Dear Families,

Welcome to our final newsletter for Term 3. It is hard to believe how quickly this term has flown by! There has been so much happening across Karingal Primary School, with our students enjoying many wonderful learning experiences, celebrations and opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

It has been fantastic to see the enthusiasm of our students and the continued support of our families and wider school community throughout the term. There is always plenty happening at Karingal PS, and the past few weeks have certainly been no exception!

Wonderful News – $15,000 for Our Montessori Garden!
We are incredibly excited to share that Karingal Primary School has received a generous $15,000 grant donation from the PK Foundation.

These funds will go towards the installation of new shade sails over our Montessori Garden area, continuing the transformation of this wonderful outdoor space for our students.

Our Montessori Garden has been a real community project, and the addition of shade will make the area even more accessible and usable throughout the year. It will provide our students with a comfortable, protected outdoor space where they can learn, explore, connect with nature and enjoy the garden.

We extend a huge thank you to the PK Foundation for their generosity and for investing in our school and our students. We are extremely grateful for this support and cannot wait to see the next stage of our Montessori Garden come to life!

Year 3/4 Camp
Our Year 3/4 Camp was another fantastic Term 3 highlight. Camps provide such valuable opportunities for students to develop independence, resilience, confidence and stronger friendships, while also creating memories that will stay with them long after they return to school.

A huge thank you to Miss G for the significant amount of organisation and preparation that went into making the camp possible.

I would also like to sincerely thank Miss D, Mrs Schneider, Deirdre, Celeste, Mia, Miss Angelico, Miss Quirk and Chantelle for giving up their time to attend camp and stay away from their own families to provide this experience for our students. Taking students on camp is a significant commitment, and we are incredibly grateful to our staff for the time, energy and care they give to ensure our children have these opportunities.

Bunnings Sausage Sizzle – $3,000 Raised!
A huge thank you to everyone who supported our recent Bunnings Sausage Sizzle, which raised an incredible $3,000 for Karingal Primary School!

A special thank you to Michelle for taking the lead in organising the day and coordinating everything behind the scenes. Thank you also to all of our wonderful parents, staff and community volunteers who gave up their time to cook, serve and help throughout the day. We simply could not run fundraising events like this without your support.

$3,000 is a fantastic result, and every dollar raised goes back into supporting our school and creating further opportunities for our students.

Book Week – What a Celebration!
Our Book Week Parade and celebrations were a huge success! The creativity and enthusiasm on display were fantastic, with our school filled with much-loved book characters for the day.

Thank you to our families for the incredible effort that went into costumes and for supporting our children to celebrate the joy of books and reading. Most importantly, thank you to our students for embracing the day with such excitement. It was wonderful to see reading and storytelling celebrated across our school.

Father’s Day Breakfast BBQ
It was wonderful to see so many dads, grandfathers and special people join us for our Father’s Day Breakfast BBQ. Thank you to everyone who came along and helped create such a relaxed and enjoyable morning for our children. Events like these are a wonderful reminder of the strong community we have at Karingal Primary School.

A very special thank you to Fiona, Mrs Schneider, Miss R and Mrs Quirk for giving up their Saturday morning to help prepare, serve and make sure everything ran smoothly.

We also owe a huge thank you to our BBQ chefs, David (Miss Cooke’s husband) and Peter (Mrs Quirk’s dad), who spent the morning cooking breakfast for our families. We greatly appreciate you both volunteering your time and keeping everyone well fed!

A Quick Note for the Start of Term 4
I will be taking Long Service Leave (LSL) for the first week of Term 4. During my absence, Mrs Schneider will be Acting Principal. I know the school will be in very capable hands, and I look forward to returning in Week 2 for what will be another exciting and busy term.

Thank You for a Wonderful Term
Term 3 has certainly been action-packed! From our school concert, Science Night and 100 Days of Prep celebrations through to transition sessions, camp, Book Week, Father’s Day celebrations, sporting opportunities and everything that happens in our classrooms each day; there has been so much to celebrate.

Behind every event are staff, families, volunteers and community members giving their time and energy for our children. Thank you.

