Principal's Blog

Good Afternoon Parents Students, Staff and Friends of Derinya,  

As we move through Term 3, our school continues to buzz with energy, learning, and community spirit. The past few weeks have been filled with creativity, adventure, personal growth, and a shared love of learning – and we’re excited to share some of these highlights with you. 

DACE – A Celebration of Art and Community The Derinya Art and Craft Exhibition (DACE) was once again a spectacular opportunity for our talented local artists, jewellers and artisans showcasing an incredible range of artworks, from vibrant paintings, stunning jewellery, craft and intricate sculptures. Beyond the stunning displays, DACE also served as an important fundraiser, with proceeds going towards enriching programs and resources for our school. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our DACE chairs Teresa Poulson and Nadine Van Gootveld who have been instrumental in restoring and growing this wonderful event across the last 3 years. 

Many thanks also must go to:  

Jessie, Lisa and the craft team  

Mel and the jewellery team  

Teresa and the art team  

Kim and the catering team  

Callum and the bar team  

Katherine and the little studio team  

Eleanor and the sponsorship team 

Margaret and the marketing and design team,  

and finally the school admin team including Stuart, Tina, Cory, Kellie and Taylor.  

The art show has been in operation for a long time and as we approach the 50th anniversary in the coming years, the continued and growing support from our parent body will be paramount in ensuring its longevity. Two particular areas stand out as needing support which includes volunteers to assist with food preparation on the gala evening alongside logistics and infrastructure including the bump in and pack down process. Many hands make light work and for the past couple of years these areas have relied upon a small few doing the bulk of the work. Our school is known for its sense of community which has a direct impact on the opportunities we provide. Thank you to everyone who visited, purchased art, or volunteered – your support makes all the difference. I look forward to welcoming more families along to get involved in 2026 and beyond.  

Please note our next major project to be supported by fundraising is the construction of a new playground along the Derinya Drive boundary. Quotes have come in at around $150,000-$200,000 including rubberised ground cover and new, modern updated equipment. With student input and a few more fundraising events we hope to be able to bring this project to fruition in 2026.  

Snow Camp – An Adventure to Remember 

For our lucky snow campers, the recent trip was an experience they’ll never forget. Students braved the crisp mountain air, while also enjoying the beauty of the alpine environment. The camp wasn’t just about snow sports – it was about building confidence, resilience, and teamwork. We’re so proud of the way our students embraced the challenges and encouraged one another. Many thanks to Mr Neale and our Frankston Federation of schools for their organisation and participation in another wonderful camp. 

Year 3 Incursion – Learning Resilience and Emotional Regulation 

Our Year 3 students recently took part in an engaging incursion focused on resilience and emotional regulation. Through interactive activities, and storytelling, they explored strategies for managing big feelings, bouncing back from setbacks, and supporting each other. It was a powerful reminder that emotional skills are just as important as academic ones in helping our students thrive. 

Sporting Achievements 

A huge congratulations to our boys AFL team for their outstanding performance in the Winter Lightning Premiership competition. This team have progressed through all levels of the competition and will now head off to the State finals. Well done to all.  

Our girls AFL team also did incredibly well finishing as runners up at the division level and our NFL flag team made it all the way to the semi finals. A great effort by all and well done and thank you to our coaches, teachers and families who have supported all of our recent sporting events.  

Prep news 

Our preps are going from strength to strength recently celebrating their first 100 days of school. This was a wonderful celebration of how far they have come in both their learning and independence across this first half of the year. The recent visit to Myuna farm also being a highlight. Well done preps, keep up the fantastic work! 

Book Fair – A Celebration of Reading 

This week’s Book Fair has transformed our library into an even bigger wonderland of stories and imagination. Students have loved exploring the shelves this morning, discovering new authors, and adding to their home libraries. Thank you to our families for supporting this event – every purchase helps us grow our school’s collection and nurture a lifelong love of reading. 

We are grateful for the many opportunities our students have to learn, connect, and shine. Thank you for being such an important part of our vibrant school community. 

Nadine Pye on behalf of the Derinya Team