Acting Principal's Blog

Good Afternoon Parents Students, Staff and Friends of Derinya,  

As always, Derinya has been a hive of activity. Our senior students are preparing to take the stage in this afternoon’s and tonight’s performances of What Goes Bump in the Night. We were fortunate enough to enjoy a preview during last week’s dress rehearsal, and audiences are certainly in for a treat. Congratulations to all of our performers for the dedication they have shown in learning their lines, songs and dance routines. A heartfelt thank you also goes to Mrs Morrison, the Performing Arts team and our staff for the countless hours they have invested in bringing the production to life.

Mrs Pye returns to school next week and will no doubt be delighted by the incredible efforts of the families who generously gave up some of their time to attend last Friday’s Twilight Working Bee. In less than two hours, approximately 25 families moved mountains of mulch, refreshed pathways, tidied garden beds and revitalised our sandpits. The evening concluded with a well-earned sausage sizzle to celebrate a job well done. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who was able to lend a hand. I would also like to acknowledge a valued and longstanding member of our community, grandfather Jon Pretty, who has been generously volunteering his time around the school grounds. Jon has restored several benches and rejuvenated the garden area near the basketball court, and the results are fantastic. Thank you, Jon, for your ongoing contribution to our school community.

On Tuesday 9 June at 7:30pm, we will be hosting a special parent presentation, Inform & Empower: Raising Kids in a Digital World. Delivered by an eSafety educator and psychologist, the session will explore important topics including cyberbullying, social media, screen time, artificial intelligence and online safety. The Derinya community has always placed a strong emphasis on supporting the wellbeing of our children, both online and offline, and we would love to see a strong turnout for this free event. Registration details can be found later in this newsletter. We are also extremely grateful to Bendigo Bank for providing the funding that has made this event possible.

Raising Kids in a Digital World - for Parents & Carers | Videos & Movies on Vimeo

By all accounts, the Grade 5 Camp to Phillip Island was a tremendous success. The experiences, challenges and opportunities provided throughout the camp created lasting memories for our students. Thank you to our dedicated teachers and parent volunteers who gave up their time to support the camp and ensure everyone returned home safely—undoubtedly with plenty of stories to share.

Finally, a message for parents of children riding eBikes and eScooters in our local community. We continue to hear concerning reports of young people being seriously injured, and in some cases losing their lives, while using these devices. Many have been modified to travel at speeds exceeding 60 km/h. For most adults, travelling at these speeds was only possible after obtaining a licence and learning to do so within a regulated environment. I encourage all families to carefully consider the risks associated with these vehicles and to have open conversations with their children about safe and responsible use. Our children’s safety is, and always will be, our highest priority.

Best wishes to all of our performers this evening. We look forward to seeing you shine on stage!

Stuart Charles