Principals' News 

Principal News 20/02/2026

Dear Banyan Fields Primary School Community,

What a fantastic start to the year it has been at Banyan Fields! Over the first half of Term 1, our students have truly been thriving — settling into their new classrooms, building connections and embracing learning with enthusiasm. It has been wonderful to see smiling faces, positive routines developing and classrooms buzzing with curiosity and engagement. Thank you to our families and staff for working together to create such a welcoming and supportive start to the school year — it really reflects the strength of our community.

Tenacity: We try, we learn, we never give up.

Attendance:

At Banyan Fields, we believe that every day matters and that students truly Arrive to Thrive. Here is this week’s attendance tip to support strong routines and consistent school engagement.

NAPLAN – Years 3 & 5

Our Year 3 and Year 5 students will soon participate in the Victorian NAPLAN assessments. These assessments provide valuable information about student progress in literacy and numeracy and help guide our ongoing teaching and learning programs.

In 2026, the NAPLAN test window in Victoria runs for nine days, from Wednesday 11 March to Monday 23 March 2026. All students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate, with the Writing assessment scheduled on the first day (11 March) and the remaining tests taking place across the testing window.

We encourage families to support students by ensuring they are well-rested and arrive at school on time each day. If you have any questions, please speak with your child’s classroom teacher.

Synergy: We listen, we learn, we grow together.

PLC

As part of our Professional Learning Community (PLC) work this year, Banyan Fields Primary School has a strong focus on spelling and deepening our collective understanding of spelling patterns and rules. Each week, students will explicitly learn and practise a new spelling rule to support their reading and writing development. This week, students explored the rule that English words do not typically end in the letters i, u, v or j, helping them to build confidence in recognising correct spelling patterns. Through consistent, evidence-based teaching approaches, we are supporting students to develop strong foundational literacy skills and become more confident writers.

Equity: We include, we respect, we support.

EAL

This year, our teachers are continuing to strengthen their knowledge and practice in supporting students who are learning English as an Additional Language (EAL). Through targeted professional learning, staff are building their understanding of inclusive teaching strategies that support vocabulary development, oral language, reading and writing across all curriculum areas. This work helps ensure that every student can access learning, feel confident in the classroom, and continue to thrive academically and socially. By deepening our EAL practices, we are further strengthening our commitment to equity and high-quality teaching for all learners at Banyan Fields.

Stewardship: We care for people, places, and possibilities.

Recycling 

In an attempt to increase the students’ awareness of recycling and looking after our environment, and to support our fundraising efforts, the Parent Association is running a Container Deposit Scheme Drive every Friday. Students are encouraged to bring a plastic bottle, a can, or an eligible carton to school every Friday and deposit them in one of the bins provided around the school. If every student deposits one container every Friday, we will raise over $2000 per year. Our current goal is the purchase and installation of at least two buddy benches around the school and appreciate your support. 

Of course, students are welcome to deposit containers in the bins provided on any day of the week. Please remember, however, that glass bottles are a potential hazard Alternatively, donations can be made to the school when you drop off your containers at the depot or machine. Our school code that you will need to enter is  C2000073524.

Thank you to all of the students and families who have already donated. 

Patrick Halpin - Principal 

Jennifer Churcher - Assistant Principal 

Sharleen Nason - Assistant Principal