Principal's Report

Thank you to our School Council, school community, staff and students for another fantastic year. With the support of our parent community, Bundoora Primary goes from strength to strength and our student achievements are becoming widely known. We have a positive and supportive culture at Bundoora, which makes our school an excellent place to work and learn. Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful Christmas and summer holiday.

Staff Changes 2025

Thank you and farewell to the following staff members who will not be with us in 2025:

Mr Mat Allen, Ms Chili Mitchell, Mrs Janine Ceola, Ms Julia Patatsos, Mrs Michelle Agar (teachers), Ms Heidi Smith, Ms Ana Di Martino, and Ms Elana Armota (ES) will be moving on to new horizons in the new year. We wish them all success in their new roles.

We welcome the following new staff, who have been recently appointed to our school.

Mrs Kristina Smith- Business Manager, Miss Serena Munday (teacher), Mrs Christina Gunawardana (teacher), Mr Matthew Seddon (teacher), Ms Julie Garbutt (teacher).

Step-up Day

Following a successful Step-up day on Tuesday I am pleased to announce the classes for 2025.

2025 Student Leaders

Congratulations to our 2025 Student Leaders. This year the process included a written application, writing and delivering a speech, and an interview with a panel for those who seeking School Captain or House/SEP Captain.

As usual the choice was difficult, as all our students did a wonderful job.

Our Student Leaders for 2025 are:

Family Carols Night

What a fantastic night we had on December 11 at the Family Carols Night! It was fabulous to see so many of our children and families in attendance, including some new 2025 families!

Thank you to our Parent Association and volunteers for their great work on the night and for the preparation leading up to the event.

Thank you to Mrs Newell, the Rock Band and the Choir for their wonderful performances. Always a pleasure to watch!

Thank you to the teachers and students for their hard work and practice to perfect the songs they presented.

Thank you for Mr Cass, who still managed to come along and do the music for us, despite his broken ankle.

Thank you to the SEP team for their wonderful lemonade stand and other items on sale.

Year 6 Graduation

Congratulations to all our Year 6 students who celebrated their graduation to secondary school with polish, professionalism, excitement, and a little sadness this week. Our formal graduation ceremony was held last night at MacLeod College. Our students were amazing!

Thank you to the year 6 teachers, parent graduation committee, and all involved in the successful evening.

Our year 6 students ended the year today with a performance of their graduation dance, and a grand exit parade. We are proud of our students and the fantastic year they have had, setting a wonderful example for our junior students. We know they will soar!

Lunch Orders 2025

I am delighted to announce a collaboration with Bundoora Secondary College in 2025 for lunch orders.

Families will be able to place orders via Qkr! with the Bundoora Secondary College every day of the week. We will then collect the orders before lunch and bring them back to the canteen for distribution as usual. This means the food will be fresh, hot, and delicious!

We thank the Secondary College for their collaboration with us.

2024 Student Awards

Student of the Year

End of Year

Please remember that school closes at 2:30 pm on Friday 20 December and will re-open for students in years 1 to 6 at 8:55 am on Thursday 30 January.

Foundation students will have their individual interviews with their classroom teachers from 30 January to 3 February and will commence full time on Tuesday 4 February.

Wish you all a safe and happy break.

Sherrin Strathairn

Staying Safe on Holiday

Steps to swim safe if holidaying in an unfamiliar location

• Check conditions with a local person or lifeguard
• Look for signs warning of any hazards in or around the water
• Swim at patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags
• Conditions can change all the time. To find a safe spot to swim, first observe the conditions before entering the water
• Look for rip currents or any rapid movement of the water
• Never dive in, always enter feet first
• Keep watch of children in and around the water

Keeping the family safe

Always supervise children and discuss with children that they are not allowed to enter the water without a parent or adult present. Explain that even though they may be good swimmers, the conditions can change very quickly in unknown places.

When using equipment:

• Check condition of all equipment before use e.g. boats and watercraft
• Wear a lifejacket when boating, using watercraft such as kayaks/canoes and when rock fishing
• Observe changing weather conditions
• Watch out for people or watercraft
• Avoid alcohol and taking drugs when around the water

Give your children the gift on online safety this Christmas

Parents are being urged to read the AFP’s online safety guide, Gaming, Devices and What You Need to Know, when choosing and setting up new electronic devices for their family this festive season.

Developed by the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and the ThinkUKnow program, the safety guide provides easy steps to help protect children online.

Tech and gaming devices will be on many children’s Christmas wish lists this year, yet many parents and carers feel overwhelmed when it comes to their child’s online activities.

AFP Acting Commander ACCCE and Human Exploitation Jayne Crossling said it was vital parents and carers talked openly and regularly to their children about their online activities.

“According to market research commissioned by the ACCCE, only 52 per cent of parents and carers talk to their children about online safety,” A/Commander Crossling said.

“It can be hard to know exactly what to do to keep your child safe online, but if you are planning on buying electronic and gaming devices this Christmas, think about who your child might be connecting with. Talk to your children about their online activities, keep up the conversations and keep them open.

“With just three per cent of parents and carers listing online grooming as a concern, it’s never been more important to understand the dangers we perceive in the real world are just as prevalent in the online world.

 “The holidays are an important time for parents and carers to be aware of how their children are accessing the internet, and to implement proactive strategies to keep children safe.

