It is hard to believe we are already at Week 6 of Term 3! The past few weeks have certainly been busy, with many wonderful opportunities for our students to learn, perform, celebrate and connect as a school community.

A Spectacular School Concert

Our 2026 School Concert was certainly a highlight of the term and a wonderful celebration of our students. It was fantastic to see our students confidently take to the stage and showcase the results of many weeks of practice and preparation.

The enthusiasm across the school in the lead-up to the concert was wonderful, and the evening provided a fantastic opportunity for our whole school community to come together. I was incredibly proud of the confidence, enthusiasm and joy our students displayed on stage.

A huge thank you to our staff for the considerable work involved in preparing students, organising performances, costumes and rehearsals, and ensuring everything came together on the night. Thank you also to our families for supporting the event and encouraging our performers. These special events are only possible through the combined efforts of our entire school community.

Our Attendance Streak Continues!

Our Attendance Streak Challenge continues to have a positive impact across the school. It has been fantastic to see students taking pride in their attendance and encouraging one another to keep their streak going.

Every day at school matters. Regular attendance supports learning, friendships, routines and a student's sense of belonging at school. We understand that children will sometimes be unwell and need to stay home; however, when students are well, we want them at school and ready to learn.

Congratulations to all of our students who are building strong attendance habits and achieving some impressive streaks. Keep the streak going!

Looking Ahead – Lots to Look Forward To!

There is no slowing down at Karingal Primary School, with plenty of exciting events ahead as we move through the second half of Term 3.

Year 3/4 Camp – 24, 25 & 26 August
Our Year 3/4 students are heading off to camp! For many of our students, this will be their first school camp, making it an especially exciting milestone. Camp provides a wonderful opportunity to build independence, resilience, friendships and confidence while creating some very special school memories. We wish our campers and staff a fantastic three days.

Year 5/6 Basketball – Friday 28 August
Our Year 5/6 students will have the opportunity to represent Karingal Primary School at basketball. We wish our teams the very best and know they will represent our school with great sportsmanship and pride.

Book Week Dress-Up Day & Parade – Tuesday 1 September
One of our favourite days of the year is approaching! Students are invited to come dressed as a favourite book character as we celebrate our love of reading with our annual Book Week Parade. We can't wait to see the creativity on display.

Father's Day Stall – Thursday 3 September
Our Father's Day Stall will give students the opportunity to choose something special for Dad, Grandpa or another important person in their lives.

Father's Day Breakfast – Saturday 5 September
We look forward to welcoming our dads, grandfathers and special people to our Father's Day Breakfast. This is always a lovely opportunity for our families to come together and enjoy some time at school.

Footy Day – Wednesday 9 September
Get those team colours ready! Students are invited to wear their favourite AFL, NRL, soccer or other sporting team colours for our annual Footy Day. It promises to be another fun day of school spirit and friendly rivalry.

There is certainly plenty to look forward to! Thank you, as always, to our staff, families and community members who contribute their time and energy to making these additional opportunities possible for our students.

Take care and stay safe
Samantha Cooke
Principal

CLASSROOM Awards

Congratulations to the following students who received a classroom award at assembly last week:

* PA: Wyatt V
* 1A: Tyge I; Omar S
* 2A: Audrey S
* 34B: Phoenix I; Dustin S
* 34C: Skyla B; Nathanael M
* 56B: Rebecca DF; Ada W
* International Students: Rena; Pency; Hugo; Karena

ENGLISH Awards

Congratulations to the following students for receiving an English award at assembly last week:

Writers of the Week: Pippa F (56A) and Aylah B (56A)
Reader of the Week: Aaron MN (2A)
Librarian of the Week: Alia S (34C)

Our Garden Path 

Despite having to cancel a number of our regular Garden Classes due to rain, we are pleased to report that we have almost completed our contribution to Tree Planting 2026! This national school initiative has once again been a huge success enjoyed by KPS students planting out 400 plants from Frankston Indigenous Nursery. See photo gallery

Students will soon begin to prepare garden beds as well as a multitude of planters and pots ready to sow seeds and plant out seedlings to welcome spring… All we need is a little sunshine!

