A Message from 

Hannah & Keir

“We would like to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, the first people to dream, create, wonder, dance, play and learn on this breathtaking land. This land was cared for and respected for tens of thousands of years. The First Nations people lived in companionship with the animals and the life on this land. We acknowledge that this is stolen land and we pay our respects to elders, past, present and emerging.” 

Rayma Atkinson (2023 Suzanne Peterson Award Recipient)

Spring Magic Market

We know we say it every year after the market, but… wowee! We have an incredible community! Our buckets are full, our hearts are soaring and (we must admit) our muscles are a little bit sore after a huge celebration of our school community. The market crew of volunteers put lots of time and energy into the lead up to our event and a wonderful selection of volunteers helped out on the day, with a small group of individuals taking on massive tasks to help us achieve our magical market, many of whom dedicated even more time on Sunday to pack up the space and bring our school back to the learning environment we are more familiar with.

We are continuing to count the incoming funds from some stalls such as our art auction, and are yet to finalise the total expenses, but it would not be a surprise to anyone who was able to attend that we had a huge turn out on Saturday and the profits from the day look to be close to pre-pandemic levels.

We all know, however, that the market is about so much more than just raising funds! It’s about raising spirit, building connections, showing the wider community who we are and having lots of fun! It’s safe to say that in all of these ways it was a huge success.

It was joyous to see our current families enjoying the sunshine and the atmosphere. We loved seeing staff bring their families along and spotting our new Foundie families who will be joining us in 2025. It is also always a special experience to see our past students and families come back to celebrate with us, whether they are performing on the stage, donating art or just coming along to catch up with old friends. Each year we feel quite moved by the number of past students who maintain connection to the community, to the students who reconnect after years of studying in other spaces and to hear the stories of how the bonds that started here at BNWPS extend well beyond grade 6 or the school grounds.

We will share a big thank you message with everyone who was involved in the market soon, but we can’t let another moment pass without showing our gratitude to Bec Hendy, who led the charge this year. Bec devoted countless hours, made hundreds of phone calls and solved a multitude of small problems to make the market the success that was Saturday. As the leader of Buildings & Grounds, Bec is already a highly engaged parent and we have always appreciated her insights, her approach and her can-do attitude. After Saturday, we think Bec deserves lots of spoiling and time to herself! What makes Bec’s contribution so special is that her family is moving at the end of the year, so her children will not have the opportunity to benefit from everything we have raised. Bec, thank you for your persistence, your energy, your patience, your altruism and for paying it forward to the community. 

If you’re feeling particularly loved up after Saturday, you might start thinking about how you can help with the next market - many hands make light work!