Dear Parents and Carers,

Over the past two days, I have had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Government Schools Principal Conference alongside school leaders from across the state. The conference provides a valuable opportunity to engage with leading educational research, learn from experts in the field and explore the latest evidence-based practices that support student learning and wellbeing.

A key benefit of attending events such as this is ensuring that our school remains informed by the forefront of educational research. The insights gained help guide decision-making, strengthen teaching and learning practices, and ultimately translate into the best possible outcomes for our students. Continuous improvement is an important part of our work, and opportunities to learn from current research and successful practices across the education sector help us continue to refine and enhance the learning experiences we provide.

Our Year 4, 5 and 6 students have recently completed the annual Attitudes to School Survey. This survey provides students with an opportunity to share their perspectives on a range of areas including learning, wellbeing, relationships, engagement and school connectedness. Student voice is an important part of school improvement, and we greatly value the honest feedback our students provide.

We look forward to receiving the survey results and carefully reviewing the feedback. The insights gained will help us celebrate areas of strength and identify opportunities for further growth as we continue working together to provide a positive, supportive and engaging learning environment for every student.

Family, Food and Fun Night – a heartfelt thank you!

At our most recent School Council meeting, I had the pleasure of sharing the incredible profits raised through our Family, Food and Fun Night with our School Council members. Beyond creating lasting memories, the event also made a significant contribution to our school, raising $9708 to support teaching and learning programs.

I would like to sincerely thank our families, volunteers, donors and staff whose generosity and hard work made the event such a success. The funds raised have been invested directly back into opportunities for our students. A significant portion of the proceeds has been used to purchase additional laptops for student use following the statewide decision to move away from a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model in primary schools. These new devices will help ensure equitable access to technology for all students and support learning across the curriculum, both now and into the future.

Funds have also been used to purchase resources for our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. These resources will enhance students’ hands-on learning experiences as they continue to develop skills in growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh produce. The program provides valuable opportunities for students to learn about sustainability, healthy food choices and teamwork in an engaging and practical way. It is also a wellbeing space for students during lunchtime with our invaluable ‘gardening guru’, Luana!

It is always rewarding to see the direct impact that fundraising efforts have on our students. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered and supported the Family, Food and Fun Night. Your contribution is helping us continue to provide enriching learning experiences and valuable resources for all students.

Photo Consent Reminder – Compass

A reminder to all families to please log in to Compass and review your child’s photo consent permissions.

Once you have made your selection to either provide consent or decline consent, please ensure you have ticked the appropriate boxes by scrolling all the way to the bottom of the page and click ‘Submit’. Your preferences will not be saved unless the form is submitted.

I appreciate that this is a new process and thank you for working through it with us. If you would like some support with it, please do not hesitate to call through to the office.

Respecting Our School Environment

At Boneo Primary School, one of our core values is Respect. This value extends beyond the way we treat one another and includes how we care for our school environment and shared spaces.

We ask families to support us by reinforcing the importance of looking after our school grounds, buildings and equipment. Our school provides many wonderful spaces for students to learn, play and connect, and it is important that these are treated with care and pride.

Unfortunately, there are times when physical spaces and equipment are damaged, misused, smashed or broken. When this occurs, valuable school funds that could otherwise be directed towards student learning, resources and programs must instead be spent on repairs and replacements.

By working together, we can help students understand that showing respect for their school means taking responsibility for their actions, caring for shared property and leaving spaces in good condition for others to enjoy. We encourage families to have conversations with their children about the importance of treating our school environment with care and pride.

Supporting School Attendance

This week I have included below a couple of additional resources for families who may be seeking support with school attendance. We know that regular attendance is one of the most important factors in helping children succeed academically, socially and emotionally.

It is encouraging to see a slight improvement in our attendance rates compared to this time last year. Thank you for your ongoing efforts in supporting your child’s attendance.

A reminder that if your family is planning a holiday during the school term, or your child will be absent for an extended period of time, a leave form must be completed through the office. These absences are required to be approved by the Principal and formally recorded by the school.

As always, if your family would like support with school attendance, please don’t hesitate to contact the school. We are here to help and can work with you to find strategies and supports that best meet your child’s needs.

Peninsula Therapy Hub – Mornington

https://peninsulatherapyhub.com.au/school-refusal-therapy

Their experienced team of paediatric therapists are dedicated to making a genuine difference in the lives of children. They are committed to providing the highest quality, evidence-based therapy to support the developmental needs of children. We want to empower every child to reach their full potential. They offer a range of therapy options including play therapy aimed to support students and families experiencing school refusal/school can’t.

Raining Children Network 

https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/school-refusal/school-refusal

Raising Children Network provide parents and carers with free, reliable, scientifically validated information. This information helps parents and carers keep their children healthy and developing well. They cover a range of topics including school refusal and school can’t. 

Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases 

Some areas in regional northern Victoria are experiencing a longer mosquito season this year due to recent flooding. While the overall risk is currently low, some mosquitoes may be carrying diseases that make people sick.

The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites. The free Japanese encephalitis vaccine is also available for more Victorians.

Japanese encephalitis virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. It can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain.

The free Japanese encephalitis vaccine is available for:

• people aged 2 months or older who live or work in eligible high-risk local government areas in Victoria
• until Friday 31 July 2026, people who plan to visit high-risk areas in Victoria or interstate for outdoor recreation such as hiking, camping, caravaning or boating.

For more information: 

• refer to the Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis webpage for a list of high-risk areas
• speak to your GP or immunisation provider to check if your family is eligible for a free vaccine ahead of any planned travel during the coming months.

To help protect against mosquito bites, families can: 

• cover up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing

• apply insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when outdoors

• limit outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active

• clean up and remove containers and items around the home that may hold water where mosquitoes may breed.

Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone Nurse-on-Call: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).

For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages: 

• Mosquitoes can carry diseases

• Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease, including a handy checklist to help reduce mosquito breeding sites at home and resources translated into other languages

• Japanese encep

MHiPS Spotlight on Mental Health 

• visiting a local Medicare Mental Health Centre or Kids Hub (formerly ‘Head to Health Kids’) for face-to-face support.
• calling 1800 595 212 to speak with a trained professional for advice and connection to appropriate supports. 

“Where the Wild Things Are”:  Sam- Prep

Year 1

The Year 1 students visited the Moonlit Sanctuary to learn about native animals and how they can adapt to their surroundings. They learned that Tasmanian Devils are not very particular about their food and will even eat bones and toenails! They also learned that even the humble snail is an important part of the food chain.

So, we need to be careful about chemicals we use in our garden; native wildlife such as blue tongue lizards will eat the poisoned snails then become unwell and the birds that eat these lizards can also become sick in turn.

The children were curious to observe the wombat up close and personal and see its bony posterior that protects it from predators. While the eucalyptus aroma of the koala skat was not unpleasant, we learned that Tawny Frogmouths are one of the smelliest creatures that will spray dung at their attackers!

This experience has sparked the children’s interest, and they will continue to investigate Australian animals in class.

Year 3

Update: Jump Rope for Heart