Dear QPS Families,
Welcome back to Term 4! I hope all our students and families enjoyed a wonderful school holiday break, with opportunities to relax, recharge and spend quality time together.
I cannot begin to express how delighted I am to be back at Queenscliff Primary School after spending Term 3 as Acting Principal at Leopold Primary School. The first two weeks back at QPS have been incredibly special, and it has been such a joy to reconnect with our students, staff and families.
From the moment I walked through the school door on the first morning, I was reminded of just how much I had missed this wonderful place. Whether it has been the enthusiastic greetings from students in the yard, conversations with families at drop-off and pick-up, visiting classrooms or simply catching up with our incredible staff, it has been a wonderful reminder of what makes QPS so special.
One of the things that has particularly struck me is just how much our students have grown over the past term! Some have certainly grown a few centimetres taller, but what has impressed me even more is the growth I have observed in their learning, confidence, independence and academic achievement. Visiting classrooms and seeing students proudly share their learning, explain new concepts and demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have developed has been a real highlight of my return.
My time at Leopold Primary School was an incredibly valuable professional learning experience. Leading a larger school community provided me with opportunities to broaden my leadership experience, learn from different approaches and perspectives, and reflect on the practices that contribute to successful schools.
Importantly, the experience has also given me an even greater sense of perspective and gratitude for what we have here at Queenscliff Primary School. Being away has reinforced just how special our school community truly is. There is something quite unique about QPS…the genuine relationships between students, staff and families, the way we look after one another, the high level of commitment and dedication our teachers and education support staff show each and every day, as well as the strong sense of belonging and connection that exists for students, staff and families.
QPS is much more than a school. It is a community with an enormous heart, and it is a place I feel incredibly fortunate and proud to lead.
I would also like to extend a very special and sincere thank you to Sarah Jeffreys, who stepped into the role of Acting Principal at QPS throughout Term 3. Sarah led our school with tremendous care, compassion, professionalism and dedication, ensuring that our students, staff and families continued to feel supported and that our school's vision and priorities remained at the forefront of everything we do. I am incredibly grateful for Sarah's leadership, her commitment to our community and the thoughtful handover she provided as I returned to QPS.
It has been fantastic to see our students settle so positively into the new term. Across the school, classrooms have quickly returned to their familiar learning routines, with students demonstrating enthusiasm, focus and a commitment to their learning.
Term 4 is always an exciting and busy time in schools. While there are many wonderful events, celebrations and opportunities ahead including Year 3-6 Nippers Program, excursions, Prep 2027 Transitions, End of Year Christmas Picnic and Year 6 Graduation, our priority remains firmly focused on high-quality teaching, student learning and wellbeing. Maintaining consistent routines, high expectations and purposeful learning experiences is particularly important as we approach the end of the school year.
Nature Play Space
Exciting things are happening at QPS! Construction of our much-anticipated Nature Play Space commenced over the Spring school holiday break, and it has been wonderful to watch our vision gradually come to life over the past four weeks. Each week has brought exciting new developments, with winding pathways, pole mazes, sandpits and natural rock creek beds beginning to transform the space into an engaging and adventurous outdoor environment for our students to explore, discover and enjoy.
One of the most spectacular features is our incredible Bunjil sculpture, which will take pride of place at the heart of the Nature Play Space. Bunjil, the ancestral creator spirit of the Wadawurrung People, will be a significant and meaningful feature of this special space, celebrating our connection to Country and providing opportunities for students to deepen their understanding and appreciation of First Nations culture.
It has been fantastic to see the excitement and curiosity of our students as they watch the construction progress. We are incredibly excited about the opportunities this space will provide for imaginative play, exploration, creativity, physical development and connection with the natural environment.
While construction is underway, we remind all students and families that the taped-off construction areas are strictly out of bounds. These restrictions are in place to ensure everyone's safety while contractors complete their work.
