From the Principal Team
As we come close to the end of the term, we would like to share a number of updates and opportunities for our school community.
Bulukuyt Building Now Open
We are excited to share that our new senior building, Bulukuyt, is now open. The Elders selected the name Bulukuyt, meaning ‘by the swamp’, acknowledging the historic wetlands on which our school now stands and honouring the cultural significance of the land. This modern learning space offers a range of flexible environments designed to support both independent and collaborative learning, including science laboratories, general classrooms, a VCE Vocational Major space, a languages classroom with an adjacent sound isolation room, and a rooftop terrace.
This project was made possible through funding from the Victorian State Government. We would like to acknowledge and thank Mark Ranasinghe, Project Manager (Case Meallin) and Chris Phillips for their attention to detail and coordination, and David Bello, Dana Bonacci and Hao Chen from the Victorian School Building Authority for their ongoing support.
We would like to sincerely thank all those who contributed to bringing this project to life and in particular thank you to Grant Dixon and Lloyd McCathie, Kerstin Thompson Architects for their vision and guidance throughout the project. Thank you to the builders DEVCO — especially Nathan Launechn, Dennis Lozina and Emma Smart — for their outstanding work and delivery of the project on time.
Thank you to Stephen Loyer, Fiona Murrie, Lance Voges, Nicole Sternbergs, Mark Oudshoorn and Gabrielle Darvell for their significant contributions throughout the project.
We also recognise former Principals Sheereen Kindler and Nick Hamer-Smith, whose leadership and vision were instrumental in the planning and development of this building.
Students will begin using Bulukuyt more regularly from Term 2, and we look forward to the positive impact this outstanding facility will have on teaching and learning. The Senior School team (Ground Floor), Health and Physical Education team (Level 1) and Laboratory Technician (Level 2) have now moved into the building.
Bulukuyt represents a significant investment in our students and reflects our commitment to providing high-quality learning environments for our community.
Thank you for your patience and support during this time of change at our school. I’m sure you’ll agree that the finished product was well worth the wait. I look forward to sharing details of events and tours where you’ll be able to see the new Bulukuyt building.
Working Bee – Building Pride in Our School
Thank you to the families, students and staff who joined us for our recent Working Bee. It was fantastic to see our community come together to improve our grounds and shared spaces. Your time and effort make a real difference and reflect the values of Care and Respect we are building across the College.
A special thank you to Fiona, Sofia and Angus Murrie for their contribution, including a generous 12kg watermelon, and their work revitalising the top corner of the school alongside Simon Campbell, Elizabeth Pinter and Suria Pinter-Campbell.
Thank you to Paul McNeill for leading the Working Bee, supported by Cathy and Audrey McNeill and Sandra Field, for their work transforming the bike parking area.
We also thank Nicole Sternbergs for her work across multiple areas, and Kate Branford, Avind Chandran and Holly Chandran for improving the fence line along the front of the school.
It was a great opportunity to connect, work together and see firsthand the pride our community has in the College.
Thank you again for your support — we look forward to our next Working Bee in Term 2.
Indigenous Garden – Refresh and Renewal
We are currently refreshing our Indigenous Garden to enhance this important space within our school. The refresh will incorporate native plantings and existing natural features, including basalt rocks, creating an area for reflection, learning and connection to Country. We are working with students and community members to ensure this space is meaningful, respectful and reflects our shared commitment to care and respect for our environment.
Year 7 Meet and Greet – A Strong Start
Our recent Year 7 Meet and Greet was a great success, providing a valuable opportunity for students and families to connect with staff and begin building a sense of belonging within our school community. We thank Niketa Archer, Kelli Lawson, Loveena Narayanen and our Junior School Coordinators for their organisation and support in making the evening so welcoming and successful.
Open Night – A Wonderful Showcase
Thank you to all families who attended our Open Night on 23 March. With five tours during the day and seven in the evening, it was fantastic to welcome so many prospective families to Glen Eira College. Visitors explored our new building, Bulukuyt, and experienced the breadth of our programs, subject offerings and facilities.
Thank you to our staff for coordinating such a successful event during a busy time of the year. A special thank you to our student helpers who represented the College with pride across both the day and evening sessions. Their leadership, confidence and care for our community were outstanding.
The strong turnout reflects the growing confidence in Glen Eira College as a school of choice in our community.
Gym and Self-Defence Club
We are pleased to see strong student interest in our gym facilities and the introduction of our Self-Defence Club. These opportunities support students to build confidence, stay active and develop practical skills in a safe and supervised environment. We encourage students to get involved and make the most of these programs.
School Wide Positive Behaviour Strategy (SWPBS)
Our current SWPBS focus is Care and Respect, aligned with our SWPBS Matrix. This remains a key priority for the College, particularly in response to our Student Attitudes to School Survey, where respect continues to be an area for growth.
It has been encouraging to see many students demonstrating these values consistently across the College. A number of students have been recognised with canteen vouchers for receiving multiple Green Chronicles (positive notes).
Celebrating positive behaviour is an important part of building a strong school culture, and we are proud to see students making positive choices and contributing to a respectful and inclusive learning environment.
We thank our families and carers for your ongoing support. Together, we continue to build a school community grounded in care, respect and high expectations.
School Council Update
Congratulations and thank you to our newly elected President, Fiona Murrie, and Vice President, Lance Voges.
We warmly welcome our new members — Ruth Smyth-Kinyua, Cici Cao and Amir Egre — and welcome back returning members Simon Campbell, Bruce MacDonald, Nicole Sternbergs and Sofia Murrie.
Thank you also to our Department of Education representatives: Gabrielle Darvell, Loveena Narayanen, Mark Oudshoorn, Jane Thornton and Sean Hogarth.
Minute Secretary: Gabrielle Darvell
Committees:
- Finance and Facilities: Nicole Sternbergs, Gabrielle Darvell, Jane Thornton, Mark Oudshoorn
- Sustainability: Simon Campbell, Bruce MacDonald, Jane Thornton and student sustainability leaders
- Uniform: Sean Hogarth, Ruth Smyth-Kinyua, Cici Cao, Amir Egre and Sofia Murrie
We thank all School Council members for their ongoing commitment and contribution to our school community.
Emergency Management Drills – Lockdown & Evacuation Procedures
Each term this year, we will have our Emergency Management drills, including lockdowns and evacuations.
Yesterday, 30th March, we had an evacuation drill, whereby all staff, visitors and students moved with their teachers to Glen Huntly Park, rolls were marked, once all people were accounted for, then they returned to their classroom to collect their equipment. Feedback is always welcomed. Teachers have completed a feedback form about the process and any changes that need to be made.
Next term we will have lock down drill using the colour system introduced last year for lock downs:
- Black – Full lockdown
- Amber – Stay in class, continue teaching and learning, avoid students leaving the classroom.
- Green – All Clear
Please note that in the event of a real emergency, we will follow all Department of Education (DE) guidelines. If a student is directly affected during an incident, contacting their parents/carers will be an urgent priority, in line with DE procedures. We will coordinate the communications to parents/carers with the Department of Education and aim to send them as soon as possible.
During an actual emergency, the Chief Warden – a member of the Principal Team – will act as the “single source of truth”. The office staff will be provided an approved script to respond to calls. At all times we do not make any comments to the media.
Warm regards,
Glen Eira College Principal Team