Telopea Topics No17 2025

REPORT FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

We have had an incredibly busy start to Term 4, and I am excited to know that the remainder of the year will pass by quickly, filled with concerts, ceremonies, orientations, and graduations.  We moved our Weekly Announcements to Friday mornings at 9.00am to be SunSmart and have jumped straight into camps, excursions, incursions, and the Year 2 Swimming Program.

Year 5 students have begun being our Messengers and are getting ready to step into the role of Kindergarten Buddies in preparation of being the 2026 leaders. We are working towards selecting our Primary student leadership for 2026 and I look forward to this wonderful opportunity to hear the voice, and learn the skills and expertise, our students possess. It is timely that I acknowledge the incredible leadership of our Primary School Captains and express my pleasure in having the opportunity to work with these accomplished young people throughout 2025.

There are several important events to mark in your calendar as I am sure that you will want to celebrate the learning that has occurred.

19th November Years K-3 and Years 4-6 Concerts
24th - 25th November Kindergarten 2026 Orientation visits
8th December Year 6 transition visit to Year 7 Telopea Park School
9th December Year 6 Fun Day
10th December K-6 Assembly
12th December K-6 Reports distributed 
15th December Year 6 Graduation
16th December Primary Awards Ceremony
18th December  Last day of Term 4

I would like to finish by extending a sincere thank you to our school community who continue to go above and beyond to support the students by the many things that you do including volunteering for reading programs, managing our lost property, supporting Wakakirri and accompanying excursions.  As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me, the Executive or your children’s classroom teachers for any support or information as we finish 2025 and get ready for 2026.  I look forward to continuing these partnerships and enjoying the rest of 2025 with you.

Kylie Louis

NOTES DE LA PRINCIPALE-ADJOINTE

Nous avons eu un début de quatrième trimestre particulièrement intense, et je sens déjà que le reste de l’année va filer à toute allure, entre concerts, cérémonies, journées d’accueil et remises de diplômes. Nous avons déplacé nos annonces hebdomadaires au vendredi matin à 9h00 pour suivre les recommandations du programme SunSmart, et nous avons directement plongé dans les camps, les sorties, les interventions à l’école et le programme de natation des élèves de CE2.

Les élèves de CM2 ont commencé à jouer le rôle de messagers et se préparent à devenir les parrains et marraines des élèves de maternelle, en vue de leur futur rôle de leaders à la prochaine rentrée 2026. Nous travaillons actuellement à la sélection des futurs représentants du primaire pour 2026, et j’ai hâte d’entendre leurs idées et de découvrir leurs talents et leurs compétences. C’est aussi l’occasion de saluer le travail remarquable de nos capitaines d’école et de dire combien j’ai eu plaisir à collaborer avec ces jeunes tout au long de l’année 2025.

Plusieurs dates importantes sont à noter dans vos agendas. Je suis sûre que vous aurez envie de venir célébrer les apprentissages et les réussites de vos enfants :

19 novembre : concerts des classes de Maternelle à CE2 et de CM1 à 6e
 24–25 novembre : journées d’accueil pour la maternelle 2026
 8 décembre : journée de transition des 6e vers la 5e au lycée franco-australien/ Telopea Park School
 9 décembre : journée Fun Day des 6e
 10 décembre : assemblée des classes de Maternelle à 6e
 12 décembre : remise des bulletins de Maternelle à 6e
 15 décembre : cérémonie de remise des diplômes des 6e
 16 décembre : cérémonie des récompenses du primaire
 18 décembre : dernier jour du trimestre

Pour finir, je tiens à remercier très sincèrement toute notre communauté scolaire. Vous êtes nombreux à vous investir pour nos élèves, que ce soit en animant des séances de lecture, en gérant les objets trouvés, en accompagnant les sorties ou en soutenant Wakakirri., ou en vous portant volontaire pour accompagner les sorties.  Comme toujours, n’hésitez pas à me contacter, ainsi que l’équipe de direction ou les enseignants, pour toute question ou besoin. Alors que nous terminons

Kylie Louis

PRIMARY NEWS

Year 6

Year 6 had an amazing two days on camp at Birrigai. The highlights were team building activities and crate climbing, a harness obstacle course, and learning to work cooperatively, depending on classmates and building trust with each other.

