Message From Principal

World Teachers’ Day

On Friday 31st October, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day. The Education Support, Administration and Leadership team honoured our invaluable Dinjerra Teaching team. The teachers enjoyed a breakfast snack, coffee vouchers, a Dinjerra-style morning tea spread that spilled over to lunch, and a neck and shoulder massage session! 

Our Dinjerra Teaching team consists of our:

Classroom Teaching Team: Nerissa Hatton, Celia Iao, Marta Rodrigues, Elena Bartognolio, Emily Fredricks, Vicki Hajisava, John Carr, Tom Penberthy, Alicia Pearce, Michael Voulgarellis and Rebecca Clark

Specialists Teaching Team: Ryan McCann, Melinda Sokor, Katie Clements and Cameron Beatty

Intervention teacher: Sharon Higgins

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader: Tom Penberthy

Acting Learning Specialist: Nerissa Hatton

Leading Teacher: Nazlia Edwards

I would like to publicly thank our teaching staff who are dedicated to improving the learning and wellbeing of our students. Thank you for all that you do. 

Halloween Disco - Thank you to Zoe Nicolaou 

Congratulations to Zoe from Year 6 who organised the Recess and Lunchtime Halloween Disco on Friday 31st October. Zoe visited classes to ask for song requests, organised a team to help her decorate, prepare and pack up the Multi-Purpose Room. The disco was full of dancing, smiling children having a great time with their friends. 👏

Crazy Hair Day

Thank you to the Junior School Council, John Carr and Sue Marmo for organising a fun out of uniform day with our Crazy Hair Day! 

Planning for 2026

The Leadership team is busy planning the 2026 Workforce Plan and Class Structure. We are still confirming the number of classes that will run for 2026, with the input of our Consultative Committee and School Council. Currently, we are operating with 9 classes from Prep to 6, with composite classes from years 1-6. 

Part of this process and confirmation relies on the fact that we are getting close to our enrolment capacity of 250 students. For 2026, we plan to start the year with 220 students, which is at 86% of our enrolment capacity. This puts pressure on class sizes. At different times, when schools are experiencing enrolment pressure, the DET Provision and Planning unit may issue an Enrolment Management Improvement Plan and/or provide the school with relocatable buildings (portables). However, this does not seem to be the case for the beginning of 2026, so we are still working through options. I will have more news for you as soon as possible. Either way, we have begun our 2026 recruitment process and look forward to welcoming a few new teaching staff to Dinjerra for next year. 

So that we can confirm enrolment numbers, if you are not returning to Dinjerra PS in 2026, could you please let me know via email on natalie.vulic@education.vic.gov.au . 

Thank you to the families who attended the Parent LOTE Forum in person or filled the Google Form.  Soon, we will be able to share more information regarding the results and the confirmed Specialists subjects for 2026. 

Prep 2026 Transition Sessions:

We will be welcoming our 2026 Prep students to Dinjerra for their 3 Prep Transition Sessions on:

• Week 6 - Thursday 13th November 
• Week 7 - Thursday 20th November 
• Week 8 - Thursday 27th November

All sessions will be from 9:15-10:45am and include a Parent Information Session, uniform sales and Compass set up. 

Assemblies: Fortnightly 

 As a reminder, here are the assembly dates for Term 4:

• Week 6 - Friday 14.11.25
• Week 8 - Friday 28.11.25
• Week 10 - Friday 12.12.25
• Week 11 - Friday 19.12.25 (12:50pm assembly and 1:30pm end of year dismissal)

Term 4 Important Dates:

• Family Fiesta: Friday 5th December - 4:00-8:00pm
• Year 6 Graduation: Wednesday 17th December from 5:00pm - Medway Golf Club Maidstone
• Last Day of Term 4: Friday 19th December - Dismissal at 1:30pm