Primary

 Head of Primary

Pilgrimage in the Year of Hope

Over the holiday period, I’ve had the incredible privilege of travelling through parts of Europe on a pilgrimage, a journey not just across countries, but deep into the heart of faith. In this Year of Hope, I found myself reflecting often on what it truly means to be a person of hope in today’s world.

Hope is more than optimism, it’s the quiet strength that holds us steady in uncertainty. It’s the trust that God is working in and through all things, even when we can’t see it. As I visited sacred sites, walked the paths of believers who’ve gone before us, and sat in still, holy places, I carried with me the people of Bayside Christian College. I prayed for each of you, students, families, and staff, that you might be filled with a living hope, one that inspires courage, renews joy, and anchors your heart in Christ.

This pilgrimage was not just about visiting places of spiritual significance; it was about putting faith into action. I joined in outreaches to the homeless, offered prayer to strangers on the streets, and shared the hope of Jesus through street evangelisation. These moments were raw, humbling, and powerful. I saw firsthand how open and hungry people are for hope, love, and truth. I was reminded that the Gospel is alive, and that we are all called to carry the light of Christ wherever we go.

Pilgrimage draws us away from the noise of daily life and invites us to listen to God, to our hearts, and to the quiet whisper of His Spirit.

While the journey was mine, the prayers I offered were for us all. I asked that Bayside would continue to be a community marked by faith, love, maturity and unity. I also brought before the Lord the prayers and hopes that lie quietly in your hearts, known fully by Him.

As we continue into this term, may we each find time to pause, reflect, and open ourselves to the hope we have in Jesus, the kind that does not disappoint. Thank you for your prayers while I was away. It is good to be home.

With every blessing,

Mrs Danielle Lupi, Head of Primary

Australian Teacher Aide of the YearState Finalist!

Eira Unsworth, Education Support Staff – Foundation Level at Bayside Christian College, is the state finalist for Victoria in the 2025 Australian Teacher Aide of the Year Awards.

Eira is known for her intuitive, calm presence and her deep commitment to student growth and wellbeing.

“Eira goes above and beyond to build relationships, create evidence-based resources, and collaborate with the broader school team. Her efforts consistently contribute to improved outcomes for both students and staff” says nominator Louise Van Niekerk, Education Support Coordinator.

Through her tailored support and resource creation, Eira strengthens learning outcomes and helps young learners thrive emotionally and socially.

Eira’s work in the Foundation team encompasses classroom support, behaviour management, and targeted small-group interventions. A standout achievement for Eira includes designing a personalised fine motor program for a student unable to hold a pencil, enabling them to progress to confident handwriting. She designs tactile phonics tools and colour-adjusted resources for students with dyslexia and begins each day with ‘sensory invites’ to support student regulation. Students seek her out as a ‘safe person’, recognising her calming influence and unwavering respect for individual needs.

Eira’s collaborative style strengthens team cohesion and instructional impact across the Foundation setting.

As an integral member of the Prep team, Eira attends weekly planning meetings, updates teachers on student progress, and co-develops differentiated classroom strategies. She aligns her planning with teacher expectations and creates decodable readers and tailored literacy resources that now form part of the school’s regular program. Her contributions to documentation systems ensure continuity and confidentiality, while her mentoring of new support officers has established a culture of collaboration grounded in best practice.

Eira continuously seeks opportunities to develop her practice and implement new approaches.

She is a long-standing Australian Teacher Aide member and pursues professional learning independently, exploring topics like phonics acquisition, trauma-informed practice, and executive functioning. Currently studying in the field of Autism, Eira ensures her support strategies are evidence-informed and tailored to the needs of her students. She generously shares her learnings with peers, uplifting the capacity of the entire Education Support team. Her custom teaching aids are widely adopted by intervention specialists and classroom teachers alike.

https://www.australianteacheraide.com.au/2025-individual-finalists

Celebrating 100 Days of Prep

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

What a joyful evening we had celebrating 100 Days of Prep! Over 150 people gathered to mark this special milestone, and our Prep students were truly exceptional.