For students who ride their bikes or scooters to school, please continue to access the bike storage area through the side gates. Once bikes and scooters have been safely stored, students are asked to enter the school grounds via the entrance near the school office, rather than walking through the construction area.
Nature Play Space Working Bee
Later this term, we will be inviting our QPS students and families to roll up their sleeves and join us for a special community planting working bee!Together, we will help bring the finishing touches to our Nature Play Space by planting a variety of native shrubs, grasses and trees. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our school community to contribute directly to the creation of a space that will be enjoyed by QPS students for many years to come.
Further details, including dates and opportunities to volunteer, will be shared with families in the coming weeks.
School Council Trivia
A very special thank you to our wonderful School Council for organising the upcoming QPS Trivia Night, taking place on Friday 23 October at 360Q!
We warmly invite all QPS parents, carers and families to join us for what promises to be a fantastic evening of trivia, laughter, friendly competition and, most importantly, connection!
At QPS, one of our greatest strengths is the wonderful sense of community that exists between our students, staff and families. Events such as our Trivia Night provide a valuable opportunity to strengthen these connections beyond the classroom and school gates. It is a chance to catch up with familiar faces, spend time with friends, welcome new families and build new friendships with others across our school community.
A heartfelt thank you to our School Council members for the time, energy and effort they have invested in bringing this event together. Your commitment to strengthening our school community is greatly appreciated.
There are only 6 tables left - so get in quickly!
Term 3 Footy Day
On Friday 18 September, our wonderful Year 3/4 parents organised and hosted a sausage sizzle fundraiser as part of our QPS Footy Day celebrations. Thanks to the generosity of our families, local businesses and wider school community, the event was a tremendous success!
We are delighted to share that the fundraiser raised an impressive $876.43, with all proceeds going directly towards the development of our exciting new Nature Play Space.
A very special thank you to our dedicated Year 3/4 parents who generously volunteered their time to organise and run the sausage sizzle. Your enthusiasm, hard work and commitment to supporting our school are greatly appreciated!
We would also like to extend a HUGE thank you to the following local businesses for their generous donations and support:
Pretty's Prime Cuts
Bakers Delight Kingston Village
Woolworths Kingston Village
Woolworths Ocean Grove
Coles Ocean Grove
The generosity of these businesses highlights the wonderful community spirit that makes QPS such a special place.
With construction of our Nature Play Space now underway, our students are eagerly watching their new playground take shape. It is wonderful to see our school community coming together to help bring this exciting project to life!
We encourage our QPS families to support these fantastic local businesses and thank them for their generosity the next time you visit.
Student Leadership 2027
Our Year 5 students are currently considering if they wish to apply for Student Leadership positions in 2027, including School Leader and House Leader positions. If students wish to be a candidate for a position, they are to submit a written application to the school office by Friday 23rd October. Submissions will be reviewed, and then interviews will be organised for Monday 9 November. A timeline of the leadership process and key information was provided to all Year 5 students at the end of Week 1 of this term.
Nherrin Boor Woork - Bird Bath
Throughout Terms 2 and 3, students enthusiastically participated in the Nherrin Boor Woork Challenge, raising funds through sponsorship to support the installation of a beautiful bronze bird bath at the front of our school. Students took on the challenge by committing to reading more or riding or scootering to school. As a fun way to celebrate their efforts, students will have the opportunity at our Week 3 assembly to give their teachers, including me, an ice bucket challenge. We are certainly looking forward to this exciting event!
In Term 3, a selection of students had the wonderful opportunity to meet Will from Willie Wildlife Sculptures, a talented bronze sculptor. Students learnt about his craft and the process of creating bronze sculptures, as well as viewing his impressive collection showcased at the HIVE Gallery in Ocean Grove. We are excited to share that a bronze bird bath, featuring willie wagtail birds, will be installed at the front of our school over the coming weeks. Students selected this design because it represents collaboration, teamwork and the strong connections within our school community. The willie wagtails symbolise the special relationships shared between students, staff and families, reflecting the collective spirit that makes our school such a connected and welcoming place.
