Primary School News

Dear families,

We’ve had a fantastic start to the school year in Primary School. Starting with the Rose ceremony with our new Foundation students, we were able to welcome all our new families to Collingwood. It was fantastic to see so many of you at our Pizza night in early February, Collingwood loves community events. It was so great for you all to be part of this.

We welcomed new teachers - Daniel Simpson (⅚ Main Program) and Katie Gibson (0.6 - ¾ Main Program). It’s wonderful to welcome aboard both Daniel and Katie to Collingwood.

In the classrooms, we are seeing some fabulous early progress. In the early years (P-2), our students are getting used to the routines of the school day, focusing on foundational skills in literacy and numeracy and the very important skill of play. We know play allows for holistic development in our students and fosters creativity, social skills such as empathy and negotiation, as well as crucial motor skill development. Excitingly, Meredith has conducted fantastic Science experiments with our P-2 students in the main program - students are really enjoying this. Thanks to Meredith Blakeney for leading our Early Years Community team in 2026.

In the middle years (3-4), our students are building their confidence and exploring new specialist activities for the first time. All classes are participating in Kitchen Garden, which students absolutely love participating in. In our Steiner Program, main lessons are going well with many students fully engaged in our themes at the beginning of the year. Thanks to Bernice Ryan Cruse who is leading our Middle Years Community in 2026.

In our senior years (5-6), our students in the main program are working on inquiry projects that are developed with their teacher to explore questions around “Our Place”. Inquiry-based learning fosters deep understanding, critical thinking, and enhanced engagement by encouraging students to ask questions, investigate, and construct knowledge rather than passively consume it. It builds crucial skills like collaboration, independence, and resilience, preparing learners for modern, real-world challenges while nurturing curiosity. Many of the senior students are coming up with great questions and we look forward to seeing and hearing about their exploration at the end of term. Thanks to Claudia Pham who is leading our Senior Years Community in 2026.

Melbourne Victory are working at the school each Friday - offering to the school an opportunity for our girls in Grade 3-6 to participate in their Girls in Sports program. The program looks to promote physical activity, showcase the benefits of exercise as well as further develop and advance soccer skills. So great to see many of our girls participating and having fun with this.

Speaking of sport, it was fabulous to see all of our Grade 5 & 6 groups practicing for the Gala Day prior to the long weekend. Students have been practicing their skills in Newcombe (modified volleyball). The Gala day is upcoming on Wednesday 25th March.

A reminder our market is back and up and running. In 2026, this is on a Wednesday afternoon. Put this in your diary each week to be able to stop in for a bit longer after school to experience food and fundraising events. It’s always a wonderful opportunity to talk to other parents and guardians and hear about the projects that students are trying to raise money for or raise awareness about.

Take care.

Warmest regards,

Christopher Millard

Acting Principal

Primary Art

As part of the Performing Arts program, the main Primary School has been exploring Dance.

Students Prep to 6 choreographed their own dance pieces, and you are invited to come along to their dance performances.

Main Primary Dance Performance

When: 26th Thursday March

Time: 2.25pm

You can pick up your children as normal at the end of the day

Where: Large GYM

Angela Dionysopoulos

Primary Art/Performing Arts

Steiner Education at CC

The 2026 school year is back in full swing, and it’s wonderful to welcome our new Year 7 students to the secondary school, and to welcome back both new and familiar faces to years 8 to 10. This year, I’ve assumed the role of Steiner Leader alongside my colleague Kate Schmeiszl in the primary school. For over 25 years the Collingwood College Steiner stream developed with the support of families, leadership, staff and the community. With continued support and the designation of a leadership role, our Steiner program will continue to play an important part in the Collingwood College education journey.

There are many essential elements involved in the work of Steiner education. The following provide an overview of the primary Steiner stream at Collingwood College:

The Class Teacher:

Central to the Steiner approach in the Primary School is the role of the Class Teacher. Typically, each cohort has a Class Teacher who remains with the class for the duration of their Primary Schooling (and sometimes into Secondary School). This is to foster continuity and support over many years of development, based on commitment, care for the students and forming close connections with parents/guardians. Circumstances sometimes dictate whether a Class Teacher is able to commit to the full cycle of 6-8 years with the same class community.

Main Lesson:

The Class Teacher facilitates the main morning lesson- typically comprising the first two hours of each day- and additional lessons in core subjects. The Main Lesson is an integral feature of the Steiner Waldorf approach. Subjects are taught within blocks of 3 to 4 weeks. All Steiner classes (from Foundation to Class Six in the Primary School) follow a Main Lesson program, in accordance with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0. This Main Lesson program continues within the secondary Steiner stream, as well. The Main Lesson aims to foster a range of varied skills and competencies across English, Mathematics, the Arts, Science, Technology and the Humanities. Meaningful connections are made across subject areas and between Main Lesson themes. The Class Teacher chooses content and materials and develops activities that meet the requirements of the Steiner Curriculum; the Victorian Curriculum; and the needs of the specific class and individual students.

