Principal's report

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the Kulin nation; past, present and those who will walk with us into the future. We acknowledge the rich and unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas, educational practices and the hopes of all First Nations Peoples. We do this in the spirit of reconciliation as we move to a place of justice and partnership - together we work, learn, play and care for one another and this land.

Refurbishment and maintenance program for our school oval.

Our oval is an extremely important part of school life. It is used every day for play, Physical Education, sport and a range of school activities, so we want to ensure it remains a high-quality and usable space for our students for many years to come.

The planned works have a total cost of approximately $17,000 and will include:

• 17 additional oval mowing visits throughout the year
• Two fertiliser applications
• Spring seeding
• Topdressing in early Autumn
• Two aeration treatments

• Two broadleaf weed spraying visits

   

To allow the grass and surface to properly establish, we are planning to close the oval for at least one term during the refurbishment period.

We recognise that this will have some short-term impact on how our outdoor spaces are used. However, this is an important investment in the long-term condition of the oval.

During the closure, we will make use of other areas around the school to ensure students continue to have plenty of opportunities for outdoor play and physical activity.

We are looking forward to seeing the improvements take shape and, ultimately, providing our students with an even better outdoor space.

NAPLAN 2026 – Celebrating Student Growth

We have now received our 2026 NAPLAN results, which provide a positive picture of student achievement and growth across a number of areas.

There was particularly strong improvement in our Year 3 results. Compared with 2025, Year 3 results improved in Reading, Numeracy, Spelling and Grammar and Punctuation.

Our Year 5 results also showed positive improvement. Reading, Numeracy, Grammar & Punctuation and Spelling all increased compared with 2025, with Grammar & Punctuation reaching a five-year high.

While these results are encouraging, NAPLAN is just one source of information we use to understand student learning. Our teachers use a much broader range of assessment information throughout the year to identify student needs and plan effective teaching.

Importantly, the results align with the literacy improvement work already underway across Kalinda, including the development of our whole-school Literacy Scope and Sequence and Literacy Instructional Model.

A Reminder About School Uniform

As we move further into Term 3 and look ahead to the warmer months, I would like to remind families about the importance of students wearing the correct Kalinda Primary School uniform, particularly our SunSmart expectations.

At Kalinda, we want our students to be comfortable, active and well protected from the sun while they are at school. Our uniform requirements are designed to support this, particularly when students are playing and learning outdoors.

One important aspect of our uniform is ensuring that shorts, skirts and dresses are an appropriate length, extending past mid-thigh. This is an important part of our SunSmart approach and helps provide greater coverage and protection for students when they are outdoors.

As the weather becomes warmer, please also remember:

• Students should wear the Kalinda wide-brimmed hat when required under our SunSmart policy.
• Clothing should provide appropriate coverage for students when they are playing and participating in outdoor activities.
• Shorts, skirts and dresses should extend past mid-thigh to provide appropriate coverage.
• Shoulder-length or longer hair should be tied back.

• Students should wear approved Kalinda uniform items that are neat, clean and in good condition.

   

Our School Council Uniform Policy supports a consistent approach to student dress while promoting student safety, comfort, belonging and pride in our school community.

We appreciate that children grow quickly and that uniform items sometimes become too short before they are worn out. We encourage families to check the length of shorts, skirts and dresses as students grow and replace items when they no longer provide appropriate coverage.

We also understand that the cost of uniforms can sometimes be challenging. Our school runs second-hand uniform stalls throughout the year, and families experiencing financial difficulty can contact the school office for confidential assistance.

Thank you to all families for supporting our SunSmart and uniform expectations. Most importantly, these expectations help us ensure that our students are safe, comfortable and well protected while enjoying the outdoors at Kalinda.

View the full Kalinda Primary School Uniform Policy

We are kind. We are resilient. We are respectful.