As we head into the holidays, I hope all of our students, staff and families have the opportunity to rest, recharge and enjoy some quality time together.

We have another exciting term ahead of us, including our 60th Diamond Jubilee Festival, and I cannot wait to see our community come together to celebrate this very special milestone.

Have a safe and enjoyable Term 3 break, and I look forward to seeing everyone again in Term 4.

Take care and stay safe

Samantha Cooke
Principal
Karingal Primary School

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

* PA: Ruby; Charlotte
* P1A: Maddie; Will T; Thei
* 1A: Omar
* 2A: Will J; Skye
* 34A: Jaxxyn; Henry G; Ava
* 34B: Dustin S; Marcus; Max M; Cody
* 34C: Hina W
* 56A: Pippa
* 56B: Juliana; Max S

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

Writers of the Week: Islah (56B) and Hazel E (M2B)
Reader of the Week: Kalyn (P1A)
Librarian of the Week: Cheryl (34C)

Our Garden Path

Not one but THREE BIG Announcements!

Principals’ Breakfast - Friday September 11

Sam, Emily and I will be attending the annual Principals’ Breakfast to be held at CERES (Centre for Education and Research Environmental Studies) in Brunswick.

This is a wonderful opportunity to share our Community Garden story, of which we are all so proud, in the hope it may inspire others to take up the challenge within their own kindergartens, primary and secondary schools!

Working Bee and Morning Tea! - Saturday September 12 (9.30am-12.30pm)

While our gardens are expanding and flourishing with active student participation in a wide range of activities, regular Working Bees help us to maintain the high standards which have been set enhancing and beautifying the many greenspaces within our school grounds, connecting with the wider KPS community along the way.

VIP Visit by Jodie Belyea (Federal MP) – Friday September 18

We look forward to welcoming Jodie Belyea on her visit to KPS during which she will plant a feature tree in our garden; another exciting milestone in our busy 2026 Garden Calendar!

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

After a season of close calls, surprise upsets and plenty of friendly rivalry, our Karingal PS Footy Tipping Competition has officially come to an end!

A huge congratulations to John, who has taken out 1st place and earned the all-important footy tipping bragging rights for 2026!

1st Place – John
2nd Place – Emma M
3rd Place – Chantelle H

Winners, please collect your winnings from the school office.

And how did the Principal go?

Miss Cooke finished in a respectable 6th place – just outside the pointy end of the competition! However, she is very happy to remind everyone that she was the winner of the Knockout Competition earlier in the season, so there are still some bragging rights to be had!

Thank you to everyone who joined in throughout the season. The friendly competition, banter and weekly tipping battles certainly added some extra fun to the footy season.

Congratulations again to John – our 2026 Karingal PS Footy Tipping Champion! 

3/4 Camp Adventures – Three Days of Fun, Friendship and Very Little Sleep!

Our Year 3/4 campers have made it safely home after a massive three days filled with adventure, challenges, teamwork, laughter, new experiences and, perhaps most memorably, very little sleep!

From the moment everyone arrived, the students were ready to make the most of their camp experience. After meeting some of the local wildlife, it was time to get adventurous and step outside their comfort zones.

Students challenged themselves on the giant swing and flying fox, showing plenty of courage as they headed high into the air and whizzed through the trees. There were excited faces, lots of encouragement from friends and probably more than a few screams along the way!

Camp life wasn’t just about the big activities, though. It was also a chance to learn a little more about independence and working together. Everyone pitched in to help set up for dinner and breakfast, quickly discovering that feeding a camp full of hungry students is definitely a team effort.

Then came one of the highlights, campfire cooking! Students cooked damper over the fire and, of course, enjoyed making s’mores. After a huge first day of activities, fresh air and food, you might imagine everyone would have been ready to crawl into bed and enjoy a good night’s sleep…

Apparently not!

Our enthusiastic campers decided their teachers might appreciate some company throughout the night, providing helpful wake-up calls at approximately 1.00 am, 2.00 am and 4.00 am! By Day 2, however, there seemed to be a growing realisation among the campers that perhaps sleep isn’t such a bad idea after all.