Year 3-6 Nippers Program
The Year 3-6 Nippers Program will commence on Friday 6 November. Key information regarding the Nipper Program, including what students are required to wear and bring with them to the beach, has been uploaded to Compass for parents to review. Student participation in the Nipper Program is optional. The Year 3-6 Nipper Program will run for 5 days on Friday 6 November, 13 November, 20 November, 27 November and 4 December. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Mrs. Melissa Fitzgerald at melissa.fitzgerald2@education.vic.gov.au . A briefing will be held with all volunteers prior to the Nipper program commencing.
2027 Transition Day - Week 10
On Tuesday 8 December 2026, students will participate in a Transition Day. This will involve your child spending time in their new classroom with their new class for 2027 and they will meet their new class teacher. The transition session will occur from 9:00am until 1:30pm. The Transition Day aims to reduce your child’s anxieties and worries about the commencement of school in 2027 in knowing more about their class and teacher for the following year. Students will participate in a range of activities throughout Transition Day including 'getting to know you' tasks, team building initiatives and developing classroom expectations and agreements for 2027. Students will receive a letter from their teacher and will have an opportunity to write a letter to their new teacher to tell them about themselves, how they learn best, strengths and their interests. After lunch, students will resume back in their current classes for the remainder of the day. Our new 2027 Prep Class will be connected with a Year 5 student who will be their Year 6 Buddy in 2027. Students will be informed of their class and teacher for 2027 prior to the Transition Day on Tuesday 8 December.
Class Placements for 2027
This leads me to describe the process by which students are assigned to classes. The decision as to which class a student is assigned is based on academic, social, and behavioural considerations, friendships and discouraging combinations of students who do not work well together. The process is thorough, as we are committed to making it work for each student, based on what we know of them in our school setting. We want all our classes to be balanced academically, socially and behaviourally to achieve optimal learning conditions for all students.
All students will have an opportunity to nominate preferences of peers they would like to have in their class in 2027. We will ensure your child has more than one peer preference in their class next year.
While we are not in the business of having parents choose their child’s teacher, if you have a legitimate and compelling concern about class allocation for your child or would like to provide further information about your child that you feel would be useful for our school to know when forming classes for 2027, please ensure that this information is emailed directly to the Principal by Friday 6 November 2026 at Mathew.mcrae@education.vic.gov.au .
Parents and carers are encouraged to refer to our School’s Class Placement Policy for further information. There will be no changes made to student placements in classes for 2027 after classes are announced prior to Transition Day. Our school deeply considers every child’s academic, social, emotional needs whilst ensuring classes are balanced with learning needs, personalities and dynamics to optimise learning for all. As a small school, we are limited with options due to the number of students enrolled at the school.
Our Growth Mindset Yeti Winners!
Congratulations to Mason and Frida, the winners of our ‘Growth Mindset Yeti’ competition! We were so impressed by the creativity and effort shown in all student entries. Thank you to everyone who took part! We’re excited to begin our growth mindset journey at QPS. Our Yeti will visit the tables of students who demonstrate a growth mindset by embracing challenges, learning from mistakes, trying new strategies and persevering when things get tricky.
We look forward to celebrating the many ways our students grow as learners!
Assessment and Reporting
The Department of Education has updated its student reporting policy to support a more consistent statewide approach to reporting student achievement and progress. The changes are intended to make reports clearer for parents and easier for teachers to prepare. Where comments are used, they provide plain English information about what a student has learned, and the progress they have made. The updated approach will also improve the consistency of information shared when students move between schools, particularly from primary to secondary school.
