Foundation

The children absolutely loved the recent performance of King Arthur. There was lots of singing, laughter, and engagement as we enjoyed this fun and musical version of the classic tale.

We also have had a great time listening to Puss in Boots, which sparked lots of conversation and imagination in our classroom.

Our language learning continues to be a big focus, and the children are being immersed in lots of new sounds and vocabulary every day. These early literacy experiences are so important, and daily attendance helps ensure your child gets the most out of every opportunity.

We hope all our lovely mums, grandmas and special carers enjoyed the Mother’s Day gifts the children made with love and care. It was a joy to see their pride in creating something special for you.

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Mrs Tanya, Classroom Teacher

Year 1/2 B

Mrs Torney, Classroom Teacher

Year 3/4 A

In 3/4, we have had a super busy schedule throughout the last two weeks! Firstly, our Queenscliff camp was a magnificent success with students trying new experiences and building new friendships. The camp staff were supportive, food was delicious, and the activities were fun!

This then was followed by Cross Country and the Calder Winter Sports, everyone did such a great job at representing our school and actively participating in these events. Students should be proud of the effort they put into this and their willingness to adapt to change during a jam-packed week, well done!

Just also wanted to remind parents to ensure students are reading at home and noting this in their diary with an adult signature. We are currently in the middle of reading marathon so make sure to include those reading minutes!

Mr Campbell and Mrs McKenzie, Classroom Teacher

Year 3/4 B

What a busy start to Term 2! We have done lots of learning as well as having camp, House Cross Country, the ALPHA Show, Calder Winter Sports and more!

We had lots of fun at camp. Boogie boarding was a highlight for most students and lots of students also enjoyed the low ropes course. The food was yummy, the Cottage by the Sea staff were lovely and the weather was perfect! Thanks to all the staff that helped run and attend camp!

Over the next couple weeks we have a more settled classroom routine with lots of learning to be taking place.

Keep reading! Each reading marathon minute adds up!

Miss Lockhart, Classroom Teacher

Year 5/6

We’ve had a wonderfully busy start to the term, full of energy, enthusiasm, and exciting learning experiences! It’s been fantastic to see students settling back into routines so quickly and engaging so positively in their classroom activities.

It has been great to see students get involved in all activities, such as; ANZAC day,

Cross Country, Calder Winter Sports, Do it for Dolly Day, and now camp.

Students are currently away at Swan Hill enjoying their camp experience, there will be photos in the next Newsletter. When the students return it is a perfect opportunity to talk about all they learnt about Australia’’s history and life in 1890-1930. You could talk about their highlights, what they learnt about themselves, their resilience and things that surprised them.

Read to Lead has started and is an awesome opportunity for students to practise their reading in a welcoming and supportive environment. Reading for 10 minutes each night is part of our homework policy and is a great time for you to listen to your child read.

Miss Eilish, Classroom Teacher

Primary Music

CHOIR

Due to interest from some students, I will be starting up a choir group at lunchtime on Wednesdays. This will be to learn basic singing skills, performing as a group and to just enjoy singing. Details can be found on the poster in the newsletter. Currently only offered for Years 3-6, but may expand, depending on demand.

Mrs Postle, Primary Music Teacher

STEM

Micro:bit in Years 5-8

As part of our ongoing efforts to equip students with the digital skills necessary for the future, we are introducing students in Years 5–8 to the BBC micro:bit — a small, programmable device that brings coding to life in a fun and tangible way. Using block-based platforms such as MakeCode for micro:bit and Scratch, students can design and build projects that respond to the environment, light up LEDs, play sounds, or interact with each other. These platforms are intuitive and engaging, making it easy for students to grasp core programming concepts like loops, logic, and variables in a hands-on context.

You can support your child’s learning at home by encouraging exploration through these platforms. Both MakeCode and Scratch are free, browser-based tools that require no installation, and they offer a wide range of tutorials and starter projects. As students grow in confidence, they can begin transitioning from block-based coding to text-based programming using JavaScript or Python within MakeCode or other beginner-friendly platforms.