Despite the rain arriving to join the adventure, there was certainly no slowing everyone down. The activities continued, with more bush cooking, more damper and s’mores and another opportunity to take on the flying fox.

Students also set off on a special mission around camp with Wendy the Weedy Sea Dragon, who needed some help finding her buddy, Sebastian the Sea Star. The search took everyone around the camp, completing group challenges along the way and putting teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills to the test.

There were plenty more adventures across the three days, including bike riding and learning some important skills along the way. Whether students were soaring through the air, exploring the camp, cooking around the fire or working together, there was always something happening.

By the final day, there may have been a few more tired faces than when everyone first arrived - and we suspect some particularly tired teachers - but there were still plenty of smiles and enthusiasm for the last of the camp adventures.

More Than Just Three Days Away

While camp provides plenty of fun and excitement, it is also an important opportunity for students to build confidence and independence, challenge themselves, work cooperatively, solve problems and experience being away from their usual routines.

For some students, simply spending three days away from home is a significant achievement. For others, it might have been climbing a little higher on the giant swing, taking that first step onto the flying fox, trying something unfamiliar, helping a friend or learning to take greater responsibility for themselves.

Whatever their individual achievements, our Year 3/4 campers have plenty to be proud of.

A huge thank you to our wonderful Year 3/4 parents and carers for supporting your children to take part and helping make the camp such a fun and successful experience. Thank you also to our staff for the enormous amount of work, care and enthusiasm that goes into giving our students an experience like this - including surviving those 1.00 am, 2.00 am and 4.00 am wake-up calls!

Our campers have returned with new skills, great stories and plenty of memories made with their friends.

Well done, Year 3/4. What a fantastic three days.

3/4 Camp 2026

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 
31. 
32. 
33. 
34. 
35. 
36. 
37. 
38. 

Previous Next

What a fantastic day we had celebrating Book Week & Superhero Day!

Our school was bursting with colour, creativity and imagination as students and staff arrived dressed as their favourite book characters and superheroes. From much-loved storybook favourites to caped crusaders and powerful heroes, there were some truly amazing costumes on display.

The highlight of the day was our Book Week Parade! Our students and staff took centre stage as they proudly paraded their costumes for everyone to see. It was fantastic to watch such a colourful collection of characters make their way around the parade, and even better to have so many families there cheering them on. The excitement, smiles and enthusiasm from both our participants and spectators created a wonderful atmosphere and made the parade a very special part of the day.

A huge thank you to all the families who came along to watch and support our students. Having you there to share in the excitement helped make the parade even more memorable.

We also know that a lot of thought, creativity and sometimes a little last-minute costume preparation goes into Book Week! Thank you to our families for helping bring so many wonderful characters to life, and to our students and staff for embracing the day and making it such a fun celebration.

While dressing up and the parade are always favourite parts of Book Week, the real star of the celebration is reading. Books can make us laugh, take us on incredible adventures, introduce us to unforgettable characters and transport us to places we could never otherwise visit. Most importantly, they give our students the opportunity to imagine, explore and discover.

And the fun doesn’t have to finish when Book Week does!

Keep the Book Week buzz going at home. Ask your child which costume caught their eye at the parade, discover the book behind a character they spotted, choose a new story to read together or head to the library and see what catches their interest.

Let’s turn the excitement of Book Week into a love of reading that lasts all year long - because every great adventure can start with opening a book!

Book Week 2026

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 

Previous Next

Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads, grandfathers, carers and special people in our Karingal Primary School community! We hope you all enjoyed a very special Father’s Day and had the opportunity to spend some quality time with the people who mean the most to you.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our Father’s Day Breakfast. We were very lucky to dodge the rain, and it was fantastic to see such a wonderful turnout for what has become a very special morning on our school calendar.

From early in the morning, there was a wonderful atmosphere around the school as students arrived with their dads and special people to enjoy breakfast together. It was lovely to see so many families taking the opportunity to slow down for a little while, share some food, have a chat and enjoy each other’s company before the school day began.

