neighbours of the school who wanted to speak about activities that seem to be taking place on school grounds outside of school hours. Specifically, unwanted visitors late on weekend nights causing disruption and noise. If you witness any anti social or illegal activity on school grounds, please contact police via 000 in the moment. Please also advise us via the office or an email through ashburton.ps@education.vic.gov.au 

2026 departures and 2027 arrivals

We are getting to the time where families begin to inform us that their child will be finishing with us at the end of the year to begin next year in a new school. There are many reasons for these moves and we completely understand how decisions come to be made. We do ask if you could confirm arrangements as soon as practical as it assists us with forward planning for 2027. 

At the other end of the spectrum, the portal to enroll a Prep student for 2027 officially closes next Friday, July 31st. If you or someone you know has a future Prep student for next year, make sure they have applied via the Department of Education's portal.

AusAlert test Monday 27th July at 2pm

We’ve been advised that a national test of AusAlert will happen across Australia on Monday 27 July at 2 pm. AusAlert is a new, national emergency warning system. It sends warning messages to compatible mobile devices during emergencies, to keep people informed so they can act quickly. The Australian Government plans to launch AusAlert in October 2026.

On Monday 27 July at 2 pm, all compatible mobile devices will receive a Critical Alert. Compatible mobile devices include phones, tablets, smart watches, safety watches and some vehicle devices. These will vibrate and make a loud, siren-like warning sound for about 10 seconds. This will happen even if they are on silent or do not disturb. The message will clearly state that it is a test. No action is required from the test.

To minimise disruption, student phones and smart devices should be switched off and for phones stored in the office as per usual. Students who use their mobile phone as part of a documented exception can continue to do so. If appropriate, they can turn their phone off during the test.

You may also wish to let your child know that if they see or hear the alert, school staff will support them. You can learn more at AusAlert: children and teens. Information is also available in other languages.

For more information, please refer to the Staying safe with AusAlert page.

Hats

In news which will thrill everyone, August 1st will mark the return of wearing hats during recess, lunch or any extended time outside. In line with our Sun Protection policy, hats need to be worn between August and April. Next week will be the last hat free week of the year. 

Junior Concert Rehearsals Are Underway!

Excitement is building as preparations for our Prep–2 Space Jammin' Concert are officially underway!

Our students have begun rehearsing with the talented instructors from Footsteps Dance Company, and it has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, energy and confidence grow with each session. Every class is learning a unique dance that will be showcased as part of our exciting concert, and students have eagerly embraced the opportunity to move, perform and work together.

The rehearsal sessions have been filled with smiles, laughter and plenty of dancing as students develop their choreography, practise their performance skills and build confidence on stage. It has been fantastic to see everyone giving their best effort while having so much fun.

There is still plenty of work to do before our performance in September, but we are already looking forward to seeing our young performers light up the stage in our Space Jammin' Concert. Families are in for a spectacular evening of entertainment!

We can't wait to share this exciting performance with our school community!

Ms Jespersen

Our Grade One students have done a wonderful job of settling back into school for Term Three. This term our Connected Learning topic is Stimulating Science where students are focused on investigating and understanding the living and physical world through hands-on experiences.

Some of other the things we have been doing in Grade One include:

• Revising previously learned sounds in phonics including oi/oy words
• Learning what homophones are
• Focusing on writing interesting sentences with correct punctuation and structure
• Learning how to identify nouns, verbs and adjectives
• Practicing reading strategies such as visualising and checking for meaning in our reading
• Identifying different patterns, including repeating and growing patterns
• Investigating different 2D shapes and their features
• Practising our awesome skipping skills in the courtyard for the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser

Every week the Grade Ones also focus on Respectful Relationships which help them to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to build positive relationships amongst their peers. They practice important skills such as communicating respectfully, building resilience and how to solve problems peacefully.

Please see below for ivitations to 2 Murnong First People's Gathering Place events and a Parenting after separaion webinar.

