Principal News 02/04/2026

Dear Banyan Fields Primary School Community,

Congratulations to the students and staff on a very successful Term 1. We introduced Thrive & Shine every Wednesday morning to increase engagement and have seen improved punctuality on Wednesdays as students excitedly rush to school to participate. 25% of our senior students have participated in Thriving Through Excellence and have demonstrated their higher level skills in their chosen area. The student leaders have settled into their role and are busy working on further improving our school for the whole community. The Parent Association has continued their work on fundraising for a buddy bench and are deep in the organisation stage for some exciting events that are scheduled for later in the year. The students in Year 4 and Year 6 performed for us at Carrum Downs Secondary College in our first of three school concerts in 2026. The Foundation students have settled into primary school life superbly and celebrated with their families at their Easter Bonnet Parade this week.

None of this happens by accident. We want to take the time to thank the incredibly committed and dedicated staff at Banyan Fields Primary School. It is a pleasure to work alongside them to ensure that the education experience of our students is second to none. Every day we thrive at Banyan Fields Primary School.

It’s now time for a break. We hope all of the students, staff and parents at Banyan Fields Primary School have a nice rest and return on April 20th ready to participate in all the adventures that Term 2 has to offer.

Tenacity: We try, we learn, we never give up.

Attendance Arrive To Thrive:

Also, congratulations to this week’s winners of our Class Attendance Award, which is presented at assembly every two weeks to the class with the highest attendance and the most students arriving on time to school.

Well done to FI for the P–2 award and 3M for the 3–6 award for their outstanding attendance and punctuality.

NAPLAN SCI-SL

This year, our school has been selected to take part in the National Assessment Program (NAP) Science Literacy. A small, random sample of Year 6 students will participate in an online assessment between 6th and 26th of May.

This is not a test students need to prepare for. The assessment is designed to be engaging and to explore how students apply their scientific understanding through a range of question types and a short investigation task.

The results help provide a national snapshot of science learning across Australia. Individual students and schools are not identified in public reports. If your child is selected, it is a great opportunity to be part of this important national assessment.

ICAS

This year, Banyan Fields Primary School is proud to offer students in Years 2–6 the opportunity to participate in the internationally recognised ICAS academic competition.

ICAS is an online assessment program that challenges students’ higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills across a range of areas, including English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling Bee and Digital Technologies. It provides valuable insights into student achievement, with results comparing performance against students across the state and nation.

All participating students receive a certificate and a detailed results report, with high-performing students eligible for ICAS medals.

If you would like your child to take part, registrations are completed directly by families through the ICAS Parent Portal.

You can register in one of two ways:

1. Direct login link – faster!

Use this link to log directly into the shop and start registering:

https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/CCR768

2. Log in using the PPS code

Visit the shop and enter our school code:

Shop link: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

PPS code: CCR768

Registrations close on Monday 27 July at 11:59pm.

Further information has been shared via Compass. Please note that all payments are made directly to ICAS, and refunds or changes cannot be facilitated by the school.

We encourage families to consider this opportunity for students to extend and showcase their learning. If you have any questions, please contact the school.

Synergy: We listen, we learn, we grow together.

PLC

This term, our Professional Learning Community (PLC) focus has been on building students’ understanding of key spelling patterns. By explicitly teaching these patterns, we are helping students become more confident readers, writers and spellers.

What we have been learning:

Closed Syllables - a closed syllable ends in a consonant, which makes the vowel sound short.

Examples:

cat, bed, sit, hop, sun

The consonant “closes in” the vowel, so it makes a short sound.

Open Syllables - an open syllable ends in a vowel, which makes the vowel sound long (it says its name).

Examples:

he, go, hi, me, no

The vowel is “open,” so it can say its name.

Split Vowel Digraph (‘Helpful e’) - a split vowel digraph (also known as “Helpful e”) is when a vowel is followed by a consonant and a silent e at the end. The e helps the vowel say its long sound.

Examples:

kit → kite

cap → cape

hop → hope

The e is silent, but it changes the vowel sound.

How Families Can Support at Home

You can support your child by talking about how words work:

Ask: “Is this a short or long vowel sound?”

Look for patterns when reading together

Play simple word-changing games (e.g. kit → kite)

Encourage your child to explain their thinking

Equity: We include, we respect, we support.

Stewardship: We care for people, places, and possibilities.

Parking Safety on Cadles Road

We would like to address ongoing concerns regarding unsafe parking along Cadles Road, particularly in the section between the Kindergarten and Gate B.

We have received numerous reports from community members about vehicles being parked in a way that may pose safety risks to pedestrians, children, and other drivers. This area can become especially busy during pick-up and drop-off times, increasing the potential for hazards. Please be aware that parking in restricted or unsafe areas may result in fines issued by the council for illegal parking.

We have also noticed that some drivers are allowing students to alight from cars that are not parked but stopped in traffic. This is incredibly dangerous so parents and carers are reminded to model appropriate road safety behaviours for their own children and the rest of the Banyan Fields Primary School Community.

We kindly ask all drivers to be mindful of parking regulations and to use designated parking areas where available. Your cooperation will help ensure the safety of everyone in our community.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Patrick Halpin - Principal

Jennifer Churcher - Assistant Principal

Sharleen Nason - Assistant Principal

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