Events like our Father’s Day Breakfast are about much more than simply sharing a meal. They provide an opportunity for our families to come together, strengthen connections and celebrate the important people who support, encourage and care for our students throughout the year.

One of the highlights of the morning was seeing so many smiling faces around the school and watching our students proudly spend time with their special guests. The fantastic turnout was another wonderful reminder of the strong sense of community we are so fortunate to have at Karingal Primary School.

It was also extra special to welcome back some of our past students, who returned to visit us and share in the morning. We always love seeing familiar faces return to Karingal and hearing where life has taken them since their primary school days. Maintaining those connections with former students and families is a special part of being a school with such a long and proud history.

Of course, mornings like this don’t happen without the time and effort of the people working behind the scenes. A sincere thank you to everyone who helped organise, prepare and serve breakfast, set everything up and make sure the morning ran smoothly. Your contribution helped create such a welcoming and enjoyable morning for our families.

Most importantly, thank you to all of our dads and special people for everything you do. Whether it is helping with homework, cheering from the sidelines, offering encouragement, sharing a laugh, giving advice or simply being there when needed, the role you play in the lives of our students is incredibly important.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our Father’s Day Breakfast such a wonderful community celebration.

We hope all of our dads, grandfathers, carers and special people had a very Happy Father’s Day!

Father’s Day Breakfast 2026

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 

Previous Next

Our annual Footy Day was back for 2026, bringing another fantastic celebration of colour, excitement, laughter and team spirit to Karingal Primary School!

It was wonderful to see students and staff getting into the spirit of the occasion, proudly wearing their favourite team colours and transforming the school grounds into a colourful celebration of all things footy. From jerseys and scarves to hats and other team gear, there was certainly no shortage of enthusiastic supporters showing their team pride.

Our much-loved Footy Parade was once again a highlight, giving students the opportunity to proudly show off their colours alongside their classmates. There were plenty of cheers, smiles and friendly team rivalry as everyone joined in the fun. With so many different teams represented, the parade was a fantastic display of enthusiasm and school community spirit.

There was also plenty of action and excitement with the inflatable activities. Students had a great time bouncing, sliding, racing and challenging themselves while enjoying plenty of laughs with their friends. The inflatables are always a popular part of Footy Day, and judging by the smiles around the school grounds, they were another big hit this year!

Of course, all that excitement can work up an appetite, and students were also able to enjoy a hot food lunch as part of the celebrations. A huge thank you goes to our wonderful parent volunteers who generously gave their time to help prepare, organise and serve lunch. Events like Footy Day are made even more special by the support of our families, and we greatly appreciate everyone who helped make the day possible.

Throughout the celebrations, it was fantastic to see students enjoying themselves, spending time with their friends and proudly supporting their favourite teams. There may have been plenty of different colours, clubs and loyalties on display, but Footy Day is ultimately about bringing everyone together for a fun and memorable school experience.

Footy Day continues to be a much-loved Karingal Primary School tradition, and 2026 was another wonderful celebration. A big thank you to our staff, parent volunteers, students and families for embracing the spirit of the occasion and helping make Footy Day 2026 such a success.

No matter which team you support, there was one thing everyone could agree on - Footy Day at KPS was a winner!

Have a Clean-Out for Our White Elephant Stall!

It’s time to check those cupboards, shelves, toy boxes and spare rooms!

As we get ready for the KPS Diamond Jubilee Festival, we’re calling on our school community to help us fill the White Elephant Stall with lots of fantastic finds.

Have you got gifts you’ve never used? Toys and games that have been outgrown? Books you’ve finished, homewares you no longer need, or something that’s simply too good to throw away? Give it a new home by donating it to our stall!

We’re looking for new or near-new unwanted items that are clean, complete and in great condition. Donations could include toys and games, books, puzzles, giftware, homewares, sporting goods and other quality items.

Please note: We are unable to accept clothing.

Have a look around the house and see what treasures you can uncover. That item gathering dust in your cupboard could be exactly what someone else is looking for!