 “We encourage parents to be aware of the connections their children are making online and teach their children that not everyone online is who they say they are.

“Strategies include checking privacy settings on devices and turning off location settings, setting profiles to private, having an understanding of the games, apps and sites your young person accesses, and ideally turning off chat functions where they are not required.

“Parents or carers may not be aware that chat functions appear on several popular online games and applications.”

Christmas is a busy time for parents and carers, but it is a time of year to be extra vigilant and aware of how children will use electronic devices - especially when connected to the internet.

The ACCCE Child Protection Triage Unit (CPTU) usually experience spikes in reporting of online child exploitation incidents after holiday periods. Last financial year, the CPTU received more than 36,600 reports.

Online offenders use the privacy and anonymity of the internet to identify and target children.  They often use a direct message function to first approach a child and convince them to move to an image sharing platform to elicit child sexual abuse material.  

Many popular devices have safety features that parents and carers could use to help minimise the risk of inappropriate contact.

“It is vital to implement parental controls on devices and talk to children about how to build safe online habits. A direct message or chat function can allow anyone to make contact with your child,’’ A/Commander Crossling said.

“Just as you would ask your child about their day, ask them what apps, social media and games they are using online, and use our online safety resource to explore and navigate their features.

“Most importantly, supervise your children when they’re online by encouraging screen time in shared areas of the home. This is a critical factor in preventing self-produced child abuse material and online grooming.”

If parents are concerned about an issue that has happened online, it is critical children are supported. Parents and carers can make a report online by alerting the ACCCE via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.

The AFP’s ThinkUKnow online child safety program is focused on preventing online child sexual exploitation. For more information visit thinkuknow.org.au.  

A copy of the resource can be found in the resources for parents and carers section at thinkuknow.org.a

Helping your child settle into a new class

Starting a new school year is an exciting time for many, but for some students (and their parents) it can also be challenging. The return to school can be tricky for parents and carers to navigate to ensure their child is happy and settled in the classroom. Your child may be upset about changing classes or be worried that they might not be in the same class as their friends. Many students experience these anxieties as a new school year begins.

Questions such as ‘is this a great opportunity for my child to build resilience and expand their social circles?’ and ‘my child might be miserable, should I talk to the school about changing classes?’ are common dilemmas faced by families.

While there’s no one size fits all approach, here are 6 tips informed by Australian research and the general principles of child psychology. 

1. Acknowledge their feelings.

Validate emotions. Let your child know it’s okay to feel sad, anxious, or disappointed. Acknowledging these emotions can reduce anxiety by making them feel understood (Beyond Blue, 2021). You might say, ‘I know it’s hard to leave a class where you felt comfortable, and it’s normal to feel a bit nervous about what’s coming next. 

1. Focus on Positives and familiarity

Highlight exciting aspects. Emphasise the positive opportunities that come with the new class, like meeting new friends, trying different activities, or having a fresh start with a new teacher. This reframing can help children start seeing change as an opportunity.

Identify familiar faces: Point out any friends or known peers who might also be in their new class. Familiar faces can help ease the transition (Dockett & Perry, 2007)

1. Encourage problem-solving and independence

Plan for success. Brainstorm strategies with your child to help them feel more comfortable, such as introducing themselves to new classmates, joining group activities or asking for help when needed.

Build Coping Skills. Teach your child positive self-talk, like reminding themselves, ‘I can handle new things,’ which research shows can reduce anxiety and build resilience (Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2021).

Model a positive outlook on change. Show a positive attitude toward change yourself, sharing times when you successfully handled transitions or new experiences. This can set a model for them and show that they can handle new situations too. Let them see that you are confident in their ability to handle the change, which can help them feel more secure.

1. Set and maintain predictable routines

Consistency and structure. Establishing a daily routine, including consistent bedtimes, meal schedules, and even homework times, helps children feel secure. Familiarity with routines can help them feel more in control amid changes in their school life (ARACY, 2018).

Transition preparations. If possible, practice aspects of their new routine, such as packing their school bag or visiting the new classroom, to help them feel prepared and ready.

1. Encourage open communication with teachers

Connect with educators. Let your child know they can approach their teacher with questions or concerns. Building rapport with the teacher early on can help them feel supported. Communicating with the teacher yourself may also help establish support for your child if any specific anxieties arise.

1. Promote friendships and social skills

Arrange playdates or social time. If possible, arrange for your child to meet some classmates outside of school. Positive social interactions help children build confidence in their social skills and see their new class as a space for friendships (Dockett and Perry, 2007).

Supporting a child through a class transition takes time and patience. You can make the adjustment more manageable by recognising their feelings, setting positive expectations, and helping them prepare for the change. 

Teachers and school leaders have generally seen it all and will be well-placed to support and provide advice. Contacting your child’s school to understand what supports are available, and how other students who may have experienced similar concerns in the past have gone on to excel is often a great way to draw on the experience and expertise from those who are also committed to seeing your child flourish in the new year. 

For more information, resources like Beyond Blue, and the Australian Institute of Family Studies provide helpful guidance on fostering resilience and managing transitions for children. The Department of Education also provides some helpful Tips for starting school and a Starting school guide, which has hints for changing schools and supporting children with additional needs.

Sharon Baker is a Principal in Residence at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. Sharon has nearly thirty-five years of experience as a teacher and school leader.