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Principal Report

Dear Parents, Carers, and School Community,

As we approach the end of Term 2, I am delighted to share a mid-year update on our four-year Strategic Plan for school improvement. Now halfway through the second year of this journey, we are firmly on track to meet our key milestones.

Since our school review in 2024, our vision has been centred on shifting our school “From Good to Great” by lifting standards together and providing an environment that balances high support with high expectations.

We recently received the 2026 Student Attitudes to School Survey results, and the feedback from our students is incredibly encouraging:

• High Expectations and Focus on Learning: Our students feel highly motivated to reach their full potential. When asked if their teachers expect them to do their best, 94% of students agreed, continuing a steady upward trend. Our overall score for high expectations has jumped from 74% to 82% over the last four years.
• Sense of Belonging: Student perception of inclusion remains exceptionally strong, sitting at 91%. Additionally, 94% of students reported feeling that they receive ample opportunities to participate in class activities.
• Quality Teaching Time: Our classrooms are gaining fantastic momentum. Students are noticing less wasted time, with positive scores for effective teaching time jumping from 61% in 2023 to 70% in 2026.

These results reflect the dedication of our staff in embedding our collective Instructional Model, reinforcing our “No Opting Out” learning philosophy, and living our CARE values (Community, Aspiration, Respect and Excellence) alongside our school motto: Belong, Believe, Achieve.

Here is a look back at some of the major highlights, achievements, and programs from across our school this term.

Year 9 City Experience

Our Year 9 City Experience was a massive success! Students spent an entire week participating in structured tours of iconic sites, including the MCG, the Old Melbourne Gaol, and the Shrine of Remembrance. On Friday, they put their skills to the test by successfully navigating their own independent itineraries and research projects. A big thank you to Mr. Camille for leading this program.

Senior School Rigour & Pathways

This year, we have focused heavily on tightening academic rigour to best support our senior students. This includes clearer processes around hurdle tasks, improved assessment timelines, refined redemption processes, and maintaining our 90% attendance requirement.
Last week, a phenomenal 92% of our Year 10 students completed work experience! This was our first time organizing a blocked work experience schedule, and our students engaged in highly meaningful placements across a diverse range of industries. A huge shout out to Meaghan McLeod for her incredible work stepping into the Careers Practitioner role this year.
Alongside work experience, we hosted a school-based Careers Expo for the first time in many years, facilitated the GAT, and commenced our Year 11 and 12 mid-year exams.
We recently engaged Consent Labs to facilitate highly engaging, cohort-specific workshops for our Year 10, 11, and 12 students. These sessions covered crucial topics like positive masculinity, healthy relationships, and safely responding to harassment. Our students showed overwhelming maturity, with many expressing a keen interest in further learning on these topics.

Kitchen Garden / Year 10 Food

Last Thursday, we hosted the Growing Together School Garden Network (facilitated by each). Focused on cooking with bush foods, we were incredibly lucky to have indigenous chef Blake Clark join us. This network is part of our longer-term vision to develop the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. As part of the festivities, our Year 10 students hosted some of our primary students for a wonderful lunch.

F-2 Literacy Program & Milo’s Birthday

This year, we implemented Little Learners Love Literacy, an evidence-based Australian phonics program that explicitly teaches reading and spelling using multi-sensory activities and decodable books.
A core component for our Prep students is Milo’s Birthday Surprise. This program introduces letters and sounds through memorable animal characters (like Felix the Frog) acting as visual cues. Rather than following alphabetical order, it teaches sounds in a strategic sequence (starting with m, s, f, a, p, t), allowing our youngest students to quickly begin blending words like “mat” or “sat.” It is already proving highly successful in building a rock-solid literacy foundation.

Looking Ahead: BK12 Basketball Academy (Coming 2027)

Following the success of our recent basketball programs, discussions with the Knox Basketball Association have paved the way for us to fully transition into a dedicated Basketball Academy starting in 2027!
While a program of this scale will take several years to fully mature, our upcoming stadium upgrade and a strong commitment from Knox Basketball—who are also connecting us with the Southeast Melbourne Phoenix—provide a spectacular opportunity.

• The Program (Years 6–9): Designed for students passionate about basketball and team sports, the curriculum will combine in-class basketball electives with specialized training and strength/conditioning sessions in our new Fitness Centre. Students will benefit from expert coaching provided by NBL1 coaches working alongside school staff.
• Junior Development (Grades 3–4): Our “Little Elites” Taster Program will build fundamental skills and connect directly with the Hoop Time competition.

