Welcome to our latest newsletter! Due to the enormity of Book Week this year, we are delighted to present a special Book Week edition.

Within this newsletter, you will find highlights of our students’ involvement across many areas of school life — from academia, sport, and performance to exciting incursions and club events.

We also take this opportunity to remind families about the Premiers’ Reading Challenge and the ‘Miles for Happy Smiles’ dental program, both of which continue to support the health, wellbeing, and learning of our students.

Regards

Vicki Kfoutelaris

Prep–1 Fire Safety Visits

Over the past two visits, our Prep–1 students have been fortunate to learn some very important fire safety lessons from the Fire Brigade.

During the first visit, firefighters taught the children what to do if there is a fire at home, including:

Learning how to call 000 in an emergency.
Practising “Get down low and go, go, go” if there is smoke.
Remembering “Stop, drop, cover and roll” if their clothes ever catch fire.

In the second visit, the children were thrilled to see firefighting in action, actions they shared.

The visits were a wonderful mix of learning and hands-on experiences, helping our students understand how to stay safe in a fire and showing then the important work our firefighters do.

We would like to sincerely thank James and Chris, our firefighters from Station 45 Platoon D (Brooklyn Station), for generously sharing their time, expertise, and enthusiasm with our students.

Ms Cutri has many more photos that she can share with parents and carers.

Computational and Algorithmic Thinking Competition (Maths!)

This term, our Year 7, 8 and 9 students participated in the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking (CAT) competition as part of their Mathematics program. This national competition challenges students to apply problem-solving skills, logic, and reasoning in creative and analytical ways.

Certificates were presented at our Monday Assembly to our students in recognition of their participation and achievement.

Congratulations to all students involved — we are proud of your commitment to extending your mathematical thinking and taking on new challenges! I encourage all students to put themselves forward to meet new challenges.

Congratulations to our Intermediate Girls Table Tennis Team – Hobsons Bay Division Sport Premiers!

Our team has once again achieved outstanding success, taking out the premiership in their division. Last year, these talented students were crowned State Champions, and this year they have reinforced their commitment to excellence by securing another victory.

Their achievement is a testament to the power of a strong work ethic, perseverance, and grit — qualities that we are proud to see our students live out both on and off the court.

Acknowledgment to Ms Mallia their coach.

What’s on the Box – Altona North students and staff

I had the privilege of attending our school production What’s on the Box, and it was an absolute delight! The performance was filled with laugh-out-loud moments, clever storytelling, and vibrant singing and dancing that carried the audience seamlessly through the narrative. It truly showcased the talent, creativity, and teamwork of our Altona North students and staff.

I am incredibly proud of the cast, band, and backstage crew for their dedication and hard work. A big thank you to all, who worked tirelessly to make the production such a success.

At our Monday assembly we celebrated our Altona North students and staff who committed to the play and reaped the awards. There were so may stars, that without their contribution, the play would have lacked its lustre.

Our participation included:

Cast (Thespians): Mika Boaretto, Chloe Buist, Arisara Burke, Valentina Forero-Nieto, Annika Goessens, Eden Keen, Molly Martin, Praise Tesfa, Henry Wade, Zane Whyte and Imogen Young.

Production Band: Akisha Cristobal, Liam Tantau, MileySiauw.

Technical/Backstage Crew: Samuel Kavanagh, Zhao Nguyen, Bella-Rose Pitts.

Staff: Aimee Noordhorn, James Berry, Charmain Heaney, Judy Douglas (AP in-charge).

Productions like these bring our community together and highlight the wonderful opportunities our students have to shine beyond the classroom. Congratulations to everyone involved on a fantastic achievement! Thank you to parents for their commitment to the play.

Clubs – Celebrating a few

Primary and Secondary Lunchtime Clubs, run Monday to Friday lunchtime. These clubs offer a variety of fun and engaging activities for our primary students.

Art Club – thank you Ms Corral

Card Games – Primary only, thank you Ms Cahill

J Club – thank you Ms Boaretto and Ms Trusler

A Creative Gift Across Borders

A major highlight this term was a special collaborative project to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our sister school, Anjo Higashi High School. Students designed and created a stunning wall hanging that combines traditional Japanese materials with a uniquely Australian touch: a gum leaf motif.

REMINDER

Miles for Happy Smiles will be visiting our school to deliver dental care through the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS) (explained on the form)

Your child has been given a form to bring home to you for consent.

The dental work will be carried out by Miles for Happy Smiles, a mobile dental service. Families who are not eligible for the CDBS may still access this service at your own cost.

If you would like your child to participate, please:

Complete all sections of the consent form (both sides)
Return the completed form to school by 1st September

If you need another form, please contact Alana, our Office Manager

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge (20 Years of Word and Wonder)

As you are aware the Victorian Premier’s Reading Challenge is underway, with the event closing September 5. This is a personal challenge, and I know that our students are taking it seriously.

The Challenge is open to all our students, and it aims to help young readers develop a lifelong love of reading.

Continue to support your children by ensuring they have read the right number of books

Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers.

Prep, Year 1 and Year 2 can read books by themselves or with someone else.

Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.

I look forward to handing out the Premiers’ Reading Challenge Certificates, signed by the Premier.

Congratulations to Our Intermediate Girls Table Tennis Team!

We’re thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievement of our Intermediate Girls Table Tennis Team, who have once again demonstrated excellence by taking out the premiership in the Hobsons Bay Division!

Following their incredible success as State Champions last year, the team has continued their winning streak, showing unwavering determination and skill to secure another well-deserved victory.

This accomplishment is a true reflection of their hard work, perseverance, and team spirit — qualities we are proud to see in action both on and off the court.

Well done to the team on this fantastic result!

Grade 1/2 Procedure Writing Comes to Life!

Our Grade 1/2 students have been busy learning all about procedure texts and they were able to put their learning into action!

By following a step-by-step guide, students created their very own cat sock puppets. It was a fun and hands-on way to bring procedural writing to life, combining creativity with literacy skills.

Ps....

Something Big Is Coming to the Altona North Art Room…

A mysterious and exciting project is taking shape. It all began with our Prep/1 students, and soon our Grade 3–6 students joined in — even some of our Year 9 students pitched in to help. There's still a little more work to be done, but the final result is coming together beautifully.

Can you guess what it might be? Stay tuned — all will be revealed soon!

Bayside P-12 College Newsletter

Be a Learner, Be Respectful, Be Responsible

Issue 10 · 26 Aug 2025

In this issue