From the

Principal's Desk

FAREWELL to ONE AMAZING PERSON - GONUL YUNLUEL

I’d like to acknowledge and celebrate an extraordinary member of our school community, Gonul Yunluel, who has dedicated nearly 37 years of service to Meadows Primary School.

Over these many years, Gonul Yunluel has been an invaluable part of our community—a person whose dedication, care, and commitment have touched the lives of countless students, families, and staff. Her calm presence, professionalism, and fairness have always been evident in everything she does. Whether supporting students, assisting colleagues, or quietly ensuring things run smoothly behind the scenes, Gonul has consistently approached her work in the Community Hub, Breakfast Club and interpreting space with integrity and genuine compassion. 

What truly sets Gonul apart is the way she has always cared deeply about our school community. She has shown kindness, patience, and respect to everyone she encounters, creating an environment where people feel supported and valued.

It is difficult to imagine Meadows Primary School without Gonul. Her knowledge, experience, and dedication are truly irreplaceable, and her absence will certainly leave a gap in our school.

On behalf of the entire Meadows Primary School community, we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for nearly four decades of outstanding service. The impact Gonul Yunluel has made will be felt for many years to come.

SCHOOL COUNCIL                   2026 PARENT ELECTIONS

With the new year commencing, we would like to invite parent/carers to self nominate to become a school council member for 2026. 

If you are interested please see Carol at the office to fill out a nomination form. We currently require one position to be filled. 

In the case that we receive more than one nomination then we will go for a ballot to elect someone onto school council. I encourage all parents/carers who are interested to self nominate.

What is a school council and what does it do? 

All government schools in Victoria have a school council. They are legally constituted bodies that set the broad direction of a school and provide oversight of school decisions and finances. Their roles are guided by rules and laws including Ministerial Order 1280 (Constitution of Government School Councils) 2020, the Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006. 

Who is on the school council? 

There are several possible categories of school council membership: 

• parent membership category – members of this category must make up more than one third of the school council’s total membership. A parent member can be any person who has parental responsibility for a student enrolled at the school. 

• school employee membership category – members of this category may make up no more than one-third of the total membership of school council. The principal of the school is automatically a member of this category. 

• community membership category – if a school council includes a community membership category, members are co-opted by a decision of the school council. The decision may be based on their special skills or to provide broader representation of diversity in the school community. Department of Education employees are not eligible to be community members on school council. 

• nominee membership category – a small number of school councils have nominee members. 

 What do you need to do to stand for election? 

The principal will issue a Notice of election and call for nominations in term 1 of each year and let you know where you can get a nomination form. 

You can nominate yourself in the parent membership category by filling in the nomination form. 

Parent members are required to hold a valid Working with Children Clearance (WWCC) to nominate for a position on school council. The only exception to this requirement is parents who are also teachers and hold a current VIT registration. 

If you work at your child’s school, then you are not eligible to run in the parent membership category, but you can nominate for the school employee membership category. 

If you work for the Department of Education somewhere other than your child’s school, then you are eligible to nominate for parent membership at that school. However, there is a limit to the number of department employees who can hold office in the parent membership category. Check with your school’s principal. 

You must return your completed nomination form to the principal within the time stated on the notice of election. You will receive a nomination form receipt via post, email or by hand delivery. 

How do I get a Working with Children Clearance, and does it cost money? 

You can apply for a Working with Children Check (WWCC) through the Services Victoria website.

 School council members are volunteers which means that applying for a WWCC is free. When applying for a WWCC, parents must: 

• nominate the Department of Education as the organisation they are working for when applying for a Working with Children Check 

• provide evidence of their Working with Children Clearance as soon as practicable after receiving it (or via the school council nomination form)

What happens if there are more nominations than positions available? 

If the number of nominations is greater than the positions available in any school council membership category, a ballot is required to elect members to school council. A ballot means a vote is held to determine which of the nominees are elected to school council. 

Each parent/carer who is eligible to be on school council is given a ballot paper to vote. Ballot papers are only given to members of the specific membership category where the ballot is required. 

For example, if a ballot is required to determine who will be elected to the parent membership category, each parent/carer of a child at the school are given a ballot paper and are able to vote

How long is the term of office?

Generally, the term of office for all council members is 2 years. 

How often does school council meet? 

School council is required to meet 8 times per year. Generally, they meet twice per term.  Meetings are held at the school, generally after school hours. School council members can also join meetings virtually.

STOPWORK ACTION

The Australian Education Union has called on its members to take strike action on Tuesday 24 March 2026.   

Based upon the information provided to me, our teaching staff and Education Suport staff will be taking part in the strike action. Further updates will be provided in due course.

AUTUMN - IUK (eel) SEASON 

Aboriginal seasonal knowledge in Victoria, particularly for the Kulin Nation in the Melbourne region, follows a seven-season calendar. These seasons are guided by signs in nature, including changes in weather, plant life cycles, and animal behaviour. 

These seasonal changes help Traditional Owners understand when to gather food, observe animal movements, and care for Country through practices such as  managing land burning. These seasons reflect the deep connection Aboriginal peoples have with Country

The seven Kulin Nation seasons include Biderap, Iuk, Waring, Guling, Poorneet, Buarth Gurru, and Garrawang.

Iuk, the eel season, follows in March. Waring is the wombat season, from around April to July, when the weather becomes cooler and misty. This season welcomes the colder months and leads us into winter, a time when we begin preparing to stay warm and care for one another.

Mrs Figen Mustafa

Stay well, Stay safe