Key Features of the Academy:

• Pro-Level Training: Weekly skill sessions with expert coaches and two strength/conditioning sessions per week.
• VIP Experiences: Interschool tournaments, State Basketball Centre visits, NBL player meet-and-greets, and free SEM Phoenix tickets.
• Global Opportunities: Potential international tours to New Zealand or China starting in 2027.
• Earn Qualifications: Opportunities to earn a Level 0 Referee qualification and official coaching accreditation.
• Next-Gen Facilities: Training in a brand-new, state-of-the-art gymnasium undergoing a massive upgrade in 2027.
• Career Pathways: We will be offering a VET Certificate III in Fitness starting in 2028.

Note: Additional fees will apply to cover program costs, an official Academy training jersey, and a performance jacket. More details can be found in the 2027 Subject Handbook.

Term 2 Event Highlights

Since our last newsletter, our school calendar has been absolutely full! Our staff truly go above and beyond, and I want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who made the following events possible this term:

• VET Taster In-School Program
• Recreational Pursuits – Grants Picnic Ground
• Outer Eastern Career Expo
• Year 7 Girls Netball
• Year 3-6 Knox Division Cross Country
• Year 5/6 Winter Sports Round Robin (AFL, Netball, Soccer)
• Year 10 KIOSC Discovery – Aspirin Analysis
• Outdoor Education – URBNSurf Surfing
• Senior Basketball & Hi Jinx Hotel Excursion
• Battle of the Bands & our Instrumental Music Concert
• The 2026 Central Australia Camp (which departed this Wednesday!)
• Our upcoming World Cup School Event today

Also, coming up is the grand opening of our “Rotary Skills Shed” on Monday, 27 July. We look forward to welcoming special guests and our first cohort of Grade 5 and 6 students into the program.
The Shed is also the new home for our secondary Hands-on Learning Program, which is excitingly expanding from one day to two days (Tuesday and Wednesday) next semester. Under the guidance of our artisan teachers—James Latu, Rhonda McMillan, and Nicole Costa – we will now be able to run two separate student groups.
As all these events and programs highlight, our students enjoy an incredible breadth of opportunities to learn, grow, and build character well beyond the classroom. I believe this is the hallmark of a truly great school.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our families for your ongoing partnership. This vital support comes in many forms, and we appreciate it all:

• Encouraging learning and curiosity at home.
• Volunteering your time as part of our Parents and Friends Association (new members welcome)
• Contributing voluntary fees, which allow us to enhance our facilities and programs for every student.

I believe that a great school sits at the heart of a school community. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my leadership team if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback. Together, we continue to build a school we can all be proud of.

Have a safe and wonderful upcoming school holiday break!

Sincerely,

Paul Broecker

College Principal

Assistant Principal Report – Junior School

It has been yet another busy term as we head into the winter months and wind up Semester 1. Highlights from this term include:

• 5/6 Student Voice Team ANZAC Day Service at the Arboretum
• Monty the Monster Fun Run
• District Cross Country
• Do It For Dolly Day
• Mother’s Day Morning Tea and Stall
• Scouts Incursion for Years 3 & 4
• Islamic Museum Excursion for Years 5 & 6
• Walk Safely to School Morning
• National Simultaneous Storytime
• Reconciliation Week activities
• 5/6 Winter Sports
• Proactive Policing Incursion for Years 5 & 6
• Café Experience (F–5, with Year 6 participating in Term 3)

What a wealth of experiences our students have been able to participate in. Alongside their core learning, students in the Junior School are fortunate to have access to a team of experienced and knowledgeable specialist teachers. Below is a snapshot of the exciting learning that has been taking place across these specialist areas.

In Year 6, students choose from a range of Arts, Design and Technology electives instead of participating in STEAM and Music and Performing Arts. This allows them to select four subjects throughout the year (two per semester) that align with their passions and interests while extending their learning. Students may continue with the same electives or explore new areas within the Arts, Design and Technology curriculum.

Thank you to our specialist team for providing the updates below and for their hard work and dedication throughout the semester.

In Year 6, our students choose from a range of Arts, Design and Technology electives instead of STEAM and Music and Performing Arts. That means they can choose 4 subjects (2 per semester) that represent a passion or curiosity and can extend their learning. These 4 subjects can be chosen again if that’s their pathway or they can explore other areas of the Arts, Design and Technology realm.

Thank you to our specialist team for providing the below updates for their areas of expertise and their hard work and dedication to teaching their subject areas over the Semester.

AUSLAN F-2

This semester, Foundation to Year 2 students have been building their Auslan communication skills through a range of engaging games, conversations, songs, and instruction-following activities. Students have explored handshapes, the Auslan alphabet, spelling their names, sign recognition, and early Auslan reading skills.

Our learning topics have included letters, numbers, emotions, animals, and colours. A key focus has been understanding how handshapes and facial expressions work together to communicate meaning. Students discovered that facial expression is an essential part of Auslan and helps convey emotions, questions, and important information. It has been wonderful to see students growing in confidence as they communicate using Auslan with their peers and teachers.

