Principal's Update

Good afternoon all, 

College Council Formed for 2026

The College Council is a legally formed, voluntary governing body responsible for setting the school's strategic direction, facility management, and school–community partnerships, and approving the annual budget. It determines appropriate educational policies within Department of Education (DE) guidelines that will ensure the College’s strategic plan is implemented and its resources managed responsibly.

The College Council comprises parents, staff, and students. This year, our College Council, as the governing body of the College, is taking shape with members now in place. 

The following composition of the Bayside P–12 College Council consists of:

• Six elected parents

• Two student representatives

• Three DE category employees other than the principal

• The College Principal

• Up to two co-opted members from the College community (excluding DE employees) with a special interest in the College

Elected and community members have two-year terms, with half retiring annually, terminating on declaration of a ballot each year.

All our elections are conducted according to the Education Regulations 2022. Elections are held during February/March each year.

At our next meeting on 18th March, after constituting the 2026 College Council, office bearers will be elected and declared.

NAPLAN Testing 2026

The NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) testing has started this week. The annual online assessment for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 in reading, writing, conventions of language (spelling, grammar, punctuation), and numeracy had a bumpy start this year. It provides a snapshot of student performance in literacy and numeracy against national standards.

Last week, as you have been made aware from our newsfeeds and the various media outlets, NAPLAN testing was impacted by what were described as technical issues. This affected schools across the country. The national body, ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority), that oversees testing through the National Assessment Program (NAP) was able to quickly address the issue.

Measures are in place to ensure students will not be disadvantaged by these technical issues. From the feedback at both the Williamstown and Altona North campuses, once the issues were resolved, students were able to continue either later in the afternoon or the next day.

For information on NAPLAN, please follow the link: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers 

Foundation Day – Friday 20th March, 2026

Foundation Day is our College’s annual birthday celebration, and we are excited to celebrate together again this year on Friday, 20th March.

Our Foundation Day Concert will be held at the Williamstown Town Hall, followed by our Birthday Festival at the Williamstown Campus oval. Please note that all students will be dismissed at 2:30pm on this day.

Student Arrangements

Students will begin the day at their usual campus and meet their Wellbeing Teacher at 8:50am for roll marking before travelling to the concert.

• Altona North students

Students will begin the day at the Altona North Campus and will be bused to the Williamstown Town Hall, departing at 9:30am.

• Williamstown students 

Students will begin the day at the Williamstown Campus and will walk to the Williamstown Town Hall with their teachers.

• Paisley students

Students will meet in the Williamstown Campus Hall/Gym with their teacher at 8:50am, before walking to the Williamstown Town Hall for the concert.

Concert

The Foundation Day Concert will run from 10:15am – 11:45am, with all students seated by 10:00am.

• Prep – Year 6 students will depart at approximately 11:15am and be bused back to the Williamstown Campus for lunch and afternoon activities.
• Secondary students will walk back to the Williamstown Campus following the concert.

Afternoon Festival Activities

At the Williamstown Campus, students will take part in a range of fun activities organised by the school and community groups, followed by lunch and our Foundation Day Festival celebrations on the oval.

• Prep - 4 students will be provided with a boxed lunch.

• Years 5-12 students will be provided with a BBQ sausage in bread, and food trucks will also be available for those who wish to purchase additional food.

   

End of Day Arrangements

• Primary students will be bussed back to the Altona North Campus, unless parents have given permission for them to stay with their secondary siblings at the Williamstown Campus
• If parents have already requested, through permission, secondary Altona North students will be bussed back to the Altona North Campus for a 2.30pm dismissal.
• All other students will be dismissed from the Williamstown Campus at 2:30pm.

Other Information

• TeamKids will be available on the day from 2:30pm for Altona North Campus students.
• Students may bring small bags only, containing essential supplies.

• Students may wear College Sports Uniform

   

Additional information will be sent out via newsfeed per campus.

We look forward to celebrating our College community together on this special day.

2026 Open Day

This year our annual Open Days will be held in April:

• 28 April 2026 – Altona North Campus

• 30 April 2026 – Williamstown Campus

   

Families will have the opportunity to tour our campuses, including the Senior School at Paisley (Newport) Campus on both days. Visitors can explore our facilities, see classrooms in action, meet our teachers, and hear from current students about life at Bayside P–12 College.

Tour bookings can now be made via TryBooking.

If you know families considering enrolment for 2027, please feel free to share this information with them. 

We look forward to welcoming prospective families and showcasing the wonderful learning community at Bayside P–12 College.