Murnong First People's Gathering Place would like to invite members of the Ashburton Primary School community to these two events at Murong on Friday 31st July:

Community BBQ at Murnong First People's Gathering Place  100 High Street Glen Iris - adjacent to St Oswald's Church 

Join us at Murnong as we celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026 with a relaxed Community BBQ, marking this year's theme, "50 Years of Deadly."

Bring your family and friends to enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner, share a yarn, and connect with community, Country, and culture in a warm and welcoming environment. Everyone is invited to come together to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Community BBQ is held before our "Keep the Fires Burning" fundraising event later that evening. You're welcome to attend the BBQ on its own—there is absolutely no expectation to participate in the overnight sleep-out.

In recognition of the enduring culture, knowledge, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families are invited to attend free of charge.

Non-Indigenous guests are warmly welcomed and invited to purchase a $15 ticket, with all proceeds contributing to the cost of the BBQ and helping Murnong Gathering Place continue to create opportunities for community connection and cultural celebration. All children under 16 are invited free of charge.

BBQ dinner will include BBQ'd meat, salads, rolls, and soft drinks, with vegetarian options available. Please indicate your dietary requirements following checkout.

Murnong Gathering Place is wheelchair accessible, and has a disability-equipped toilet. There is a disabled parking space in the adjacent small car park. The driveway in front of the entrance can be used to drop off passengers, but vehicles cannot be left in the driveway.

To purchase tickets please follow the link below:

https://events.humanitix.com/naidoc-community-bbq-at-murnong/tickets

Keep the Fires Burning 

Join Uncle Glenn at Murnong’s annual sleepout to Keep the Fires Burning. Murnong welcomes mob, allies and accomplices to sleepout in our Wominjeka Garden. This event is about sharing stories and building connections, as well as raising funds to implement programs for our community. Share the fire, yarn, and hopefully catch a little sleep as well! Sleepers commit to raising $150. People not staying overnight can support Uncle Glenn’s sleepout by sponsoring him via the Humanitix link below.

https://events.humanitix.com/keep-the-fires-burning-murnong-s-sleepout

Parenting after separation webinar

Journey to Discovery 

Year 5 has kicked off our new Science unit by exploring the different branches of science and discovering how scientific investigations and inventions can sometimes lead to unexpected discoveries. Students were fascinated to learn about everyday items that were discovered accidentally, including Play-Doh, X-rays, microwaves and sticky notes. We also explored how the tilt of the Earth affects the amount of daylight we experience and contributes to the changing seasons.

Jump off

Year 5 students enjoyed the rare winter sunshine with their Prep buddies during the Jump Rope for Heart Jump Off! They demonstrated their skipping skills, helped their buddies learn to skip and supported them in furthering their skills through fun activities such as big rope and snake. It was wonderful to see the students encouraging one another, building friendships and enjoying being active together.

Literacy 

We have begun reading and analysing our class novel, We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly. Students have been exploring the characters' behaviour, motivations and relationships, discussing how their actions and choices reveal their personalities and influence the story. Alongside our novel study, students have also been developing their procedural writing skills by examining and critiquing the features of effective procedures, including clear sequencing, precise language and action verbs

Numeracy

In Numeracy, students have been exploring numerical data and developing their understanding of decimals. They have been building on their existing knowledge of place value and using this understanding to read, compare and represent decimal numbers in different ways.

The Year 3s have had a great time at school, both this fortnight and in the last week of Term 2. 

In the last week of last term, we finished up our electives and cooked, played sport, created art, were mindful and watched experiments. We were also very fortunate to listen to the author of our novel study ‘Brindabella’, Ursula Dubosarsky, via Zoom. She told us about growing up, how she became an author and all her different books. Special thanks Miss T for helping us out with your magical connections, the kids really loved listening to a real life author and from this feedback, she had a ball with us too!

"That was delightful - the children were just lovely - and so well-behaved! Great questions too.”  - Ursula Dubosarsky

So far this term, in reading, we have started a literature focus where we are responding to texts. We have all been split into groups and we have a book that we are studying. Each lesson, we read an allotted amount of pages and then discuss themes such as characters, settings and events. We are finding this very enjoyable and look forward to continuing.

In Writing, we are beginning our focus on informative texts. So far this term, we have looked at the types of informative texts and their structure. We have also looked at the difference between a fact and an opinion and which type we would generally find in an information text.

Our Connected Learning topic this term is Science Challenge. This week, we discussed the concept of discovery. We thought about the importance of discoveries and how things are made and all the things that were required to make things like cars, bridges, laptops, schools, cars and supermarkets.

In Maths, we started the topic of fractions. We have been working with halves, quarters, fifths and tenths.

We can’t wait to continue to do our best and learn more this term.

Welcoming Future Learners to CHS

Camberwell High School is pleased to welcome once again Grade 4 students from local primary schools to participate in our annual Master Class Series during Term 3.

The program has become a valued opportunity for young learners to experience life at CHS through a range of engaging, hands-on learning activities. Students can choose from seven Master Classes across English, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education, Digital Technologies, Music and Drama, providing opportunities to explore new interests, build confidence and experience learning in a secondary school environment.

Beyond the learning itself, the Master Class Series reflects CHS's commitment to supporting students as they grow and develop. By introducing younger students to new experiences and opportunities, we aim to foster curiosity, encourage participation and help students discover strengths and passions that may shape their future learning journeys.

The program also highlights the important role our student leaders play in welcoming and supporting younger learners. Through these interactions, Grade 4 students gain a sense of the inclusive and supportive culture that is central to life at CHS.

We are proud of the strong relationships we share with local primary schools and families and look forward to welcoming many enthusiastic young learners to our campus throughout the term.

Classes are complimentary to current Grade 4 students only. A maximum of 2 sessions only per student. Places are limited, and bookings are essential. 

Registrations are now open. Visit camhigh.vic.edu.au/grade-4-masterclasses

If you have any questions or would like further information, please email marketing@camhigh.vic.edu.au.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support of opportunities for students within our community.

Kind regards,

Camberwell High School

Consent: For Kids (Suited for middle /upper primary)

As part of our Respectful Relationships Book Share!

This book is a  humorous and insightful introduction to consent, acting as an entertaining, empowering guide for kids and families everywhere.

Consent doesn't need to be confusing. From setting boundaries, to reflecting on your own behaviour and learning how to be an awesome bystander, this book will have you feeling confident, respected, and 100% in charge of yourself and your body.

Click to watch a  Short clip by the author.

Come in to the office to get the correct size, then order through Compass

July UPDATE 

We have already raised over $6000 for heart research! Well done everyone! Fundraising closes this weekend, so there's a few more days to bump up our total!

By participating in Jump Rope for Heart this term, I’m expecting to get our students moving. We’ll have skipping ropes available on the school grounds and are encouraging everyone to help raise funds for lifesaving research and support programs. 

Over the coming weeks your child will learn new skills, increase their physical activity, and learn about heart health. And the program will end with our school wide ‘Jump Off Day’ on <insert date of Jump Off Day> where your child gets to show off their new skipping skills to their friends. 

When you register your child online, you’ll get access to additional skipping resources to help give your child a great reason to get away from the screens and get outdoors. Register and create your own secure webpage at www.jumprope.org.au/parents.  

By signing up online, you and your child/ren can: 

• Easily raise funds online.
• Track skipping skills progress and earn virtual badges along the way.
•  
• Post updates to your page so family and friends can follow their progress.
• Access additional skipping resources.

Your child should have a ‘Parent and Guardian Guide’ flyer to take home, which includes further information on the program. If you didn’t receive this, visit www.jumprope.org.au/parents for all the information that you need.

Thank you for getting involved in Jump Rope for Heart!

Yours sincerely,

Dean Worlley
PE Teacher

Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator