22 August 2025

Message from Mr Moustafa Elakkoumi

Asalaamu alaikum parents and guardians,

Alhumdulilah this term is action packed with a variety of amazing activities, fun adventures and important information. The implementation of Vision week was a stunning success as the crew at Northern Optical were fantastic in identifying early onset in many students. Their effort will help many students get the help they need to promote a better academic future.

Other amazing events that will take place this term are: Year 4 mini exhibition, Bully no way week, 100 days of foundation, science, literacy and numeracy weeks, the book fair, character parade, student first aid training, end of year concert, Year 5 exhibition and the student-led conference. Not to mention all the excursions and incursions targeted to student learning that will occur. Exciting times are ahead with so much on the agenda.

LEARNING PROGRAMS UPDATE

Feedback of the MultiLit programs (InitaLit and SpellEx) have been positive feedback and are producing consistent results. We still have a heavy focus on the PYP inquiry-based program and the mix of both is proving fruitful. The foundation of delivery is based on the Gradual Release Model which is geared towards student independence through modelling and guided practice and independence.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE

Thank you to parents who have provided the feedback survey for the before and after school care program. Amana OSHC is a trusted organisation dedicated to catering for the needs of Muslim children across Australia. They are highly recommended and we look forward to a partnership officially starting in 2026 inshaAllah.

STUDENT SUPERVISION OUTSIDE OF CLASSROOM HOURS

Students are supervised by staff during recess, lunchtime, before school from 8.00 am until assembly. Students must be collected within a few minutes of dismissal time, latest 3.35pm. Please do not bring your child to school before 8.00am.

CONTACT PERSONS FOR STUDENT CONCERNS:

Office Manager & Assistants at the Main Office - Phone 9354 0833

Classroom Teacher of the student.

Team leaders:

Foundation – Ms Hannah Mina

Year 1 – Ms Sarah El Nemar

Year 2 – Ms Mona Atyabi

Year 3 – Ms Nadia Mohamed

Year 4 – Ms Tugba Demirkaya

Year 5 – Ms Amanda Dessmann

Head of Infants – Ms Filiz Cansiz

Head of Uppers – Ms Yurdagul Talic

School Counsellor – Ms Hadiya Taleb

– Ms Rahma (Hani) Mohamed

School Nurse – Ms Deniz Yilmaz

– Ms Michelle Richardson

If there are any concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the appropriate members of staff.

Wa alaikum asalaam

Mr Moustafa Elakkoumi

Student-Led Conference

Student-Led Conferences bring students and parents together to celebrate learning. The main
purpose is to encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning. In these conferences,
students lead the discussion and guide their families through their learning journey. They may share
their understanding in different ways, such as explaining projects, demonstrating skills, or reflecting
on classroom experiences.
With support from their teachers, students carefully select work samples to showcase. During the
conference, they reflect on these pieces, discuss their achievements and challenges and explain how
they have grown as learners. Together with their parents, students set future goals and identify ways
to continue improving.

Ms Rabia Jones

Deputy Head of Campus

Anti-Bullying Week

 Anti-Bullying Week – Be Kind, Be Bold, Stand Up 

In week four and five, our school proudly took part in the National Week of Action campaign against bullying. It was an inspiring and action-packed week, reminding us all of the importance of kindness, courage, and standing up for what’s right.

Here’s what we’ve been up to:

1. Upper School Assembly – Students presented an engaging set of slides introducing this year’s theme: “Be Kind, Be Bold, Stand Up.” They defined bullying, discussed its different forms, and shared real-life examples of how it can affect individuals and communities.
2. Classroom Inquiry Projects – In class, students engaged in purposeful inquiry into how to stop bullying. They developed practical examples of how to be bold, stand up for others, and demonstrate kindness in everyday life.
3. Restorative Circle Time Discussions – Each day, students participated in restorative discussions during circle time. This provided a safe space for individuals to share their personal experiences of bullying. Teachers guided students toward appropriate strategies for restoring relationships and fostering mutual respect.
4. Guest Speaker – Belal Assaad – We were honoured to host our very own Belal Assaad, who spoke about the Islamic perspective on bullying. Through inspirational stories from the life of our Prophet ﷺ and from his own personal experiences, Belal reminded us of the profound impact kindness can have on both an individual’s spiritual and mental well-being. His message was heartfelt, powerful, and deeply resonated with our students.
5. School-Wide Incursion – Speakers from the Bully Zero organisation visited our school to deliver an enlightening and inspirational presentation on the impacts of bullying and strategies for identifying it. Students were highly engaged throughout the session and expressed how much they enjoyed and valued the experience.

These experiences encouraged our students to think critically about their own actions and the importance of speaking up when they see injustice. More importantly, it has reinforced that kindness, courage, and empathy are values we should all strive to embody at school and beyond.

We are so proud of our students for the respect, enthusiasm, and commitment they demonstrated throughout the week.

By working collaboratively within our community, we can collectively help reduce bullying.

Families play an important role in helping children understand bullying and know how to respond to it.

If your child tells you about things at school, or you observe something in public that involves conflict or bullying, take the opportunity to talk about what bullying is. You can learn more about what defines bullying at bullyingnoway.gov.au.

Questions you could ask:

• What do you think bullying is?
• Have you seen it? How did you feel?
• Have you ever felt scared at school because of bullying?
• As well as me, who are the other adults you would talk to when it comes to things like bullying?
• Have you or your friends left other kids out on purpose? Do you think that was bullying? Why or why not?
• Have you ever tried to help someone who is being bullied? What happened? What would you do if it happens again?

Remind your child that bullying is never okay and discuss how they can respond safely if they experience or witness it.

Encourage them to seek help from a trusted adult and keep seeking support if needed.

By promoting open communication, we empower children to stand up against bullying and create a safer environment where everyone can feel that they belong.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us nurture a safe and caring environment for every child.

Yurdagul Talic
Head of Upper School

My New Gallery

Arabic

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are having an exciting and productive term in Arabic, with students across all grades developing their language skills while connecting with our transdisciplinary themes. Here’s what each year level is currently learning:

Foundation

This term, our Foundation students joyfully celebrated their 100 Days of Foundation! As part of the celebrations, they practised speaking in Arabic about their learning journey. Some students shared, “After 100 days of Foundation, we have learnt the Arabic letters,” while others proudly said in Arabic, “After 100 days of Foundation, I have memorised some short surahs from the Qur’an.”

They are also learning about family as part of the Who We Are transdisciplinary theme.

Year 1

Year 1 students are learning about the short and long sounds of letters and practising how to join letters at the beginning, middle, and end of words. They are also starting to learn how to ask and answer questions about themselves in Arabic.

Year 2

As part of the How We Organise Ourselves transdisciplinary theme, Year 2 students are learning the topic My Bag, developing their literacy skills in reading, writing, and speaking.

Year 3

Year 3 students are learning about Seasons and Weather as part of the How the World Works transdisciplinary theme. They are practising dialogues and learning how to describe the weather in Arabic.

Year 4

This term, Year 4 students are learning about Food and Recipes as part of the How We Organise Ourselves transdisciplinary theme, building vocabulary and communication skills around this tasty topic.

Year 5

Yaer 5 students are learning about Migration as part of the Where We Are in Place and Time transdisciplinary theme and their Exhibition. We are looking forward to seeing you at the Exhibition on 10 September 2025 to celebrate their progress.

Upcoming Events

Students in Year 1, Year 3, and Year 5 are also practising their Nasheeds in preparation for Nasheed Day in Term 4, which will be held on 14 November 2025. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Thank you for your continued support in your child’s Arabic learning journey.

Warm regards,
 Ms. Nancy Koubeisi
 Arabic Coordinator and Teacher

Religion

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

This term, our Year 5 students have been reflecting on the beautiful hadith:

الْمُسْلِمُ مَنْ سَلِمَ الْمُسْلِمُونَ مِنْ لِسَانِهِ وَيَدِهِ

"A true Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands other believers remain safe." (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)

This powerful message aligned perfectly with Bullying No Way! Week, allowing students to explore how our words and actions can contribute to a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment. As part of this initiative, students created thoughtful posters to promote kindness and safety across the school community.

Our students are also excited to take part in the upcoming Qur’an Knowledge Quiz – a fun and engaging opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Qur'an and strengthen their general Islamic knowledge.

