Principal's Address

WEEK 6 | TERM 1

Week 6 Newsletter Update

It is genuinely wonderful to be back at Deanside Primary School and to once again immerse myself in the daily life of our community. Returning from leave has reminded me just how special this school is — the energy in our classrooms, the warmth in our staff interactions, and the pride our students show in their learning and behaviour. Reconnecting with our team and our students, and witnessing the continued growth of our school, has been both energising and reaffirming of my commitment to education at Deanside Primary School.

I would like to sincerely acknowledge and thank Lina for her leadership as Acting Principal during my absence. Lina did a fantastic job guiding the school with clarity and confidence, ensuring continuity across all operational and instructional priorities. Stepping into that role carries significant responsibility, and she did so with professionalism and composure. Our community is stronger because of her dedication and steady leadership during that time. Thank you, Lina.

I also want to recognise every member of staff. As our school continues to grow, maintaining a positive, structured and student-centred culture takes collective effort. Your commitment to high expectations, consistency and collaboration ensures that our students experience stability and excellence, even as our school continues to expand. Growth brings complexity — but it also brings opportunity — and you have navigated that balance exceptionally well.

Sports Field Transformation

Our sports field has transformed into what will soon be an exceptional play and physical activity space for our students. The establishment phase of the grass is critical and requires approximately 12 weeks to properly embed and strengthen its root system. During this time, we will continue protecting the surface to ensure its long-term durability and quality.

We are all looking forward to reopening this space once it is ready for sustained student use — it will be a tremendous asset to our school. Thank you to our community for your patience while this important area is restored. A special thank you to our students for their understanding while the space remains out of bounds — it truly will be worth the wait.

Shade Sail Installation

This week also marked the installation of two shade sails at the western ends of Learning Community A and Learning Community B. It has been pleasing to see these structures finally in place. They provide an additional layer of sun protection and enhance the functionality of our outdoor learning and play spaces, particularly during the hotter months.

These improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to student wellbeing, safety and thoughtful school design.

Road Safety and Community Safety

I would also like to reiterate an important message that Lina has consistently communicated in previous newsletters — keeping our students safe during drop-off and pick-up is a shared responsibility.

The safety of our children as they arrive at and leave school depends on every adult in our community following the road rules carefully and consistently.

No U-turns are permitted in front of the school. A solid white line now runs through the centre of the road. These manoeuvres are illegal and police may issue fines. We continue to observe drivers performing U-turns in this area, which blocks traffic and creates unsafe conditions. Please use surrounding streets to safely loop around and find an appropriate place to park or collect your children.

Exiting the School

The end of the school day is our busiest time, with families arriving as students are dismissed. While we regularly speak with students about expected behaviours when transitioning around the school, we ask families to reinforce these same expectations.

Please encourage children to walk, remain patient and avoid playing chasey or ball games during this busy period. Unfortunately, this is when accidents are most likely to occur — students can collide with others and visitors can be unintentionally knocked over.

If we all take our time and exit the school grounds calmly and safely, it helps ensure a smooth and secure dismissal for everyone. Thank you for your continued support.

Construction Around the School

As a growing community, it is encouraging to see important amenities developing within our suburb. Currently, two major projects are underway to the east of the school — the new Melton City Council community facility and the Coles precinct development.

We remain in ongoing communication with both building companies to ensure that the impact on our school community is carefully managed. Discussions continue around traffic flow, truck movements during peak times, site access points and safe parking for families.

This week, I met with the site manager for the Coles development and requested modifications to sections of the temporary fencing to allow for additional car parking spaces closer to the school. These discussions have been constructive, and I am hopeful they will result in improved short-term parking arrangements and safer access for families.

We will continue to advocate strongly for our community throughout the duration of these builds and provide updates as further changes are confirmed.

REMINDER – Public Holiday

A reminder to families that Monday 9th March 2026 is the Labour Day Public Holiday.

There will be no school on this day. Please also note that TeamKids will not be operating.

School will resume as normal on Tuesday.

Happy International Women’s Day- Sunday 8th March

To all the women in our community and around the world — we acknowledge and celebrate you.

International Women’s Day recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is also an important opportunity to:- Celebrate the achievements of women and girls- Reflect on progress toward gender equality- Commit to creating a more inclusive and equitable future

In our school community, we are fortunate to learn and work alongside strong, capable and inspiring women every day — our staff, our students, our mothers, carers and community members. Their leadership, resilience and contribution shape who we are as a school.

As a Principal in a school with many female staff and students, and as a father of two daughters, I believe it is essential that we continue to recognise this day with purpose. Our role in education is not only to celebrate achievement, but to actively model respect, opportunity and equity for all.

International Women’s Day invites us to imagine — and work toward — a world free from bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Together, through our daily actions and expectations, we can help build a future where equality is not aspirational, but embedded in everyday practice.

School Council

Thank you to Karen Costabile, Emma Moore, Syed Asad Ali Taqui and Abdul Majid Ghiasee for putting themselves forward to nominate for School Council. We greatly appreciate your willingness to contribute your time and perspective to our school community.

It is wonderful to see such positive interest in supporting the work of School Council and strengthening an active and engaged quorum.

As families would have seen in recent correspondence, we received four nominations for three available parent positions. As a result, a ballot was required.

Thank you to all families who have taken the time to participate in the voting process and return their ballot papers. Your involvement plays an important role in shaping the future direction of our school. There is still time to vote — voting closes Tuesday 17th March at 4pm. Please look for the white envelope, most likely at the bottom of your eldest child’s school bag 😊

In the next newsletter edition, I look forward to officially announcing our 2026 School Council quorum.

School Values

Our school values remain central to everything we do. Please continue to show Respect, Be Responsible, Strive for Excellence and demonstrate genuine Care for others and the environment.

As we move through the second half of the term, our focus remains clear: high-quality teaching and learning, a strong professional culture and thoughtful growth. I am proud of where we are, encouraged by our progress, and excited about what we are continuing to build together as a community.

It is truly great to be back.

Thank you.

Stuart Telford

Principal