Parents and caregivers have an important role to play in children’s literacy development both before and after they start school.

The foundations of literacy – phonological awareness, vocabulary and oral language – begin to develop in the early years of life, before children begin formal reading instruction at school.

A child’s experiences and home environment during their early years of life have a strong and measurable effect on their literacy skills before they reach the classroom.

Many studies indicate that children’s emergent literacy skills significantly predict reading test scores in later years, reinforcing the importance of home environments on early literacy development and reading achievement.

Engaging children in play-based literacy activities encourages the development of phonological awareness, vocabulary and oral language, as well as other knowledge essential for learning to read. For example, playing word games, using rhymes to explore the sound structure of the English language, and teaching them about the alphabet, letter-sounds and print concepts through directed, play-based activities.

Parents can also enhance their children’s vocabulary and oral language through informal activities, such as providing access to books and educational toys, reading books together, and trips to the library or museums.

One of the most effective things parents can do is talk with their children, listening, and answering their questions.

Once children start school, parents continue to foster reading development by maintaining shared reading activities, ensuring children have reading material at the appropriate levels and following their progress.

The links in this section provide some examples of activities that are free, easily accessible and enjoyable. They have been carefully selected to reflect the highest quality, up-to-date research evidence on early literacy development. There is also advice for parents who are concerned about their child’s reading and language development.

Achieve the Core have published a useful graphic guide about how children learn to read. This document is suitable for reading with your child. Click here to access the guide.

SAVE THE DATE

Week 4- Monday- 3rd Nov- Year 5- MOAD excursion,  Friday 7 Nov- First Lego League 10am -3:15pm

Week 5- Epilepsy Day- 14th Nov

Week 6- 19th November School Concerts

Week 7- 25-26th Nov- Kindergarten 2026 Orientaton Visits

Week 8- Conseil de classe 6.1 Monday 1 Dec, 6.2 Wednesday 3 Dec, 6.3 Thursday 4 Dec

Week 9-K-6 Assembly Wednesday 9.15am Main hall, 12 December- Reports go home

Week 10- Monday 15 Dec Yr 6 Graduation, Tuesday 16th Dec- Awards Ceremony Years 3-5, Thursday 18th Dec Last day of the year

NOUVELLES DU PRIMAIRE

Classe de 6e
Les élèves de 6e ont passé deux journées extraordinaires au camp de Birrigai. Parmi les meilleurs moments : les activités d’esprit d’équipe, l’escalade de caisses, le parcours d’obstacles avec harnais et surtout, apprendre à coopérer, à compter les uns sur les autres et à se faire confiance

Les parents jouent un rôle essentiel dans le développement des compétences en lecture et en écriture, avant même l’entrée à l’école et bien après.

Les bases de la littératie - la conscience des sons, le vocabulaire et le langage oral - se développent dès les premières années de la vie, bien avant que les enfants ne commencent à lire à l’école.

Les expériences vécues et l’environnement familial dans les premières années ont une influence directe et mesurable sur les compétences en lecture et en langage avant l’entrée en classe.

De nombreuses recherches montrent que les enfants qui développent tôt ces compétences obtiennent de meilleurs résultats en lecture plus tard. Cela souligne à quel point le rôle des familles est crucial pour encourager la curiosité et le plaisir de lire.

Faire participer les enfants à des activités ludiques autour du langage favorise le développement de la conscience phonologique, du vocabulaire et du langage oral, ainsi que d’autres connaissances essentielles à l’apprentissage de la lecture. Par exemple, jouer avec les mots, utiliser des rimes pour explorer la structure sonore de la langue anglaise, ou leur faire découvrir l’alphabet, les sons des lettres et les principes de l’écrit à travers des jeux guidés et interactifs.

Les parents peuvent aussi nourrir le vocabulaire et le langage de leurs enfants simplement en lisant ensemble, en discutant, en se rendant à la bibliothèque ou un musée. 

L’un des gestes les plus puissants que les parents puissent faire, c’est de parler avec leurs enfants, de vraiment les écouter et de répondre à leurs questions.

Quand les enfants entrent à l’école, les parents gardent un rôle clé : continuer à lire avec eux, leur proposer des livres adaptés à leur niveau et suivre leurs progrès fait toute la différence.

The links in this section provide some examples of activities that are free, easily accessible and enjoyable. They have been carefully selected to reflect the highest quality, up-to-date research evidence on early literacy development. There is also advice for parents who are concerned about their child’s reading and language development.

Les liens ci-dessous proposent des idées d’activités gratuites, faciles à mettre en place et amusantes. Elles ont été choisies avec soin, en s’appuyant sur les recherches les plus récentes sur le développement de la lecture chez les jeunes enfants. Vous y trouverez aussi des conseils destinés aux parents qui se préoccupent du rythme d’apprentissage ou du langage de leur enfant.

Le site Achieve the Core a publié un guide visuel très clair sur la façon dont les enfants apprennent à lire , parfait à feuilleter et à découvrir ensemble. Cliquez ici pour le consulter.

À vos agendas !

Semaine 4:

Lundi 3 novembre : sortie des 5e au MOAD 

Vendredi 7 novembre : First Lego League de 10h à 15h15

Semaine 5:

Vendredi 14 novembre : Journée de sensibilisation à l’épilepsie

Semaine 6:

Mercredi 19 novembre : Concerts de l’école

Semaine 7:

Mardi 25 et mercredi 26 novembre : visites d’accueil pour les futurs élèves de maternelle 2026

Semaine 8:

Conseils de classe : 6.1 lundi 1er décembre, 6.2 mercredi 3 décembre, 6.3 jeudi 4 décembre

Semaine 9:

Assemblée des élèves de Maternelle à 6e, mercredi à 9h15 dans le hall principal

Vendredi 12 décembre : distribution des bulletins

Semaine 10:

Lundi 15 décembre : remise des diplômes des 6e

Mardi 16 décembre : cérémonie des récompenses du primaire pour les classes de CE2 à CM2

Jeudi 18 décembre : dernier jour de l’année.

SECONDARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH FACULTY

Wow, what a year it has been in Secondary Physical Education, Health and sport. The following is a wrap up of our activities in Semester 2.

Physical and Health Education – Mainstream classes

All students have settled well into their new PE & Health classes for the semester. This semester, mainstream classes commenced with their Dance units whilst the weather was cooler. All Year 7 students were actively engaged in their dance classes – and from all reports, really enjoyed being able to partner dance – Barn Dance and Mambo were some of the dances they learnt and enjoyed – as well as the Cha Cha Slide, Boot Scootin’ Boogie, Love a rainy night, High School Hop, Ghostbusters and many more. We were amazed by their commitment, skills and performances in both the movement composition units. Health units for semester two were Relationships and Sexuality (year 7), Alcohol, Drugs and Smoking (year 8) and Nutrition and Healthy Communities (years 9 & 10). Our year 7 students have also really enjoyed learning Pickleball – a fast-growing sport that is a combination of Tennis and Paddle tennis that we have recently introduced to our program.

Elective Classes

Fitness for Boys

Fitness for Boys students have been working well on improving their level of general fitness this semester. They have been productively involved in a variety of activities, which have tested their teamwork and resilience, whilst being physically active. Their visits to Club Lime on Wednesday mornings have been valuable and the class is making good progress on their strength and conditioning. Each student has been working on an individual gym program, challenging themselves to reach their SMART goal that they created at the start of the semester. The next few weeks will see the class revisit the Fitness Testing unit, where students will participate in a select group of fitness tests to see what improvements have been made over the last few months.

Fitness for Life

Fitness for Life students are currently in the middle of implementing their own fitness program and working toward their SMART goal. Students are attending the gym once a week and completing a school-based fitness session for one lesson a week. We have been very impressed with many of the programs so far.

Year 10 Outdoor Education

The Year 10 Outdoor Education elective are excitedly preparing for the upcoming Coast Camp based at Broulee, so far, the group has completed a unit of work on Initiative and Team Building Games, which required them to design and develop, in small teams, an activity to teach to their peers. As a result, there was some significant ingenuity and creative activities delivered. The end of Term 3 saw the first of many pool snorkelling sessions in preparation for the Australian Underwater Federation Pool Snorkel Award. These sessions were conducted at Civic Pool, whilst waiting for the opening of Manuka Pool. The class has been busily practising their snorkelling skills and working on their water fitness in preparation for our Coast Camp. This practical work has been combined with a classroom lesson each week, with a focus on the theoretical aspects of snorkelling, rips, currents, ocean awareness and basic first aid.

The Coast Camp will primarily include a selection of activities from snorkelling, surfing, swimming, fishing, beach games and night activities, with various locations used dependant on weather and swell conditions. The Coast Camp is being held from Wednesday 13 – Friday 15 November. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to consolidate their learning from their lessons in a supportive and encouraging environment. The attending staff are looking forward to the opportunity to work with the class.

The remaining weeks of Term 4 will involve students completing a reflection of the Coast Camp and a clean-up of the camping equipment. The last two weeks will be spent completing a unit of work on Archery at Montgomery Oval.

Year 9/10 Outdoor Education

The 9/10 Outdoor Education class has had a busy Semester 2, with a new group of students ready to step up to the challenge. The term started with the students completing their theory unit on the environmental impact of outdoor adventure activities and strategies that could be put in place to help preserve the natural environment and promote the concept of ‘Minimal Impact’. They enjoyed their cycling unit, making good use of the loan bikes.

After this the students were split into three teams to start our Initiative/Survivor Games unit where they had to work collaboratively and problem solve their way through a variety of cooperation, athletic and intellectual challenges. Through these activities teams were awarded points that they would need to ‘trade in’ for bonus items on camp.

Camp for the 9/10 Outdoor Education class went on camp last week, starting with some ice-breaker challenges and a nature bushwalk where students learnt about the local flora and how the area had been used by the Ngunnawal people. Students camped in tents on day 1, but on day 2 they worked together in their Survivor teams to gather equipment and brush up on the survival skills needed for the second night survival simulation. This involved teams building their own shelters and managing their campsite overnight. It is always a challenge for them, but one they rise to and ultimately enjoy (or appreciate). After a big breakfast cooked by the teachers, the last activity at camp was a High Ropes Element – the Giant Swing, where students were harnessed and raised almost 10m into the air, followed by a ‘relaxing’ swing out over the Birrigai valley.

STRIVE

STRIVE students have had a productive semester thus far. Excursions have had an emphasis in building skills in teamwork and included a laser tag excursion as well as some on-site team building and challenge activities. Students have recently taken time out of their busy schedules to complete their Service Projects. Some projects included bake sales for charity, coaching various teams, environmental clean ups and volunteering at the Red Cross and on a clothes drive, just to name a few.

Women in Sport

Women in Sport students have worked on the development of individual and team skills in both indoor and outdoor activities, with emphasis on game sense, teamwork, and social interaction. This semester the physical focus was on a range of sports and recreational activities including Floorball, Hockey, Badminton, European Handball, Archery, Netball and Basketball. Our health focus was on all topics concerning girls – and will culminate with a “Girls Health Expo” to be run in the next few weeks for our year 7 girls.

Sports Leadership

This term we have started putting our coaching theory into practice. On Friday afternoon’s we have been coaching our Primary School groups. This has provided the students with a very challenging, but also very rewarding experience. We helped out with a number of track and field carnivals and in theory lessons we are completing an online Inclusive Coaching Course.

Finally, if you have any questions about your child’s participation and progress in PE and Health or Sport, please feel free to contact myself or your child’s PE teacher.

Ski trips

This year we stretched our program to include 3 separate year group ski trip days, taking over 300 students to the snow! For the most part, the weather was great, the skiing was great, and the students and staff all had a fantastic day out. Many students had never experienced Snowsports before – and the one-day trips are a great way to give them a taste. All students participated in a morning lesson in their chosen Snowsport (skiing or snowboarding) then spent the remainder of the day cruising the slopes with their buddy and friends.

The 4:30am departure was early, but well worth it … and many of the students were already talking about “next year”. Thank you needs to be sent out to all the fabulous teachers who came along to help out- without their support the days could not go ahead. For those who missed out, or who might like to come along next year, we will advertise the dates and details in Term 2 2026.

SECONDARY SCHOOL SPORT – Term 4

Oztag – 3 teams participated in the Raiders Oz-tag day last week – they all had a great time and are looking forward to playing in teams outside of school with friends and building on their skills for next year.

Basketball – our 7/8 and 9/10 boys and girls are currently training hard for their respective competitions in Week 4 (boys) and week 5 (girls). We wish them luck.

COMMUNITY NEWS

P&C NEWS

OSHC consultation update - Q&A

As many of you will have seen, the P&C has been consulting with the school community regarding the future of the Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) program, with the proposal to transition its management to a professional provider. This is to ensure the long-term stability, compliance and sustainability of the service.

We have received passionate and thoughtful feedback from parents who deeply value the current service and its staff. This commitment and care are exactly what have made the OSHC so special for decades.

Below we have summarised some of the most common questions and concerns raised through the consultation to date.

1. What’s an OSHC, and who runs it anyway?

The Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) operates the before- and after-school care service, and the holiday program.  It is currently owned and managed by the Telopea Park School Parents and Citizens Association (TPS P&C) and supported by the school and the ACT and federal governments. The TPS P&C is a charity run by TPS parent volunteers.

      2. What is the challenge with parent volunteers running the OSHC?

In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to find enough volunteers with the time and expertise to meet the complex governance, regulatory, and financial requirements involved in overseeing the OHSC. Currently a huge amount of our P&C volunteer time goes into managing the OSHC instead of supporting other school community fundraising events. The impact of this was seen in the unfortunate cancellation of this year’s fête.

Additionally, there are potential conflict of interest concerns when parent volunteers manage a facility used by their own children or their children’s peers, despite the professionalism of the staff. For example, there may be issues related to confidentiality of sensitive information and incident response. 

      3. Is the OSHC performing poorly? Is that why this change is being considered?

No and no! The OSHC staff are fantastic and do an amazing job - we were recently awarded the highest rating by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).  The proposed change isn’t about performance or dissatisfaction with the program. It’s about the P&C’s capacity to keep up with the growing administrative, regulatory, and legal demands of running a childcare service.

     4. Who would pick the provider?

If the P&C hands over management of OSHC, the ACT Education Directorate will lead a transparent Expression of Interest (EOI) process to select a new, licensed provider.

     5. Would the OSHC team that we know, and love be kept on?

We know how valued our current educators are. There has been overwhelmingly positive feedback and support for the existing OHSC service staff. While final staffing decisions would rest with the selected provider, the P&C would strongly advocate for all current staff to be considered for employment. Other ACT schools that transitioned from P&C-run to external providers have successfully retained most, if not all, of their existing teams (e.g. Aranda school). Continuity for children and families will be a key priority.

      6. Does the OHSC generate an income for the school, and would this be lost if we outsource?

The profit made by the OHSC varies year on year – sometimes it makes a profit and every effort is made to reinvest this back into the OSHC service and the school. Any OHSC profits would therefore be lost if the service is managed by an external provider, but it would mean that the P&C could refocus its energies on other school and community fundraising and events which generate a profit for the school.

