Dear families and community members,

It is wonderful to have all our students back for this school year. Our start has been wonderful with students engaging in their learning, wearing their full uniform with pride, showing they are part of our Kyabram P-12 College community. We are revisiting our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) framework which outlines our expected behaviours in and out of the classroom. Students have been really responsive and have shown they are keen to demonstrate our college values of Respect, Responsibility and Community.

Along with new students at various year levels, it was wonderful to see our new Prep students join the school. We welcomed our 43 prep students and at the Year 7 – 12 assembly we welcomed the Year 7 students, applauding them as they entered the hall. This was to signify their transition from completing primary to starting secondary. We wish them all the best with the start of their secondary schooling.

Year 7 Welcome Evening

Thank you to Renee Howell, our Learning Community Leader at Years 7 and 8, Anna Fitzgerald, our Year 7 Coordinator, and the rest of the presenters who spoke at our Year 7 Welcome Evening. This was an opportunity to remind families of where everything is at school and who our key contacts are for families when they have a need.

Welcome 2025 Preps

Hello, little learners! We are so excited to have you start your very first year of school with us. This year will be full of new adventures, fun activities, and lots of new friends. You’ll discover exciting things like reading, counting, and exploring the world around you! Everyone here is ready to help you feel happy, safe, and ready to learn. Let’s make this year amazing together!

We can’t wait to see all the wonderful things you’ll do!

Year 12 Retreat

This year, our Year 12 students started with a two-day retreat in Ulupna. The camp involved a variety of activities aimed at building connection between students as well as having fun. Students practiced gratitude, wrote kindness notes, set some goals they’d like to achieve throughout the year. The group headed to the Murray River and had some fun on the water including kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and canoeing and enjoyed some fishing and relaxation. Trivia night was a hit with students dressing up and they participated in various challenges and trivia questions.

On Friday morning, they were treated to a coffee van funded by Chaplaincy at Kyabram

P-12 College which was another highlight on the trip.

We wish our Year 12 students the very best for their final year of secondary schooling.

Hello Morning

We saw more families attend the Hello Morning than previous years at Hello Night. With the heat, it was a good move to holding a morning event where families could come in and meet their Connections Teachers as well as Learning Community Leaders, Year Level Coordinators and other subject teachers. Families could also see the learning spaces.

We greet our new and returning staff

We welcome a range of new and returning staff to the college, all who are excited to be working with our students. We are fortunate to have the following people join/ return to our school:

ARCHER, Diana	ES Staff - Admin Assistant Y7-12
FAWCETT, Xavier	Teacher - Generalist 3-4
HINES, Kelly	Teacher - Generalist P-2
LEAMON, Morgan	Teacher - Generalist P-2
LILFORD, Jayne	ES Staff - Wellbeing Support/ Learning Support Assistant
MACKRELL, Josh	Teacher - Health & PE
MALONEY, Shane	Teacher - English
MCCLOY, Leah	Teacher - Performing Arts, VCE Vocational Major
MCCREADY, Matt	Teacher - Science, VCE Vocational Major
MORRISON, Makayla	Sports Trainee
MUNZEL, Rachael	Teacher - Mental Health Coordinator P-6, Generalist P-2
DONOGHUE, Amanda	Teacher - English, Humanities
SHERRIFF, Nicole	Teacher - Mathematics, Science
KEOGH, Georgia	Teacher - English
REID, Hollie	Teacher - Generalist P-2

We also have some new and returning casual relief teachers for Term 1. They are:

Ahmet Altindagli

Murat Altindagli

Fahri Balci

Hans Hanke

Sarah McLoughlin

Chloe O’Rourke

Melissa Stansfield

David Williamson

Our College Leadership Team

Meet our leaders who drive programs of development and improvement in the following areas:

Doreen Smider	Learning Community Leader Years P-2
Shelley Leahy	Learning Community Leader Years 3-4
Brad Mellington	Learning Community Leader Years 5-6
Renee Howell	Learning Community Leader Years 7-8
Kerry Gannon	Learning Community Leader Years 9-10
Louise Mellington	Learning Community Leader Years 11-12
Ali Wallace	Applied Learning Years 10-12
Kate Matthews	Teaching & Learning and Curriculum Years P-6
Rowena Morris	Teaching & Learning and Curriculum Years 7-12
Karli Myers	Wellbeing Leader Years P-12
Bianca Reidy	Inclusive Learning Leader Years P-12
Kaitlyn Souter	Student Engagement Leader Years P-12
Rod Alley	Learning Specialist Coach Years P-6
Sonia Layton	Learning Specialist Coach Years 7-12

We are fortunate to have a strong staff at our college. Our teachers and education support staff will endeavour to support all students with their learning and their wellbeing throughout the year.

