Dear Parents and Carers,

Yesterday, our students enjoyed an unforgettable experience as a helicopter touched down on the oval – an exciting highlight that brought STEM learning to life. Students have been exploring forces, flight, engineering design and the science behind how helicopters and aircraft operate. The opportunity to see a real helicopter up close provided a powerful link between classroom learning and the real world. Students were able to observe the mechanics of the aircraft, ask thoughtful questions, and witness concepts such as lift, thrust and torque in action. The excitement on their faces said it all!

Experiences like this help deepen understanding, spark curiosity and inspire future aspirations. We are incredibly fortunate to be able to provide such authentic learning opportunities for our students.

A heartfelt thank you to our generous pilot, Matt Luscombe, for making this visit possible. A sincere thank you also to Jon Reid and Piet Van Hooydonk who volunteered as Marshalls. Their generosity, organisation and willingness to support our school created a moment our students will remember for years to come.

School Council

We held our final formal School Council meeting for 2025 this week. Along with several other agenda items, we approved next year’s school budget and began initial discussions about future fundraising initiatives and the importance of voluntary contributions to be able to offer a wide range of programs for our students. I would like to extend a sincere thank you, on behalf of our entire school community, to all council members for their commitment and hard work throughout the year.

As we have several members finishing their current tenure, we will be seeking new representatives for 2026. We will be meeting on Monday evenings with a 5.30pm start time. These positions will be advertised early next year, and I strongly encourage interested parents to consider getting involved.

Step Up Day Reminder

Our whole school ‘Step Up Day’ transition session will be held on Friday 12th December, from 9am to 12:15pm. On this day, students will spend time with their new teachers and classmates.

Please be assured that our leadership team and teachers have thoughtfully considered each child’s strengths, learning needs and social connections when forming classes.

Thank you for your continued support during this transition period.

Compass Reminder (Year 6 and departing students)

An important reminder for parents and carers of Year 6 students, as well as any students leaving our school at the end of the year, to please download all school reports from Compass. Once students are formally exited from our system, their Compass reports will no longer be accessible through the parent portal.

Calling for Netting Donations to Protect Our Fruit Trees

As we move into the warmer months, our wonderful fruit trees are beginning to thrive. To help protect them from birds and pests – and to ensure our students can continue enjoying their produce – we are seeking donations of fruit-tree netting.

If you have any spare netting at home or are willing to contribute a small piece, we would be incredibly grateful. Donations can be dropped off at the school office at any time.

Thank you for supporting our garden program and helping our trees grow strong and healthy!

EVERY DAY COUNTS…

As our school community is aware, student attendance is closely monitored by both the school and the Department of Education. When a child is absent on a school day, parents/carers are required to provide a reason for the absence (e.g. illness, medical appointment, family holiday, parent choice, etc).

We have noticed that several unexplained absences remain outstanding for this year.  We will be sending letters home early next week with a list of dates reflecting unexplained absences. We kindly ask that all families record reasons for the absence beside the date and return to school for us to update our records.

As always, please contact the office if you have any questions or require further assistance.

Webpage to help families and students prepare for a new school year

A new school year is an exciting time for students and families, but it can be a big step – particularly for those starting Prep or secondary school. The Victorian Government has developed a webpage with resources and information to help you prepare for the new school year: New year of learning webpage

During the school holidays, please consider reading through the resources, which include:

• tips to help transition from kinder to Prep, primary to secondary school, and Year 10 to VCE
• what to expect at school
• help with school costs and fees
• health and wellbeing guidance to support children’s mental health.

Helicopter Landing at Boneo PS!

It was a thrilling morning at Boneo Primary School as students and staff eagerly awaited the long-anticipated helicopter landing. Excitement filled the classrooms as everyone pressed against the windows, while the Year 4s lined the oval fence for the best view. We were fortunate to have incredible support from the Council, the Department of Education, and – most importantly – Matt Luscombe, the helicopter pilot who made it all possible!

Matt flew in with Jack and Harvey, making what could only be described as the most spectacular school arrival ever – an 18-minute flight from Moorabbin Airport straight to Boneo PS in the Formula 1 neon green helicopter. Mrs Pandza, Mr Pollett, Kellie and Amanda watched on proudly (and a little nervously!) as months of planning came to life.

The Year 4s erupted in cheers as Jack stepped out of the helicopter. Matt then spent time answering their many questions, helping them connect their STEM learning about the forces of flight with this unforgettable real-world experience. The excitement soared even higher when students had the chance to sit inside the helicopter.

A special mention to Cheyanne from the Department’s OHS Team, Piet Van Hooydonk and Jon Reid for attending on the day to assist.

It truly was one of the most exciting days Boneo has ever seen!

Year 1 Excursion to Heronswood

The students learnt about pollinators and how they help our community. The children enjoyed learning how they can also help those pollinators such as planting certain flowers and making bee baths.

Smartie Maths

The Year 3 students have been doing smartie maths, organising their smarties into graphs, arrays and groups to represent fractions of a collection.

After completing their tasks, they finally got to eat them!

Cosy Craft Art Show – TREC

This week our Cosy Craft Club transformed the Echidna Lounge into a wonder-filled craft gallery, inviting our Junior School students to see all the art and craft they made this year, discover hand-made treasures, and celebrate the joy of art and imagination