Leadership Report

Joseph Hess - Assistant Principal & Maths Learning Specialist

On Thursday 5th of February, two Year 5/6 classes were fortunate to welcome maths experts Doug Clarke and Anne Roche, who led an engaging and thought-provoking session focused on decimals and calendar concepts. Doug and Anne shared a range of different strategies for understanding and working with decimals, helping students see that there are multiple ways to approach mathematical thinking. They also explored how to read calendars and calculate different dates, breaking these ideas down into clear and practical steps.

The session was highly interactive, with students asking many insightful questions and showing strong curiosity about the concepts being discussed. Working collaboratively, students took part in hands-on activities that encouraged discussion, problem-solving, and peer learning. Through these activities, they were able to explore new ideas, test strategies, and deepen their understanding in a supportive and engaging environment.

Overall, it was a valuable learning experience that sparked enthusiasm for mathematics and highlighted the power of collaboration and flexible thinking.

Tristan Kelly - Literacy Learning Specialist

Literacy

Coaching

This year we are continuing to work with our Literacy Coach, Narissa Leung. Narissa will be working with different teams across the school each term and she had her first visit today with the Year 1/2 team. Narissa observed Literacy lessons in the morning before having a coaching session with the team. Some of the things that we focussed on were:

• Teaching students to transition calmly and efficiently between activities.
• Using assessment data to target each student’s specific phonics and high frequency word needs.
• Providing timely feedback.
• Providing opportunities for students to discuss engaging mentor texts. Here are some of the texts that Year 1/2 teachers will be reading to their classes in the next few weeks:

​​

Tutoring

Bianca and Holly have finalised the Literacy tutoring timetable and these sessions will begin next week. Students who are identified for additional support in literacy work with our amazing Literacy Tutor, Holly, in small groups based on Little Learners Love Literacy (LLLL). LLLL is an evidence-based, Australian-developed, early literacy program.

Costa Missailidis -Wellbeing and Engagement Leader

A Warm Welcome to 2026!

We hope all families had a safe, restful and enjoyable break and were able to spend some quality time together. As we begin the 2026 school year, we are very much looking forward to a fun-filled year of learning, growth and connection across our school community.

To start the year, students have been participating in a Start-Up Program designed to support wellbeing, build positive relationships and set clear expectations for learning and behaviour. A key focus during this time has been revisiting our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience, and exploring what these look like in action through our SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support) matrix.

Some of the key expectations students have been discussing include:

Respect

• Using kind and inclusive language with peers and adults
• Listening to others without interrupting
• Taking care of shared spaces and equipment

Responsibility

• Following instructions the first time
• Being prepared for learning and taking ownership of belongings
• Making safe and positive choices at school and in the playground

Resilience

• Having a go, even when learning feels challenging
• Using calm strategies to manage big feelings
• Asking for help when needed and trying again

We encourage families to use and reinforce this shared language at home, as consistency between school and home supports children’s confidence, emotional regulation and sense of belonging. Simple conversations about respectful behaviour, taking responsibility and persisting through challenges can make a powerful difference.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to working together to ensure 2026 is a positive and successful year for every student.

Michelle Carland - Disability Inclusion Leader

Dear Merri-bek Families,

Welcome to our Foundation families and welcome back to our Merri-bek families. We are looking forward to a wonderful year.

Please refer to the following information about procedures for submitting questionnaires and allied health reports that may be required by external professionals.

If your child’s psychologist, paediatrician, speech therapist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, or any other allied health or medical professional has requested that the school complete a questionnaire or provide information, please email these forms directly to michelle.carland@education.vic.gov.auand bianca.hudson@education.vic.gov.au.  

If your family wishes to share recent reports, assessments, or updates from allied health providers, such as psychological evaluations, speech or occupational therapy reports, developmental assessments, or paediatric reviews, please email copies to  michelle.carland@education.vic.gov.au and bianca.hudson@education.vic.gov.au.

Having access to these reports supports our ability to understand your child’s needs and plan appropriately for them in the new year. All documents will be managed confidentially and in line with school privacy requirements.

We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain clear communication with the professionals supporting your child. 

Kind regards,

Bianca Hudson (Assistant Principal) and Michelle Carland (Disability Inclusion Leading Teacher)