Dear Students, Parents, Carers and Families,

Curriculum Day – How Students Learn

Have you ever asked your child about their day at school and been told, “It was boring,” or received very little detail about what actually happened? When children say they are bored, it is easy to assume that something has gone wrong. However, learning often requires sustained thinking, which can feel challenging at times.

When a child says, “School is boring,” what they are often really saying is:

I am adjusting to new routines
I cannot tune out as easily as before
I am being asked to concentrate and practise more deliberately
Thinking feels harder right now

That is not disengagement.

That is cognitive effort.

Thinking requires effort and relies on working memory, which has limits. When students are asked to concentrate deeply, practise new skills and engage in sustained thinking, it can sometimes feel uncomfortable at first. However, this is often where the most meaningful learning occurs.

The Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0) places a strong emphasis on establishing clear routines, structured lessons and classroom environments that support a positive climate for learning. These approaches are designed to strengthen learning and help students gradually build the knowledge and skills they need over time. On Friday, all staff participated in professional learning focused on the science of learning and developing a deeper understanding of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM 2.0) so that we can better support our young learners in the classroom.

The Knowledge Nest article is a thoughtful and informative read that provides valuable insight into what teaching and learning may look like in classrooms today, and what this means for your child’s learning experience. I would highly recommend taking the time to read it.

Farewell, Congrats and Good Luck

We extend our best wishes to Rachael, our wonderful administration maestro, who has accepted a Business Manager role at another school. Rachael has been a valued member of our team, and her organisation, warmth and dedication have been greatly appreciated. We thank her for her contribution and wish her success in this exciting next chapter.

Wedding bells are also ringing for Ms Jaclyn Phoon, who will be getting married this weekend. We wish Jaclyn and her partner a beautiful wedding day and a lifetime of happiness as they begin this wonderful new chapter together.

We would also like to wish Mr Andrew Tomazos and his wife all the very best as they eagerly await the arrival of their first child. This is a very special time for their family, and we look forward to celebrating this wonderful milestone with them. Mr Tomazos will be on leave for the rest of this term and part of Term 2.

Strengthening Number Sense at Home

What is number sense?

Number sense is the ability to understand, relate to, and work with numbers, including recognising "how many" without counting (subitising), understanding relative magnitudes, and flexible mental manipulation of numbers.

These videos show what number sense looks like in the classroom. They also give you simple tips to help your child build number sense at home.

The first video explains what the series is about. The next four videos each focus on an important early maths skill, which your child will learn in their first years of school, from Foundation to Year 2.

One to One Correspondence
Subitising
Partitioning (Part-Part-Whole)
Teen Numbers

After each video, you will find tips you can use to practice the skills with your child at home.

Please click here to view the videos.

Student Leadership Assembly

Last Thursday, on the 5th of March, we held our 2026 Student Leadership Assembly. This was a special and exciting occasion where our student leaders were presented with their leadership badges and certificates.

Once all our 2026 Year 6 School Leaders received their badge, they made a pledge to the school.

As a School Leader, I pledge to:

Demonstrate our school values of Respect, Relationships, Responsibility and Resilience in all interactions with students, staff and families.
Act as a positive role model, understanding that younger students look to me for guidance and example.
Uphold the expected behaviours outlined in our Schoolwide Behaviour Matrix, both in the classroom and in the yard.
Represent our school with pride, showing integrity, kindness and fairness at all times.
Take responsibility for my actions and strive to learn and grow from challenges.

We also presented badges to our Peer Mediators and SRC members for 2026.

All our student leaders demonstrate a strong commitment to our Maramba community and show our four values everyday. We look forward to supporting them and working alongside them throughout their leadership journey.

School Council

We would like to thank our parents and staff members below who have volunteered to be members of our school council for 2026:

Claire Huijser

Chris Gaspardis

Raelene Anderson

Adam George

Lauren Matthews

Sheree Moore

Claire Giankopoulos

Stephanie Sharp - Staff

Andrew Tomazos - Staff

Madeleine Rosewall - Staff

We appreciate their commitment and interest in our school and look forward to working with them all in 2026.

Kind regards,

Moniba Ehsan and Stephanie Sharp

Principal and Assistant Principal

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the Students and Staff who will celebrate their birthdays this week and next week.