Principal's Message
OSHC Update
I am absolutely thrilled to share that Bolinda Primary School's Before and After School Care (OSHC) service will officially commence on Monday 3 August.
This is something that has been in the works since November last year, and to finally see it become a reality is incredibly exciting. Establishing an OSHC service has been a significant undertaking, and I know it will make a real difference for many of our current and future families.
I am also delighted to introduce our OSHC Coordinator, Emma Collins. Emma is an experienced teacher and the mother of two children, giving her an understanding of the importance of providing a safe, welcoming and engaging service that supports busy families.
Emma has a passion for the outdoors, enjoys arts and crafts, and is already looking forward to creating a fun, caring and inclusive environment where children can begin and end their school day.
As with any new service, we expect there will be a few baby steps as we find our rhythm, and we appreciate your patience and support during these early weeks. We are committed to continually refining the program and ensuring it becomes a valued part of our school community.
I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported us throughout this journey.
More information will be sent out soon but we can't wait to welcome our first children through the doors on Monday 3 August!
PFA
Last week, we were delighted to hold our first Parents & Friends Association (PFA) meeting in quite some time.
A sincere thank you to the parents who were able to attend and contribute their ideas and enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see the PFA back together as we begin planning ways to further strengthen our school community.
The meeting focused on upcoming events and opportunities to get involved, including preparations for the Bolinda-Monegeetta CFA Bonfire Night in October—an event that is always a fantastic opportunity to showcase our school and connect with the wider community.
Over the coming weeks, you'll see requests for volunteers and support through Compass. Whether you can spare an hour or lend a hand at an event, every contribution makes a real difference. Our school thrives because of the support of our families, and we're looking forward to working together to make these events the best they can be.
Special Guest Speakers
Over the past two weeks, we were fortunate to welcome two very special guest speakers to Bolinda Primary School, each sharing their own unique experiences with our students.
Ryan – Sharing Indigenous Culture
As part of our learning connected to NAIDOC Week, Ada's dad, Ryan, visited the school to share his knowledge of Indigenous culture. Ryan spoke with students about culture, traditions and history, and brought along a number of items for students to see and learn about firsthand.
We sincerely thank Ryan for generously giving his time to help broaden our students' understanding and appreciation of Australia's First Nations peoples and cultures.
A Visit from Former Student, Nysa Males
We were also delighted to welcome back former Bolinda Primary School student Nysa Males, who is currently studying Psychology at Furman University in the United States while competing at an exceptionally high level in college athletics. Her achievements are remarkable as Nysa is currently ranked 508th in the world in the women's 1500m.
Nysa shared stories about her time as a student at Bolinda and answered a wide range of thoughtful questions from our students. Most importantly, Nysa reminded our students that big dreams often begin in small communities. Her visit was inspiring for everyone, and we are hopeful to welcome her back next year to work with our students on some athletics training.
Wood Raffle
A huge thank you to everyone who supported our recent wood raffle.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised $760.
Congratulations to our lucky winner from Lancefield, who will be receiving their trailer load of firewood next week. The funds raised will go towards purchasing new furniture for our students, helping us continue to improve our learning spaces and provide the best possible environment for our children.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support of Bolinda Primary School.
End of Term Slumber (without the slumber) Party
What a fantastic way to wrap up another busy term!
Students arrived dressed in their favourite pyjamas, oodies and comfy clothes, bringing along pillows, blankets and even bean bags to create the perfect cosy movie experience. It was wonderful to see everyone settle in for the morning before the celebrations really got underway.
The fun continued with a range of dog-themed party games, plenty of laughter and, of course, delicious food. A highlight of the day was the extraordinary celebration cake, which was enjoyed by everyone before students hit the dance floor to finish the term with plenty of energy and smiles.
A very special thank you goes to our parent helpers, whose support helped make the day such a success. We'd also like to thank Ms Rapetti for coordinating the event and ensuring everything ran so smoothly.
Finally, congratulations to our Junior Class students, who did an outstanding job preparing the food for the celebration. Their effort, teamwork and pride in helping make the day special for everyone was wonderful to see.
It was a fitting way to celebrate a fantastic term together as a school community.
School Council
School Council recently received a response from the office of the Minister for Education, Ben Carroll, regarding our advocacy for improved school facilities.
While the response addressed some of the matters that had been raised, School Council believes there are still several important questions that require further clarification. As a result, School Council is currently reviewing the response and refining its position to ensure we receive clear, transparent and comprehensive answers on behalf of our school community.
We remain committed to advocating for the facilities our students deserve and will continue to keep families informed as this work progresses.