Victorian Schools Garden Program – $500 Local Nursery Award from

Diaco’s Mornington

Julie and I welcomed Jenny (Diaco’s Landscape Designer) who, as part of our award, visited our garden to guide us in making best use of our voucher! See photo gallery

We are most grateful for Jenny’s time and expertise and have come up with a plan which will further enhance existing garden beds at the Mallum Avenue entrance and we look forward to working with Diaco’s Mornington over coming weeks…

September Garden Calendar

Principals’ Breakfast with Costa Georgiadis (from Gardening Australia) promises to be another exciting event for us and a wonderful opportunity to share ideas, successes and failures with other school garden educators! Sam and I are delighted that Jo and Emily will be joining us.

VIP Visit!  Federal MP for Dunkley Jodie Belyea will be visiting KPS and planting a tree to commemorate the occasion! Details to follow…

Marilyn, Julie, Jo and Emily (The Garden Girls)

Garden Gallery 210826

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 

Previous Next

What a fantastic night! Our 2026 School Concert, The Truth Behind the Tale, was a wonderful celebration of our students and a highlight of the school year.

After many months of rehearsals, preparation and excitement, it was wonderful to see our students take to the stage with such confidence and enthusiasm. From our youngest performers through to our senior students, every class contributed to bringing The Truth Behind the Tale to life. The smiles, energy and excitement on stage made us incredibly proud.

A production of this size takes an enormous amount of work behind the scenes, and we would particularly like to acknowledge and thank our Directors, Producers and Scriptwriters, Louise Holmes and Martha McDonald. Their creativity, commitment and countless hours of work were instrumental in bringing the production together.

A huge thank you also goes to our Performing Arts teachers, who worked with our students to prepare their performances:

• Louise Holmes – M1A, 34A, 56A, 56B and M3A
• Martha McDonald – 34B and 34C
• Victoria Quirk – 2A, M2A and M2B
• Celeste Farrell – PA, P1A and 1A

Thank you to all of our Karingal Primary School staff who contributed in so many ways – helping with rehearsals, costumes, props, organisation, supervision, backstage preparations and the many jobs required to make the evening run smoothly.

To our families, thank you for supporting rehearsals, organising costumes, getting children to the venue and, most importantly, being such an enthusiastic audience. The atmosphere you helped create made the evening even more special for our performers.

Finally, congratulations to the real stars of The Truth Behind the Tale – our students! You worked hard, supported one another, stepped outside your comfort zones and performed with confidence and pride. Whether you had a speaking role, danced, sang or performed alongside your class, every student played an important part in the success of the show.

Congratulations, Karingal – what a wonderful night and another fantastic school memory!

Congratulations, Karingal! Our students have successfully achieved their Attendance Streak Hot Chip Lunch, and we are very proud of the effort students and families have made to prioritise being at school every day.

Across the first five weeks of Term 3, our overall attendance rate has reached 88%. This is a positive achievement, but we know we can do even better. Our next whole-school goal is to reach 90% attendance – and we need everyone working together to get there!

A special congratulations goes to Prep A, who achieved the highest attendance of all classes across the first five weeks. What a fantastic achievement from some of our youngest students – well done, Prep A!

Every day at school matters. Each day a student attends provides important opportunities to learn, build friendships, participate in classroom routines and stay connected to their school community. Even occasional absences can quickly add up and result in valuable learning being missed.

Of course, if your child is genuinely unwell, they should stay home and recover. However, when they are well, we need them at school, on time and ready to learn.

Thank you to our families for supporting our attendance focus and to our students for embracing the challenge. Let's keep building those positive attendance habits and work together towards our next target.

88% achieved… now let's reach 90%!

Every student. Every day. Every opportunity to learn.

Preparations for our Diamond Jubilee Festival are well underway, and we are beginning to collect items to help make the day a fantastic celebration of 60 years of Karingal Primary School.