Ms McLean, STEM Teacher

Year 8

Miss Milne, Mr Pettifer, Mr Brayshaw and Mr Merritt, Homeroom Teachers

Year 10

What a fantastic fortnight it’s been for our Year 10s!

Last week’s School Cross Country was a highlight, and it was brilliant to see every student getting involved and representing their house with pride. Congratulations to Ansett, who took out the win on the day, but a huge well done to both Jacka and Ansett students for their participation, encouragement of others, and the way they supported our younger students. The positive spirit and sportsmanship on display made the day a great success.

Our Reading Marathon is also well underway! A reminder to all students to record your reading minutes in your diaries. Every minute counts - whether it’s reading during class time or curling up with a book at home. Let’s keep that momentum going!

Today, we had the opportunity to visit the Wedderburn CFA as part of our Huddle session. It was a valuable and inspiring visit, with students learning about the different careers within the CFA and the exciting opportunities available for young people to get involved through volunteering. It was great to see students engaging with questions and gaining insight into the important role the CFA plays in our community.

Keep up the fantastic work, Year 10!

Mrs Barker, Homeroom Teacher

Year 11

What an incredible couple of weeks it's been! Our Debutantes and their partners looked fantastic and impressed everyone with their dancing—well done to all involved. A big thank you to everyone who helped make the evening such a success.

Our Cross Country event was a great display of talent, with some stand out performances from our Year 11 students. Best of luck to those moving on to compete at the NCD this Friday!

It was also heartening to see so many of you running alongside our Foundation students, cheering them on and helping them give their best effort.

Looking ahead, we have some exciting excursions coming up. Our Year 11 Arts students will be heading to Melbourne for a few days, and on Thursday 22nd May, a group of students will travel to Bendigo for the Careers Expo.

Finally, a reminder to make the most of your study periods—they're a valuable opportunity to catch up on work or seek help from your teachers if needed.

Mr G’s Quick study tip: Teach someone else what you’ve been learning—explaining concepts in your own words is one of the best ways to understand and remember them.

And finally, a big congratulations to our U17 footballers who ended their drought over the weekend—well done!!

Mr Fowles & Mr Gretgrix, Year 11 Homeroom Teachers.

Thank You From The 2025 Debutantes and Partners.

The 2025 Debutantes and Partners, would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this evening so special.

To Mr Lockhart, thank you for being our wonderful MC. To Mr Forrest and the Parents’ Association, thank you for your time, effort, and support in making tonight possible.

A very special thank you to Dede Williams for the incredible hard work, patience, and late nights spent teaching us to dance — we are so grateful for your dedication.

To our sponsors, thank you for your generous contributions. Your support means so much to us and helped bring this night to life.

To our classmates who put in an amazing amount of effort to decorate and prepare the hall — it looks absolutely fantastic. Thank you to everyone who supplied props, and to the kitchen and door staff for keeping things running smoothly.

To our DJ and Photographer, thank you for capturing the memories and setting the vibe — you’ve done an incredible job.

To Reegan and Phil, thank you for your hard work in making sure the floor was perfect for our big night.

And finally, a huge thank you to Melinda Springthorpe, who gave countless hours behind the scenes to support us through every step of our Deb journey.

A warm thank you also to our little people for helping us during the presentation and making us look fabulous on the dance floor.

We appreciate every one of you — thank you for being part of something so memorable.

Debs and Partners

Reading Marathon

On your mark ... the Reading Marathon begins!

While the Reading Olympics won't officially open until Term 3, our first event is underway, starting ... now!

The Reading Marathon is back for 2025.

Students will be asked to record the number of minutes they read each day (see classroom/English teachers for how to do this)
Carers/parents will be asked to sign to confirm reading done at home
Minutes will be tallied weekly
Year level and overall leaders will be listed outside the library
Awesome prizes, including books, box-sets of books, and more will be up for grabs
There will be new surprises, including 'sprint weeks' where students with the highest % growth for that week can win big

Get on board and support your house! Last year, the Reading Olympics was the decider for the overall House Championship so don't let your house down.

GO ANSETT!!!!!

Mr Iser, Reading Marathon Coordinator

Principal's Message

Mr Forrest