Primary School

Lakeside Students RISE Up

Lakeside Students RISE Up

As part of our endeavours to acknowledge and highlight positive behaviour, we present RISE Awards at Flag Assembly each Monday. RISE is an acronym for Resilience, Integrity, Service and Empathy. Each teacher identifies one student who has made a concerted effort to display the attribute of the week. This might be someone who exemplifies it readily, or it might be given to someone who has worked hard to really improve themselves in that area. These are our key character traits for the Primary School which help to reinforce our school behaviour expectations. 

R - Resilience

I - Integrity

S - Service

E - Empathy

Parents are welcome to attend our Flag Assemblies, held on the Primary basketball court.

It is my great pleasure to announce that the following children recently received awards:

Mr Craig Kupke

Head of Primary School

MoPA: A Day of Discovery and Delight

Our Prep students recently enjoyed their very first school excursion with a magical visit to the Museum of Play and Art (MoPA) in Sandringham. Excitement buzzed through the air as the children boarded the bus, ready for a day full of exploration and fun.

MoPA provided a sensory-rich, immersive environment that brought learning to life in the most engaging way. The children were captivated by the colourful, interactive exhibits, where they could touch, move and experiment freely. From creative art-making stations to building zones and light displays, every space was designed to spark imagination and encourage hands-on discovery.

Play-based learning was at the heart of the day. Children worked together to build structures, solve puzzles and explore cause-and-effect through movement and play. They developed important social, cognitive and motor skills—all while having an incredible amount of fun!

A highlight of the excursion was story time in MoPA’s cosy reading nook. Surrounded by soft lighting and plush seating, the children were transported into imaginative worlds through engaging stories read aloud by MoPA staff. The calm, nurturing environment allowed for a quiet moment of reflection and listening.

Some Prep comments:

• I loved the cars and tracks.

• The best bit was going up the stairs and looking through the windows.

• It was the best day!

• I liked having friends from the other Prep in my group.

• I fell asleep in the bus coming back to school.

This excursion was not only a joyful day out, but also a meaningful extension of our learning in the classroom. It supported creativity, collaboration and curiosity—core foundations of early education. We’re so proud of how confidently our Preps approached their first school outing and can’t wait for the next adventure! 

Mrs Sonia Vengust

Prep Homeroom Teacher

PBL: Sharing Joy

Year 4 students have been deeply engaged in their Project-Based Learning (PBL) unit titled "Sharing Joy", and we’re thrilled to share their progress with you.

Students have been busy researching their special person, planning meaningful gifts and exploring how to bring joy through thoughtful design. 

As part of the creative process, they have been:

• Designing and crafting gift boxes using hard paper as a prototype model.
• Working with model clay to create personalised gifts.
• Rehearsing and reflecting on their ideas and how they link to real-world connections.
• Exploring how this project connects to the Australian Curriculum through HASS (relationships and community), Literacy (report writing, reflection), and Mathematics (measurement and planning dimensions).

This unit has not only strengthened academic skills but also built empathy, gratitude and creativity.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement throughout this project.

Mr Shadrach Babu

Year 4 Homeroom Teacher

ALWS - Walk My Way - Stepping Out So Others Can Step Up 

In the final week of Term 2, students from Years 3–12 participated in the ALWS Walk My Way fundraiser, held on July 1st, 2nd and 4th. This special event was an opportunity for our school community to live out our core values of Service, Compassion, Love and Excellence and was organised by our Year 5 students as part of their Project-Based Learning unit.

Students from Years 3 to 12 walked laps around the lake, with distances adjusted for each year level. Meanwhile, our Prep to Year 2 students completed a shorter, supervised walk within the school grounds, supported by Year 5 student mentors. The event helped students of all ages understand the power of walking with purpose and unity.

Through this initiative, our school raised funds for Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS), helping provide access to education for children living in poverty around the world. Each student was invited to bring a gold coin donation and many embraced the opportunity to contribute to a cause bigger than themselves.

A special shout out goes to Youssef in Year 5A who wrote a letter to the Pakenham MP Emma Vulin. Emma forwarded Youssef’s letter onto the Prime Minister and donated $260 to the Walk My Way fundraiser.

Walk My Way was more than just a fundraiser—it was a heartfelt demonstration of compassion in action. We are proud of the way our students walked with intention and purpose and we thank our families for their support in making this event such a success.

Mr Andrew Cavalin

Year 5 Homeroom Teacher

Upper Primary Leadership Workshop

This term, the Upper Primary cohort participated in a comprehensive full-day Aspire Higher Leadership Workshop. Facilitated by the experienced team at Unleashing Personal Potential, this workshop delivered an engaging and interactive experience designed to unite our senior students in fostering a positive school community.

The workshop was structured into three focused sessions, each drawing upon the foundational acronym A.S.P.I.R.E:

A - Take Action to have a go

S - Serve, be kind and give others a go

P - Persist through struggles and setbacks

I - Influence others and set the example

R - Respect for people, groups and equipment

E - Encourage each other

The three workshop sessions focused on the following key areas:

Leading With or Without the Badge: Students explored the meaning of leadership by example, examining how to lead through influence and kindness regardless of formal titles or positions.

The EPIC Race: This fast-paced, engaging team challenge required all students to actively encourage and support one another, celebrating collective effort and achievement.

Knowing Me, Growing Me: This final session provided students with the opportunity to develop deeper self-awareness by identifying their strengths and learning to recognise and appreciate the diverse strengths of their peers.

All participants concluded the day with renewed energy and enthusiasm to lead by example, serve as positive role models and aspire to reach their full potential within our school community.

Miss Leah Kelly

Year 6 Homeroom Teacher

Victorian Premiers Reading Challenge 

We are excited to announce the launch of the Victorian Premiers Reading Challenge on Monday, 24th March, and will run until 30th August this year. This initiative aims to foster a love of reading among children and students, encouraging them to engage with a variety of books throughout the year.

Since its inception in 2005, the Victorian Premiers Reading Challenge has seen over 4.5 million students participate and collectively read more than 63 million books. It is a wonderful opportunity for your child to not only enhance their literacy skills but also to discover the joy and wonder that comes from reading.

The Challenge is designed to cater to the varying reading stages of our students. For children in Prep to Year 2, the goal is to read or 'experience' 30 books alongside their parents and teachers. Students from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read a total of 15 books. To participate, students can either read independently or share the reading experience with a family member or educator. Once a book has been read, you can log into your account to record your child's progress.

In the coming week, we will be sending individual logins to each family, allowing you and your child to track their reading journey. We strongly encourage all families to involve themselves in this initiative, as it not only helps in developing reading skills but also builds a supportive culture around literature within our school community.

Thank you for your continued support in promoting literacy and encouraging a life-long love of reading in our students. Should you have any questions regarding the Victorian Premiers Reading Challenge, please feel free to reach out to your Classroom teacher/English Teacher.