Engagement & Wellbeing

Harmony Week (18th-24th March): A week to celebrate culture

This week, our school community is joining the rest of the country in celebrating Harmony Week. With the central theme of "Everyone Belongs," it is a time for us to reflect on and celebrate the vibrant cultural diversity that makes our country such a wonderful place to live.

While we aren’t holding a single whole-school event this year, we are taking a very intentional approach to embedding these values into our daily routines.

What’s Happening in the Classroom

Our focus this week is on meaningful conversations and "active harmony." Here is how we are recognising the week:

• 5-Minute Bites: Each day during eating times, teachers are leading quick, engaging activities. These include sharing family traditions, exploring the origins of our favorite foods, and discussing the importance of inclusion. 
• Stomping Out Racism: A key part of our learning this week is reinforcing our school’s clear stance against racism. Students are discussing what it means to be an "upstander" and ensuring our playground is a safe, welcoming space for every child, regardless of their background.
• Student Voices on the Mic: Each morning, some of our students are taking to the PA system to welcome the school in different languages (their first language)— Each greeting is followed by a short message about why that culture is a vital part of the Australian story.

Some of our classes will also be taking a look at the book, The Proudest Blue. 

Asiya's hijab is like the ocean and the sky, no line between them, saying hello with a loud wave.

It’s Faizah’s first day of school, and her older sister Asiya’s first day of hijab – made of a beautiful blue fabric. But not everyone sees hijab as beautiful. In the face of hurtful, confusing words, will Faizah find new ways to be strong?

This is an uplifting, universal story of new experiences, the unbreakable bond shared by siblings and of being proud of who you are, from Olympic medallist Ibtihaj Muhammad.

Please take a look at the community section in our newsletter to see the program for Ballarat’s Harmony Fest! 

Buninyong Primary Morning Ride2School

Date: Friday 20h March, 2026

Time: 8:15am Meeting at Buninyong Primary School (Simpson St)

Where: 2km loop around Buninyong Botanical Gardens

If you are available to volunteer, please contact Jarrod at Jarrod.Rodgers@education.vic.gov.au

What are we doing:

What better way to kick off National Ride to School Day than with a nice morning ride around our local school area on a Friday morning. We are inviting students and their families to bring along their bikes to join us in a nice, leisurely 2km loop around the local area (See map below). We will meet at the school’s front entrance on Simpson St and depart at approx. 8:20am to allow plenty of time for everyone to complete the course.

What is National Ride to School Day?

More than 400,000 students from around Australia are expected to pedal, scoot, skate or walk to school on National Ride2School Day, Friday 20th March. The free, annual event for primary and secondary schools in Australia is set to be the biggest since it began.

Supervision:

There will be school staff at the event, although we encourage younger rides to be supported with a parent/ carer present. We will aim to have some staff members at the crossing points; however, any volunteers would be appreciated. 

Where do we store the bikes:

If your child is needing to store their bike at school for the day, then it can be taken to the following spots.

Note: Parents, we ask that the bikes get taken/ridden home that afternoon, just to ensure that we are not left with a large number of bikes to store in the school grounds over the weekend.

 Map 

Bunjil Student Awards

Congratulations to the following Grade 3/4 students who received a Bunjil Award at last week’s Whole School Assembly.

Bunjil awards recognise student achievement and those who display our school values of being respectful, responsible and kind. Well done! All of our weekly winners enjoyed a hot chocolate or zooper dooper with a principal. This process is always a great chance for us to hear from the kids and ask them some questions about our school.

Student Attendance

Student Health

We have been advised of a few suspected cases of head lice in a couple of year levels (Prep/Grade 3) across the past few weeks.

We ask for your assistance in checking your child’s hair (particularly behind the ears and neck) with the aim to eradicate them from the classroom. If you identify lice are present please treat immediately and repeat the treatment in 7 days’ time. 

Children with head lice are not permitted to attend school until the day after appropriate treatment has started. Please note this refers only to those children who have live head lice and does not refer to head lice eggs.

The Victorian Department of Health provides a handy website to help parents manage head lice and we appreciate your support with this. A pharmacist will also be able to provide treatment advice.

To help us prevent this at school, please ensure all students with long hair have it tied back securely while at school.

We are aware that head lice can be a sensitive issue and we are committed to maintaining your confidentiality. Please rest assured that head lice can (and does!) happen to anyone.

We appreciate your help with this. Please contact the school if needed for further information.