Ashy Art Show

I want to share what a wonderful experience it was as I walked around  our first Ashy Art Show. It wasn't just being able to see children excitedly show their parents and relatives their various creative pieces, but the way they engaged their audience as they described their process - they were able to tell their parents how the piece came together. It really was a testament to their experience in Art over their schooling. There is a more expansive post on the Art Show here, but I want to take the time to thank a few people. Firstly, in addition to actually guiding the students in all those different techniques and stylers, Miss T was able to curate a collection of pieces from many thousands of examples so far this year. She ensured that every student's work was on display so no one missed out. We need to thank Paula and Yuen, our heads of PA, for their driving determination in making the event a success - they liaised with third parties to produce those wonderful year level pieces, as well as creating the merchandise, stocking the refreshment kiosk, putting up artwork and spending the whole day at school. Lastly, thank you to Ash Howarth of Marshall White for the generous donations to help support the event! We look forward to our next Ashy Art Show!

Changes to digital device use

You may have seen a story in the Herald Sun last week around changes to the use of digital devices in schools from 2027 - specifically around setting hard limits on daily use for Years 3-6 students (and "minimal" use for Prep to Year 2) as well as not starting ceasing BYOD program in the future. 

As background, our school has had a 1-1 Bring Your Own Device program using iPads in place since 2019 across Years 3-6. Our Prep to Year 2 classrooms employ class sets of iPads which are a shared resource. This program has always been an opt in one with any family not choosing to participate still have access to a school device on site. Despite it's optional nature, we had over 95% of students involved. Over the 7 years of the program, we have also been able to support families under financial hardship by sourcing devices for them to use at home too. 

Speaking with my teachers this week, they were able to say that there were very few instances where our senior students would have had a culminative total in any one day of over 90 minutes directly on their iPad. Even though these changes are not due to begin until the 2027 school year, we will be working under these time guidelines from next year. This includes the "minimal" time for Prep-Yr 2 which still needs further explanation for the Department. 

On a similar note, we were due to begin onboarding our current Year 2 students to join the 1-1 program in 2026. Although technically we could have continued, after discussion at School Council this week we have decided to not begin the program for Year 3s in 2026. Those in Years 4,5 and 6 next year will continue in the program if they wish. 

The Department of Education subsequently released advice to schools. Below is the information that they have released for families. 

From 2027, the Victorian Government is introducing changes to the use of digital devices for students from Prep to Grade 6. 

 Under the new guidelines, schools:

•  will no longer invite families to purchase or bring their own digital devices to use at school for Prep to Grade 6
• will follow new recommended digital device times, including minimal device time for Prep to Grade 2; and a maximum of 90 minutes per day for grades 3 to 6.

These changes are intended to support families by reducing cost-of-living pressures. They will also support students by reducing screen-time which can reduce the risk of eye strain, sedentary behaviour, and reduced peer interaction. These reforms complement Victoria’s nation-leading mobile phone restrictions, ensuring an integrated approach to addressing digital distraction and the inappropriate use of technology.

What this means for our school

 This means we will be ceasing our current BYOD program for Grades 2 and it will not commence in 2026 as previously scheduled.  Instead, we will provide class sets of digital devices for use by students. Students who are currently part of the BYOD program (currently in Years 3, 4 and 5)  will be able to continue to bring their devices to school, but we will be following the new recommended device use times.

 Students with disability who use a digital device as a reasonable adjustment are exempt from these changes. 

 These changes are intended to support families with cost-of-living pressures and reduce student screen time.

 You can read more about the changes on the department’s website: Digital Learning: Policy.

Meeting with Junior School Council

I met this week with members of the Junior School Council who presented me with their "Dream" plan for the yard, specifically the oval area. I was super impressed by the work they had done with Miss Reese over the year, giving up their lunchtimes to come up with ideas and research solutions and prices. 

Speaking with them, some of the main desires are new soccer goals, a new outdoor game called "9 Square", water taps and a new surface on the oval itself. Using some of the fundraising dollars, we are looking at being able to implement the new soccer goals and 9 Square ideas, hopefully before the end of the school year. 

World Teachers' Day

We celebrate our teachers today as part of World Teachers' Day! On World Teachers’ Day, we pause to acknowledge the vital role teachers play in shaping not just young minds, but our entire community. Our Ashburton Primary staff go above and beyond — supporting, guiding and inspiring our students every single day. We are deeply grateful for all that you do.

The "official" day is next Friday, but with that falling on the upcoming student free day the Parents' Association has been kind enough to supply a special morning tea offering today! Thank you to our Parent Association for their generosity. 

Student Free Day next Friday, October 31st

A reminder that next Friday, October 31st is a Student Free Day as staff are involved in Professional Practice Days. Some staff will be working onsite while others will be working off site on the day. Staff will be working on a range of tasks including report writing, assessments, professional development and completing mandatory and accredited courses. Team Kids will be open for a full day program in the hall. Monday, November 3rd is a NORMAL SCHOOL DAY. Tuesday, November 4th we will be closed for the Melbourne Cup public holiday.

What an incredible evening we had for our very first Ashy Art Show! The school was alive with colour, creativity and community spirit as students, families and friends came together to celebrate the amazing artistic talents of our Ashy students. Every classroom showcased beautiful and unique pieces of artwork, reflecting the imagination and effort our young artists have poured into their work this year.

A huge thank you to Yuen and Paula from the Parents Association for their outstanding organisation and dedication in bringing this event to life. From curating displays to managing logistics, your leadership and hard work made the Art Show a huge success.

We’d also like to acknowledge Miss T, whose passion and guidance in the art room have inspired such incredible creativity from our students. The diversity and quality of the artwork on display were a true credit to her vision and enthusiasm.