A special mention to the many students who have been working diligently to complete their Iqra books and memorise their surahs. Their hard work and dedication have been recognised during school assemblies, with several receiving certificates of achievement – mashaAllah!

May Allah continue to guide and bless our students in their Islamic learning journey.

Ms. Fathima Wazeer

Religion Coordinator

Library

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are also excited to announce that the

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our School!

It will be here in Week 8 from Monday 8^th September until Friday 12^th of September, in the library, during your child’s library session (in shaa Allah)

We ask that your child bring money ONLY on the day that they are scheduled to come into the library. Please do not send money for the Book Fair on a day that your child doesn’t have a library session, as they may lose their money. Children may come after school ONLY with a Parent or Guardian.

Please refer to the Library time schedule provided.

Parents/Guardians will be welcome to come to our Book Fair at the end of the school day. This is an ideal opportunity for parents of our younger students to assist them in making appropriate choices.

Please note that parent access to the Book Fair will only be possible via GATE 6, from 3.25pm to approx. 4.25pm.

Thank-you for your support 

Kindest regards from the Library Staff

Just a short reminder to let you know that this year's Victorian Premiers' Reading Challenge will be ending on Friday 5th September. Please ensure to enter all the books that your child has read by this end date. All titles must be clicked as completed so they may be verified... in shaa ALLAH.

On behalf of the Library Team we hope that you have found this experience novel and encouraging... In shaa ALLAH 

ICT

Assalamu Alaikum Parents and/or Carers,

In the computer lab, our Year 5 students have been immersing themselves in creating digital content to support their exhibition inquiries. Through this work, they’re producing an exciting array of materials—posters, brochures, presentations and even self-recorded videos—to communicate their learning in creative ways. Using tools like PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Canva and various video editing applications, they’re learning how to visually showcase their research and insights. It has been a delight to watch their ideas take tangible form through thoughtful design and multimedia!

The process has significantly enriched their understanding of how to express concepts and knowledge in visually compelling formats. By blending text, visual elements and design strategies, the students are refining their ability to organise information clearly and engagingly. This approach not only boosts their technical skills with digital tools but also deepens their appreciation for how content can be structured and communicated effectively—empowering them with valuable skills for future learning challenges.

Kind regards,
Ms. Mona Atyabi

(ICTe-Learning Coordinator P-5)

Learn To Play

This term, we are shifting our approach to learning through play by connecting activities to our Foundation Unit of Inquiry, "How We Express Ourselves". Through role-plays, making stories in their play, and sensory-based learning, children are exploring different ways to express their ideas and emotions, making play a meaningful part of their inquiry and development.

We are excited to welcome a new assistant, Katherine, to our Learn to Play program this term. Her role will be to support the facilitation of play-based learning experiences. With a fresh perspective and a passion for early childhood development, she will work closely with the teaching team to help extend children’s ideas and encourage deeper exploration through play.

As part of Science Week, our Learn to Play program has been buzzing with curiosity and discovery! Children have immersed themselves in a range of exciting science-themed play activities, sparking wonder and imagination. They’ve explored the mysteries of the ocean while investigating life under the sea, observed the life cycle of birds and even tried their hand at birdwatching. Through role play, students have stepped into the shoes of real scientists, conducting pretend experiments and engaging in creative scientific exploration. These playful experiences have not only nurtured a love of science but also encouraged critical thinking, observation, and imaginative storytelling. 

Ms. Nawal Abou-Eid
Katherine Richardson

PSPE

Physical Education Update

It’s been an exciting term for sport at our school! Our boys’ soccer team showed incredible skill and teamwork, finishing second in the prestigious Aspire Cup. The boys’ football team also impressed, taking out third place in the competitive Bachar Houli Cup. A special congratulations goes to our Year 5 girls’ football team, who have progressed to the grand final! They will play at the iconic Windy Hill Stadium in September – we wish them the best of luck.

In PE classes, our infant year levels have been busy refining their fundamental movement skills such as running, jumping, throwing, and catching. These skills are the building blocks for lifelong participation in physical activity. Our upper year levels have been developing their tactical awareness in a variety of sports and games, learning how to work as a team, make smart decisions under pressure, and adapt to different situations. Well done to all students!

