Playground

Those with observant eyes would have noticed the workers are back on the playground! We have managed to secure our third contractor for the site and they have re-started work this week. Jono, the site manager previously, is back with the new group which means that the original vision can be translated to the new company, We expect work to conclude in 3-4 weeks, but I have learned to not take anything to the bank yet!

Getting to Know You

Next week we kick off the Getting to Know You meetings before and after school. It's a chance for you to put a face to the name of your child's teacher, and most importantly, create a strong home-school relationship. It's a time for you to pass on any important information to your child's teacher - about how they learn, about their home situation, important recent events. Please remember these are in ten minute windows and we need to keep to time (so you won't be waiting!). 

Term 1's GTKY meetings are an official meeting period, but you can always schedule a meeting with a teacher if the need arises (and indeed they may reach out to make one with you). The best way to organise a meeting is by sending the teacher a Compass Connect message. This is the internal messaging system in Compass. Trying to have a meeting by arriving on the doorstep of the classroom is tricky, as teachers are often not able to give you the time needed. By arranging a time you are allowing the teacher to provide you with enough time for a deeper conversation.

Parents' Association

Thank you to those who headed into school Wednesday night for the Parents' Association Annual General Meeting. We are pleased to share the new office bearers for the new year 

President -Bec Bishop

Vice President - Kimbalie MacKenzie

Year Level Rep Coordinator - Nicola Edwards

Secretary - Prue Long  

They pick up on the wonderful multi year efforts of Paula Cheung and Yuen Fong who have carried the PA torch in such inspiring ways!

Welcome Back Ashy event

Don't forget to drop into our Welcome Back Ashy event next Wednesday, February 18th for the Lion Dance to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year and the second hand uniform sale. Students can also collect their free donut too! We thank Ash Howarth from Marshall White for supporting PA in the event.

2027 Prep School Tours start next week

It's that time already when we open the school up to next year's students. Prep School Tours for 2027 begin next week and continue on each week for the term. If you or someone you know have a 2027 Prep student, we invite you to book a time via this link. 

Welcome to our newest staff member

Next week our newest staff member will begin with us. Anne Schwarz will fill the Disability and Inclusion/Student Support role vacated by Mark Brisbane. Anne comes to use with many years experience as both a practising Speech Pathologist and working in the DI field at Port Phillip Specialist School. Welcome Anne!

School Council

This year we will have several parent positions needing to be filled for School Council. Soon we will be putting out a newsfeed seeking self nominations for a position. School Council meet twice a term, usually on site on Tuesdays 4.30-6pm. School Council is an important component of the governance of the school, ensuring the we are fiscally sound and following all of the protocols and policies as set out by the Department of Education.

The Year 5 students have settled in really well. All classes have been setting clear expectations for the year ahead and building positive learning routines.

The Year 5s have already been involved in a range of exciting experiences, including:

• Meeting their new Prep pals
• Participating in swimming trials
• Beginning interschool sport
• Enjoying their first library session
• Using geometric reasoning to build Winter Olympic villages with 3D shapes
• Starting our class novel, Wonder by R.J. Palacio
  
   

We all look forward to the many experiences and learning opportunities still to come for the rest of Term 1!

Brought to you by Parents' Association with support from the wonderful Ash Howarth and Marshall White

Welcome Back Ashy!

February 18th after school

Free donut for each student from Parents' Association

Lion Dance for Lunar New Year 3.45pm

Second hand uniform shop open to grab a bargain!

Term 1 is all about settling into Year 3, building confidence, and getting back into good learning routines. We’ll be focusing on helping students feel safe, supported and ready to give things a go, while stretching their thinking across all learning areas.

English

In reading, students will be learning how to check that what they’re reading makes sense, make predictions, ask questions, and talk about characters, settings and important events in stories. They’ll practise strategies like rereading and stopping to clarify when something doesn’t make sense.

In writing, we’ll start the term with narrative writing, where students create characters, settings and exciting story ideas. Later in the term, they’ll move into procedural writing, writing clear instructions linked to a hands-on class project. Spelling, handwriting, grammar and punctuation will be taught explicitly and practised regularly.

Mathematics

In maths, our big focus is place value (four-digit numbers and beyond) and building strong addition strategies. Students will also learn about time, measurement, space, and probability, with lots of opportunities to explain their thinking and solve problems in different ways. We’ll regularly revisit key skills to help learning stick.

Connected Learning & Wellbeing

Our Connected learning focus, The Game of Life, helps students explore who they are, how emotions work, and how to make positive choices. Through games, discussions and group tasks, students will practise teamwork, leadership and managing big feelings.

Learning Habits

Across the term, we’ll also be working on organisation, independence, and giving things a go even when they feel tricky. Students will practise reflecting on their learning and taking responsibility for themselves and their choices.

We’re excited for a busy and positive Term 1 in Year 3!

School Photos Friday 20th February

Pre-order your photo pack today! Don't forget to book in sibling photo order too!

The Year 1 students have settled in well to school life in the main building. They have been getting to know their classmates and teachers during our “Start Up Program” by participating in activities to learn about themselves and others as well as reviewing the expected behaviours at Ashburton Primary School. 

This week the students have begun their Term 1 units for all of their subject areas. They have been:

• Reviewing the Bb phoneme/grapheme and learning the rule for doubling the bb in the middle of words in Phonics.
• Writing recounts about their own experiences, including the who, what, where, when, why/feelings of the event during Writing lessons.
• Practising fluent reading and good reading behaviours in Reading lessons. 
• Collecting data using tally marks during Maths lessons. 
• Learning how to be self-managers when tackling small problems at school and identifying their strengths during their Connected lessons. 

The Edge Community Fund 2026 Giant Easter Raffle

At Ashburton Primary School, we value the strong partnerships we have built with community organisations. Through these partnerships, our students and families benefit from a connected network of care and opportunity that extends beyond the classroom. 

One of our key partnerships is with The Edge Community Fund. They generously provide us with funds that enable us to offer practical assistance and resources to families in need, supporting equity and inclusion. To learn more about The Edge Community Fund, see here.

Here's how we can support them! 

Buy your 2026 Easter Raffle tickets online at Trybooking. 

About

The Edge Community Fund supports vulnerable children and families in Ashburton, Ashwood, Chadstone and surrounds through its 2026 Raffle.
1st prize is a Giant Hamper worth over $1,000 donated by Ashburton Traders.
2nd Prize is Legal Advice valued at $750 donated by TBJ Law Ashburton.
3rd Prize is a Gardening Voucher valued at $400 donated by Lucas House and Garden.
4th Prize is an Easter Hamper valued at $250 donated by the Ashburton Village Traders.
Tickets are $2 each, 5 for $10 or 10 for $20. Drawn 3pm Thursday 2 April 2026 outside the Ashburton Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank.
Receipt and ticket nos will be issued.

Date

Thursday 2 April 2026 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM