Principal's report 

I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which Kalinda Primary school gathers, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. I would like to pay my respects to their elders past, present, and emerging.

Acting with kindness, resilience, and respect

This term has really marked the return to many normal operations at school, with parents on-site, excursions running across many year levels and a real sense of excitement as so many important parts of the school year get to go ahead. Personally, I loved being on the sausage sizzle last week and interacting with so many families who were really grateful to be back at a school event.

However, it is also a really important time to consider our school values of kindness, resilience, and respect. A return to more normal operations does not mean a return to a utopia or a 'place of perfection' for all of us. Mistakes will be made, things won't always run perfectly as expected, and sometimes we will be unlucky.

Every single person has missed out on many things during the pandemic; students, staff and parents included. However, it is important that we all model for children that sense of kindness, resilience, and respect when things may not go to plan perfectly for each individual.

One of my most important jobs at Kalinda is to look after the well-being of both the students and the staff. As a community, you have been overwhelmingly supportive of us during this time. However, it only takes a few small moments or incidents to really negatively impact somebody's day. I ask that we all remember to act with kindness and patience as we work together to deliver great learning and well-being opportunities for our students.

Open Night

As part of Education Week we always look forward to showcasing our wonderful school to current and prospective families and we are excitedly planning our Open Night on Tuesday 24th May. Details of the evening are below: 

5.30pm-6.45pm Classrooms open. Kalinda children are invited to take part in our KPS Bingo Challenge – receiving stamps for completing various fun activities right across the school and entering our lucky prize draw.

5.30-6.15pm  Japanese Green Tea Ice Cream for sale in the Canteen by our Branch Out Team raising money for the Tsunami appeal.

5.30pm-6.15pm Cake and cookie stall – run by some wonderful Grade 5 students who are raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital

6:15pm 2023 Foundation Information session – with the Foundation teachers and Shaun McClare. All families with a child considering Foundation in 2023 are welcome.

6:45pm Classrooms close

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Book Fair

Do you love reading? If so, you’re in luck! Kalinda is holding the Lamont Book Fair in May in the Library and we would like to invite you to join in the fun.

Every book you and your family buys helps us to build resources for the students at Kalinda. 

You will be able to have a look at the books with your class teacher before the Book Fair starts in a special VIP preview! Then you can grab a wish list and note down any books you would love to buy.

After that, please come and visit the Book Fair between Monday 23rd and Friday 27th May with your family to purchase your books. The Book Fair will be open that week, before school (8:30-9am) and after school (3:30-4pm) from Monday to Friday. We would also love you to visit during Open Night.

You can also buy the books online if you’re not able to get to the school.

Martina has organised a Book Fair colouring competition, with prizes for different year levels. You can find the colouring sheets in the Library if you want to give it a go. So, come on, get involved in our 2022 Kalinda Book Fair and let’s make it the best one yet!

Federal Election Sausage Sizzle

We are really looking forward to having our Election Day BBQ on the 21st of May. Please see the P&F notice below about volunteering, baking, and contributing to the day.

Hopefully, I get to see lots of Kalinda families as you come through to vote.

Job opportunity: Project Manager position

Over the next few years, we are planning to make a lot of improvements to our school both indoors and outdoors. We want to make sure the school is the best it can be for all of our students. The major works we plan to undertake include:

• Paths
• Library re-development
• Basketball court resurfacing
• Oval resurfacing
• Toilet upgrade
• Playgrounds
• Bike shelter

To facilitate the completion of these tasks we have advertised a role for a Project Manager. This will be a flexible part-time position that will be the equivalent of one day per week. This role will be about coordinating all elements of this work, including seeking quotes and liaising between the school and contracted workers. 

Please follow this link to the advertised position. If you have any questions please contact me on 03 9876 3289 or shaun.mcclare@education.vic.gov.au

We are also putting the call out for a Library Re-development Working Party. Student, staff, and parent input into the design of the re-development would be greatly appreciated. If interested in joining this working party please email me at shaun.mcclare@education.vic.gov.au

School Crossing

Our amazing crossing man, Pete, will be on leave for the next week. We hope you enjoy this well-deserved break Pete.

We will have a replacement crossing guard during this time. Please give them a warm welcome but please be aware that the replacement crossing guard won't necessarily be into giving high fives and doing sign jumping like Pete does.

Reconciliation Action Plan

We had our first Reconciliation Action Plan meeting this week.  Our first steps using the Narrgunnawali Framework will be to complete a Reflection Survey to get a snapshot of our current state of reconciliation at Kalinda. This will help guide the development of our vision and the actions we will take.

We will continue to expand our Working Party, including students and reaching out to members of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.  Please get in touch with me if you would like to be involved.

2022 Melbourne University Maths Research Competition

Please see details in the attachment below for this maths research competition being run by Melbourne University.

2023 Enrolments

Enrolments are now open for 2023. It would be great to start receiving your enrolment forms for students beginning in Foundation (or at other levels next year). The sooner we receive enrolments, the sooner we can begin planning for next year. Please find the enrolment form below and it can be dropped in at the office, sent to the school via post (Kalinda Primary School, 39-49 Kalinda Rd, Ringwood 3134) or by email to kalinda.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

For any new families to the school, you are able to book a tour via the link below:

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=878858&

Shaun McClare,

Principal 

Kalinda Primary School

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