Gaga Pit

After 12 months in the making, our new Gaga Pit is here! This fantastic addition has been a long-term vision, made possible by the incredible support of our school community and everyone’s fundraising efforts. We are especially grateful to Ben and Paige, whose generosity and hard work on Monday brought this project to life.

We still need to add some granitic sand to the base, but it’s already looking fantastic, and our students are already enjoying some Gaga fun! The staff love hearing the excited shouts of “GA-GA-GO” as the games begin. Thank you to everyone involved for helping make this vision a reality!

Toilet Update & Designs

The progress on our new toilets is coming along nicely! The framing is nearly completed, and we’re looking forward to moving onto the next steps soon. While toilets might not be the most exciting feature, we want to keep you in the loop with the design. This will give you a clear idea of what to expect once they’re finished.

Green Shed

Our green shed, once a kitchen and later used for storage, has been transformed into a creative hub designed for hands-on learning.

In this new Makerspace, students will have the opportunity to dive into engaging activities during their STEM and art classes. They’ll explore, experiment, and invent – whether they’re working on science projects, crafting art pieces, or building creative designs. This dedicated space encourages creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork in an environment that will allow them to make a mess.

We’ll be sharing photos of their creations in upcoming newsletters, so stay tuned to see the imaginative projects our students bring to life!

End-of-Year Concert

Our Whole School End of Year Concert will take place on Thursday, December 19, at Gisborne Secondary College. For families new to our concert tradition, here’s a brief outline of the day:

We will transport all students from school at approximately 2.30pm to the venue, where they will have the chance to rehearse their items several times before the concert begins. To ensure the students are energised and ready, we will provide them with a light meal before the concert.

Further details about start times will be shared soon. This is always a wonderful evening, giving our students the chance to shine on the big stage, and we are excited to see the performances they have been working hard on. In addition to the concert, we’ll also be running our Christmas Raffle, bidding farewell to our graduating Year 6s, and celebrating a fantastic year together.

We look forward to sharing this special evening with you!

Voluntary Contribution

To families who haven’t yet made their voluntary contribution toward the 2024 school fees – thank you for considering it. Every contribution, big or small, helps us provide essential items like stationery, as well as access to enriching programs in Maths, English, STEM, Art, PE, Kitchen Garden, and online learning subscriptions for our students.

So far, we’ve received about 21% of our Curriculum Contributions for 2024 and $200 in Other Contributions. These additional funds help keep our grounds looking great and ensure our first aid supplies are stocked. Contributions are lower than in past years, which affects the resources we can offer.

Our fees are among the lowest in the Macedon Ranges, and we don’t require upfront payments before the school year begins. We make sure each student has all the necessary supplies, subscriptions, and resources ready on day one, so no child starts the year missing out.

We understand the pressures of the cost of living, and we want to support families however we can. If making a contribution is a stretch right now, please feel free to reach out for a quick, confidential chat – we’re here to help find a plan that works for you.

Finally, we know it’s easy to forget if you’ve already made the contribution, especially since we send the Parent Payment Policy out the year before. And, as we can’t send invoices for unpaid fees, we’re unable to send reminders throughout the year.

Thank you for taking a moment to consider this, and for being part of our wonderfully supportive school community!

PFA Meeting

On Wednesday, 27th November at 9am, we're gathering for our final PFA meeting of the year to discuss and plan for our 2025 school events. Everyone is warmly invited to join us, share ideas, and be part of the conversation!

We've achieved incredible things together this year, and with your help, we're looking forward to building even more in the year ahead. Whether you've been involved before or are looking for a way to contribute to our school community, this is the perfect chance to get involved. Drop in – we'd love to see you there!

RSL Essay Writing Competition

Our perpetual trophy for the Romsey-Lancefield RSL had three additional names added last week. Reinhard and John from the RSL joined our assembly to present book vouchers to three students who wrote about the important role of peacekeepers during conflicts. Bolinda was one of three schools participating in this competition, and we are grateful for the RSL’s support in promoting writing among our Year 5/6 students.

Congratulations to the following students, whose work was judged to meet the competition criteria:

1st Place – Charli
2nd Place – Abbi
3rd Place – Heidi

Their names are now proudly added to the trophy, serving as a reminder of their achievement at Bolinda Primary School for years to come.

Remembrance Day

On Monday, 11 November, our school captains represented our community at the Remembrance Day ceremony by laying a wreath at the Romsey Cenotaph. They joined the service in honouring all the service men, women, and animals who have sacrificed their lives, or suffered physical and mental injuries, to secure the freedoms we enjoy today in Australia.

The Romsey RSL expressed deep appreciation for our school’s involvement, and we, in turn, feel grateful for the opportunity to participate in this important event. It is a privilege to stand with our community in remembering and continuing the legacy of those who have served and continue to serve our country.

A Friendly Reminder for Quiet Pickups

We’d like to gently remind everyone to keep noise levels low when picking up children at the end of the day. Sometimes, louder conversations near classrooms can create distractions as students finish up their learning. By keeping voices down, we can help keep the end of the school day calm and focused for all our kids. Thank you for your support in making our school a peaceful place right up until the final bell!

Lost Property

From time to time, we collect items left outside during break times. Here’s a photo of the current collection outside our library. If you recognise something of yours, please feel free to come and collect it. We’d hate for families to lose their containers and belongings.

School Saving Bonus: $400 Support for Families in 2025

The Victorian Government is introducing the School Saving Bonus – a one-time $400 support for each child enrolled in government schools from Prep to Year 12 in 2025. This bonus will help with school costs like uniforms, books, excursions, and activities.

How It Works: Starting Tuesday, 26 November 2024, you’ll receive an email from the Department of Education with a unique $400 School Saving Bonus code for each child. If you have more than one child in government schools, you’ll get a separate email for each – they may not arrive on the same day. Please check your spam/junk folder, just in case.

Using the Bonus: The School Saving Bonus code can be used at selected school suppliers. You can use it in-store or, if preferred, online through an official system where you can allocate all or part of the $400 for school supplies or activities.

For full details and a step-by-step guide, visit School Saving Bonus | vic.gov.au, which will be available from 26 November.

Need Help? If you haven’t received your School Saving Bonus code by Friday, 29

November, please contact the Department of Education at school.saving.bonus@education.vic.gov.au.

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