SPANISH 3-6

Students in Years 3 and 4 have been developing their Spanish language skills by talking about food preferences, using me gusta/ no me gusta (I like/ I dislike) particularly when discussing fruits, vegetables, and everyday items. Students created a healthy plate of food and used simple sentence structures to describe what they enjoy and what they do not enjoy eating, building confidence in meaningful, real-life communication.

This semester also connected to weather and clothing, where students learned to describe basic weather conditions and select suitable clothing items in Spanish. To extend their learning creatively, they designed finger puppets and took part in mini role-plays, using Spanish in playful, interactive speaking activities.

Students in Years 5 and 6 have been reflecting on their Cubist self-portraits inspired by the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. Through this unit, they have been extending their Spanish by describing details, body parts, and artistic choices in greater depth.

Students are learning to name parts of the body in Spanish and use this vocabulary to describe themselves through simple visual artwork. This has allowed them to combine language learning with creativity, developing both their expressive language skills and their understanding of artistic style.

It has been wonderful to see students engage thoughtfully with their artwork and begin to communicate more confidently in Spanish while explaining their ideas and creative decisions.

STEAM F-5

This semester’s STEAM program has continued to provide students with exciting, hands-on and engaging learning experiences across Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. Through weekly lessons, students from Foundation to Year 5 have explored scientific concepts, coding, robotics and design thinking in fun and meaningful ways.

Foundation students have been learning about living and non-living things, building early scientific understanding through observation and sorting activities. Year 1 and 2 students extended this learning by classifying living and non-living things and taking part in exciting experiments, including erupting “science snow” using special polymers. A standout across the junior years has been the ever-popular “Elephant’s Toothpaste” experiment, which sparked lots of curiosity and excitement.

In Years 3 and 4, students have been developing their ability to “think like a scientist” by planning and designing their own experiments and procedures, considering fair testing and predictions. This has strengthened their inquiry skills and scientific understanding in authentic, hands-on ways.

Students in Years 2–4 have also enjoyed working with Dash robots, learning to code, navigate paths and program a range of engaging tasks such as following routes, responding to sensors, launching balls and even playing musical instruments. Senior students have further extended their learning through Kiro robotics, building, coding and programming robots to complete increasingly complex challenges.

In Year 5, students have been working through “The Ozone Bot Adventure,” developing their coding and navigation skills through robotics challenges. They are now excitedly preparing to move into their next unit on Space Science, where they will continue to build on their curiosity and problem-solving skills.

Across all year levels, the STEAM program continues to be a highlight of the week. Learning is driven by the Engineering Design Process, with students actively investigating, designing, creating, testing and improving their ideas. It remains a dynamic, hands-on program that inspires curiosity, creativity and a love of learning.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (F-6)

PE has been busy, as usual, across Semester 1 in the Junior School. In PE lessons, our F-2 students have continued to work on their Fundamental Movement and Motor skills including running, jumping, throwing, catching, kicking and punting. Students have worked on the technique to complete these skills and put them into co-operative games where they work in teams to achieve a shared goal. Our Year 3-6 students have covered a range of units including Athletics peer assessments, striking and fielding games and looking at a range of skills in different football codes including AFL footy, rugby and soccer. Next semester we look forward to beginning with our annual Gymnastics Unit which is always a lot of fun.

MUSIC AND PERFORMING ARTS F-4 then elective from 6

It has been an incredibly exciting and busy Term in Music across the Junior School, with students from Foundation to Year 6 enthusiastically engaging in performance, instrumental learning, creativity, movement, and collaboration.

Our Foundation students have been exploring rhythmic patterns and steady beat through energetic drumming sessions on the djembes, performing along to favourites such as The Lion Sleeps Tonight. Their confidence and musical coordination have grown tremendously through singing, movement, and hands-on music making.

Year 1 students have been discovering how music can support relaxation and wellbeing through weekly yoga, dance, and mindful movement sessions, exploring how music can influence mood, movement, and mindfulness in fun and engaging ways.

Our Grade 2 students are very excited to be commencing their recorder program, beginning their journey into reading and performing music independently while developing important breathing, rhythm, and finger coordination skills.

The Year 3 and 4 students have been loving their instrumental learning this semester, developing their skills on xylophones, keyboards, and glockenspiels. Students have especially enjoyed learning to perform our new Boronia K-12 College School Song, alongside the ever-popular Chopsticks.

Our Year 6 and 7 students have been building their music literacy skills through learning how to read sheet music and perform more advanced repertoire. A particular highlight has been students learning to play epic cinematic music, including the iconic Interstellar theme song.