Over the coming weeks, we will be partnering some of our school dress-up days with donation opportunities. Rather than a gold coin donation, families who are able to contribute will be invited to send along an item that can be used for stalls, prizes or activities at our Jubilee Festival.

Keep an eye on Compass and our upcoming newsletters for details about the items we will be collecting on each day.

Every donation, big or small, will help us prepare for what promises to be a wonderful community celebration. Thank you for supporting our Diamond Jubilee Festival and helping us make the event a memorable one for our students, families and wider Karingal community.

Dunk Tank Fundraiser - Who Will Take the Plunge?

Who will be making a splash at our Karingal Primary School 60th Anniversary Fete? That’s up to you!

Our Dunk Tank Fundraiser is underway, with staff members bravely volunteering to take a seat above the water. Each fundraising milestone unlocks another participant, building the excitement all the way to our biggest target.

To help your favourite staff member reach their goal, a donation jar has been placed in every classroom, with an additional jar available at the School Office. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer.

As the donations are counted, our Dunk Tank tally board, located in the office area, will be updated, so be sure to keep an eye on its progress to see how close we are to each fundraising milestone and which staff members have been unlocked!

Can we reach the final target and reveal our Mystery Dunk before the big day?

Every dollar raised helps support our school while adding to the fun and excitement of our 60th Anniversary Fete. Thank you for helping make this milestone celebration one to remember!

Excitement is continuing to build as we count down to our Diamond Jubilee Celebration Fete on Saturday 24 October, and there are plenty of ways for our community to get involved!

Ride Wristband Sales Are Now Open!

We’re excited to announce that online ride wristband sales are now open!

Purchasing your wristbands in advance is the easiest way to be ready for a fantastic day of unlimited carnival fun, while also taking advantage of our Early Bird pricing. If you’re planning on enjoying the rides, we encourage you to secure your wristbands early.

Purchase your ride wristbands using the link below.

We’re also still looking for contributions to help make this milestone celebration truly special. If you have a favourite school memory, story or recipe to share for our commemorative collections, we’d love to hear from you. Submissions remain open, and every contribution helps preserve the rich history of Karingal Primary School for future generations.

As the big day approaches, we’re also seeking volunteers to assist with both event setup in the lead-up to the fete and on-the-day activities. Whether you can spare a few hours or help throughout the day, your support will make a significant difference in ensuring our Diamond Jubilee Celebration Fete is a memorable event for everyone.

For more information, including ride wristbands, recipe and story submissions, volunteering opportunities and the latest event updates, be sure to visit the Diamond Jubilee Celebration Fete Hub via the link below.

We can’t wait to celebrate 60 years of Karingal Primary School with our wonderful community!

Our Meet Our Staff series continues as we introduce another of the wonderful educators who help make Karingal Primary School such a special place to learn and grow.

This edition features Brianna Patterson, our Prep/Grade 1 Teacher. Take a moment to read Brianna’s profile and discover more about her teaching journey, her passion for making a positive impact on young lives, and some of the interests and experiences that make her who she is outside the classroom.

We look forward to sharing more stories in the coming weeks as we continue introducing the dedicated staff who make Karingal Primary School such a wonderful place to learn and grow.

We would like to sincerely thank the businesses, sponsors and community partners who generously support our school. Whether through sponsorship, donations for raffles and fundraising events, or contributions to initiatives such as our Trivia Night, your support makes a meaningful difference to our students and school programs.

We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing partnerships we have built within our community and are proud to recognise the organisations that invest in the success, wellbeing and opportunities of our students. Thank you for helping us create enriching experiences and lasting benefits for our school community.

To learn more about our valued sponsors and supporters, simply click on their logo below to visit their website or social media page.

