Dear parents and carers,

There has been so much great learning happening here at school over the past week for both our students and our teachers. Our work and professional learning has been centred around the implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0, particularly focussing on increasing our students’ opportunities to respond. By giving more students, the opportunity to respond evidence shows we increase student on task behaviour, increase academic/learning outcomes, makes learning visible in the classroom and allows for differentiation. Through our Professional Learning Communities, we will monitor the impact these practises have on both our teaching and learning. Staff are enjoying the opportunity to learn together, and students are loving the passion teachers are bringing into the classroom to enable learning.

We are also very fortunate to work in a great Network of schools. Over the next couple of weeks, the Leadership team will host Learning walks at Carrum PS as well as visit other high performing schools to share ideas and practises to further drive continual improvement at Carrum PS.

Today students participated in the Prime Minister Spelling Bee a nation-wide competition for Australian school children in years 3-8. Well done to all our students that signed up and had a go. It was a great opportunity to try something new and test their skills.

 Recently there have been students arriving at school well before the supervised times. Please be mindful that staff are not on duty at school until 8:45am and therefore there will be no supervision in the yard prior to this time. Students should not be at school unsupervised before this time. Team Kids run a terrific before school care program that can cater for students than require to be dropped off before 8:30am.

Secondly, we would appreciate if all families could take the chance to chat about bike safety at home if your child/ren are riding to school. When riding bikes on footpaths and near schools it is important students slow down. There have also been several students riding their bikes across the school crossing before and after school. This is extremely dangerous and when at a standard pedestrian crossing, riders should legally dismount and walk their bicycles across. Teachers will remind students of these rules and if you can also discuss the importance of bike safety at home, hopefully together we can keep our students safe.

Finally, our school is conducting the annual Parent / Carer Opinion Survey offered by the Department of Education and is seeking your feedback. The survey is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behavior, and student engagement. Our school will use the survey results to assist in identifying areas for improvement and professional development needs in the school, to target school planning and improvement strategies.

The Parent / Carer Opinion Survey will be open online from Monday 17 August to Friday 18 September 2026. Please keep an eye on Compass for further information.

Stay warm and safe everyone.

Cassie Kennedy

Cassie Kennedy

H5 Bird flu

Cases of H5 bird flu have been confirmed in birds across Australia, including in south-west Victoria.  

Our school has steps to follow if sick or dead birds are found at or near our school. 

If you see a sick or dead bird at or near the school, please let us know. If you find a sick or dead bird in the community, the advice from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is to:   

1. avoid contact and keep your distance 

1. record date, time, location and take photos 

1. report it to using an online form or through the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline: 1800 675 888. 

For current information about reporting, refer to DEECA’s H5 bird flu page. 

For more information, you can check out these bird flu resources from the Australian Government.  

We are also following precautions to help protect birds kept onsite at our school from bird flu. We are: 

• keeping feed and water away from wild birds  and encouraging students to eat before they go outside

• using netting, roofing or fencing where practical  

• wearing clean boots and clothes when entering poultry areas. 
• Reducing who access the Run B Run.

We're excited to be partnering with Boxxi for an exclusive school ordering program. Our wonderful Carrum PS families and community are being offered discounted pricing and free shipping on Boxxi Maths Kits - the perfect way to support numeracy skills through play.

Each kit includes 100+ hands-on maths resources and manipulatives, plus one full year of downloadable maths activities designed for primary school children. The activities take just 5-15 minutes and make it easy for families to support maths confidence at home.

For every 10 kits sold, our school will receive a free kit to use at school. Thanks for helping us build confidence in maths at CPS!

Orders can be placed through this compasstix link, and kits will be delivered to the school in late August/early September.

Please see the attached file for further information or reach out to Kathryn Kenner with any questions.

Poster competition

Theme

• This year’s poster competition theme is - ‘Water Heroes: Make Every Drop Count’

Key dates

• Entries close: 5pm, Friday 11 September 2026
• Winners will be announced during National Water Week, 19 - 25 October 2026

Entry conditions

• Poster size must be A4 or A3
• Any medium, from paper to digital, can be used
• Any art material and digital technology can be used, including paint, textas, crayons, coloured pencils, collage materials, original photographs and digital graphics
• Image files should be in .JPG, .PDF or .PNG formats
• Uploaded files are limited to 20MB
• For primary and secondary school aged children, group artwork will NOT be accepted (only one child per artwork)
• For early learning/kindergarten both individual entries and collaborative entries will be accepted
• Each child/student/collaborative group can only enter once

Originality requirement

• All entries must be the original work of the child/student(s)
• Artwork created wholly or partially using generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools will not be accepted
• Minor editing (e.g. scanning or cropping) is permitted
• By submitting an entry, participants confirm the work is their own

Local Community Events, things to try and Sports Clubs

Group Play Therapy Holiday Intensive

Monday 28 September – Friday 2 October 2026
1 hour per day for 5 days

Our Group Play Therapy Holiday Intensive is returning, offering children a fun and supportive space to build confidence, social skills and emotional wellbeing through play.

? Two locations:
• Balwyn North Clinic
• St Mark's Primary School, Dingley Village

$850 per child | Groups of up to 6 children and 3 therapists (2:1 ratio)

 Minecraft Therapy Groups

For young people aged 9–17

Following the successful launch of our Minecraft Groups last holidays, we're continuing to offer both Term Groups and Intensive Holiday Groups.

These small, therapist-led groups use Minecraft to support communication, teamwork, emotional regulation, confidence and connection.

Expressions of interest are open, and we'd love for you to share the flyer with anyone who may benefit.

Spaces are limited. To find out more or register your interest, simply reply to this email or give us a call.

    



Piano Dynamics – Patterson Lakes 

Don’t miss this opportunity!!!   Start your children’s musical education today.

What better way than to improve self-esteem and showcase your child’s development than through music.  For younger children, playing the piano helps develop listening skills as well as coordination. Piano also improves cognitive and intellectual abilities such as memory, reading and maths skills.  I  am offering an introductory half price lesson to all new students who wish to develop their musical skills.  Certified  exams also offered.   I am a fully qualified teacher who has extensive experience in teaching all ages and levels.
Ring me now to organise your  introductory half price lesson.

Carolyn Rossis                                                                                                                                                          
Dip of Ed and Grad Dip of Music Toorak                                                                                                                           
Current children’s check and accrediated member of VMTA                  www.pianodynmics.com.au    [email protected]                                                                         (m) 0409 131 961

Students of all ages are tutored in private one-to-one lessons. Children are taught in a positive and nurturing environment. The tuition sessions are designed according to the student’s individual needs, which are regularly evaluated and form part of ongoing assessment. I tailor to the needs of each student, which is delivered in a positive learning environment designed to foster self-esteem and motivate students to achieve their full potential.  Students with special needs are also catered for.

The core work covers the following:

READING: To develop Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency and Expanded Vocabulary.

WRITING: Examines the different genres and includes writing organisations for each genre, essay writing, spelling, punctuation, grammar and editing skills.

MATHEMATICS: Covers Numeracy & Algebra, Measurement & Geometry and Statistics & Probability

EXAM PREPARATIONS: These helps identify the student’s progress and help develop skills for NAPLAN, ICAS, scholarship and entrance exams

Carolyn Susan Rossis

Diploma of Education and Graduate Diploma of Music

Email:  [email protected]

Current children’s check and fully COVID vaccinated

(M) 0409 131 961