Special thanks to Ash Howarth from Marshall White for supporting the event, and to our wonderful parent helpers — Lachlan Couper, Neeranat, Lisa, Tania, Tegan, Emma Binks, Molly Young, Lauren King, Sue Pham, Henrietta, Shalika, and Kimbalie — for giving their time and energy to help make the exhibition such a success.

And of course, congratulations to all of our amazing student artists! Your work has filled our school with colour, pride and creativity.

Don’t forget — the seven collaborative art pieces are still up for auction here, and you can also purchase a special tea towel or tote bag here as a keepsake.
All the details are available on Compass.

Thank you to everyone who helped make our first Ashy Art Show such a vibrant celebration of art and community spirit!

It has been a jam packed start to Term 4 for Year 3!

We have already been on an excursion to Murnong Gallery and had an amazing visit with Glenn Loughrey. We are excited to be making our own clapping sticks and choreographing our own dances to tell a story this week.

In maths we have been learning about function machines and patterns. Ask us about our “Follow Freddy” mapping investigation and our “Picture Perfect Patterns”. We are working on our multiplicative thinking again this term, you can help your child at home by working on timetable fluency and recall. 

In English we have been learning how First Nations Australians tell stories in different and creative ways and developing our own characters and settings to create a storyboard to help tell a story. 

Some student highlights from the past 3 weeks are:

• Badminton in PE is fun
• Making flipbooks to make animations
• Willow pattern plates in art because I like the detail and colours
• Making clapsticks and using sandpaper
• Making crafts for Connected Learning
• Maths because I love division 
• Writing descriptive snapshots
• Making drawings with the Edison robots in STEM

Creativity on display in Year 1!

The year 1 students have settled back into the last term of the year beautifully. They are back and ready to do their best. So far this term, they have : 

• Focussed on the area of Location in Maths. They have given and followed directions, completed directed drawings and created obstacle courses for friends to complete. We then found a treasure map in the pod! A pirate had left a map and we had to follow the directions to find their treasure. When we found the jewels, we shared them equally and everyone got a sparkly jewel each.
• Also in Maths, we have been studying the area of 2 digit and 3 digit place value, answering questions such as 10 more than and 10 less than, as well numbers before and after.
• In Reading, we have been looking at narratives and the traits of the characters - or what makes them, them! Are they positive character traits or negative character traits and do they change through the story?
• In Writing, we are doing Narratives. We used a prompt picture of a beautiful, magical treehouse and we brainstormed as a group what a story using this picture might be about. We planned the story on a story mountain and wrote it out using our plan. 
• In Connected Learning, we are asked students to innovate on a product they already used. This was to create a better hat that had extra features like built-in sunscreen and also innovate on the design of a jacket that might have a heater inside it. We then did a ‘Gallery Walk’ and admired all our friends' designs. 

The Prep-2 Mini Olympics will be held on Friday 14th November from 2.00-3.30pm on the school oval.

 All children in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 can choose  to wear House Colours and runners on the day.

• Gurrng-gurrng:Green
• Gurrborra-Yellow
• Bunjil-Blue
• Warinj-Red

 To develop leadership skills the Year 6 students will be involved on the day to help run events.

 We will not require parent helpers for the Mini Olympics, however you are more than welcome to attend as a spectator. It would be fantastic to see as many spectators cheering on the students.

To purchase - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1489749

To purchase - https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1489749

This term, our Year 5 students have been busy. 

In Connected, students have started planning their Connected projects. They are learning how to design and promote a product. As part of their learning, students explored how businesses use logos, slogans and branding to attract an audience. They then took part in a fun Smoothie Making Incursion, where they created their own logos, brainstormed catchy slogans, and mixed up their own smoothies using a variety of fresh ingredients. The students loved getting to taste their delicious smoothies. 

We had our first Prep Pals session for Term 4, and everyone was so excited to see each other again! The Year 5 students modelled how to use iPads safely and introduced the preps to Book Creator. Working together, each pair wrote a story about one another—some turned theirs into comic books, while others created picture books. It was wonderful to see the teamwork, creativity, and the Year 5s showing such patience and responsibility while supporting their prep pals.

In Reading and Writing, students have been exploring the visual elements that authors and illustrators use in picture books to help tell a story. They are now planning and creating their very own picture story books, writing their own stories and illustrating them with care and creativity. It’s been wonderful to see their ideas coming to life. 

We look forward to the rest of Term 4!

Changes to the crossing at Welfare Parade

The City of Boroondara advises that, following road safety concerns raised by the community, a submission was made to the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP, formerly VicRoads) and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) under the Safe Local Roads and Streets Program. This submission was successful in securing funding to upgrade the existing Welfare Parade children's crossing to a raised pedestrian zebra crossing.

A children's crossing is only effective when flags are displayed and at all other times, pedestrians do not have the priority. The children's crossing is used by pedestrians throughout the day to access the train station and shops.

The upgraded crossing will not only provide pedestrians with priority over vehicles at all times, but its raised flat-top design will also enhance pedestrian safety by slowing vehicle speeds.

The raised pedestrian crossing proposal essentially involves the following:

• Removal of the existing children crossing with crossing posts and stop line marking and construction of a pedestrian zebra crossing on a raised platform at the same location.
• Existing traffic slow point treatment to be retained.
• Pedestrian crossing signs and associated zebra crossing line marking.
• Removal of a redundant pram crossing south of the proposed raised crossing.
• Drainage improvements at the proposed raised crossing.
• Light upgrade at the proposed crossing in line with current standards, already completed.

With the new raised pedestrian crossing in place, a school crossing supervisor would no longer be needed.

Please note that the works are scheduled to be completed within the current financial year and a further notification will be provided prior to the commencement of the works.

To assist, please find attached the latest concept plan showing the location of the raised zebra crossing.