Primary

 Head of Primary

A Joyful Term of Learning and Community

As we near the end of this term, we celebrate the many moments of joy, growth, and community that have filled our Primary school. It has been inspiring to see students embrace new opportunities with enthusiasm and confidence.

This term, we enjoyed our vibrant Book Week Parade and the heart-warming Read with Me evening, complete with a cartoonist workshop that sparked imagination. Students were enriched by engaging incursions that brought classroom learning to life and created deeper connections. Our Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 camps gave students memorable outdoor experiences, while our younger learners thrived through Year 1/2 activities and the excitement of the Year 2 sleepover.

We celebrated milestones with the 100 Days of Prep dance, cheered on students in ICAS extension opportunities, immersed ourselves in culture on Indonesian Day, and gathered in community through Assemblies led by Prep and the uplifting music of our Primary Worship Band.

Each event has been a reminder of the joy that comes when learning is alive, faith is central, and community is strong. We are deeply grateful for our staff, students, and families who make these moments possible.

Have a blessed and safe holiday! We look forward to seeing you again on Tuesday, 7 October, for our final term of 2025!

Mrs Danielle Lupi, Head of Primary

National Snowboarding Success

Congratulations to Year 4 student, Hugo Carman, who recently carved it up at the National Snowboarding Championships at Mt Buller! In only his second year on the competitive slopes, Hugo shredded the Giant Slalom to finish 13th fastest and held his edge in the Snowboard Cross, claiming 21st place. An incredible result for both events!

Conditions for the cross were anything but “fresh powder”, more like “hang on tight and pray your goggles don’t fog up”,  and Hugo had the tough gig of being the last rider down the mountain. But he showed true grit, balance, and skill, proving he’s more than capable of riding out the bumps. 

We were lucky to have such great snow this season, and Hugo made the most of it, turning tough runs into a whole lot of fun. A massive congratulations, Hugo, you’ve shown that snowboarding is not just about racing, but also about the thrill, the laughs, and enjoying the ride. 

Mr Zacc Klan, Primary PE Teacher

Father's Day Stall

Our Primary school students had a wonderful time at the Father’s Day Stall on Wednesday 3 September! The excitement was palpable as they eagerly browsed through a selection of thoughtful gifts, each one carefully chosen to make their dads and special father-figures feel appreciated. 

It was heartwarming to see the joy and pride on the students' faces as they picked out the perfect present, looking forward to the smiles they would bring on Father’s Day. It was a memorable day of celebration, love, and gratitude for all the fathers and father-figures in our students’ lives.

Indonesian Cultural Day: Celebrating God’s Creativity Across Cultures

Last month, Bayside Christian College came alive with colour and joy as students from Prep to Year 6 celebrated Indonesian Cultural Day, a hands-on experience that honoured both cultural diversity and our call to love and learn from others.

Prep – Year 2 students performed the traditional Indonesian folktale Kancil and Buaya, bringing the story of the clever mousedeer and the crocodile to life through expressive dance, colourful costumes, and creative storytelling.

Students in Years 3 – 6 explored the beauty of Indonesian music by learning to play the gamelan, a traditional percussion ensemble. Their music added depth and energy to the performance, enriching the whole-school experience.

Our Year 6 students led with Christ-like character, guiding younger students in cultural activities such as making bamboo shakers, playing the angklung, and flying hand-crafted kites. Their leadership helped foster a spirit of service, encouragement, and unity.

Through music, movement, and meaningful collaboration, our students celebrated the richness of Indonesian culture, a beautiful reminder that God’s creativity is reflected in every culture and community.

Ibu Newton, Primary LOTE Teacher

Year 5/6 Tag Rugby Trial Day

Our Year 5/6 students recently took part in a Tag Rugby Trial Day at Riviera Reserve, Seaford, hosted by NRL Victoria. The sun was out, sunscreen was applied, the laughs were loud, and the teamwork was top-notch. For many, it was their very first go at tag rugby, and while the rules were new, the enthusiasm was off the charts. 

Over the course of three games, students picked up the basics, gave their best, and even managed to meet new friends from other schools. A huge thank you to NRL Victoria for running such a brilliant day of sport and fun!

The highlights? Oh, there were plenty:

• Players tearing down the field only to forget that you actually need to place the ball on the ground to score.
• The boys diving for tries when really not necessary - but it did look good!! 
• The occasional rogue run in completely the wrong direction, which, somehow, ended up zig-zagging back into space for an accidental but glorious try!
• And of course, the post-match “playground finals” while waiting for the bus, which might have been the most competitive part of the day.