Mr. Dillon
Health & Physical Education/ Sports Coordinator

Special Needs

Expression of Interest – From Sentences to Stories Parent Workshop

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am exploring the idea of running a parent workshop titled ‘From Sentences to Stories’.
 These practical and engaging sessions will focus on strategies to help your child develop their writing skills—from crafting simple, strong sentences to creating full stories.

In the future, I would also like to offer a separate workshop for parents who are personally interested in creative writing and publishing.

If you are interested in either of these workshops, please email me and let me know your preference for:

• Zoom during school hours, or
• Face-to-face at school during school hours ( 1.50 – 3.00)

Your feedback will help me plan sessions that are both accessible and enjoyable.

Kind regards,
Ms. Enza Sacco
Special Educational Needs & Inclusive Education Coordinator

SRC

Assalamu Alaikum!

Our SRC Leadership team was honoured to take part in the Merri-bek Children’s Forum — a fantastic initiative led by the council to uplift and amplify the voices of young people in our community.

Throughout the day, students engaged with important topics such as:

• Environmental sustainability and the effects of littering on Merri Creek
•  Pathways to becoming Youth Ambassadors
•  Creative ideas for driving positive change within our community

The event was filled with meaningful conversations and hands-on activities that left our students feeling inspired and empowered. We’re proud of their enthusiasm and dedication to making a difference.

Drawing Club

Alhamdulillah, we’ve launched a Drawing Club for students across the primary campus to enjoy during recess. There was great enthusiasm from our students to start clubs like this, and it’s wonderful to see their interest come to life. Student-led initiatives provide meaningful opportunities for learning and creativity, allowing students to take the lead and feel a sense of ownership. Insha Allah, we look forward to gradually introducing more clubs in the near future. 

Ramia Neshabe
SRC/Student Values Co-ordinator

Visual Art

It has been such a busy start to the term .

Year One students have been learning about creating interesting textures by using different art mediums and materials. We are making our beautiful ocean artwork which we will add a ship sailing out into the sea. The students had so much fun painting their oceans using interestingly shaped brushes, marker lids, bottle caps, forks, and spoons!

Foundation students read the story Elmer by David McKee and we learned about how special it is to be your own unique self. Students enjoyed making their own patchwork Elmer the elephant. Next, we will learn about an elephant’s habitat and make a suitable background for our artwork.

Year Five students have started an artwork which aims to tell a visual story about themselves by using digital maps and observational drawing skills. I am very much looking forward to seeing how they turn out, and inshaAllah will have some to show for the next newsletter!

Looking forward to a wonderful term!

Ms Iman
Visual Art Teacher

Performing Arts

The term has been full of creative vigour, composition, creative expression and developing performance skills in a variety of ways. The Foundation, Year 2 and Year 4 students have been rehearsing for the Production of “A Journey Through Art” which is based on students finding inspiration from paintings to express who they are and their identity or personality portrayed through a creative project.

The Foundation students are exploring Animal characteristics and habitats such as the Africa Savannah, the Artic, a Jungle and under the sea/oceanic environment. This directly links to the UOI Sharing the Planet. I am super impressed by the level of confidence and readiness for an audience.

The Year Two students are exploring First Nations and Indigenous Cultures as; First Nations Australia, Africa, Polynesia and Native America and the cultures' connection to Nature which are found in their instruments, housing, clothing and stories. (Where we are in Place and Time.)

The Year Fours are also exploring Where we are in Place and Time but looking at the History of various paintings and Cultures from across the globe such as; Ancient Greece, France, Japan, Spain and Ancient Arabia which depicts and re-enacts a story from the Quran.

I am super proud of my main characters this year with their diligence and commitment to their roles and rehearsing during lunchtime and recess rehearsals.

Year One classes are exploring Musicals so the connection of Drama, Dance and Music. This directly links to their UOI “How we express ourselves”.

Year Threes are exploring Mime skills and using these skills to explore facial expression, body expression and intricate hand gestures. They watched videos for inspiration and learning the skills such as Mr Bean at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics in London, a Mime artist and Buster Keaton who was in silent movies. As we progress through the term students will explore Laban movement theories which is how we use energy in our bodies to move such as soft, sharp, slow fast, percussion, staccato, swing, stillness, and sustained movement. Using this movement theory to navigate mime scenes.