They lifted our hearts with a beautiful worship song, delighted us with a fun dance routine, and shared God’s Word through a thoughtful Bible reading. Their confidence and joy lit up the night!

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful parent community—your support means the world to us. The evening was a true celebration of faith, learning, and togetherness. Here's to the journey ahead!

Mrs Madura Nadarajah, Prep N Teacher

STEM Fun: Bubbling Lava Lamps!

Our Years 1/2 students had an awesome time in STEM this fortnight, making their very own lava lamps! Using oil, water, food colouring, and a fizzy tablet, they watched in amazement as colourful bubbles danced and floated. We learned that oil and water don’t mix (no matter how much you stir!), and when the tablet hit the water, it caused a bubbly reaction that made the colours move. 

It was the perfect way to explore how solids, liquids, and gases can work together and how God designed our world with so much creativity and wonder. There’s so much to discover in His creation!

Mr David Sukh, Primary STEM Teacher

1/2 Celebration - Eat a Rainbow

In our Health class in Semester One, students in Year 1 and 2 explored how to maintain their well-being; spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. Each student was encouraged to appreciate the intricate design and care of God's creation by learning about their bodies and adopting healthy lifestyles. 

This approach reflects the wonder and love of God evident in His creation and aligns with the biblical teaching in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20:

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

To support our physical health, our excited students were offered a vibrant array of nutritious foods, including sushi, corn and sweet potato chips, plain popcorn and a variety of seasonal vegetables and fruit including oranges from Mrs Chester’s tree! This ‘eating a rainbow’ approach emphasises the importance of consuming a diverse range of colourful foods to ensure a balanced intake of essential nutrients. 

Students learned that each colour group in fruits and vegetables offers unique health benefits and by incorporating a variety of these foods into our meals, we can enhance our nutritional intake and overall well-being.

Kingston summed up our deep hope in his enthusiastic comment: “I have never realised how delicious and tasty healthy food is until now!”

Mrs Tammie Chester, 1/2TC Teacher

Class 1/2TC Make Oobleck

We were excited when Mrs. Chester brought out the bags of cornflour and paper cups. We realised we were going to make oobleck! Oobleck is a special kind of goo that acts like both a solid and a liquid. Mrs. Chester gave us a cup of cornflour, and our job was to add the right amount of water to make it just right.

Some people added too much water and had to put in more cornflour. Others added too much cornflour, making it crumbly, so they added a little more water. When we made the oobleck, it was hard if we pushed it fast, but if we held it in our hands, it flowed like a liquid. It was so much fun figuring out how to mix it just right and then playing with this weird substance!

Some of us tried to eat it, and even though it is food, it tasted really yucky! Thank you, Mrs. Chester, for organising this awesome activity.

1/2TC Students

National Scout Day

We had a wonderful time celebrating National Scout Day with Paige! She informed us of the importance of teamwork and community service. In class, students practiced building and painting dioramas for our solar system projects, bringing the planets to life with creativity and care. To inspire our curiosity about the universe, we reflected on the scripture: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name” (Psalm 147:4), reminding us of the wonder and order of God’s creation.

We also worked on counting money in maths, learning not only the numbers but the real-world purpose behind managing money—a skill that helps us understand value and responsibility. Learning is exciting, purposeful, and full of opportunities to grow, inside and outside the classroom.

Mrs Carolyn Johnson, 1/2CJ Teacher

Years 3/4 Camp 

We arrived to a glorious sunny day as we made our way to the lush greenery of Mt Eliza for Manyung Camp 2025. Students were filled with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation as they embarked on this new adventure.

Much of the first-day buzz centred around cabin groups and our initial activities. The giant swing sent hearts racing, while the flying fox echoed with joyful screams. Tree rolling sparked awe and wonder as students meandered through the forest canopy. During Bike Education, students learned the basics—especially valuable for those with limited riding experience.