The Main Lesson incorporates tasks and content which address the students' intellectual and pragmatic modes of learning. There is a strong emphasis on concrete activities that have broad application to the wider world, particularly the natural environment. There is also solid emphasis on the aesthetic/artistic modes of learning.

The first component of Main Lesson includes a morning circle. In the Primary School, this consists of movement-based activities, recitation of poems/verses related to Main Lesson content, singing/music, mental arithmetic and social/emotional check-ins to prepare students for the school day and foster a sense of connection and community. The second part of Main Lesson incorporates recall of previous material, presentation of new content and whole class discussion.The third part consists of student small-group and independent work- the practice, development and consolidation of fundamental skills.

Rhythm and Balance in Learning:

The Steiner Waldorf approach regards rhythm as a vital element of learning. Main Lessons- and the school day as a whole- are designed to establish a nutritive balance between concentration and integration, cognitive and practical tasks, movement and rest, listening and participating, observing and applying/doing. Rhythm allows repetition to occur, but with dynamism and engagement. By changing activities regularly, interest and attention can be maintained while also providing continuity and predictability. A rhythm is also observed within the whole school year through the observation of festivals/celebrations that mark seasonal changes/cycles (for example, the Winter Festival) and other significant events. The observation of seasonal festivals contributes to a sense of continuity and fosters a strong community experience.

Emphasis on sustainability and the natural environment:

There is a strong focus in Steiner Waldorf Education on cultivating respect for, and interest in, the natural environment. Steiner Teachers endeavour to incorporate natural materials into learning settings as much as possible and maintain a 'nature table' in the classroom to reflect seasonal changes. Steiner Teachers encourage outdoor learning and activities that foster exploration and engagement with the natural environment. The camps program is central to this as it encourages engagement with the natural world while also fostering independence, resilience, problem solving in a variety of settings and social-emotional development.

Secondary Steiner teachers are currently mapping our camps program, which builds upon the skills of the primary camps program to foster continued confidence, stamina, resilience, and environmental stewardship in our young people. The 7 to 9 camps journey includes surfing and day hiking in Lorne at year 7, and in year 8, students visit Wollangarra for an experience at the off-grid homestead and a multi-day hike. The hikes program culminates in the 9 Journeys program: four camps across four terms, where students venture through diverse Australian landscapes. From there, students may choose the Outdoor Education elective in year 10, as well as VCE Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies in year 11 and 12 at Wurun.

Later this term, families have an opportunity to learn more about our Steiner Education stream at the upcoming Open Night. Additionally, Collingwood College will host a Steiner Celebration Day where community members can explore the spaces, Main Lesson books, and chalkboards where our learning occurs. Each Steiner class will participate in their Class Play Main Lesson, a chance to get creative as we undergo a full theatre renovation! Classes will bring a contribution to the Mid-Winter Festival next term, and the year 8 students will showcase their Year 8 Projects at the Presentation Evening in term 3. We have a busy, yet exciting, year ahead.

With gratitude, I would like to acknowledge the ongoing support and care for our young people. Thank you for all you do to assist in the transition towards a new school year. I look forward to seeing many community members at our upcoming events and wish you a happy autumn season.

Kind regards,

Sarah Powers and Kate Schmeiszl

Outside Hours School Care (OHSC) - Bookings Now Open for TheirCare

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are pleased to announce that the booking calendar for Collingwood College TheirCare is now open.

To manage your bookings, kindly log in to your parent portal and access your booking calendar located at the bottom of your dashboard. Please ensure that your account is complete for the calendar to appear.

Additionally, we would like to provide you with an update regarding your payments and childcare subsidy.

Typically, we charge your out-of-pocket fees at the end of each week (in arrears). However, as Collingwood College TheirCare is a new service with us, there is a transition period for Centrelink to process the subsidy transfer.

Centrelink is currently in the process of transferring the service, and until this transition is complete, we are unable to determine the exact amount of out-of-pocket charges. Therefore, we anticipate commencing charges once Centrelink has processed the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

Once the transition is finalised, you will receive a system-generated email prompting you to log into your Centrelink account (via MyGov) to confirm your details for the service, ensuring that the subsidy is correctly applied to your account.

We wanted to inform you of this process in advance, should you be expecting a direct debit or enrolment notice.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Support Team during office hours at 1300 072 410.

Warm regards,

The Team at TheirCare

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