Donations can be left in the Uniform Shop at Karingal Primary School.

Every item donated will help us build a bigger and better White Elephant Stall for our Diamond Jubilee Festival — so start clearing those cupboards and help us turn your unwanted treasures into something wonderful for KPS!

FESTIVAL REMINDERS

Dunk Tank Fundraiser – Who Will Take the Plunge?

Our Dunk Tank Fundraiser is still underway, and there’s still time to help send some of our brave KPS staff members into the water!

Donation jars are in classrooms, with an additional jar available at the School Office. Every dollar donated moves us closer to the next fundraising milestone and unlocking another staff member for the dunk tank.

Keep an eye on the Dunk Tank tally board in the office area to see how we’re tracking. Can we reach the final target and reveal our Mystery Dunk before the big day?

One More Term 3 Donation Day!

We have one final Festival Donation Day for Term 3 coming up on Friday 18 September, which is also our Last Day of Term Free Dress Day.

Instead of a gold coin donation, families who are able to contribute are asked to send along a 1.25L or 2L bottle of soft drink to help stock the Festival.

It’s a simple way to help us prepare for the big day, and every bottle donated makes a difference!

Whether it’s clearing out a cupboard for the White Elephant Stall, adding to a Dunk Tank donation jar or sending along a bottle of soft drink, every contribution helps bring our KPS Diamond Jubilee Festival together.

Thank you to our KPS families and wider community for continuing to support what is shaping up to be a fantastic celebration of 60 years of Karingal Primary School!

Our Meet Our Staff series continues as we introduce another of the dedicated educators who bring their experience, passion and personality to Karingal Primary School.

This edition features Samantha Riseley, our Grade 5/6 Montessori Classroom Teacher. With more than 30 years in education, including 14 years at Karingal Primary School, Samantha brings a wealth of experience to her classroom. Take a moment to discover what inspired her to become a teacher, what she loves most about working with students, and a little more about the person behind the teacher.

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.

Grand Final Games – Ready to Play?

Get ready for 10 days of challenges, teamwork and non-stop fun with Camp Australia’s Grand Final Games, running from 7–18 September.

Each day, children can take on a new challenge, earn Game Points and put their skills to the test through sport, problem solving, team building and creative activities. There are also bonus points up for grabs for getting involved and giving new things a go!

Game Points can be cashed in at the Grand Final Store, while the overall Grand Final Games Champion will win the ultimate prize - the chance to take over OSHC, choosing the activities and menu for their winning session.

To finish the fun, children are encouraged to wear their favourite team colours on Grand Final Day and join in the celebrations.

Places can be booked through Camp Australia.

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.

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!

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.

Students at Karingal Primary School have the opportunity to learn keyboard or guitar through the Primary Music Institute (PMI).

Lessons are available at school, making it easy for students to develop their musical skills, build confidence and enjoy learning an instrument in a familiar environment.

Families interested in finding out more or enrolling their child can use the QR code on the flyer or visit the Primary Music Institute website for further information.

Computer Explorers are back these school holidays with another exciting two-week Holiday Camp at Peninsula Grammar, packed with technology, robotics, coding and digital creativity.

Running from Monday 21 September to Friday 2 October, the program is open to students from Prep to Year 6, with no previous experience needed. Each day runs from 9am–4pm, with all devices and hardware provided.

As a valued partner, Computer Explorers are also offering the Karingal Primary School community an exclusive 20% discount. Simply use the code KARINGAL20 when booking.

Places are limited, so families interested in joining the tech-filled holiday fun are encouraged to book early.

We’re excited to welcome ComputerXplorers After-School Tech Clubs back to Karingal Primary School for Term 4!

Students from Prep to Grade 6 can explore the exciting world of technology through hands-on activities including coding, robotics, game design, animation, web design, 3D CAD and Python. It’s a fun way to build valuable digital skills, get creative and learn alongside friends.

The 9-week program runs on Thursdays from 15 October to 10 December, from 3:45pm–4:45pm, at a cost of $35 per session.

Spaces are limited, so families interested in joining the Term 4 program are encouraged to book early.