Welcome to a brand-new school year. I hope you and your family found some time over the summer break to rest, recharge and enjoy a slower pace. It’s been wonderful seeing students return full of energy, stories and that familiar first‑week buzz that fills the school at this time of year.
A special welcome to all families joining Boronia Heights Primary School for the first time, including our new Prep families. Beginning at a new school is a big step, and we’re really glad you’re here. We’re looking forward to getting to know you and supporting your children as they settle in and grow throughout our time together.
We’re also pleased to introduce several staff members who have joined our team in 2026: Helen Clark (STEAM), Shaun Daniels (5C) and Perri Wilkinson (2D). We’re excited to have them with us and know they’ll bring a great deal to our school. We also welcome back Saascha Cargill and Sajani Dharmapala, who have returned to Boronia Heights PS this year.
A heartfelt thank you to all staff for the work that went into preparing for the year ahead. Many spent part of their break organising classrooms, planning learning programs and making sure everything was ready for students to walk through the doors. So much of this work happens quietly in the background, but it makes a real difference to how smoothly the year begins.
Our Office and Education Support staff have also been hard at work managing the many tasks that come with the start of a new year. Their organisation and teamwork play a huge role in keeping the school running well, and we’re grateful for the effort they put in to ensure everything was ready for day one. Lori, Tracey, Tanya and Tanya are always happy to help you with whatever you need.
We’re excited for the year ahead and all the learning, growth and connection it will bring across our school community.
SunSmart Policy
Don’t forget that Boronia Heights is a SunSmart School and wide brimmed hats are compulsory in Terms 1 & 4, (including Phys Ed sessions). Hats are available at the school office and must be worn by all children and staff when outside at playtime and lunchtime. Children who do not have a hat will have a restricted play area under the shaded areas of the school. Please ensure that your child’s hat is clearly named and that they have it at school every day. Our school uniform policy requires that the hat be a school hat, as it is the approved style with a wide brim that provides full sun protection to face, ears and neck.
Focus for 2026
Each year the school leadership team develops an Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) which sets out the key improvement strategies we’re focusing on. This year’s AIP focuses on four key improvement strategies:
- Teaching practice
- Using data well
- Building student ownership of learning
- Strengthening student voice.
Each of these focus areas has tasks and activities that staff will undertake so that we can continue to improve the learning outcomes of students.
Here are some of the tasks that teachers and Education Support staff will work on to achieve our goals this year:
- Professional learning sessions with literacy and numeracy experts such as Bronwyn Ryrie Jones, Dr Nathaniel Swaine and Emina McLean.
- Implementation of the Top Ten Mathematics program to build strong foundational skills in mathematics, increase student enjoyment of mathematics, and give every teacher the skills to teach maths effectively.
- Implementation of Little Learners Love Literacy in the P-2 years so that our children have the best start possible in learning how to read.
- Ensuring our assessment practices are consistent and in line with current research on monitoring student learning progress.
- Revising our approach to student learning goals and how children track their improvement.
- Ensuring morning circles, now called Yarning Circles, are a common practice in classrooms each day.
These are only a snapshot of the activities we have planned this year for our school improvement work.
Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour
When schools, families and students work together, we achieve the best outcomes. These partnerships are essential to creating school environments that support all students to belong, learn and thrive.
At Boronia Heights PS all students are expected to be respectful, safe, and engaged. These behaviours help make our school a place where everyone can achieve their best. As a parent and carer, you play a vital role in helping your child to understand and meet shared behaviour expectations.
Students meet behaviour expectations by being:
Respectful
- Following staff instructions and school rules.
- Caring for school property and others’ belongings.
- Using respectful language.
Safe
- Keeping themselves and others safe from harm.
- Speaking up or seeking help from an adult if they or someone else is being treated unfairly.
- Only bringing safe and necessary items to school.
Engaged
- Going to school every day, being on time, and ready to learn.
- Taking part, doing their best, and asking for help when they need.
- Knowing and following the school’s policies, including the mobile phone policy.
Boronia Heights PS is supporting our students to meet these expectations by being:
Respectful
- Teaching and demonstrating school rules and positive behaviour expectations to students.
- Explicitly teaching, modelling and acknowledging expected respectful behaviour.
- Engaging collaboratively and positively with all students, parents and carers.
Safe
- Having clear policies and procedures to prevent and respond to bullying and keep students safe.
- Offering additional supports to students proactively and supporting students to speak up and seek help.
- Proactively identifying and addressing problems to maintain a physically, socially and culturally safe school environment.
Engaged
- Delivering evidence-based, inclusive education that meets the needs of all students.
- Empowering students to have a say in decisions that affect their learning and school life.
- Building strong, trusting relationships to ensure all students feel seen, heard and valued.
How parents and carers can help
By modelling and encouraging positive behaviour, you help your child build the skills and habits they need to be successful at school. This can include:
Respectful
- Knowing the school’s rules and supporting them at home.
- Modelling respectful behaviour in how you speak to and about school staff, families, and others both in person and online.
- Making use of the school’s processes to raise and resolve concerns early.
Safe
- Working together with staff if your child is having problems at school to understand and resolve the issue.
- Ensuring your child knows it is okay to ask for help from a trusted adult at school.
- Ensuring your child stays safe online by talking with them and addressing concerns early.
Engaged
- Helping your child to attend school every day – every day counts.
- Communicating with school staff and working together to support your child’s learning and wellbeing.
- Talking with your child about their day and how they are feeling and encouraging their learning by noticing their effort and progress.
The Respectful, safe, engaged: shared expectations to support student behaviour statement is available on the department’s website.
Further information, resources and support are available at Supporting positive behaviour in Victorian government schools.
Koko the CARE Koala
I’m excited to share that our school has a new mascot, Koko the CARE Koala. Koko has been created to help bring our CARE values to life in a way that feels fun and meaningful for our students. The idea for a mascot began last year when students told us they wanted something that represented who we are as a community and would help younger students understand our values in a more engaging way.
Throughout the process our students played a key role. They shared ideas about the type of character they wanted, what’s its name would be, what it should stand for and how it could help build a stronger sense of belonging across the school. Once all the ideas were submitted to our competition, the students voted and chose Koko by Matilda D (Grade 5 in 2026).
Koko will be popping up on displays around the school to celebrate positive behaviour, recognise student achievements and help us continue strengthening our culture of care at Boronia Heights. We may even see Koko making an appearance at assemblies later in the year!
Enjoy your weekend.
Mat Anderton
Principal