Staffing update

In late-breaking news, Mr Marsh (6B) has taken up an offer to teach in a school closer to home. Mr Marsh has been a teacher at Ascot for over a decade and we thank him for the many and varied ways that he has contributed to school life at Ascot. We know you join the Ascot staff in wishing him all the best.

We are pleased to welcome back to Ascot Ms Emily McClure, who is excited to take over thre reins in 6B. Emily is a past Ascot staff member who has been in Japan teaching English. She is so happy to be back in the Ascot community. Please make her welcome.

Year 3 Instrumental Music in 2026

The school is currently working with the Regional Instrumental Music Coordinator to redesign how we can best expose Year 3 students to the joys of instrumental music. Our intention is to work with Year 3 children over time to identify strengths and build their understanding. This will support us to induct students in preparation for the Year 4 program. 

The strings program is taught by a Department of Education teacher and begins in Year 3.

Thank you to our P&C

Many thanks to the P&C who put on a lovely morning tea for the staff on Friday to farewell Simone. We are so fortunate at Ascot to have such a passionate and supportive P&C!

Ascot has signed up to join the EcoMarines program. EcoMarines works with students and teachers to develop ecological projects ranging from installing recyclable waste systems to the rehabilitation of vast green areas in their schools and communities. Their ultimate goal is to teach children how to be part of a wider world that creates long-term, positive behaviour change for our diverse but often fragile wildlife, natural environment and ecosystems.

Recently Latisha from EcoMarines came to Ascot to work with our student team to install the Composta system that they donated to us. The Composta system uses composting worms that feed on scraps in the centre canister, converting them into fertiliser. We have set this up in the enclosed area on the oval with the fish pond. We’ve planted spinach, carrot, and tomato seeds, and we believe that growing herbs would also be a simple and rewarding addition. During her visit to the school Latisha also presented at the Years 3-6 assembly on the topic of composting. 

As you can see from the photo, growth has occurred in 1.5 weeks which is awesome. This is the size of the unit and is really portable, easy to set up and would be a great holiday project if you wanted.

If you would like to set this up in your yard or on your balcony, Composta are offering a 30% discount to families of EcoMarines schools. 

Warm regards

Mrs Greensill and Mrs Cook

Environment Club coordinators

These students impressed their teachers with their approach to learning in a variety of ways over the past week. Congratulations!

Congratulations to these students who are mastering our school expectations and earnt a Boarding Pass that put them into our weekly draw at Assembly. With thanks to the P & C for their support, our winners receive an ice block or home bake from the Tuckshop.

Representative Sports

Congratulations to all our students who competed as part of the City District team at the Metropolitan North Track and Field Carnival recently. All of our students performed amazingly well, achieving the following results:  

Taylah  – 100m (2^nd), long jump (3^rd), 200m (4^th)

Boyd  – High jump (2^nd), Tetrathlon - involving 4 separate events (2^{nd overall})

Charlton  – shot put (2^nd), discus (7^th)

Katherine  – 800m (2^nd)

Ava– 800m/1500m (6^th)

Kaanish – high jump (8^th)

Timmy  – 200m (12^th)                                                                          

Sophia  was unable to compete at regionals due to injury but has been able to submit times for the 100 m and 200m and will be able to compete at State athletics in these events. All in all great results and we wish all of these students great performances at the State Athletics in October.                                              

Interschool Sport Gala Days Term 4 (yr 5 – 6)

Gala Days are scheduled for Friday in weeks 1 to 3 of term 4 for year 5 and 6 students.  Gala Day information/ permission notes should have been completed and returned to classroom teachers by the end of term 3. Please return forms straight after the holidays if this has not been completed to allow students to participate in these sporting opportunities.

Children need to be at school by 8:30am on Gala Days to have rolls marked before boarding buses to be transported to venues. Students must be prepared for a day outside with hats, sunscreen and water bottles along with enough food for the day. Canteens may operate at some venues if children want to purchase drinks and/or snacks. We thank our teacher coaches and hope children enjoy the days.  

Term 4 Swimming Information

Swimming lessons commence for students next term on the following days for each year level:

Years 3 and 4 – start swimming in Week 1 (Thursdays)

Years 1 and 2 start swimming in Week 2 (Wednesdays)

Prep starts swimming in Week 3 (Mondays)

Years 5 and 6 start swimming in Week 4 (Fridays – following Gala Days)

Lessons will continue until swimming carnivals on Wednesday and Thursday of week 9.

All students need to have uniforms and all their swimming gear named and ready to go to prevent loss or mix ups in the changerooms. If children need new togs/ sunshirts or caps please choose colours which don’t blend with the blue pool bottom and have names written on cap fronts to help with quick identification. A suggestion to help prep children to get comfortable with water on the face and eyes is to stand under a shower and practise blinking water out of their eyes (not rubbing). It would also be helpful if prep students practise changing in and out of their clothes independently if they find this task difficult.

While children are learning how to swim in the younger classes it is important for children to become relaxed and comfortable with their face and their eyes in the water. We initially play a lot of fun games to helpdevelop this. If their bodies aren’t relaxed and they don’t feel confident it is very difficult for children to float and become mobile in a streamline body position. For this reason, along with the fact that young children are unable to fit or adjust goggles ( they fill with water) we ask you not to send goggles along .

All students are expected to participate in the swimming program but if a child is sick or injured on their swimming day, class teachers should be informed via note or email. To comply with departmental guidelines and ensure safety we require parents to volunteer to help in the water for prep classes (2 would be great) and a volunteer to act as a pool deck spotter is required for all year levels. Please contact your child’s class teacher if you are able to assist with this. All volunteers must have completed mandatory training which, once completed, is valid for the calendar year and we ask that you please sign in and out at the office. We appreciate your time and commitment to helping children participate safely in this very important physical activity.

We wish everyone a lovely holiday break and Ms Hunter and I both look forward to working with any volunteers at swimming lessons next term.

This newsletter section provides a great opportunity for local businesses to engage with our parent community. If you would like your business to be a part of this or for more information, please email us at comms@ascotsspandc.org.