    7. Why is outsourcing being considered the safer option?

Running an OSHC is like managing a large-scale childcare business, subject to strict legal and regulatory obligations. As scrutiny of the sector increases these obligations become ever more important. The risks and workload involved are significant and best managed by an organisation with professional systems, insurance, and compliance structures — rather than by a small team of rotating volunteers.

For this reason, the ACT P&C Association does not recommend that P&Cs directly run or manage OSHC programs (see page 62 in this document: PCInformationSheets.pdf).

     8. Would an outsourced model be less flexible and tailored?

Some feedback received expresses concern that an external service provider would not be able to provide a flexible tailored service as we currently have. This would not necessarily be true and any special requirements could be included in contract negotiations.

    9. What if a new group of parent volunteer to run the OHSC?

The model of a new group of parents running the OHSC would only be a viable option if a significant number of parents with appropriate governance, financial, and management skills made a long-term commitment (ideally several years) to sharing the operational workload. Without this, the service would not be sustainable.

    10. What happens next?

Consultation will run until Sunday 2 November. Please send feedback to secretary@telopeapnc.org.au. A summary of feedback and next steps will be presented at the open P&C meeting on Wed 5 November, after which the committee will decide on the best path forward for the school community.

A French translation of this FAQ can be provided if you contact the school:  telopea.enquiry@ed.act.edu.au 

Meeting link:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZjZmYjQwYjctZjdlMi00ZGE0LThlZmMtZDg0MmI5OGI3YmY4%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ffa4151d-e4bb-4d45-b345-e4062df35016%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2212ceef04-1542-4dac-9aa8-e9f42ea9cf47%22%7d

Comité des Parents et Citoyens (P&C)

Lien pour la réunion :

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZjZmYjQwYjctZjdlMi00ZGE0LThlZmMtZDg0MmI5OGI3YmY4%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ffa4151d-e4bb-4d45-b345-e4062df35016%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2212ceef04-1542-4dac-9aa8-e9f42ea9cf47%22%7d

HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING?COMMENT SOUTENIR VOTRE ÉCOLE SANS EFFORT ?

Rebel Sport – Nominate Telopea at the checkout or on your Rebel loyalty card. The school will earn credits to obtain sporting goods from your purchases. 

Désignez Telopea à la caisse ou sur votre carte de fidélité Rebel et l’école recevra des crédits envers des équipements de sport.

Athletes Foot – Canberra Centre – Nominate Telopea as your school when purchasing shoes or add Telopea to your loyalty program. School will receive $5 for each pair of shoes purchased.

Désignez Telopea à la caisse ou sur votre carte de fidélité et l’école recevra 5 $ pour chaque paire de chaussures que vous achetez.

2nd Hand Uniform Shop – Donate your old uniforms and shop at the 2nd hand uniform shop. All sales from the shop go directly to the P&C Committee. Items available include hats, jackets, summer dresses, skirts, shirts, blouses and polos of various sizes. Only $5 per piece of clothing. 

Opening Hours:

Tuesday: 9am - 9.30am

Friday: 9am - 9.30am  

Location: at the P&C storeroom

Faites don de vos vieux uniformes et achetez des uniformes d’occasion au magasin d’occasion. Toutes les ventes du magasin vont directement au Comité des Parents et Citoyens. On y trouve des chapeaux, pulls, robes d’été, jupes, et polos de tailles diverses. 5 $ par article.

Heures d’ouverture :

Mardi : 9 h – 9 h 30

Vendredi : 9 h – 9 h 30

CONTACTS

For contacting other staff members, please contact below: firstname.surname@ed.act.edu.au

Email: info@tps.act.edu.au

Ph: (02) 6142 3388

Other important emails

School Board Members 2024 (to be updated after the next board meeting)