Primary

Head of Primary

Dear Bayside Families,

As Term Two draws to a close, I want to let you know that I will be finishing up a little earlier than usual. My final day for the term will be Thursday, 26th June.

I am incredibly blessed to be travelling to Europe with my husband and son for a special time of rest, prayer, and pilgrimage. We will begin with a week in Austria, enjoying the beauty of Salzburg and exploring the iconic sites from The Sound of Music. From there, we will join 100 other Christian pilgrims for a two-week journey—one week in Rome and one week in France—deepening our faith through prayer, community, and mission outreach.

This time away will be both refreshing and spiritually enriching, and I will be faithfully praying for our Bayside community during the pilgrimage. Please know that I will be entrusting each of you and your families to God’s providence and care as we continue to grow together in faith and learning.

During my absence, please feel free to contact Mrs Sarah Cave, Mr Justyn Mether, or Mrs Donna Martin should you need anything. They will be available to support students, families, and staff across the remainder of the term. I look forward to seeing you again on Monday, July 28, for our first day of Term Three. 

With every blessing,

Mrs Danielle Lupi, Head of Primary

Primary Students Learn the True Meaning of Bravery

Our Prep to Year 6 students were treated to a powerful and engaging incursion by the Brainstorm Theatre Company, presenting their live show Being Brave. This award-winning educational theatre experience is designed to promote resilience, emotional wellbeing, and anti-bullying messages in Australian schools.

Through music, dance, and storytelling, students were introduced to a range of characters, each navigating challenges such as bullying, grief, separation, online safety, and immigration. Central to the story was a boy named Fly, who learns that bravery isn’t about hiding your emotions, but about opening up, asking for help, and staying connected.

The show explored themes including:

• Cyber safety and respectful online behaviour
• Coping with family changes such as divorce and loss
• Speaking up against bullying and injustice
• Respecting elders, differences, and cultural backgrounds
• Being honest, vulnerable, and sharing stories with others

Students were captivated by the performance and left with practical strategies to face their fears, including breathing exercises, talking to trusted adults, and finding strength in community and memory.

Supported by a post-show Q&A and curriculum-linked classroom resources, Being Brave has been a timely and meaningful addition to our wellbeing focus. It reminded us all, students and staff alike, that courage often begins with a simple conversation.

STEM News

This term, students across the primary school have been exploring STEM through Sphero Indi and LEGO Spike Prime.

In Prep to Year 4, students have been using Sphero Indi to explore the basics of coding and logic through colour-coded paths. This hands-on learning encourages them to be curious about how things work, resilient when things don’t go to plan, and thoughtful collaborators. Through it all, they are learning to honour God by developing and using their abilities to learn, create, and care for the world around them.

In Years 5 and 6, students took on the Super Clean Up challenge using LEGO Spike Prime. Their goal was to design, build, and code a robotic claw capable of picking up rubbish. After testing their initial designs, students made modifications to improve their robots’ performance, just like real engineers!

Through these hands-on experiences, our students are doing more than learning to code or build and improve robots — they’re growing in character, developing a sense of purpose, and discovering how they can use their gifts to serve others. With a spirit of stewardship and a love for God’s creation, they are being prepared to make a positive impact, both now and in the future.

David Sukh, STEM Teacher

1/2 TC Capacity

In Years 1/2, students dived into the exciting world of measurement and capacity — discovering just how much things can hold! Capacity, they learned, is the maximum amount an object can contain. With curiosity and creativity, the children made clever guess-timates about how many cubes, counters, or bears different containers could fit inside. Then, the real fun began as they tested their predictions! 

Archie and Caleb teamed up for a big challenge, carefully organising and counting a whopping 513 bears and blocks packed into a towering glass jar. Their teamwork and counting skills made the lesson come alive!

Primary Art

We’ve had a wonderful couple of weeks in the art room with our Years 1/2 students! We’ve been exploring the idea that God has made each of us unique. As part of this, the students took part in a guided drawing activity where they created self-portraits, thoughtfully adding personal details to make their artwork a true reflection of themselves. It was wonderful to have these out in the garden for display for the entire school community to enjoy. 

Caroline DeHaan, Primary Art Teacher

Primary Buddies

1/2TC and 5/6JM came together for an exciting buddies session filled with fun and friendship! The students in 1/2TC eagerly set up the chessboards, preparing for their older buddies’ arrival. For some, it was their very first time playing chess, but no worries — their buddies were on hand to patiently teach the rules and share strategies. It was heartwarming to see kindness, teamwork, and patience shining through as everyone helped one another. The games were full of challenge and excitement, especially when Kai went head-to-head against Mr. Mether in a thrilling match that had everyone on the edge of their seats.

1/2CJ Bible Lesson

Years 3/4 Excursion to Cooks Cottage

The Years 3/4 excursion to Cooks’ Cottage was a wonderful day. Students deepened their understanding of Captain Cook and his various voyages to Australia and other parts of the world. Highlights of the day included searching the cottage for various artifacts, playing traditional games such as skittles and quoits, and exploring the features of the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. Thank you to all the parent helpers who assisted on the day!