Special mention to Mr Partridge and Mr Klan, who worked tirelessly to turn every conversation back to the now-infamous “six or seven” joke… in a brave (and probably doomed) attempt to finally squash it in 2025.

NAIDOC Week 

Earlier this term, NAIDOC Week was celebrated around Australia.  It stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Students in 1/2TC decided that we would join in the celebrations of the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  In response to this, we decided to create an artwork using the Aboriginal Australian art symbols. Each person carefully decorated a leaf shape using the symbols and proudly displayed them on our classroom window for passers by to enjoy!

Mrs Tammie Chester, 1/2TC Teacher

Years 1/2 Dinner

Our Years 1/2 students recently had an unforgettable experience as part of our ‘Preparation for School Camps Program’. This special two-day event was designed to give students a taste of what it’s like to attend an off-campus camp from Year 3 onwards—and what a fantastic experience it was!

After a regular school day on Thursday, students stayed back for an afternoon snack and jumped straight into fun-filled activities. They changed into free dress and made their way to the oval where the excitement continued with games and laughter, followed by a delicious dinner together in G-Block.

One of the highlights of the evening was the Talent Show, where students had the chance to shine on stage and showcase their unique skills and confidence in front of their peers. The evening wrapped up with the Year 2 students settling down for their first overnight sleepover at school—a big milestone for many! Thank you to our wonderful Primary teachers and staff who made this a night to remember for our students. We appreciate you!

Years 1/2 Planetarium  Incursion

It was Friday 12th September and as soon as the recess bell went Mrs Johnson walked us down to the G block hall. “WOW” I exclaimed, the dome was HUGE! I saw a man in a space suit. The suit was dark blue, I noticed that it had a NASA badge on it and all kinds of badges. I crept into the dome and planets and stars appeared on the roof by a projector that Nick was operating. It was AMAZING!  What could be better? Ice cream? YUM! He said that the asteroid belt had a lot of water. 

Do you know a fact? Here is one: All the planets combined make one Jupiter. Here are some more space facts that I learnt in the Planetarium. Mercury takes 88 days to go round the sun. 1000 earths could fit inside the sun. 12 people have been on the moon. The moon can be boiling in the day and freezing at night. The Solar System is flat like a pancake. I really enjoyed the presentation and was surprised how cold it was inside the dome. 

Joshua, Year 2 

It was so dark in space when we went into the big dome. Nick presented all the information to us. There was a big projector that showed us images of planets. We could lie down to look up at them. We learnt how long it takes to get to different stars. We saw rockets blasting off. It was fun to see the things in space and we could see how the planets move around the Sun. It was nice to hear all the facts about space and see how long it takes to get to planets and how colourful they were. God made them so special in their unique way!

Evie and Elizabeth, Year 2

It was a little bit weird walking into the dome because it was so dark, but we soon realised it would be a fun experience. We discovered many facts about our solar system, such as: Venus is the hottest planet and Jupiter is the biggest planet. Every couple of years Saturn has a big storm. Every single star is bigger than the sun. You can fit 1 million Earth’s into the sun, and three Earths into the red spot of Jupiter which makes us feel tiny. Nick was able to show us videos that looked like they were above our heads and it felt like we were actually in space. We were very happy to have Nick come and show us the solar system and all God has made! 

Rogan, Rosina and Eloise, Year 2 

On Friday the 12th of September we walked into the gym and saw a HUGE dome. It was a planetarium.  We all said “WOW, that’s so cool!” When we walked into the dome we saw stars and planets.  It was so amazing! Once we were all sitting down, we looked at how big the stars were.  Did you know that Jupiter has no land?  Some stars are bigger than the sun!  Did you know that Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system?

Nick, the presenter, told us that 1, 300, 000 Earths could fit in the sun! We also learned that 12 people have been on the moon. The moon is really cold at night and really hot in the day.  Did you know that Neptune has a ring?  My favourite part was when Nick asked us to lie on our backs and we looked up at the thousands of stars.

Bella, 1/2TC

Years 5/6 City Camp

The Year 5/6 City Camp was a fantastic and educational three-day experience in Melbourne, filled with exciting activities that brought the curriculum to life. This camp allowed students to participate in various experiences designed to complement their classroom learning. Every activity was carefully chosen to align with the topics they have been studying throughout the year, while also ensuring there was plenty of fun mixed in.

The camp kicked off on Wednesday, 17th September, with students departing from Frankston Railway Station, eager to explore the city. The first stop was ScienceWorks, where students enjoyed interactive exhibits that sparked their curiosity and deepened their understanding of scientific concepts. In the evening, students participated in a dance activity at ‘The Space,’ where they had the chance to unwind and engage in some creative movement, building team spirit and confidence.

