From the Principal's Desk

Welcome back to the 2026 school year. It has been a fantastic start across both our Junior and Senior Campuses, with students settling quickly into routines and classrooms already buzzing with engagement and learning. 

I have had the pleasure of visiting most classes over the past fortnight and it has been wonderful to see students confident, connected and ready for the year ahead.

Last night’s Welcome BBQ was a great success. We loved opening our classrooms to families and sharing a light dinner together. Events like these are a reminder of the strength of our community and the value of families and staff coming together in a relaxed and welcoming space.

Our Term One Key Dates calendars are included in this newsletter for both campuses 

Term 1 Key Dates 2026

A few upcoming highlights include:

• Student Support Group (SSG) Day – Wednesday 11 February

  This is a student-free day for regular classes. Families are invited to attend meetings to discuss learning goals, adjustments and supports for the semester. Students are welcome to attend alongside their parents or carers.

   

• Parent Hub Mornings running fortnightly at both campuses. These are informal drop-in opportunities for coffee, connection and conversation with our Wellbeing and Leadership Teams.

   

• Harmony Week celebrations in March, which will see both campuses recognising and celebrating diversity and inclusion across our school.

We encourage families to keep the calendars handy as there are a number of exciting events and student-free days scheduled throughout the term.

Welcoming New and Returning Staff

We are thrilled to welcome several new staff members, along with some familiar faces stepping into new roles.

Junior Campus

• Georgia Walton – Teacher
• Taylor Baldi – Teacher
• Penelope Schirmer – Teacher
• Ben Ladson – Teacher
• Phoebe Balbona – Teacher
• Britt Maunder – ESS
• Leigh Egan – ESS
• Sophie Collins – ESS
• Mickeely Gray – ESS

• Lara Berens – ESS

   

Senior Campus

• Arti Goundar – Teacher

• Matt Gill – Upper Middle Years Leading Teacher

   

We are also excited to celebrate Tim Young, well known to many families from the Junior Campus, who has moved into the role of Inclusion Outreach Coach (IOC). Tim will remain a valued member of the Banmira team while also supporting other local schools to build inclusive practices. This is a fantastic initiative and a reflection of the expertise within our staff.

School Council- Parent Vacancies

We currently have three parent vacancies on our School Council for 2026 and warmly welcome parents to self-nominate. Please contact Francine Grant at the Junior Campus for further details.

School Council meets twice per term, typically on a Monday evening, and plays an important role in shaping the school’s direction. Council members contribute to policy development, financial oversight and strategic planning, helping ensure strong governance and community voice in decision-making. 

We also extend our sincere thanks to Arna Brown and Alicia Silvera who have completed their two-year tenure. Their contributions to Banmira have been greatly appreciated.

It has been a positive and energetic start to the year and we are excited for the term ahead. Thank you to our students, families and staff for the warm welcome back and the continued partnership that makes Banmira such a special place to learn and grow together.

Jesse Whittaker

Acting Principal