A major highlight for the whole Junior School was proudly unveiling the brand new Boronia K-12 College School Song at assembly, written by Ms Crawford. It was wonderful to see students performing together and celebrating this exciting milestone for our school community.

Students involved in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular Choir Program have already attended rehearsals at Boronia Heights Primary School, where they have been developing their vocal skills and stagecraft alongside students from across Victoria. With excitement continuing to build, they are now preparing for their upcoming mass choir rehearsal at the Melbourne Town Hall on July 22nd, before working towards their final spectacular performance at John Cain Arena on August 29th.

Many students have also continued developing their instrumental talents through weekly lessons with Choir, and with our Instrumental Music teachers, Rod and Dean. The Instrumental Concert is always a huge highlight of the year, showcasing the incredible dedication, growth, and talent of our young musicians.

In other exciting news, Boronia K-12 College proudly hosted this year’s Battle of the Bands event, which was a huge success for our school community. Students performed brilliantly, with our three school bands taking the stage alongside talented visiting schools in an unforgettable evening of live music and entertainment.

It has been fantastic to watch our students continue to grow in confidence, creativity, teamwork, and performance skills throughout the semester, and we look forward to an even bigger and more musical second half of the year!

Sincerely,

Cassandra Wright

Assistant Principal

Assistant Principal Report – Secondary

As we reach the end of Term 2, I would like to congratulate our students and staff on what has been another busy, productive, and positive term. Across the secondary school, students have continued to demonstrate our values of community, aspiration, respect and excellence through their learning, participation, and engagement in the many opportunities available to them.

Winter Uniform Reminder

With the colder weather now well and truly upon us, we would like to remind families that hoodies are not part of the Boronia K-12 College uniform. Students are expected to wear approved school uniform items, including the school rugby jumper or jacket, to ensure consistency and maintain our high standards of presentation. We appreciate the support of families in reinforcing these expectations.

General Achievement Test (GAT)

On Tuesday 16^th JUne, our Year 12 students completed the General Achievement Test (GAT). The GAT is an assessment completed by all students studying a Unit 3 and 4 VCE or scored VCE VET subject. It measures students’ general knowledge and skills in areas such as written communication, mathematics, science, technology, humanities, and the arts. While students do not directly study for the GAT, it plays an important role in quality assurance processes and can be used to help verify and support VCE assessment outcomes. We commend our Year 12 students for the mature and focused manner in which they approached this important assessment.

Year 10 Work Experience

In week 9, our Year 10 students participated in Work Experience placements across a wide range of industries and workplaces. Work Experience provides students with valuable insights into the world of work, helping them develop employability skills, explore potential career pathways, and gain a greater understanding of workplace expectations. We thank the many employers who have generously hosted our students and provided them with these valuable learning opportunities.

Morrisby Career Profiling

Our Year 9 students recently completed their Morrisby Profiles, an important career planning tool that helps students identify their strengths, interests, aptitudes, and potential future pathways. The Morrisby program provides personalised insights that support students as they begin thinking about future subject selections, career options, and post-school pathways. We look forward to working with students and families as they explore the information generated through their profiles.

Consent Labs Incursion

Students in Years 10–12 participated in the Consent Labs incursion this term. These sessions provided students with important education around respectful relationships, consent, communication, and personal boundaries. The workshops encouraged thoughtful discussion and provided students with practical knowledge and skills that will support them both now and into the future. We thank our students for the maturity and respect they demonstrated throughout these sessions.

Careers Expo Success

A highlight of the term was the Boronia K-12 Careers Expo. The event was extremely well attended and offered valuable information and inspiration for students as they consider their future pathways.

A special thank you must go to our Careers Practitioner, Meaghan McLeod, whose hard work, organisation, and dedication were instrumental in making the event such a success. The positive feedback received from students and staff is a testament to the significant effort that went into planning and delivering this outstanding event.

As Term 2 comes to a close, I would like to thank our students, staff, and families for their continued support and commitment to our school community. I wish everyone a safe and restful break and look forward to another successful term when we return for Term 3.

Warm regards,
Amy Mraz
Assistant Principal

Administration & Parent Information

Updating student information

Our office staff will be sending information to families during the first half of Term 3. An information sheet will be sent home with your child/ren in an envelope.

This letter contains the information we currently have on file, including contact details and emergency contacts. We ask all families to review the information, make any necessary updates, and return the completed form to the school to ensure our records are accurate and up to date.

Parent Payment Arrangements

Thank you to the many families that have attended to payment of our voluntary payments during the first half of 2026.  We truly value voluntary payments from our families, these payments assist in helping to ensure that we continue to offer the very best for every student here at Boronia K-12 College.  If you are in a position to make any of the voluntary contributions we would appreciate it.  If you would like further information regarding the payments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Financial Support for Families

Boronia K-12 College understands that some families may experience financial difficulty at times.

