A Message from 

Hannah & Keir

“We would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, the first people to dream, create, wonder, dance, play and learn on this breathtaking land. This land was cared for and respected for tens of thousands of years. The First Nations people lived in companionship with the animals and the life on this land. We acknowledge that this is stolen land and we pay our respects to elders, past, present and emerging.” 

Rayma Atkinson (2023 Suzanne Peterson Award Recipient)

Welcome back everyone! We hope you have had a restful and rejuvenating break and that you are all ready for our action-packed term 4. The first term back is always filled with excitement and anticipation, but Term 4 always has a special feel. Our Foundies are in full flight, seeming to grow with every passing day; our Juniors and Middles are excited to catch up with friends and get stuck into playing and learning and our Seniors are either set on finishing up their primary years and moving onto the big world of high school, or are eagerly anticipating their moment to step up into Year 6 and take on important leadership roles across the school.

Our Term 4 calendar is already brimming with school events so make sure you stick the printed calendar somewhere everyone can see. If your child didn’t bring home a printed calendar at the end of last term, they can collect one from their teacher or the front office (a digital copy is also linked below and available through Sentral Documents). 

If we were to try and summarise Term 4 into one word, it would most certainly be “change”. We are always changing, as is the world around us, but sometimes change is small and sometimes it feels much bigger. Although change makes many people feel unsure, the best way to approach it is with an open mind, an open heart and a tool bag full of strategies to help us if things get a bit wobbly.

Our students start exploring the concept of change and preparing for transition from Week 5. Then our transition sessions start in Week 6 - not just for the incoming Foundie students, either! Everyone can benefit from practising their skills and strategies when facing change.

In the background our teachers will be working diligently to create balanced and productive classes for 2025. Students will be asked for preferences in learning partners and in Week 4, a link will be shared to families through the newsletter, seeking input for 2025 class formations. Forming these classes is a long and complex process - we will keep you updated through newsletters, but please be understanding that it takes time to consider all the elements that are involved.

By Week 10 we will be ready for our Whole School Transition, where students will spend time with their new class and new teacher, getting to know each other and sharing hopes and dreams for their 2025. This is followed up with staff meeting together to handover important information from this year’s teacher to next year’s teacher.

We also have lots of celebrations planned for this term! In just under two weeks time we will be celebrating our incredible community at our Spring Magic Market! Please check the CET page for more information on the event - what’s on and how you can get involved. In Week 6 we will celebrate our students’ Art achievements at Art Attak (it’s going to be Wild!) In Week 10 we will be celebrating our graduating cohort of Year 6 students at their graduation and by the final week of term we will be celebrating an awesome year together at our Monday Fun Day. 

Don’t worry if this all feels too much, we will share more detailed information with you as the weeks progress. A great strategy for dealing with change is just to take one day at a time. I think you get the picture though - it’s going to be a cracker of a term!

Let’s Get SunSmart

Melanoma is one of the most diagnosed cancers in young Victorians aged 15 to 29 years. It is the third most diagnosed cancer in Australia. Thankfully, skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers - by avoiding overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Parents, carers and schools play an important role in promoting and teaching sun and UV protection behaviours that young people benefit from throughout life.

Throughout the rest of the year we require all students to wear a SunSmart hat whenever they are outside; this includes during recess and lunch, during PE and other outdoor activities. If your child does not have a SunSmart hat, they will be asked by staff to remain in the shade, which may impact their play time and/or their learning time.

To check if your child’s hat is SunSmart or to read about other ways we can keep our young people safe, please read through the information sheets below from the Victorian Cancer Council.