From the Principal's Desk

There has been a wonderful sense of community across Banmira over the past fortnight. Whether supporting students on camp, celebrating the work of our staff or welcoming colleagues from other schools into our classrooms, it has been another reminder that the success of our students is built on the collective efforts of an incredible team of people.

Principals Day 2026

Today (Friday 7 August) is Principals Day, and I'd like to take the opportunity to recognise our outstanding Assistant Principal team.

Kylie Freeman, our Junior Campus Lead, and Dan Lloyd, our Senior Campus Lead, provide exceptional day-to-day leadership to their campuses, supporting both students and staff while ensuring each campus continues to thrive.

Our Assistant Principal for Allied Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion, Georgia Bell, continues to provide outstanding leadership across our Allied Health and Inclusion teams while leading the ongoing development of our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Supports framework.

A school as large and complex as Banmira is never led by one person. It takes a village. I am incredibly grateful for the leadership, expertise and commitment Kylie, Dan and Georgia bring to our school each and every day.

Camp Season!

Camp season is well and truly underway at Banmira!

Last week, our Junior Campus students enjoyed a fantastic trip to Camp Kookaburra, with many experiencing their very first time away from home. It was wonderful to see students stepping outside their comfort zones, trying new activities and building confidence in a supportive environment.

Yesterday, our Senior Years students also returned from another successful Camp Kookaburra experience filled with adventure, friendship and opportunities to build independence.

The excitement doesn't stop there. Still to come this term are our Upper Middle Years Camp, Junior Campus Sleepover and After-School Activities Night. These experiences are often the moments our students remember most and play a vital role in developing confidence, resilience and life skills.

Individual Education Plans Coming Home

At the end of Week 6, students' Individual Education Plans (IEPs) will be shared with families.

Our aim is to continue strengthening transparency and communication around each student's personalised learning goals, the progress they are making and the priorities we are working towards throughout the semester.

If you have any questions after receiving your child's IEP, please don't hesitate to speak with your classroom teacher.

Celebrating Our Banmira Care Team

On Wednesday 29 July, we celebrated OSHC Educators Day.

Banmira is incredibly proud to be one of the few schools operating a School Council-owned and operated High-Intensity Outside School Hours Care program. 

Each afternoon and during one week of every school holiday period, Banmira Care provides a safe, engaging and supportive environment for 24 students from across our school.

This outstanding program is only possible because of the dedication of Lauren, our Program Manager, Jess, our Assistant Manager, and their amazing team of Banmira Education Support Staff and casual educators. We sincerely thank them for the care, commitment and opportunities they provide to our students and families.

Sharing the Great Work Happening at Banmira

This term we have welcomed colleagues from Shepparton Flexible Learning Options and Gowrie Street Primary School into our classrooms to observe teaching and learning across both campuses.

It is always a privilege to open our doors and share the work happening at Banmira, and we were incredibly proud of the feedback they provided about our students, staff and learning environments.

Visitors consistently commented on the calm, welcoming and highly organised classrooms, where students clearly understood routines and confidently engaged in their learning. They noticed the strong partnerships between Teachers and Education Support Staff, the positive relationships staff had with students, and the consistent use of routines and encouragement to support every learner to succeed.

They were also impressed by the many ways our students access learning through visuals, Key Word Sign, gestures, worked examples and other communication supports, ensuring learning is accessible for every student. Across both campuses they observed students who were proud of their learning and staff who were equally proud of their students.

Perhaps the greatest compliment we received was that our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Supports were not simply something displayed on classroom walls, but something genuinely embedded in everyday practice. Visitors commented on the consistent language, positive feedback, calm learning environments and culture of respect that they observed throughout the school.

Feedback like this reminds us that the wonderful work happening every day at Banmira is recognised not only by our own community, but by colleagues from schools across our region. We couldn't be prouder of our students and staff.

Thank you to our students, families and staff for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to another exciting fortnight of learning, celebrating achievements and creating opportunities for every student to thrive.

Jesse Whittaker

Principal