For a confidential discussion please contact:

Maria Jansen – Business Manager

Ph: 03 9760 4900 | Email: maria.jansen@education.vic.gov.au 

Sincerely,

Maria Jansen

Business Manager

TRIVIA NIGHT – HATS OFF FOR A NIGHT OF FUN!

The BK12 Parents & Friends Community Group invites all families and friends to join us for our annual Trivia Night on Friday 7 August in the Performing Arts Centre.

This year’s theme is “Hats Off for a Night of Fun”, so dust off your funniest hat or most creative headpiece and come along for an entertaining evening of trivia, games and community spirit.

Event Details

• Doors open: 6.15pm
• Trivia commences: 7.00pm
• Venue: BK12 Performing Arts Centre
• BYO food and nibblies

The evening will also feature fun games, great prizes and a silent auction, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy a night out with family and friends while supporting our school community.

Tickets

• $25 per person
• $150 for a table of 8 (discounted group rate)

Tickets will be available via TryBooking in June, with further details to be shared soon.

Prize and Auction Donations Welcome

We are also seeking support from our school community for prizes, raffles and our silent auction. If you, a family member, friend or workplace are connected with a business that may be able to donate goods, services, vouchers or experiences, we would be very grateful for your support.

Any contribution, no matter the size, will help make the evening a success and is greatly appreciated.

We look forward to seeing you for a fantastic night of fun, laughter and friendly competition!

A Big thank you to all our below sponsors so far!

Senior School Report

Congratulations to all of our Senior School students on their efforts throughout Term 2.

A particular congratulations goes to our Year 10 students, who recently completed their Work Experience placements. Our staff have enjoyed hearing about the skills they developed, the challenges they overcame, and the insights they gained into their goals moving forward. Thank you to the many employers who generously provided these valuable opportunities for our students, and a special thank you to our Careers Counsellor, Meaghan McLeod, for her work in making this all happen.

I would also like to acknowledge our Year 11 and Year 12 students for their efforts during the examination period over the past two weeks. A special acknowledgement also goes to those students who sat the General Achievement Test (GAT), an important component of the VCE and VCE VM assessment process. Preparing for and completing examinations requires dedication, resilience and effective study habits, and making the most of these opportunities will place students in good stead when they sit their final examinations at the end of Year 12.

Looking ahead to Term 3, course counselling for Year 10 students will commence as we begin planning pathways for 2027. More information regarding this process, including subject expos, access to subject guides, and meetings with students and parents/carers, will be communicated via Compass early next term. Meetings will also take place with the Year 11 students to review their progress and develop a clear plan for a successful Year 12 program in 2027.

Thank you to our students for their ongoing effort and commitment to their learning, our families for their continued support and partnership, and our staff for the care, dedication and hard work they have shown throughout the semester.

Best wishes to our Year 10 and 11 students and staff who have commenced the Central Australia Trip – have an amazing time exploring our country’s unique landscapes, cultures and history. To everyone else, I wish you a safe, restful and enjoyable school holiday break. I look forward to welcoming students back for what promises to be a positive and productive Term 3.

Lyle D’Rozario

Director of Senior School

3-Year-Old Kindergarten 

The Rainbow Fish

This term, we explored The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, learning about kindness, friendship, and sharing. Through group discussions, children shared ideas about being kind and how sharing makes others feel happy.

Children explored a child-led beach and ocean sensory experience, making connections to the story while investigating different types of fish. They also created Rainbow Fish and Wise Octopus artworks using a variety of art materials.

Together, the children painted a large coral reef mural, sharing ideas and contributing to a collaborative artwork.

Learning About Our Personal Space Bubble

We explored kindness, respect, and personal space during group times. Children watched a short video about respect, sang our “space bubble” song, and learnt how to use kind words such as, “Please give me some space,” to communicate their needs respectfully.

To extend this learning, children coloured leaves for our Kindness Tree and shared kind words and phrases we can use at kinder. These experiences supported children’s social and emotional development, encouraging respectful communication, empathy, and positive relationship

Art as Storytelling

As part of our learning, the children explored traditional Aboriginal art forms, including painting leaves and collaborative drawing as a community. We learnt that natural materials such as ochre, charcoal, clay and chalk were traditionally used to create artworks and share stories. Inspired by these artistic practices, the children enjoyed creating their own masterpieces using water colour paints on indigenous prints. Through these experiences, the children engaged in creative expression while developing an appreciation and respect for Aboriginal culture and ways of storytelling through art.

Lunch on the school grounds

We continued enjoying the wonderful weather by having our lunch in the school grounds at the snake. Children carried their own lunchboxes and drink bottles to and from our kinder room, showing fantastic independence and staying safe while walking within the school.

