Dear Williamstown Families,

It has been a fantastic start to the term, and I would like to thank you for your continued engagement with and support of our campus. The partnership between families and school plays an important role in creating a positive and supportive learning environment for our students, and we greatly appreciate your ongoing involvement.

As we look towards the second half of the term, there is a real sense of excitement, but also a little sadness as we approach the end of the Middle Years journey for our Year 9 students. It has been wonderful to see these students continue to mature, develop and grow throughout their time at Williamstown. While we are incredibly proud of how far they have come, we will certainly miss having them as part of our daily campus community. We are looking forward to giving them a memorable finish to the term and celebrating their achievements and contributions to Williamstown.

There is plenty happening across the campus over the coming weeks, so I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight some important dates and upcoming events.

Wellbeing Day | Friday 13 November

In Week 6, we will be holding a special Wellbeing Day on Friday 13 November.

Students will participate in an alternative program focused on connection, enjoyment and positive relationships. The day has been organised and funded through the fantastic work of our Youth Change Makers in partnership with Hobsons Bay City Council.

It is wonderful to see our students taking an active role in creating positive experiences for their peers and contributing to the wellbeing of our campus community. We are looking forward to a great day!

Williamstown Campus Talent Quest | Friday 20 November

One of the exciting events coming up is the return of the Williamstown Campus Talent Quest!

After a few years away, we are bringing this much-loved event back, and we are encouraging students to get involved. Whether they can sing, dance, perform magic, juggle or have another unique talent to share, we want to see it!

The Talent Quest will be a fantastic opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zone, showcase their abilities and celebrate the creativity and talent within our campus. There will also be some great prizes up for grabs, along with special guest performances from students at our Paisley Campus.

Students interested in performing can audition with Madam Hatz or one of our music teachers.

Important dates:

Auditions close: Monday 16 November
Talent Quest: Friday 20 November

I encourage students to give it a go. You never know what hidden talents we might discover!

Year 7–9 Examinations | 30 November – 2 December

Our Year 7–9 students will undertake their end-of-year examinations from Monday 30 November until Wednesday 2 December.

Examinations provide an important opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning and reflect on the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout the year. They also help students build confidence and develop the study habits and examination techniques that will become increasingly important as they move into the Senior Years.

Families can play an important role in helping students prepare. Here are my top five simple tips to support your child during the examination period:

Create a dedicated study space: Encourage your child to have a quiet, organised space at home where they can study without distractions.
Establish a routine: Help students develop a manageable study timetable, spreading their preparation across several days rather than leaving everything until the night before.
Encourage short study sessions: Regular, focused study sessions with short breaks are often more effective than trying to study for hours at a time.
Check in and offer encouragement: Ask your child what they are working on and whether they need help organising their revision. A little encouragement can make a big difference.
Prioritise sleep and wellbeing: Remind students that getting enough sleep, eating well and taking breaks are just as important as studying.

Most importantly, encourage your child to do their best. Examinations are an opportunity to demonstrate their learning and identify areas for further growth, rather than something to be overly worried about.

Year 9 Farewell Assembly | Wednesday 2 December

On Wednesday 2 December, we will officially farewell our Year 9 students from the Williamstown Campus as they prepare to transition to the next stage of their education at Paisley.

We will celebrate their time at Williamstown with a special campus assembly in the hall commencing at 1:30 pm. Parents and families are warmly invited to attend and share in this important milestone as we recognise the achievements, friendships and memories made throughout their Middle Years journey.

We look forward to seeing as many families there as possible.

Year 9 Funfields Excursion

Our Year 9 students will also enjoy a day at Funfields, joining Year 9 students from the Altona North Campus for a day of activities, rides and fun.

Students should come prepared for a full day outdoors, bringing:

A packed lunch and snacks (a sausage sizzle will also be provided throughout the day).
A water bottle.
Appropriate clothing and footwear for the weather and activities.
Sunscreen and a hat.
Spending money, if they wish to purchase additional food or items.

Students are welcome to bring some money, although a sausage sizzle will be available during the day.

Spaces are limited, so please ensure you complete the required consent and payment through Compass as soon as possible.

Year 8–10 Orientation | 7–11 December

From 7–11 December, students will participate in our Year 8–10 Orientation Program. This provides a valuable opportunity for students to experience some of the subjects they will be undertaking next year, meet different teachers and become familiar with the expectations and learning experiences ahead.

For our Year 9 students, this will be an important transition as they move to the Paisley Campus and commence their Senior Years subjects. We want to ensure students feel confident, prepared and excited about this next stage of their learning journey.

Activities Week | 14–16 December

To finish the year, students will participate in our Activities Week from 14–16 December.

A range of on-campus activities and excursions have been planned, including a visit to Adventure Park. These experiences provide students with an opportunity to connect with their peers, try new activities and celebrate the end of another school year.

Some activities have limited places available, so please ensure consent and payment are completed through Compass as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

There is certainly plenty to look forward to as we move into the second half of the term. As always, I encourage families to keep an eye on Compass for further information, reminders and consent requirements relating to upcoming events.

Thank you again for your continued support of the Williamstown Campus. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this community and appreciate the work of our staff, students and families in making Williamstown such a positive, welcoming and supportive place to learn.

I look forward to finishing the term on a high note and celebrating the many successes of our students.

Kind regards,

Michael Sperling

Campus Principal

Williamstown Campus

9N Canned Food Drive – Make a Difference!

Dear Bayside Families and Staff,

As part of their Voyager Make a Difference project, our 9N students are collecting canned food to support the Hobsons Bay Christmas Drive.

With food insecurity affecting millions of Australian households every day and demand for support growing across Hobsons Bay, our students hope to make a meaningful difference by helping local individuals and families in need.

Our goal is to collect at least 500 cans of food at our Williamstown campus!

We need your help to make this happen. All families and staff are warmly invited to contribute by donating suitable canned food items.

Donation details

When: 2–27 November (Weeks 5–8)
Where: Williamstown campus front office
What: Unopened canned food items that are within their use-by or best-before dates, with intact labels and no damage or dents.

As an added incentive, prizes will be awarded to the students / class who donate the most canned food!

Every donation, big or small, will help us work towards our goal and support members of our local community who need it most.

Thank you for supporting our 9N students as they put their Make a Difference project into action. Together, we can help make a positive difference!

Thank you, 9N Class

https://www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Community/Community-services/Community-support/Hobsons-Bay-Christmas-Drive

List of suggested items for donation

Tea, coffee and hot chocolate
Long-life milk
Pancake mix
Breakfast cereal
Juice, cordial and soft drink
Pasta and pasta sauce
Instant rice, soup and noodles
Tinned fish
Tinned vegetables, beans and fruit
Gravy mix
Popcorn, chips and pretzels
Spreads, including peanut butter, jam, Vegemite
Mixed nuts
Crackers
Custard powder
Christmas puddings and panettone
Christmas bon bons
Chocolate
Cookies and sweet biscuits
Lollies
Cake and cupcake mix

Bayside P-12 College Newsletter

Be a Learner, Be Respectful, Be Responsible

Issue 14 · 05 Nov 2026

In this issue