Principal's Message

Welcome Back

I hope you all had a fantastic break and are feeling refreshed and ready for an exciting term ahead. It's great to be back after my leave for the three weeks before the end of last 

term, and I'm looking forward to diving back into the swing of things with all of you. Thank you to Anna Rapetti and the entire staff for ensuring a smooth end to the term. 

This term is shaping up to be a busy one, with a variety of sporting events on the horizon. It's always wonderful to see our students showcase their skills and sportsmanship on the field, so let's cheer them on and show our support! There's also some exciting news just around the corner. Keep your eyes peeled for updates about upcoming events. I have a feeling we're in for some unforgettable experiences that will help our school community thrive. Please check out the calendar of events so you are up-to-date with everything that is going on.

CFA Visit

The Bolinda-Monegeetta CFA paid us a visit at the end of Term 1 and it was an absolute blast! They generously dedicated the entire morning to our school community, and we couldn't be more grateful. They kicked things off with an informative talk about fire safety—equipping our students with valuable knowledge about what to do in the event of a fire. 

It's crucial information that we're glad our kids had the chance to learn firsthand.

Then came the best part—the fire truck! After the talk, we all headed outside for a hands-on experience with the fire truck. The excitement was obvious as our students got to explore the truck up close and even try out some of the equipment. A huge thank you to the Bolinda-Monegeetta CFA for their generosity and for giving up their time to share their expertise with us. 

ANZAC Day

Next Thursday is ANZAC day and our School Captains will be representing our school at the Romsey-Lancefield RSL ANZAC Day Service. All students and families are invited to attend the service. If you would like to come along, the service will commence at 9.30am. 

Easter Visit

I caught wind of some fantastic news from the last day of Term 1! Apparently, we had a fluffy visitor drop by the school—a very exciting surprise for everyone. It was so great to hear all the chatter from the kids about their Easter egg finds. What really stood out for me was how they all rallied together, lending a hand and sharing in the joy of the hunt. It's these moments of teamwork and togetherness that make our school community so special.

Professional Learning

Our first day of this term was dedicated to a curriculum day, which served as a professional development opportunity for our teachers. It was a collaborative effort, with educators from Riddells Creek Primary School and Malmsbury Primary School joining us for the day.

The focus of the day was on the upcoming changes to the mathematics curriculum, and we had the privilege of learning from an Educational Improvement Leader who detailed these changes. The biggest change is the number of strands needing to be taught. We were also fortunate to have a presenter from the Mathematics Association of Victoria join us. They shared valuable ideas and strategies on how to incorporate rich learning tasks into our classrooms. 

Overall, the day was incredibly valuable and informative for all involved. Not only did we gain valuable insights into the changes ahead, but we also had the opportunity to network and collaborate with teachers from other schools. It's always enriching to share experiences and ideas with our colleagues, and this day was no exception.

Here are some math challenges that will get the family talking: 

Hands-on STEM

We've just added something cool to our STEM toolkit: Makey Makeys! These little gadgets are like the Swiss Army knives of electronics. They let you turn anything into a touchpad or controller for your computer. You could play a piano with a banana or navigating a game with a piece of Play-Doh. They are terrific devices. 

The students have been diving into some fun experiments with them this week, testing out which materials conduct electricity. The energy and excitement buzzing through the school was contagious this week! I could hear laughter and chatter echoing down the hallways as students got creative and explored with their Makey Makeys.

Cross Country

It's shaping up to be a busy term of sporting events, and first up on the agenda was our cross country trials last Wednesday.

I'm proud to report that all students in Year 3 to 6 gave it their all as they raced around the oval multiple times. The determination was evident as they pushed themselves through the course—five laps for the 9- and 10-year-olds, and seven laps for the 11- and 12-year-olds.

Thankfully, the weather cooperated, providing the perfect conditions for a successful event. We're thrilled to announce that we've identified some students who will represent us at Hanging Rock on May 7. Stay tuned, as these students will be notified of their participation shortly.