While enjoying the delicious lunches our families provided, we watched the bigger school children and teachers move around to their next classes. Our Puggles showed great community spirit by politely saying hello to people who walked past.

Dawn Willis, 

ELC Teacher 

Early Years – 4 Year Old Program

The second half of Term 2 has been filled with many exciting learning experiences and highlights, including Reconciliation Week, literacy exploration through play and games, creating friendship cupcakes, imaginative play in the puppet theatre, a variety of sensory experiences, and our much-loved Cozy Koala adventures. These experiences have supported the children’s creativity, communication, social skills, and sense of belonging while fostering meaningful learning through play.

The puppet theatre became a popular space for children to collaborate, create stories, and perform for their peers. Through imaginative play, they developed teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and confidence while practising important social skills such as turn-taking, listening, and cooperation. Working in small groups, the children negotiated roles, shared ideas, and built storylines together, strengthening their language and creative thinking skills.

This term, the children explored the importance of friendship through play, discussions, and collaborative experiences. Together, they created a Friendship Recipe featuring ingredients such as kindness, sharing, and caring, before bringing their ideas to life by making and decorating rainbow friendship cupcakes, fostering teamwork and a sense of belonging. These experiences encouraged the children to reflect on what it means to be a good friend and how they can support others within our kindergarten community.

During Reconciliation Week, the children learnt about the meaning of reconciliation, focusing on respect, inclusion, and the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They explored traditional Aboriginal art forms and created their own handprint artworks, developing an appreciation for Aboriginal culture and storytelling through art. Through discussions and creative experiences, the children gained a deeper understanding of the importance of valuing and respecting different cultures and perspectives.

Over the past few weeks, the children have been exploring literacy by learning that each letter has its own unique sound. Focusing on the letters in their own names, they identified beginning sounds and worked together to sort names with matching first letters. This engaging experience supported the development of letter recognition, phonological awareness, and a strong sense of identity and belonging within the group.

Michelle Buchanan,

Director of Early Learning Centre

Sensory Street Fundraiser!

We’re excited to announce that Boronia K-12 College is fundraising with Sensory Street to raise money for the F-2 Sensory Space. 

This is a fun and easy way to support our school while grabbing some fantastic sensory, educational, and therapeutic products that kids love.

How It Works:
1️⃣ Shop online at www.sensorystreet.com.au
2️⃣ Use our exclusive code: Boroniak12 at checkout
3️⃣ 10% of every sale goes directly to supporting the F-2 Sensory Space.

With a huge range of fidget toys, chews, squishies, books, educational resources, and more, there’s something for everyone—whether it’s for play, learning, or just a bit of fun!

The fundraiser begins on June 22^nd — Share this with family and friends to help us raise as much as possible.

You can choose to collect from the Sensory Street shop in Ferntree Gully, or collect from the school.

Year 7 Scholarship – Applications open for incoming 2027 Year 7 students

This year we celebrated six Year 7 Scholarship recipients – outstanding students who truly exemplify our new college value of Excellence.

Applications for incoming 2027 Year 7 students, until 31st July 2026. A brochure and application form are available from either the Main Office or the Junior School Office.

At our college, we believe that recognising and rewarding excellence helps foster a culture of achievement and motivation. Our scholarships are designed to provide deserving recipients with the resources and support they need to continue their journey of excellence and personal development. We hope their achievements will inspire them to reach new heights in an environment that promotes academic excellence, community responsibility, and unqualified respect for all individuals.

We are proud to recognise excellence across several areas:

• Academic Excellence – for exceptional achievement in core academic studies.
• Sir George Knox Memorial Sporting Excellence – for dedication and leadership in sport.
• LOCI Real Estate (Ferntree Gully) Community and Leadership – for making meaningful contributions to the community through initiative and service.
• Office Choice Arts (Visual & Performing) – for creativity, talent, and passion in the arts.

We look forward to seeing all that our Scholarship recipients will achieve, and look forward to celebrating more outstanding recipients in 2027!

Year 10 Students Gain Valuable Career Experience

In 2026, Boronia K-12 College introduced a dedicated week of Work Experience for all Year 10 students, held from 15–19 June. The program provided students with an invaluable opportunity to gain firsthand experience in industries that may influence their future career pathways and employment aspirations.

Prior to commencing their placements, students completed important workplace preparation requirements, including the Safe@Work Certificate. Some students also obtained their Construction White Card, depending on their chosen industry placement. These qualifications were completed with the support of teachers through the College’s B Ready electives program, ensuring students were well prepared for entering real workplace environments.