Eagle Momentum Creative Media Proudly supporting Karingal Primary School through creative design, digital media and community-focused communication solutions. Eagle Momentum Creative Media specialises in website management, graphic design, newsletters, social media content and promotional materials that help schools, organisations and community groups connect, engage and grow.	Karingal Hub      Karingal Hub is a major community shopping and lifestyle destination in Melbourne’s south-east, offering a wide range of retail stores, dining options, entertainment experiences and essential services for local families and the wider community. Karingal Hub plays an important role in supporting and engaging with the local community through partnerships.	Locked In Escape Rooms Locked In Escape Rooms offers exciting, immersive and interactive escape room experiences designed to challenge players through teamwork, problem solving and creative thinking. Featuring a range of themed rooms and adventures, Locked In provides a fun and memorable experience for families, friends, school groups and corporate teams looking to test their skills.
KiKi-J Beauty  KiKi-J Beauty provides a wide range of personalised beauty and wellness treatments in a welcoming and relaxing environment. Specialising in facials, massage, LED light therapy, brows, lashes, waxing and makeup services, KiKi-J Beauty focuses on helping clients feel refreshed, confident and cared for through high-quality treatments tailored to individual needs.	Enchanted Adventure Enchanted Adventure is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most popular family attractions, offering exciting outdoor experiences including tree surfing, mazes, adventure gardens, tube slides and interactive activities designed for all ages to enjoy.	Frankston Brewhouse Frankston Brewhouse is a popular local venue known for its welcoming atmosphere, quality food and strong connection to the local community. Offering a relaxed dining experience, the venue has become a favourite gathering place for families.
Anaconda Frankston Anaconda Frankston is one of Australia’s leading outdoor adventure retailers, offering a wide range of camping, fishing, boating, hiking and water sports equipment. Supporting outdoor recreation and active lifestyles, the store provides quality products and expert advice for adventurers of all experience levels. Anaconda Frankston is proud to support the local community through partnerships and sponsorships, including its generous contribution to Karingal Primary School’s 60th Anniversary celebrations.

September Rugby League Holiday Clinics

Keep the kids active these September school holidays with the Victorian Rugby League Holiday Clinics, being held in Frankston and Broadmeadows for players aged 8–14 years.

These action-packed, three-hour clinics cater for all experience levels, from children who are new to Rugby League through to experienced players wanting to develop and sharpen their skills.

Players will rotate through a range of fundamental skill stations, drills, challenges and game-based activities, with plenty of opportunities to learn, compete and have fun.

The clinics will be led by Young Tonumaipea, Victorian Rugby League Academy Head Coach, former Melbourne Storm player and Samoan international.

Frankston Clinic

Tuesday 22 September 2026
10:00am – 1:00pm
Peninsula Reserve, Frankston VIC 3199

Broadmeadows Clinic

Thursday 24 September 2026
10:00am – 1:00pm
Seabrook Reserve, Broadmeadows VIC 3047

What’s Included?

The $100 clinic fee includes:

• Three hours of quality Rugby League coaching
• Lunch – Subway, fruit and a juice box
• Prizes and competitions
• Games, challenges and plenty of fun

The aim is for every player to leave feeling more confident, more skilled and more connected to Rugby League, while enjoying a fun and memorable experience with their peers.

Places are limited, so families are encouraged to secure their spot early using the registration link below.

As part of Frankston City’s 60th Anniversary celebrations, young creatives are invited to take part in Rising Creators: Your Frankston, Your Way at Frankston Library.

Led by acclaimed author Danielle Binks and illustrator Judy Watson, this creative workshop will inspire young people to write and draw their own version of Frankston. Using historic photographs, local landmarks and ideas for the future, participants will explore the stories, places and possibilities that make our community unique.

A wonderful opportunity for budding writers and artists to get creative and help imagine the next chapter of Frankston’s story!

Friday, 21 August | 4:00 pm–5:30 pm | Frankston Library

The 2026 YACSAL Statewide Junior Football Netball Carnival is coming up this September! Young footballers and netballers from across Victoria will come together in Bairnsdale for two action-packed days of sport, teamwork and fun.

With competitions for 9 & Under, 12 & Under, 15 & Under and 17 & Under, it’s set to be a fantastic celebration of junior sport.

23 & 24 September 2026
? Football – Wy Yung Football Netball Club & Bairnsdale City Oval
? Netball – Bairnsdale World Courts

Registration packages will be available at a later date.