Principal News 29/05/2026

Dear Banyan Fields Primary School Community,

As we reach the halfway point of Term 2, it has been wonderful to reflect on the many positive moments and celebrations across our school community. Over the past few weeks, we have enjoyed a very successful Grandparents Day, where students proudly shared their learning and special connections with family members, as well as another fantastic Book Fair that helped foster a love of reading throughout the school. Thank you to all families, staff and community members who supported these events and helped strengthen the sense of Synergy and connection within our Banyan Fields community.

Tenacity: We try, we learn, we never give up.

Attendance Arrive To Thrive:

Equity: We include, we respect, we support.

Policy Update

Over the past month, we have updated our Anaphylaxis and Asthma policies. Families are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the policy and ensure that plans are up to date, and medication is in date. Please contact the office if you are unsure.

Synergy: We listen, we learn, we grow together.

PLC

Spelling Focus – Adding s or es to Make Plurals

At Banyan Fields Primary School, we continue to build students’ spelling knowledge by exploring how words change when we make them plural. Understanding spelling patterns helps students become more confident readers and writers.

This week, students are learning how to make words plural by adding ‘s’ or ‘es’.

Students are learning that:

You can simply add ‘s’ to most words to show more than one
We add ‘es’ to words ending in s, ss, sh, ch, x or z

For example:

Add ‘s’

cat → cats
dog → dogs
book → books
tree → trees

Add ‘es’

bus → buses
dish → dishes
lunch → lunches
box → boxes

This spelling pattern helps students understand how words change when talking about more than one object, person or thing.

How Families Can Support at Home

Ask your child:

“Does this word need s or es?”
“What sound does the word end with?”
“Can you hear an extra syllable when we add es?”

Try this together

Say words aloud such as:

cats, frogs, toys
buses, dishes, boxes
lunches, foxes, brushes

Ask your child to decide whether the word needs s or es and explain why.

Spot it while reading

While reading together, see if your child can find plural words ending in:

s

es

Talk about why that spelling choice was used.

By learning spelling patterns like adding s and es, students continue to strengthen their reading and writing skills while building confidence and independence as learners.

Stewardship: We care for people, places, and possibilities.

Our enrolments for our Foundation grade in 2027 are now open. Families who have a child who is due to start school in 2027 are encouraged to submit their enrolment form now. We will begin our workforce planning for next year at the beginning of Term 3 - you can help us by:

Visiting the Vic Students website and completing the online enrolment form at your earliest convenience
Encouraging other parents in your network to get started with their enrolment form

If you have any questions or challenges, please feel free to contact the office.

Year 1 and Year 2 Concert:

The details of our Term 2 concert have been finalised. Parents and carers should be aware that the students in Year 1 and Year 2 will perform as follows:

17.06.2026

11am

Banyan Fields Primary School (Student Audience)

12:30pm

Carrum Downs Secondary College

Students in Year 1 and Year 2 will have a different schedule on June 18th. Parents/Carers should drop their child(ren) to Banyan Fields at 11am and collect them from Carrum Downs Secondary College at 6pm.

18.06.2026

2pm

5pm

Tickets will go on sale next week so please keep an eye out on Compass for more details. The number of tickets each family can purchase for the 5pm concert will be limited initially. Once all families have had an opportunity to purchase tickets, we will release all remaining seats. We appreciate your support and understanding. Seats will not be allocated so all families should be able to sit together regardless of when you purchase your tickets.

Patrick Halpin - Principal

Jennifer Churcher - Assistant Principal

Sharleen Nason - Assistant Principal

TheirCare