Students undertook placements across a diverse range of industries, reflecting the broad interests and career ambitions of our young people. These included animal care, childcare and kindergartens, primary schools, gyms and fitness centres, local retail businesses, automotive mechanics, carpentry, landscaping, and healthcare services.

The week allowed students to develop practical workplace skills, build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and gain a greater understanding of employer expectations. For many students, the experience confirmed career interests, while others discovered new pathways they may wish to pursue in the future.

Year 10 student Erik D reflected on his experience, saying, “Hard work takes effort, very polite customers and great staff.” His placement provided valuable insight into workplace expectations and customer service.

Maria C, who completed her placement in a Kindergarten setting, said, “Had a great time and loved how I got to discover the kids I worked with different personalities.” Her experience highlighted the importance of building relationships and understanding the needs of young children.

For May S, the experience helped shape future study and career aspirations. “It really helped me figure out what sort of engineering and degree I want to pursue,” she said.

Jacinta C also enjoyed gaining practical experience within an educational setting. “I loved gaining insight into the school environment and connecting with staff and students,” she reflected.

Our College plans to continue the Work Experience program annually for Year 10 students, supporting them to become career ready and helping them make informed decisions as they select their VCE or VCE Vocational Major subjects for their senior years of schooling.

Accompanying this article is a student reflection from Matthw P, who completed work experience with Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino and shares insights into the valuable experiences gained during the week.

Growing up in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges has created a bit of an identity crisis. I like to think that I belong to “The Hills”. But ultimately, I am from The Foothills… “The Lowlands”. Am I really from The Hills? Or am I just a fraud claiming that I am?

 

Doing work experience with MP Daniela De Martino’s Electorate Office of Monbulk has helped solve my existential crisis! The electorate is vast and varied, but it is reassuring to know that we are all looked after as part of The Hills. All the way from the suburban foothills of Ferntree Gully, where I am from, over the mountains, and all the way out to the farms of Macclesfield and beyond. The experience has been an absolute blast! It has made me challenge my thinking, question deeper, and given me an insight into the complicated world of government.

 

My week began with an almost hour-long induction into the complicated safety mechanisms in government buildings. Threats to our democracy are real, and are taken very seriously. It was a little bit confronting, but also comforting, to know all of the security mechanisms that would be protecting me during my time. This made me question the nature of humanity.

 

The next thing that I was shown was how to use the photocopier; which promptly, hilariously, started spewing paper all around, like a scene in a movie! If there is one thing that I have learnt, it is that technology doesn’t always work how it should, not even for the government! How reassuring!

It was really heart-warming to watch Daniela handwrite birthday cards to everyone on the electoral roll turning a certain age. She is very passionate about supporting the community, something that really shines through. Everyone is. Amazing volunteers come into the office to help ring constituents to inform them on things that are happening to help support them. We’ve also been able to help numerous people each and every day claim their 20% rego rebate. It is really heart-warming to see all of the small things that the office is able to do to make a difference in people’s lives.

 

Going to Parliament on Thursday, 18 June, was a fascinating experience. The building itself is so gorgeous, I didn’t realise we had such an amazing specimen of architecture in our state. It was kind of mind-blowing to be rubbing shoulders with the many politicians from all sides of government. I was blown away by the kindness that everyone showed. People were falling over themselves to show me around, explain their job, and just generally make time in their extremely busy schedules to talk to me. I was a little bit starstruck to see all of these people who I’ve only previously seen on TV, in real life!

 

It was shocking to see the way the chambers of Parliament operate. It manages to get rowdy, even within its strict structure. Interesting. The political game they play in the chambers is a tricky one, representing their communities and parties, all too many in a way that they hope will attract soundbites for the media to exploit. The way that policy is debated intrigued me, as it doesn’t feel like a real debate. But hopefully each and every bill passed will make a positive difference in people’s lives. Hopefully the opposition, cross-bench and Upper House, or house of review, have added helpful amendments to the legislation to remedy any unexpected consequences and hold the government to account. This is how effective government, and democracy work.

 

The following day, I was invited to a ministerial event at EACH in Ferntree Gully. A local facility that has helped my family with so many things over the years. There, I was able to witness Health Minister Harriet Shing give a press conference announcing an increase in funds to roll out more community health services across the state. It was crazy to witness. The pressure of the media was astounding, and so I really respected her calm composure. It feels completely different to be there at a press conference than to watch it online. Of course, I commend the media for doing a tremendous job at trying to hold the government to account, but it did give me a new perspective from the other side.

 

I could ramble on and on. The work experience placement was incredible, and is something that I will look back fondly upon for my whole life. It has given me hope in the government and mechanisms to hold the government to account. It has given me skills and networks that I couldn’t have even dreamt of. It has restored my faith in humanity. It has given me a guide as to what kind of adult I want to become. It is bittersweet that is has come to an end. I will miss working in the office. But I know that it will be the start of better things for me.