On Thursday,the students visited The Big Issue, where they learned about social enterprises and the positive impact they have on the community. They then explored Melbourne, walking through the city’s vibrant streets and discovering its rich history and unique architecture. A visit to the Old Melbourne Gaol followed, where students gained insight into Australia’s colonial past. To wrap up the day, they enjoyed an IMAX movie, immersing themselves in the thrilling 3D experience before heading to the ice rink for an evening of ice-skating.

The final day of camp, included a tour of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where students learned about the history of this world-renowned sporting venue. With memories made and new knowledge gained, students headed back to Frankston Railway Station for the return journey, concluding an unforgettable three-day adventure.

We would like to thank all the staff and students who made this camp such a success. The camp provided students with not only a chance to explore Melbourne’s cultural and historical landmarks but also an opportunity to bond with their peers and enjoy some fun experiences outside of the classroom. It was truly a memorable adventure that will stay with them as they continue their educational journey.

Years 5/6 Basketball Rally Day

Our Year 5/6 Boys’ and Girls’ teams represented our school proudly at the Basketball Rally Day, held at FDNA, Jubilee Park in Frankston. Both teams played back-to-back games throughout the day, showing incredible teamwork, skill, and determination.

From countless interceptions, dozens of steals, rebounds for days, lay-ups for fun, and swishes that sounded like poetry, to the occasional “dunk” (if you squint hard enough) and fadeaway jump shots straight out of an NBA highlight reel, our students had it all covered. Although, for some reason the highlight for many were the countless “six or seven” quips from Mr Klan and Mr Hill while coaching!

Each team played a whopping 11 games!

Yep, 11 games each! By the end, shoes were squeaking, voices were croaky from cheering, and energy levels were running on pure determination (and maybe a muesli bar or two and a lot of sugar!!!). Across the day, both teams racked up an impressive 8 wins and only 3 losses, finishing 3rd overall and 2nd in Division 1. Not bad for a small school punching well above its weight!

A huge thanks to all the parents who came along and supported, not only their own children but both teams as a whole! Your encouragement and cheering made the day even more special (and possibly saved a few voices from the sidelines). It was a fantastic day of friendship, school sport, and community spirit. Go Bayside!!!

Mr Zacc Klan, Primary PE Teacher

We had an amazing time celebrating Book Week this year, with a series of exciting events that brought our community together in support of reading and creativity!

Reading Hour Read with Me: A Huge Success

Our Book Week Read with Me was were a standout feature of Book Week, with a fantastic turnout of 186 people who joined in the fun. It was heartwarming to see so many students, parents, and teachers come together to celebrate the joy of reading. Thanks to everyone's participation, we were able to raise $170, which will go toward the Fiji Book Drive.

Special Guest: Cartoonist Brett Cardwell

A true highlight of the week was the visit from Cartoonist Brett Cardwell! Brett’s sessions were a hit with the students, who were completely captivated by his creative process and storytelling. He led two dynamic sessions, where students had the chance to learn about drawing and how cartoons come to life.

In an incredibly generous gesture, Brett also donated four copies of his books to our library, ensuring that his inspiring work will be accessible to future generations of readers and aspiring artists.

Thank You to Everyone Involved

A huge thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and supported Book Week activities. Your involvement made this event a memorable success. We’re already looking forward to next year’s celebration of books, imagination, and learning!

Let’s keep the reading momentum going—there’s always a great book waiting to be discovered!

Mrs Underhill and Mrs Mann

Book Week Character Parade

Book Week Award Winners

The winners of the ‘What book are the teachers dressed up as’ competition: Prep: Zacc Nadarajah (received a book) The following Primary students received a $25 Farrell’s book voucher Bella (1/2TC), Emelia (3/4SC) and 

Gemma (5/6MC).

We are excited to announce the winners of this year's writing competition! The students showcased incredible creativity, effort, and skill across all grade levels. Below are the winners for each year group:

• Prep -1st Place: Zacc 2nd Place: Audrey
• Year 1 -1st Place: Elijah 2nd Place: Patrick
• Year 2 - 1st Place: Charlotte 2nd Place: Elizabeth
• Year 3 -1st Place: Olivia 2nd Place: Lucy
• Year 4 -1st Place: Sammi 2nd Place: Asher
• Year 5 - 1st Place: Sadie 2nd Place: Noah
• Year 6 -1st Place: Lorienne 2nd Place: Holly

Congratulations to all our talented writers! Keep up the amazing work, and we look forward to seeing more wonderful entries next year.

Upcoming Dates