What's changing in our reports for Semester 2:
Your child's report will illustrate their progress and achievements in each learning area, showing:
your child's achievement level in each learning area for that semester. This will be rated against a 5-point scale.
their progress since the last report
A brief summary comment from your child’s classroom teacher
A general rating of your child’s effort and behaviour in all subject areas, including Specialists
Our school reports will now only have one teacher comment outlining students academic achievement and progress, learning behaviours and social development. Comments will no longer be provided in the report from Specialist Teachers. All primary schools across Victoria are required to update their Student Reports to align with the new policy.
Parents are encouraged to review the updated Department’s Assessment and Reporting Policy for further information.
Arrival and Departure Times
A reminder that school commences at 8:50am, with music beginning at 8:47am. Students are expected to arrive between 8:30am and 8:47am each morning.
Arriving on time allows students to settle into the day, connect with their peers and enjoy time playing in the yard before learning begins. It also helps ensure they are ready to learn and make the most of every opportunity throughout the school day.
Thank you for your support in establishing positive morning routines and ensuring all students have the best possible start to their day of learning.
Parent Supervision Before and After School
A friendly reminder that teacher supervision begins at 8:30am, with a teacher on yard duty from this time. Students should not arrive at school before 8:30am unless they are accompanied and supervised by a parent or carer. This helps ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students before the school day begins.
School concludes at 3:00pm. Families are welcome to remain on school grounds after this time to connect with one another, while students enjoy playing on the equipment or oval. However, please remember that teacher supervision finishes at 3:00pm. Parents and carers who remain on school grounds after this time are responsible for actively supervising their children to ensure their safety and appropriate use of school facilities.
We appreciate your support and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for all members of our school community.
Parent Payments for 2027
Stationery Orders
Information regarding book packs and parent payments for 2027 will be sent out to families in the coming week. We encourage families to look out for this information on Compass. This includes details for stationery and book packs, curriculum and other contributions. All parent payments will be undertaken through the WINC portal as done last year for the 2026 school year.
In order for our school to offer quality resources and equipment for our specialist programs and other educational programs, we require support from our parent community through Parent Payments for 2027 under ‘Curriculum’ and ‘Other Contributions’. The outline for each area of the Parent Payments will be provided for each year level. Parent Payments make a significant contribution to supporting the success of educational programs, building and grounds improvements, administration and wellbeing supports for students.
WINC are offering free delivery to families’ home addresses if your order is over $60 and completed through the WINC portal by 5th December 2025. All orders after this date will be required to pay a delivery fee of $12.95.
Students are required to bring their stationery book pack supplies to school on their first day, Friday 29 January 2027. Please do not label individual books, stationery items, including pencils, sharpeners, whiteboard markers and rubbers. Families are requested to send their Stationery Packs in with their child on the first day of school in 2027.
There will be Curriculum Days (student free days) on Wednesday 27 January and Thursday 28 January 2027.
For families experiencing financial difficulties, we encourage you to contact the school via phone or email - queenscliff.ps@education.vi.gov.au for further assistance with a payment plan. In addition to this, some families may wish to setup payments for the Curriculum and Other Contributions on Compass to be paid in 2027.
Class Reps Meeting
I look forward to meeting with our Class Reps next Thursday 22 October 2026 at 9:30am. Families are encouraged to get in contact with their Class Representative over the coming week if there is anything they wished to be shared at this meeting.
Assembly
We invite families to attend our first assembly for Term 4 on Friday 23 October at 9:00am. We will have class showcases from Prep, 3/4H and 5/6T. Also, we will have the Nherrin Boor Woork Celebration of teachers being ‘iced’ by students. Parents, carers and community members are invited to join us for this celebration.
School Council
Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Monday 19th October 2026. If you have correspondence or feedback you would like to provide to the School Council, parents and carers are invited to email our School Council President, Daniela Sayegh at daniela.sayegh@education.vic.gov.au .
It is an absolute delight to be back at Queenscliff Primary School, reconnecting with our wonderful students, staff and families, and I look forward to an exciting and rewarding Term 4 together.
Nyatne baa Gobata
(Thank you and take care)
Mat McRae
Principal