Meaghan McLeod

Daily Organiser /Administration / Careers

Secondary Maths

Our Odyssey Maths students have continued to demonstrate outstanding dedication and enthusiasm for learning this term. Running every Wednesday evening, the program gives an opportunity for our Year 7-10 students who love maths to extend their mathematical thinking and develop advanced problem-solving skills beyond their regular maths classes.

Over the term, our Year 8–10 students have explored challenging concepts in linear and quadratic algebra and even tackled introductory Year 11 VCE Maths Methods questions.

Meanwhile, our Year 7 students have been building strong algebraic foundations through work typically encountered at a Year 9 level. It has been very encouraging to see students willingly commit their time each week to pursue their passion for mathematics, challenge themselves, and sharpen one  another in a positive and engaging learning environment.

The drinks and snacks at each session are an added bonus for coming!

Isaac Lee

Director of Numeracy

Primary and Secondary collaboration in Food Studies

As part of our Kitchen Garden program the Primary students who have been participating in the sustainability club joined the year 10 Food Studies class.

Year 10 students had put together healthy meal designs making use of the fresh produce grown by the sustainability club, the primary students came to join the year 10’s in the kitchen and to assist in the production of the meals. There was a variety of dishes produced from sushi, rice paper rolls, stir fry and sausage rolls with homemade pastry.

The year 10 students worked as excellent mentors allowing the younger students to measure and collect ingredients and assembly the meals. All students worked together to complete the clean-up, the primary student then assisted the year 10’s by completing a sensory analysis of the meal and providing feedback.

It was an enjoyable afternoon and great introduction to our kitchen procedures for the younger students.

Louise Byrne

Food Technology Teacher

Library Update

BOOK WEEK COMING SOON IN TERM 3 22-28 August 2026.

Theme: “Symphony of Stories”

The Children’s Book Council of Australia’s annual Book Week event returns in 2026 with the theme “Symphony of Stories”. The event will take place between August 22-28.

Every year, the CBCA holds a Book Week across Australia to promote the importance of reading and the joy that children can find in it. Schools, libraries, booksellers, authors, illustrators and children come together to celebrate Australian Literature in a whole host of events and parades, with the Reading Week culminating with the CBCA Book of the Year Awards.

Stay tuned for more information regarding Book Week activities in the library and the Book Week Dress-up Day.

2026 National Simultaneous Storytime – Luna Roo: the kangaroo baller by Adam Jackson, Adrian Lloyd; illustrations, Jake A. Minton. 

National Simultaneous Storytime took place on Wednesday 27 May 2026 at 12pm in various classroom locations around the ELC and Junior School. Staff and students enjoyed hearing the story together in their community groups, as well as participating in some activities organised by teachers to celebrate this years National Simultaneous Storytime book Luna Roo: the kangaroo baller by Adam Jackson, Adrian Lloyd; illustrations, Jake A. Minton. 

About National Simultaneous Storytime:

“National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA). Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country. Now in its 26th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children’s book that explores age-appropriate themes, and addresses key learning areas of the National Curriculum for Foundation to Year 6.”

     ALIA Website 2026.

Student Borrowing Guidelines

All primary and secondary classes will have opportunities to visit the College Library on a weekly basis to borrow books for their independent reading programs. While the ELC classes with Michelle and team will visit the College Library on a regular basis for a story and the occasional activity.

​Library Bags

All Foundation to Year 6​ students require a library bag to help protect their library books if they wish to take them home to read. 

Number of books students can borrow:

Foundation: 1 book

Year 1 & Year 2: up to 2 books

Year 3 – Year 6: up to 4 books

Year 7 – Year 12: up to 4 books

Loan period is 14 days

All students can borrow library books for up to 14 days. Students who require more time to finish reading books can renew books any time within the 14-day loan period. 

​Overdue library books

Students who have overdue library books will not be able to borrow until all overdue books have been cleared either by returning or renewing their books. 

If you become aware that your student’s library book is lost or damaged, please let me know, as this will assist in avoiding students having unresolved overdue loans.

Please encourage your students to look after their library books and return or re-borrow their books on time as this will avoid disappointment.

Jenny Young

Library Technician

House Points Update

Students can earn house points through selected sporting events, participation in extra activities, by demonstrating our Positive Behavior Expectations (PBE), and modelling these values in their everyday actions.

This running total celebrates the fantastic effort, achievements and teamwork shown by students across all houses. Keep an eye on the leaderboard as the points build and the competition heats up!

Wellbeing & Inclusion Report

Doctors In Secondary Schools

Sincerely,

Nicole Costa,

Director of Wellbeing