Principal's Update

Part of Our Community

There is a long and established history at Bayside P–12 College of involvement in the community. When we work together with families and the local community, our students show higher motivation, better attendance, enhanced learning outcomes, and improved behaviours. All of these elements are important for student growth, wellbeing, and overall performance.

By being involved with the community and all that it has to offer, students help to build positive relationships amongst themselves and with our staff. This helps to develop friendships and social networks that support both their academic and personal growth. As a college, we are fortunate to be joined by regular community members who give freely to our school to help students thrive and to show that in the community there are also positive role models and mentors.

In the coming weeks, we have a number of very important community events. Here are just a few:

• Year 10, 11 and 12 Careers Show, 15–18 May 2026 - Victorian Careers Show 2026 | Melbourne Showgrounds Careers & Education Expo
• Wellbeing Week with Hobsons Bay Youth Services, 25–29 May 2026  - Young people - Hobsons Bay
• Early Years Primary students (Grades 1–3) visits to the Altona North Community Library, 12–14 May 2026  Libraries - Hobsons Bay

• Volunteers working at each campus to support students in their literacy and numeracy skills.  VOLUNTEERS HELPING STUDENTS THRIVE - Volunteer today!

   

Findings from life insurance provider Real Insurance revealed how Australians are forming, maintaining, and losing relationships in 2025. The Real Relationships Report 2025 explores shrinking friend circles, the rise of digital-only bonds, and the cost of social connection, amongst other findings. Some of the findings from a survey of 5,000 Australians include:

• Nearly 37% of Gen Z say they sometimes feel more connected to online personalities than to some of their real-life friends.
• Over 35% of Australians experience digital fatigue from maintaining online relationships, with nearly 73% of Gen Z and over 54% of Gen Y reporting fatigue at least occasionally.
• Nearly 62% of Australians had been living next to a neighbour for six months without meeting them.

• Over 72% of Australians thought that there was less interest in knowing their neighbour than 20 years ago.

   

At Bayside, we work hard to build effective partnerships with our families and the communities around us to support student learning, wellbeing, and connectedness. It is important to allow schools to evolve from being just educational sites to becoming vital and important parts of a shared community for young people to experience other opportunities. This can be through sporting groups, cultural and social programs, debating, or community-based programs and activities that support healthy young lives.

College Athletics Carnival 2026

On Friday, 1 May, the college held its annual athletics carnival for primary and secondary students. Some notable highlights included:

• Strong student turnout for Prep – Year 9.
• Approximately 30% of Years 10–12 students participated in the athletics, with the remaining 70% staying back at Paisley to continue their studies.
• Parents attending the carnival.
• Warm weather.

Bayside P–12 College Sporting Houses Final Score

Congratulations to our organising principal, Mr Sperling, and the College Sports Coordinator, Mr Margaris, for preparing the day. Ms Tancredi took charge of the day due to Mr Margaris being on leave. Ms Tancredi was well supported by our Sports Coordinators, Ms Mallia, Mr Davies and Mr Kokoszka, who did a lot of work leading up to this event and on the day. Thank you to our staff who participated on the day.

Congratulations to all the students who participated and to the winning House.