From the Principal Team

Celebrating Our Parents and Carers

Thank you to everyone who helped make our inaugural Global Day of Parents' Breakfast such a wonderful celebration of the parents and carers who play an invaluable role in the lives of our students and our school community.

We are especially grateful to the parents/carers who were busy setting up well before sunrise and generously volunteered their time to organise and run the event so that other parents and carers could be celebrated. 

It was fantastic to see such a strong turnout from our community. Families enjoyed connecting with one another over breakfast, and there was great engagement in the activities on offer, including nail painting and other fun opportunities, to spend time together and celebrate.

A special thank you also goes to TeamKids for their generous support of the event through sponsoring one of the coffee vans. 

Events such as these remind us of the strength of our school community and the importance of recognising and celebrating the people who support our students every day. 

Divisional Cross Country

Congratulations to our students who proudly represented Bell Primary School at the Divisional Cross Country Championships yesterday.

Feedback from parents in attendance indicated that our students demonstrated outstanding support and encouragement for one another and performed admirably in challenging weather conditions.

Competing at this level is a significant achievement, and all students should be incredibly proud of their efforts. We congratulate each participant on their commitment, perseverance, and the excellent manner in which they represented themselves and Bell Primary School.

School Council Sub Committees

We are seeking parent representatives to join our School Council sub-committees. Participation on a sub-committee is a great way to share your skills, perspectives, and ideas while supporting the work of School Council.

Sub-committees provide advice and recommendations to Council and play an important role in areas such as planning, community engagement, fundraising and finance. If you are interested, or have professional or life experience in any of these areas, we would love to hear from you. You do not need to be an elected member of School Council to participate.

If you are interested, please review the Terms of Reference for available sub-committees on the school website (TOR link). To express interest or find out more, please contact the school office.

School Council Community Member Position

At its meeting last week, School Council approved the creation of a dedicated community member position on council for a First Nations parent or carer.

This reflects our commitment to reconciliation and to ensuring First Nations voices help shape the future of our school. We recognise the importance of listening to and learning from the perspectives, experiences and knowledge of First Nations families in our community.

The position has been established as a permanent opportunity for involvement. While we understand that families may not always have the capacity to take on additional commitments, School Council has agreed that the position will remain available and unfilled until such time as a First Nations parent or carer wishes to participate. By holding this place, we affirm that First Nations representation is valued and welcomed, and that there will always be a place at the table for First Nations voices.

We thank our community for supporting this important step and look forward to continuing our reconciliation journey together.

If you are interested, or would like to discuss the opportunity, please contact me directly or via the school office. 

Foyer Artwork

We are excited to be working with artist Simone Thomson to create a special artwork for our school foyer. This significant piece will serve as a welcoming and culturally inclusive feature within our school environment, reflecting Bell Primary School’s commitment to acknowledging, respecting, and celebrating First Nations cultures, perspectives, and connections to Country.

Simone Thomson is a contemporary Aboriginal artist whose work draws on cultural storytelling, connection to Country, and community engagement. Through her art, she creates meaningful visual narratives that celebrate identity, belonging, and the enduring strength of First Nations cultures.

We want this artwork to be a meaningful representation of Bell Primary School, and the voices of our students, families, staff, and community members are an important part of that process. We invite you to share your thoughts, ideas, and reflections on what should be represented in the design.

Your feedback will help ensure the artwork reflects the diversity of our community, celebrates our connections, and expresses our collective hopes for the future.

We encourage all members of our school community to share their ideas and reflections by completing the Google survey, accessible here, by Friday, 19 June.

Thank you for helping to create a lasting piece of artwork that will welcome visitors to our school and celebrate the spirit of Bell Primary School for years to come.

Volunteer Induction

Following a few minor hiccups during the recent Google Drive migration, we are pleased to advise that the Volunteer Induction Module is once again available on our school website via the Community tab.

Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting many of our school programs and activities, including excursions, camps and other learning opportunities. To help ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students, any parent or carer volunteering in these activities must hold a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC), with a copy provided to the school office.

In addition, all volunteers are required to complete the Volunteer Induction Course annually. The online module covers Bell Primary School’s Child Safe Standards and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements, helping to ensure that all volunteers understand their responsibilities while supporting our school community.

Emma Heywood, Principal

Curriculum Day – Improving Outcomes for Every Student through the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0

While students will be enjoying a day away from school, our staff will be spending the day focused on what matters most – improving outcomes for every child in our classrooms. School improvement is an ongoing process, and Curriculum Days provide valuable opportunities for teachers and education support staff to work together, engage with current research, and strengthen the practices that have the greatest impact on student learning, wellbeing, and engagement.

The day will begin with an exploration of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM) 2.0, led by our schools network Educational Improvement Leader, Breanna Feben. Staff will deepen their understanding of how students learn and the conditions that help them achieve success. This work supports us to design learning experiences that are engaging, challenging, and accessible for all students.

Teachers will then explore the Elements of Teaching, with a particular focus on explicit teaching. Research consistently shows that when learning intentions are clear, new concepts are carefully modelled, and students receive timely feedback, achievement improves. Strengthening these practices helps ensure all students know what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how they can be successful.

In the afternoon, Learning Specialist, Ivy Callander, will lead staff learning around Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) and Positive Classroom Management Strategies. These sessions focus on creating classrooms where students feel safe, connected, supported, and ready to learn. Positive and predictable learning environments help students build confidence, develop independence, and maximise their learning opportunities.

At our school, we believe that great schools never stand still. By investing in professional learning and continually refining our practice, we are investing in our students. Every discussion, reflection, and learning opportunity throughout the day is ultimately aimed at improving the educational experience, wellbeing, and outcomes of the children we are privileged to teach.

We look forward to bringing this learning back into our classrooms and continuing our work to ensure every student can learn, grow, and thrive.

Paul Nicholson, Assistant Principal