Meal times were a highlight, with one student marveling at the crumbed chicken, asking, “How do they make it taste so good?”

Throughout the day, many students faced personal challenges—fear of heights, fear of failure, and fear of falling—and met them with courage. Independence and connection flourished as friendships deepened and confidence grew.

We would love to thank our parent helpers and the peace and enthusiasm shown. It is not possible to run a camp without our community.

As  we return, we look forward to seeing our students grow through shared experiences, new challenges, and joyful moments. Thank you for your ongoing support—these adventures wouldn’t be possible without the trust and encouragement of our school community. We can’t wait to share more stories and memories with you soon.

Year 5/6 Reading Challenge

As part of an initiative to promote and enhance robust literacy skills, all Year 5/6 students eagerly embraced the term's reading challenge. Each class collaborated to earn points, demonstrating impressive enthusiasm and commitment. Students engaged in consistent reading and showed great effort, which helped foster a strong sense of motivation across the cohort. Well done to all the Year 5/6 students, with special congratulations to 5/6JP, who earned the most points.

Mrs Maree Coates, 5/6MC Teacher

Years 5/6 Division Soccer

Division Soccer Boys Team Wrap-Up

In week one of term, our Years 5/6 Boys’ and Girls’ soccer teams represented the school at the Division Soccer competition held at the stunning Casey Fields Soccer Pitches in Cranbourne East. With perfect weather, high spirits, and quality opposition, it was a fantastic day of sport and school pride. Both teams played on the same pitches, boys in the morning, girls in the afternoon, allowing them to support each other and enjoy the full experience of the day.

Boys Team Recap

The boys kicked things off with their first match against St Anthony’s School, and what a game it was! A back-and-forth battle full of excitement and intensity ended in a thrilling 3–2 win for our team. Our defence stood strong, our keepers made some brilliant saves, and we capitalised on our scoring chances. St Anthony’s hit the crossbar twice and pressed hard until the final whistle, but our boys held their nerve in a great contest played in excellent spirit.

The second game was against Pearcedale Primary School, and if the first game was a nail-biter, this one was a thriller worthy of a final. We went up early thanks to an own goal, but Pearcedale equalised 15 minutes later and controlled much of the second half. Despite relentless pressure, our team showed immense resilience and the match ended 1–1, forcing a penalty shootout to decide who would move on to Regionals.

Unfortunately, luck wasn't on our side in the shootout. After our four kicks, we trailed 2–4. Pearcedale scored their fourth penalty, and with that the game slipped away. It was a heartbreaking way to go out, but the boys showed outstanding character, teamwork, and sportsmanship. As Mr Klan and Mr Green reminded the team, to go to penalties means it was a great game between two evenly matched sides, and sometimes, it just comes down to a bit of luck.

Girls Team Recap

In the afternoon, the girls team took to the field, facing off against two strong teams, Somerville Primary School and Rowellyn Park. Both opponents featured several club-level players, and the difference in experience was evident. While our girls weren’t able to score in either match, they played with great effort, commitment, and positivity.

What stood out most was the girls’ team spirit and attitude. They supported each other on and off the field, embraced the challenge of facing high-level opposition, and appreciated the opportunity to represent the school in a competitive setting. Being able to cheer on the boys in the morning and then receive their support in the afternoon made for a special and unifying day for both teams.

A Great Day for School Sport

With the sun shining and the atmosphere full of encouragement and camaraderie, it was a memorable day at Casey Fields. Both teams should be proud of their efforts, the way they carried themselves, and the way they represented our school with pride and sportsmanship. Win or lose, it was a privilege to be part of such a high-quality day of soccer.

Performing Arts News

It’s been a wonderful start to Term 3 in the Performing Arts Department! We have had the Primary Worship Band lead our school in worship at Prep Nadarajah’s Assembly in week 2 singing Our God is an Awesome God and Waymaker. They did a marvelous job. We also had our lovely Secondary Choir lead worship at the whole school assembly in week 3. 

