Principal's report

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the Kulin nation; past, present and those who will walk with us into the future. We acknowledge the rich and unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas, educational practices and the hopes of all First Nations Peoples. We do this in the spirit of reconciliation as we move to a place of justice and partnership - together we work, learn, play and care for one another and this land.

Farewell Mrs Renehan

At the end of this term, Mrs Helen Renehan will retire after a fantastic teaching career. Helen has made an incredible contribution to the Department of Education and Kalinda Primary School.

Helen is an incredibly knowledgable and caring teacher who has made a great impact on all of the students she has taught. I have personally learnt a lot about teaching from Helen, and I also love how much she enjoys every aspect of being a teacher. Helen has loved going on school camps, singing with students and she has been a great mentor to many teachers over the year.

Helen's class, which she has shared with Ms Boulton, will be taught full-time by Ms Boulton from the beginning of next term. We will still also get to see Helen regularly around the school as she does some CRT work here.

I would like to wish Helen all the best in her retirement and I know she will be kept busy as a keen traveller and in looking after her grandchildren. 

This Friday morning at 9:15 am we will be farewelling Helen at our assembly. 

Sister-school visiting us in August

We are very excited to announce our Sister School, Lilyvale Elementary School from Mito, Japan, will be visiting us from the 13th to the 19th August. This will be a great opportunity for us to welcome the students and staff who visit us, teach them about school in Australia, and also learn more about Japan from them.

Early next term we will be sending out information and calling for Expressions of Interest for Kalinda families who would be able to host a student from Lilyvale during this time. It is a great experience to host a student and one where lifelong connections can be formed.

If interested in doing so, please keep your eye out for further information that we will send out at the beginning of term.

During the upcoming term break, on my own personal holiday to Japan, I will be visiting Lilyvale to give a speech on behalf of Kalinda at their commencement ceremony for their new students (the school year begins in April) and also work with them in preparing for their visit.

Japanese Intern - request for Host Families

From the beginning of next term we will be welcoming a new Japanese intern to the school, Moe Hamada. Hamada sensei will be an intern at Kalinda until the end of 2025.

If interested in hosting Hamada sensei, or would like to find out more information about hosting, then please contact our Japanese Intern coordinator, Ms Jess White at Jessica.white@education.vic.gov.au

Please see more information about Hamada sensei below:

Tours are open 

Foundation 2026 Tours have begun. If you would like to book a tour please do so via the link below.

https://www.trybooking.com/CXNOD

We are kind. We are resilient. We are respectful.