Assistant Principal's Address

WEEK 6 | TERM 4

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S AWARD

Ms Gavin

Mrs Zappia

Dear Parents, Guardians, and School Community,

As we move through the second half of Term 4, there’s a lot happening around the school! Thank you for your ongoing support as we prepare for an exciting end to the year filled with learning, celebrations, and community events.

🎓 2026 Planning and Class Placements

As we approach the end of the year, we have begun planning for 2026. One of the most important parts of this process is creating balanced and supportive classes for every student.

At Deanside, our mission is to ensure every child is supported to achieve their personal best—academically, socially, and emotionally. Our teachers and leadership team carefully consider a range of factors when placing students, including:

• Learning needs and academic progress
• Friendships and social connections
• Behaviour and wellbeing
• Gender balance and class dynamics

To support this, students have completed their 3 Friend List for 2026. Each child will be placed with at least one of their nominated friends to help them feel confident and comfortable in their new class.

Please note that we do not accept parent requests for specific teachers or class placements. This ensures the process remains fair and focused on what best supports every child’s learning and wellbeing.

Thank you for your understanding and trust as we continue to build positive, inclusive, and balanced learning environments for all students.

If you have any general concerns or questions, please contact your child’s teacher or one of our Assistant Principals.

🏫 Attendance and Being On Time Matters

As Term 4 continues, regular attendance and punctuality are especially important. Students benefit from consistent routines, steady learning progress, and full participation in key end-of-year events—like Step Up Day and Transition Programs.

Arriving on time ensures your child:

• Starts the day calmly and confidently
• Receives all morning instructions and learning opportunities

• Feels connected with their class from the very start of the day

   

📍 If your child arrives after 9:00am: Parents and carers must walk their child into the office to sign them in.

Teachers are currently auditing attendance and will continue to contact families where support is needed.

Every minute matters — small amounts of lateness quickly add up to significant learning time lost. 

🌱 Prep Transition for 2026 Students

We’re so excited to welcome our 2026 Prep students to Deanside Primary School!

🗓️ Transition Dates:

• Tuesday, 18 November
• Tuesday, 25 November
• Tuesday, 2 December
• Step Up Day: Tuesday, 9 December

These sessions help children and families feel comfortable and ready for school next year through fun classroom activities, meeting teachers, and making new friends.

💪 Dadfit Has Started at Deanside!

We’re thrilled to share that Dadfit kicked off this week at Deanside Primary School!

Run by dads, for dads, and supported by our Melton MCH nurses, Dadfit is a free community program helping dads stay active, connect with others, and share experiences.

📅 When: Tuesday nights, 7–9pm (for five weeks) 

📍Where: Deanside Primary School

To join future sessions, visit www.dadfit.au/sign-up or email tomruijs@dadfit.au for more information.

🌐 Social Media Age Restrictions – What Parents Need to Know

From 10 December 2025, new rules will prevent children under 16 from creating or keeping accounts on certain social media platforms.

The eSafety Commissioner is offering free, 30-minute webinars to help parents and carers understand these changes and learn how to support children’s safe online use.

To register or learn more, visit the eSafety Commissioner website.

🗣️ Special Event: Speechie Talks

Join experts from Speech Pathology Australia to learn practical ways to support your child’s speech and reading development at home.

📍 Event details:

• Thursday, 27 November – 10:30am–11:00am at Caroline Springs Library and Learning Hub
• Friday, 28 November – 11:00am–11:30am at Melton Library and Learning Hub

No bookings required – just come along!

Regards, 

Bianca Gavin - Assistant Principal                     

Hello everyone,

I wanted to take a moment to say a big thank you to all the students, staff, and families for the incredibly warm welcome I’ve received since joining the Deanside Primary School community. It has been wonderful settling in and beginning to learn what makes this school such a special place.

Over the past week, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting a number of classrooms, and I have absolutely loved meeting our students. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and kindness have truly stood out. I’m looking forward to spending more time in classrooms and getting to know our students, staff, and families over the coming weeks.

I would also like to share a gentle reminder about student safety. Once students enter the school gates in the morning, they must remain inside the school grounds. I noticed a number of students out the front after arriving, and with the busy traffic at drop-off time, it is extremely important that students stay within the school grounds so we can ensure their safety at all times.

Thank you again for making me feel so welcomed. I’m excited for the year ahead and feel very fortunate to be part of such a vibrant and supportive school community.

Warm regards,

Racheal Zappia - Assistant Principal