Dear Families,

I was incredibly fortunate last Saturday to visit the stunning exhibition of Annemieke Mein, a former Mitcham Primary student and now a world-renowned artist. Her intricate textile work, inspired so deeply by the natural world, is a powerful reminder of the beauty and creativity that can emerge when art and nature intertwine. I hope that, with the strong emphasis we place on the Arts here at Mitcham Primary, our students too will be inspired to explore their creativity and perhaps one day make their own mark on the world, just as Annemieke has.

It has been so exciting to welcome our 2026 Prep students for their transition sessions. They’ve brought such energy and excitement to the school! In yesterday’s session they explored pattern and colour with Mrs Heuston and began becoming familiar with their future learning environment. Their curiosity sparked as they interacted with our Prep teachers, met some of our “big kids,” and explored what will soon be their classrooms. These early steps are so important in building confidence, connection and a sense of belonging.

We also have some exciting facilities updates to share; work has commenced on a full refurbishment of the toilets in our BER building! We are so excited that these modernised facilities will be ready and open for use just after the holidays. However, on the topic of toilets, I must share that I’ve been quite disappointed to recently have to pull on my “grumpy boots.” Over the past few weeks, we have had several instances where students have misused our school toilets, flushing items such as balls, hats and even food, resulting in significant blockages and temporary closures. This has caused disruption and inconvenience to many. I ask all parents to please have a conversation with your children about the importance of using our facilities respectfully and responsibly, both for the sake of hygiene and out of respect for our school environment and our hardworking cleaners.

As I write this, I’m attending the Victorian Principals Association 2025 Annual Conference, where our senior leadership team has been privileged to hear from inspiring leaders, including Gilbert Enoka, the long-time mental skills coach for the New Zealand All Blacks. He reminded us of the importance of belonging and connection, and how ‘acts of kindness trump everything’. His words were a powerful reminder of the values that sit at the heart of our work in schools and the lasting impact small gestures of care can have on our students, staff, and community.

Next week promises to be a highlight of the term as our much-anticipated production of Shrek takes to the stage on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. I can’t wait to see the culmination of so many weeks of hard work, rehearsals, creativity and collaboration from our incredible students and staff.

Warmly,

Erin

Mitchat

Respect, Resilience, Kindness, Love of Learning

Issue 14 · 05 Sep 2025

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