Principal's report

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the Kulin nation; past, present and those who will walk with us into the future. We acknowledge the rich and unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas, educational practices and the hopes of all First Nations Peoples. We do this in the spirit of reconciliation as we move to a place of justice and partnership - together we work, learn, play and care for one another and this land.

Celebrating Book Week at Kalinda

Book Week is always one of the highlights of the school year at Kalinda, and it is wonderful to see our whole school community celebrating a shared love of books and reading.

At Kalinda, we have consistently placed a strong emphasis on developing students as confident, capable and enthusiastic readers. We are very proud of the results our students achieve in reading, and this is supported by the excellent teaching and learning that takes place in every classroom. We are also incredibly fortunate to have one of the best primary school libraries around, providing our students with a wonderful space to discover new books, authors, characters and ideas.

Of course, Book Week gives us an opportunity to celebrate reading in a slightly different way!

Our Book Week Dress Up Parade tomorrow is always a fantastic time. I love seeing the incredible range of characters and stories represented, and especially seeing the books that are inspiring our students. There is something very special about seeing a student proudly dress as a character from a book they love and then sharing that connection with their friends.

It is also wonderful to see the enthusiasm of our staff. Every year, our teachers and staff members get right into the spirit of Book Week, and their creativity and willingness to have some fun alongside the students is a big part of what makes the day so special.

These are the kinds of days that create lasting memories for our students. They provide opportunities for students, staff and families to connect through something as simple and powerful as a great book, and they help reinforce the message that reading is something to be enjoyed, shared and celebrated.

I hope everyone has a wonderful time at tomorrow's parade, and I can't wait to see the incredible costumes and the stories behind them!

A Thank You for Your Voluntary Contributions

I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to all of the families who have already made their voluntary contributions for 2026. Your generosity and support of Kalinda Primary School is genuinely appreciated, and it makes a real difference to the opportunities, resources and experiences we are able to provide for our students.

As a government school, the majority of the costs associated with providing our students' education are covered through government funding. However, there are many additional resources, programs and improvements that government funding does not fully cover. Voluntary contributions from our families help us to provide these extras and continue to enhance the educational experience we can offer our students.

These contributions help support things such as:

• Additional classroom resources, learning materials and equipment
• New books and resources for our library
• Digital technologies and ICT resources
• Sporting equipment and resources
• Arts, music and performing arts resources
• Student wellbeing programs and resources
• Improvements to our school grounds and learning environments

• Additional programs, activities and opportunities that enrich student learning and school life

   

These things might not always be immediately visible, but together they make a significant difference to the learning environment and opportunities we can provide at Kalinda.

If your family has not yet made a voluntary contribution and you are in a position to do so, we would be very grateful for your support. Every contribution, regardless of its size, helps us to continue providing these additional opportunities and resources for our students.

At the same time, I want to be very clear that we understand that circumstances are different for every family. Voluntary contributions are exactly that – voluntary. We do not want any family experiencing financial stress because of a school contribution, and no student should miss out on an important learning experience or opportunity because their family is unable to contribute.

If you are not in a position to make a contribution, please do not feel pressured or concerned. Your child's education, participation and wellbeing remain our priority, and all students will continue to have access to the full range of learning opportunities at Kalinda.

To those families who have already contributed, thank you once again. Your generosity is an important part of supporting our school and our students, and we are very grateful for your continued partnership.

Planning for 2027

As we begin looking ahead to 2027, we are starting to work through our planning for next year, including class structures, staffing and student numbers.

For families who have received an offer of a Prep place at Kalinda for 2027, we would appreciate it if you could accept your offer as soon as possible. Having confirmed enrolments helps us with our planning and allows us to make the best possible decisions about classes, staffing and resources for next year.

We also ask all families to please let us know as soon as possible if there are going to be any changes to your child's enrolment status for 2027. For example, if your family is moving to another area and your child will be attending a different school next year, please contact our Front Office and let us know.

The earlier we receive this information, the more accurately we can plan for 2027 and ensure that our staffing, classes and resources are organised to best meet the needs of our students.

Thank you to all of our families for helping us with this planning. If you have any questions or need to update us about your child's enrolment for next year, please contact the school office as soon as possible.

Staff Carpark

Just a quick reminder to all families that the staff car park is not available for student drop-off or pick-up unless you have a valid accessible parking permit.

This is an important safety measure for our students. The staff car park is a busy area, particularly at the beginning and end of the school day, with staff vehicles moving in and out while students and families are also walking through the area. Keeping this space clear helps us minimise risks and keep everyone safe.

We also ask all families to please follow all parking and road rules around the school. This includes observing signs, parking restrictions and crossing safely, even when it may be tempting to stop somewhere briefly for a quick drop-off or pick-up.

We understand that the beginning and end of the school day can be busy, and sometimes it takes a little longer to find a safe and legal place to park. Please be patient and allow yourself a little extra time.

A few extra minutes is worth it to ensure our students and their families can arrive at and leave school safely. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us keep the area around Kalinda Primary School safe for everyone.

We are kind. We are resilient. We are respectful.