Principal's Address

WEEK 2 | TERM 3

PRINCIPAL'S AWARD

Dear Deanside Families

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope all of our students, families and staff enjoyed a relaxing break and are feeling refreshed for another exciting term. It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back, with classrooms once again filled with energy and enthusiasm. Hearing students share stories of their holiday adventures has been a fantastic way to begin the term.

It is hard to believe we are already in the second half of the school year. While there is still much to look forward to in 2026, planning for 2027 is already well underway. As our school continues to grow, we are looking ahead to new staff, expanded facilities and exciting opportunities that will further enhance learning for our students.

As I reflect on how far Deanside Primary School has come since opening in 2022, I am incredibly proud of the strong culture and sense of belonging we have built together. Today, our thriving community of more than 720 students is defined not just by its growth, but by the values of Respect, Responsibility, Excellence and Care that are evident every day.  One of the greatest measures of our success is seeing students who are excited to come to school each day. Regular attendance and punctuality play a vital role in supporting learning, building friendships and developing confidence. Thank you to our families for your continued partnership in ensuring your children arrive at school every day, ready to learn and make the most of every opportunity.

Grade 3/4 Camp – YMCA Camp – Lake Dewar

This week, I had the pleasure of joining our Grade 3/4 students at YMCA Camp Lake Dewar, and what an incredible experience it was. School camps provide so much more than just a few days away from the classroom, it give students the opportunity to challenge themselves, develop independence, build resilience and create lifelong memories alongside their classmates. It was wonderful to see our students embrace every opportunity with enthusiasm and a willingness to step outside their comfort zones. Whether they were soaring down the flying fox, baking traditional bush damper, celebrating their first successful shot in archery or navigating the muddy trails on off-road scooters, there were countless moments of achievement, laughter and so much fun!

I would like to sincerely thank our dedicated staff who attended the camp and generously gave up time with their own families to provide such a memorable experience for our students. Your care, encouragement and commitment ensured every child felt supported and able to make the most of every activity. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Mr Laiton for the exceptional planning, preparation and organisation that went into making the camp such a success. His attention to detail and countless hours of work behind the scenes ensured everything ran smoothly, allowing our students to enjoy an outstanding camp experience that they will remember for many years to come.

Student-Led Conferences

Our Student-Led Conferences were a wonderful celebration of learning and provided students with the opportunity to proudly showcase their progress and achievements. It was fantastic to see the excitement and confidence with which students shared their learning, reflected on the growth they have made and discussed the goals they have set for the future. Their ability to articulate their learning journey demonstrated not only the knowledge and skills they have developed, but also their growing independence and ownership of their learning.  I would like to thank our families for their enthusiastic participation and our staff for supporting students to prepare for these meaningful conversations. The conferences reinforced the strong partnership between home and school, with families celebrating achievements, gaining valuable insights into their child's learning and working together to support the next steps in their educational journey. Seeing our students speak with such pride, confidence and enthusiasm was a wonderful reflection of the positive learning culture at our school.

Recruitment news

I am pleased to announce that Barjinder Kaur and Armardeep Kaur have joined our Education Support team from the beginning of Term 3.  We warmly welcome them  to our school community.

In my last newsletter, I was pleased to announce the appointment of our new Assistant Principals, Spira Antonopoulos and Stacey Bellin. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen personal circumstances, Stacey made the difficult decision not to commence in the role. While we are naturally disappointed, we completely understand that personal circumstances can change, and we wish Stacey every success and happiness in her future educational journey.  As a result, we have recommenced the recruitment process to appoint an Assistant Principal and look forward to welcoming a new member to our leadership team in the near future.  Please make Spira feel welcome when you see her next week.

Farewell staff

This week we sadly farewell two valued members of our staff, each of whom has made a positive contribution to the Deanside Primary School community.

I would particularly like to congratulate Ises on her successful appointment as a Learning Specialist at the new Kolorer College in Melton. This is a wonderful and well-deserved professional opportunity, and we are incredibly proud to see her take this next step in her career.  During her time at Deanside Primary School, Ises has inspired our students through engaging and innovative STEM learning experiences, fostering curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills. She has played an important role in developing our STEM program and encouraging students to think critically, explore new ideas and embrace the excitement of learning. We sincerely thank Ises for the passion, dedication and expertise she has brought to our school and for the lasting impact she has had on our students.  I know our entire school community will join me in thanking her for her outstanding contribution and wishing her every success and happiness in the next chapter of her educational journey.

We also say farewell to Issy, who is leaving Deanside Primary School to pursue full-time university studies. While we are sad to see her go, we are excited to see her take this next step towards achieving her career aspirations.  Since joining our school, Issy has been a valued member of our administration team. Her warm smile, positive attitude and bubbly personality have made her a welcoming presence in our front office, ensuring students, families and visitors always felt supported and greeted with kindness. Her willingness to help, enthusiasm and commitment to our school community will certainly be missed by both staff and families alike.  On behalf of the entire Deanside Primary School community, I would like to sincerely thank Issy for her dedication and contribution to our school. We wish her every success with her university studies and look forward to seeing all that she achieves in her future career.

2027 Prep Enrolments

Prep enrolments for 2027 are now open, and we are already experiencing strong interest from prospective families.

If you have family, friends or neighbours looking for a local school, we encourage them to contact the office to arrange a tour and discover everything Deanside Primary School has to offer.  School tours will be conducted throughout Terms 3 for interested families. Bookings are essential and can be made via the school office on 8080 5444.

Our school values remain central to everything we do. We encourage all members of our community to continue demonstrating Respect, Responsibility, Excellence and Care in all interactions and learning experiences.

Kind regards,

Stuart Telford

Principal