Merri-bek Mail

Principal's Report

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

We are nearing the end of the term and we can feel that Spring weather is not far away with cold mornings, sunny days and cold nights. Spring is such a wonderful time of year, full of hope and promise.

 

We have some exciting things occurring this term and in Term 4 including – Footy Day, Father’s Day and Special Persons Stalls, wear it purple day, R U Ok day? some new lunchtime clubs, Multicultural Day, PBL presentations, the swimming program and graduation.

 

We have had many new students starting at our school, so to our new families joining us, welcome to our Merri-bek Primary School Community. We look forward to developing a working relationship with you and trust that you and your child feel welcomed and supported in our learning community.

 

Happy Father’s Day or Special Person

While Fathers’ Day is a celebration of fatherhood, it is a time for us to honour, celebrate and to be thankful for all the men, father figures and male role models in our lives, including our dads, grandads, stepdads, uncles, godfathers, father-figures and even our male teachers. We recognise the very important role you have in the lives of children.

 

Thank you to all the dads and special people in our school community and we hope you had a wonderful Father’s Day/Special persons day last Sunday. 

 

A big thank you to PnC and all who were also involved in preparing and running our successful Father’s Day stall, and raffle.  We raised over $3,500. Thank you to all our families that donated goods, and MP Anthony Cianflone, who donated a hamper.  Thank you also to Nell, or PnC President and all the parents who assisted.  We are very fortunate to have such an active parent’s group.

 

Victorian Principals Association (VPA) Conference 2025 – Elevation: Shaping Futures

Earlier this month, Joe, Bianca, Tristan and I attended the VPA Conference. The theme Elevation: Shaping Futures set the tone for two inspiring days of learning, connection, and reflection on the future of school leadership.

 

We heard from an impressive line-up of keynote presenters:

  • Gilbert Enoka – on performing under pressure and sustaining high performance through clarity, values and mindset.
  • Katie Illes – on leading and engaging across generations, with strategies for connecting with today’s diverse staff teams.
  • Lee Crockett – on creating a culture of excellence, focusing on empowering teachers and inspiring learners.
  • Future Crunch – on optimism and innovation, reminding us of the power of positive storytelling in education.
  • AfterBurner – on thinking like a fighter pilot, applying lessons from high-pressure decision-making to school leadership.
  • Zoe Eather – on technology trends viewed through a human lens, ensuring innovation remains people-centred.

  • Dr Louise Mahler – on leading with gravitas, using voice, body language and presence to strengthen influence.

     

Our key take-home messages as a team were:

  • The importance of staying values-driven under pressure and modelling calm clarity for our school community.
  • The need to understand and engage with different generations in our staff team, using flexible approaches.
  • The power of creating a culture of excellence, where staff and students are both empowered to thrive.
  • The reminder that technology must remain human-centred, supporting relationships rather than replacing them.
  • That leadership presence- how we show up physically and emotionally; is as important as the decisions we make.

 

The conference was a powerful reminder that as leaders, our role is not just to manage schools day-to-day, but to lift our eyes to the future, inspire those around us, and shape the conditions where every student and teacher can flourish.

 

Maria Giordano

Principal