It is so great to hear young voices praising God and encouraging us all. As it says in 1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” And they certainly did set an example of how to worship our God. 

We have some exciting things coming to the college in the next few weeks. The year 3 and 4 students will have an opportunity to join a new recorder ensemble! There promises to be fun and yes games along with some great recorder playing - all year 3 and 4 students who love playing recorder should come and join in! 

In addition to this we have MORE exciting news - we will have a new vocal teacher starting at the college next term - Mr. Joel Matthews! Anyone interested in learning voice should fill in the form linked below:

Mrs Vivienne Holbrook, Primary Performing Arts Teacher

Years 5/6 Winter Sports Lightning Premiership

Footy (5th Place in Division 1) 

The AFL Lightning Premiership was such a great day! We were feeling confident heading into our games and started strong with a win. We knew it wouldn’t be easy to win them all, and throughout the day, we had a good mix of wins and losses. But no matter the result, we all had a blast and gave it our best.

One of my personal highlights was watching Jett in action—his tackling skills were incredible! He took on players twice his size and did it all with a massive smile on his face. It was awesome to see. Overall, it was a fun and memorable day for our team! - Raphael 

Girls’ Soccer - Division 1 and Overall Winners

This term, the Year 5/6 girls were blessed with the opportunity to try out for the Bayside soccer team. We played games each week against other schools in preparation for the Lightning Premiership day. We hopped on the bus and headed to the fields at Ballam Park, not far from our school. Eleven schools took part in this amazing event.

Everyone gave it their all—we won 7 games and drew 1! A big shoutout to our captain, Lydia, who supported and encouraged us throughout the day, and to our vice-captain, Olive, who kept our spirits high with her cheering. We’re also so proud of every single team member. We couldn’t have done it without each other, and thanks to that teamwork, we finished first overall—by just one point!

A huge thank you to Mr Klan for organising the day, Mr Green for refereeing, Mrs Conrau for coaching, and to all the supportive parents who came to cheer us on. We can’t wait for Division Soccer next term! - Olive and Ziva 

Boys Soccer - Division 1 and Overall Winners:

The Boys’ Soccer team was thrilled when we won our first match. It gave us confidence that we could keep winning. And we did! After a great day of teamwork and determination, we were feeling hopeful about our chances at the Lightning Premiership. Our defence was terrific and our communication was next level!! Michael P kicked a lot of goals for us, which was amazing to watch, but in all honesty, it was the overall team’s effort that I was so proud of. When the final results were announced and our team came first, we were all overjoyed. It was a fantastic moment that we’ll never forget! - Jackson W

Mixed Netball - Division 2 Runners Up

On Wednesday, the 10th of June, the mixed netball team had the privilege of representing Bayside at Jubilee Park. Everyone on the team played amazingly well, showing great teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the day. A big thank you to all the teachers who helped make this fantastic day possible—we couldn’t have done it without you! Our team won 7 out of 8 games and proudly finished second in Division 1.

 Maverick was a standout at centre, working hard to stop the ball from getting past the centre third and always staying one step ahead of his player. Ruby showed excellent sportsmanship by applauding the opposition when they scored, while also scoring many goals herself and making sure her teammate had chances to shoot as well.

Thank you to the supportive parents who came along to cheer us on. It was a great day for Bayside! - By Rosie and Holly

Lightning Premiership Netball Day - 6th place in Division 1

On a fantastic Lightning Premiership day, the Year 5/6 Girls Netball Team travelled to Jubilee Park to compete against local schools. The team played with great spirit and teamwork, finishing in 6th place overall – and most importantly, having loads of fun along the way!

A big shout-out to Beau Hogarty, who played a variety of positions throughout the day. After hurting her leg, she showed excellent team spirit by stepping in as the coach’s assistant. Matilda also stood out with her strong performance as Goalkeeper – she did a fantastic job!

Everyone in the team worked together brilliantly, and we’re proud of what we achieved. Well done, girls! – Liora and Alice

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