Message From Principal

2026 Class Structure

On Tuesday 10th December, the Prep to 5 students completed their Step Up transition session in their 2026 classrooms with lots of smiles and positivity! Below you will find the 2026 class names, teacher names and locations of classrooms. Our education support staff have been allocated to classrooms, and this information will be provided to families at the beginning of 2026. 

1/2B Classroom Teacher:

We are still recruiting for the 1/2B classroom teacher. We hope to have some news for you by the end of this week. Once we finalise the process, we will ensure to have the 1/2B teacher to run an extra step-up transition session, so that 1/2B students can meet their 2026 teacher before the end of the school year.

Welcome to New Staff:

Hai Huynh is a new addition to Dinjerra and the 2026 teacher of 3/4C. Hai comes to us from Sunshine North Primary School and is full of enthusiasm and energy. Welcome Hai!

Leah Stork is our new Learning Specialist - Teaching and Learning. Leah will teach 3/4B on Mondays and Tuesdays and spend the remainder of the week in an instructional coaching role. Leah comes to us from many schools, lastly Altona North PS. Leah has also had experience in an educational consultancy role. Welcome Leah!

Also, a big congratulations goes to Nerissa Hatton, for also securing a substantive Learning Specialist - Teaching and Learning role. Over 2025, Nerissa has been our Acting Learning Specialist. Nerissa will also be working in an instructional coaching role. Congrats Nerissa!

Maira Antonella Ortiz is Dinjerra’s new LOTE Spanish teacher. Antonella currently teaches LOTE Spanish at Saltwater P-9 College in Point Cook. Welcome Antonella! 

Departing Staff:

Unfortunately, we have some well-loved staff members who are leaving Dinjerra at the end of the year. I would like to thank each of the following staff members for their valued contribution to Dinjerra over the past few years.

Ruben Le Waller: Ruben has been with us over 2025, in the role of Education Support staff member, supporting students across different year levels. Ruben has completed his teaching degree and has secured a teaching position at Victoria University Secondary College, teaching Year 10 - 12. Good luck Ruben!

Katie Clements: Katie has taught LOTE Spanish at Dinjerra for the last two years. Katie has continued the traditions of the Spanish program, such as the LOTE Spanish Day, amongst supporting our students to learn the Spanish language. You may still see Katie at Dinjerra in other roles, such as a casual relief teacher in 2026. Thank you, Katie! 

Alicia Pearce: Alicia has been a classroom teacher at Dinjerra for the last three years, in a shared classroom status. Alicia and her family are moving to sunny Queensland, which is a fabulous opportunity for Alicia’s family. I have known Alicia since she was a student teacher in my 1/2 classroom at Footscray City PS. All the best for the big move, Alicia! 

Tom Penberthy: Tom has been a classroom teacher in 1/2 and 3/4 and has also been Dinjerra’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader. Tom has led the implementation of our School Wide Positive Behaviours Support (SWPBS) and the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and been an important member of our Wellbeing School Improvement Team (SIT). Tom is taking 12 months leave from Dinjerra. Tom is a huge asset to any school, and I wish him all the best as he explores his future career possibilities!! 

Year 6 Graduation

Our Year 6 students participated in their Year 6 Graduation on Wednesday 17th December at Medway Golf Club in Maidstone. When I arrived at Dinjerra in 2022, the Year 6 students were in Year 2. They are and always have been, such a unique and lively group of students. I would like to congratulate all of the Year 6 students on their graduation and look forward to farewelling them at Friday’s assembly. 

Term 4 Celebration of Learning

Thank you to the families who attended our Celebration of Learning on Friday 12th December. I was so proud of all of our students and admired the way they were able to talk about their learning over the term. 

Family Fiesta

I wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to each and every one of you for all of your effort in making a wonderful Fiesta celebration! The classroom stalls were so fun, the students were so engaged. The performances were definitely the centrepiece of the night, and the canteen ran so seamlessly. ‘Lost Property’ definitely brought the house down; there is so much musical talent at Dinjerra!

I would like to give a huge thanks to Marta Rodrigues and Carla Elgueta for organising the whole event. This year’s Fiesta seemed to run so smoothly and there was a great sense of calm, which is due to all of their meticulous planning.

I hope you all felt the sense that the students were having the time of their lives, which was a fitting end of year celebration for us. 

End of Term Farewell:

Thank you to our students and families for a wonderful 2025 school year at Dinjerra! There are so many highlights for us over such a fun year, full of learning and laughter. I would like to thank our teaching, education support and administration staff for a wonderful year. 

I would like to wish all of our families a safe and happy holiday, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please stay safe on the holidays, and we look forward to seeing you back for a fresh year in 2026! 

End of Term 4 Information:

Please note the earlier dismissal for Term 4, which is at 1:30pm. Term 1,2 and 3 end of term dismissals are at 2:30pm. 

Last Day of Term 4:

Friday 19th December 

End of Year Assembly: 12:50pm

Dismissal, including the Year 6 Guard of Honour: 1:30pm

Start of 2026 Information:

Tuesday 27th January: no school for students 

Curriculum Day #1 - Staff will be focusing on: developing team norms, connecting to the 2026 work of the Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) and classroom preparation. 

Wednesday 28th January: Term 1 - no school for students. 

• SSG Meeting Day: families who have students with an Individual Learning Plan will have a 30-minute Student Support Group (SSG) meeting. 
• Prep Assessment Appointments: 30-minute individual appointments.

Thursday 29th January: 

• First Day of School for Year 1-6 students.
• Prep Assessment Appointments: 30-minute individual appointments.

Friday 30th January:

• First Day of School for Prep students, 9:00am to 1:00pm.