Families are encouraged to seek out their child's Connections/ Classroom teacher if they need anything in the first instance. We recently sent out the Meet the Teams notice which showed who was who on staff across the college. If you missed this notification, please refer to the following attachments.

Around the grounds

Our landscaping at the very front of the college is complete where students can access the beautiful lawns. Families can enter the Dungala building (adminstration area and wellbeing hub) through the front entrance now as well. More lawn is being laid around the Algabonya building (library and main staffroom) and the temporary fences will be removed in only a couple of weeks.

Arriving to school safely

Road safety is the responsibility of us all, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. Our community and in fact our country has a strong car culture but slowly people are realising that this cannot be the only way to travel. Everyday all car users become pedestrians at some point. This may be when you leave your car in a car park and head to shops, schools, or parks. You may need to walk through car parks or crossroads in arriving at your destination. Therefore, it is important to not only teach our children of the skills needed to navigate through these different terrains but to also remember that as drivers of vehicles, no matter what the size, pedestrians and cyclists need to be our concern. Vehicles are always going to be larger than a bike, motor bike or pedestrian and requires a great deal of responsibility when being used. Speed is a major factor when driving and can determine the fate of any impact. It also important to ensure as pedestrians we are using the safest points when crossing the road. Our crossing ladies always arrive early and leave when everyone else has travelled home, please cross the road at these points and follow their instructions.

Please mind your speed as you drive. Watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorbikes, never assume, always act defensively.

Being a proud Kyabram P-12 College student

We have wonderful students who want to be involved and engage in their learning which is terrific to see. I strongly encourage our students to take responsibility for their learning; that is, be prepared with equipment, arrive to all classes on time, and actively listen and engage in the lessons. If a student needs help with their learning, they should ask their teacher. This is their responsibility. To also support their learning, they could set up a space at home where they can concentrate, study, and complete their homework.

I encourage students to do their best. Find a balance between schoolwork and home. Be an active contributor to the community which will support them to develop their interpersonal skills such as communication and cooperation. Involvement in extra curricular activities promotes a sense of belonging and connection.

Explore new opportunities that will engage and support learning. Be an active team member and participate in community activities. I asked our students to make the most of this year. Respect classmates, teachers and other staff members that work with them and show respect when they communicate.

It has been a super start with students wearing their college uniform with pride. It is an important part of who we are at Kyabram P-12 College. Wearing the uniform correctly is our way of showing how proud we are to be a member of the school. Our Student Uniform and Dress Code Policy is listed on our website for your reference. This year, we will explore options to expand the wardrobe for our students to keep them cool in the heat and warm during those chilly winter days.

Late last year, we started to get feedback from students, parents and carers. We hope to see continued active participation with this again this year. Further details will come later this term and early next term.

This uniform policy promotes equity, a sense of identification with our school and provides attractive and durable, cost effective, practical clothing suitable to our local climate. It also aligns with current occupational health and safety practices. This policy outlines minimal makeup is to be used, tattoos to remain covered, and hair colour to be natural in colour, not extreme in colour or style. Nail polish is to be clear, pale, or neutral in colour. There can be a maximum of three studs or sleepers in each ear. Dangling earrings and necklaces are deemed unsafe in the school setting. Aside from a small discrete nose piercing, there should be no other facial piercings. Students with nose piercings are encouraged to wear a saver. A simple chain or necklace can be worn but should be tucked in so that there is no chance of it getting caught on anything.

College Council oversee the uniform policy. We have parent and community representatives on our College Council. Each year, we have elections. College Council elections are opening for nominations in the coming days. Please read on in this newsletter to see how you can become a member of our College Council.

Year 6 polos and Year 12 polos and hoodies

Our students look sensational in their polos and hoodies! Our students were actively involved in the design of their tops. The polo for the Year 6 students has been designed by a local indigenous artist, Dede Atkinson, proud Wollithica and Bangerang woman.

We thank her sincerely for her work with the design.

On behalf of the staff, thank you for choosing Kyabram P-12 College as your school of choice. It is going to be a marvellous year ahead.

Marina Walsh

Principal

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