Young Christian Thinkers Symposium 2025

On Thursday 29 May, four of our dynamic year 6 students — Lorienne, Hayley, Levi, and Lucas — took the stage at the Young Christian Thinkers Symposium alongside eager minds from seven other CEN schools! With confidence, this talented team delivered an inspiring 10-minute presentation on the thought-provoking topic of Transhumanism.

They dove deep into the intriguing intersection of technology and humanity, boldly challenging the notion that we should always opt for the easiest or most thrilling options. Drawing inspiration from biblical wisdom found in Matthew 7:13-14 ("Enter through the narrow gate...") and Proverbs 4:7 ("Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom"), they invited their audience to reflect on the essence of true wisdom in a rapidly advancing technological world.

Their passionate and faith-driven presentation showcased their remarkable maturity, exceptional teamwork, and unwavering commitment to embodying Christ's teachings in today's society. A massive round of applause for all involved—what an inspiring achievement!

Justyn Mether, 5/6 Coordinator

Year 5/6 Excursion to Healesville Sanctuary: A Day of Discovery and Delight

On Wednesday 21 May, our Years 5/6 students ventured to Healesville Sanctuary for an enriching day of wildlife exploration and hands-on learning. Nestled in the heart of the Yarra Valley, the sanctuary offered students an opportunity to connect with Australia's unique animals in their natural habitats.

Wildlife Encounters

Students explored a variety of zoo habitats and engaged with native species, including kangaroos, koalas, emus, and echidnas. A highlight of the day was the Spirits of the Sky bird show, where students were amazed by the power and grace of raptors and parrots soaring overhead. The awe-inspiring performance showcased the birds' natural behaviours and reinforced the importance of protecting Australia's endangered species.

Adaptations and Features Program

As part of the excursion, students participated in the "Adaptations and Features" learning program, delivered by a knowledgeable zookeeper. Through observation, artefact exploration, and up-close analysis of animal skulls and features, students discovered how structural and behavioural adaptations help animals survive in their environments.

They learned about the critical role ecosystems play, the challenges posed by human impact, and how understanding animal adaptations can help us all take action to support wildlife conservation.

Educational Impact

This excursion aligned directly with our science curriculum, focusing on animal adaptations and ecosystems. It deepened students' understanding of how living things are uniquely suited to their environments, how they can be classified by observable features, and the importance of caring for the habitats that sustain them.

We thank the staff at Healesville Sanctuary for their inspiring program and our parent volunteers for making the day possible. The experience was not only educational but also left a lasting impression on our students about the value of protecting Australia's precious wildlife.

Justyn Mether, 5/6 Coordinator

District Cross Country

What a day! Friday 23 May! We had 56 students from Years 3 to 6 represent our school at the District Cross Country event held at Ballam Park. Despite a cold and windy morning and early rain, the sun soon came out, lifting spirits as the temperature reached a pleasant 19 degrees.

Excitement filled the air as runners took off from inside the athletics arena, headed out around the parklands, for either one lap or two, and then re-entered the track for a thrilling final 500 metres, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd. 

Congratulations to all competitors for their effort, energy, and sportsmanship toward one another! It was a fantastic day celebrating each other's success. Special mentions to the students that finished in the top 10 in their age group: Eleanor Etheredge (10th), Wyatt Manneken (10th), Sammi Gorrie (1st), Kenzy Horne (5th), Delaney Tickell (2nd), Caleb Kidney (4th), Logan Jones (5th), Michael Polichovski (7th), Olive O’Brien (5th), Arlia Tomlinson (6th), Noah Hammond (8th). Finishing top 10 at District Cross Country is a remarkable achievement. 

A big thank you to our Year 7 students who did a fantastic job helping to prepare the races and support the runners during their events: Thomas Hooper, Lily Popplestone, Kelsey Slater, Mikayla Shelling, & Oliver Matthews. 

Zacc Klan, Primary PE Teacher

Northern Division Cross Country 

On Wednesday 4 June, we proudly had 11 of our Primary students represent our school at the Northern Division Cross Country at Hastings Foreshore. Each of them ran their little hearts out, showing incredible determination, grit, and encouragement for one another. It was clear how much effort they’ve put into their training – pushing themselves to improve and reach new goals. From the starting line to the final stretch, our runners gave it their all, and we couldn’t be prouder. 

Well done to each of our competitors: Sammi Gorrie (15th), Kenzy Horne (32nd), Delaney Tickell (29th), Caleb Kidney (11th), Logan Jones (23rd), Jett Taylor (24th), Michael Polichovski (34th), Olive O’Brien (6th), Arlia Tomlinson (18th), Cora-Mae Manneken (30th) and Noah Hammond (22nd) – your dedication and growth have been inspiring to see! Congratulations to Olive who qualified for Regionals this week.

Zacc Klan, Primary PE Teacher

Upcoming Dates