Year Fives are continuing on with Broadcast Media but additionally adding radio advertisements and radio plays. This is in support of public speaking skills for exhibition. They were instructed to write a radio play to sell a “bad” product. They had to consider the audience and use convincing voice expressions to sell the product. Linking this project, they will be performing the ads on microphones behind a curtain so as to not be seen by the audience. Taking this further they will film and edit their adverts then possibly designing the posters as a digital poster in the art room.

Ms. Jodi Bilsborow
Coordinator of Arts
Performing Arts Teacher

Foundation

100 Days of Foundation 2025

On Friday 8th August, our Foundation cohort proudly celebrated an incredible milestone, 100 Days of Foundation! The day was filled with joy, creativity and special experiences as students reflected on how much they have grown in their first year of school.

The celebrations began with a surprise parent assembly, where students entered the hall showcasing their costumes under the theme “What I want to be when I grow up?.” This tied in beautifully with our current Unit of Inquiry on Community Helpers. Parents were delighted to see students perform a surprise song on stage for the very first time, followed by inspiring speeches where students proudly shared why they are now “100 Days Smarter,” including some reflections presented in Arabic.

To capture the magic of the day, a professional photographer took class photos, while families also had the opportunity to take their own photos with their child against a special backdrop and Instagram sign. These keepsake moments made the celebration even more memorable.

The fun continued with a range of exciting rotational activities in the hall. Students enjoyed face painting, welcomed Jazzy the balloon artist, enjoyed the bubble machine, fairy bread making, 100 Days of Foundation colouring and beading. Later, the entire Foundation cohort came together in the schoolyard to form the number 100 as a human shape, a striking moment captured by drone photography.

The festivities carried on throughout the following week with a fun-filled excursion to Lollipop’s Play Centre, along with classroom activities making jelly and creating colourful 100 Days crowns. These experiences brought students together to celebrate their learning, friendships and achievements.

Congratulations to our Foundation students on reaching this wonderful milestone. We are so proud of all that you have accomplished in your first 100 days and we look forward to many more days of growth, discovery and success ahead!

Ms. Hannah Mina
Foundation Team Leader and Classroom Teacher

Year 1

Science Week in Year 1: Exploring Weather Through Experiments

Science Week was an exciting time in Year 1 as our young scientists explored the fascinating world of seasons and weather! Throughout the week, students engaged in hands-on experiments and learned how to observe and record changes in the environment around them.

Using simple tools like thermometers and wind socks, students collected data on temperature, wind direction and cloud cover. Each day, they recorded their observations and discussed weather patterns and how they change over time. This experience helped them understand how scientists use data to make predictions about the weather.

A highlight of the week was our rainy cloud experiment, where students used different materials to simulate how clouds hold moisture and eventually release it as rain. We also attended a science incursion, where students experienced exciting demonstrations that sparked their curiosity and deepened their understanding of scientific inquiry.

Students also learned weather-related vocabulary such as forecast, temperature, wind, clouds and rainfall. Through these engaging activities, they developed skills in observation, questioning and data collection.

Thank you for supporting Science Week and encouraging your child’s interest in the world around them. We hope they’ve enjoyed becoming weather watchers and sharing their discoveries with you at home!

Ms Sarah
Year 1 Team leader

Year 2

Assalamu Alaikum Parents and/or Carers,

Recently in Year 2, students explored multiplication in a hands-on way using playdough and other materials to create equal groups—a fun, tactile approach to understanding repeated addition. Each child rolled out several playdough balls or used blocks, grouped them equally (for example, making 3 groups of 4), counted the total and wrote the matching multiplication sentence (3 × 4 = 12), drawing a clear link between concrete counting and symbolic representation. This method supports the idea that multiplication is just a shortcut for adding the same number repeatedly. This activity aligns perfectly with the Australian Curriculum goals for Year 2, reinforcing number sense, skip-counting and the concept of equal grouping to model multiplication. Students enjoyed reshaping dough and using other materials to experiment with different group sizes and recording their repeated-addition sentences on their mini-whiteboards—building both their fine motor and mathematical skills in a playful, curriculum-connected way.

Kind regards,
Ms Mona (Year 2 Team Leader)

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 19

Next

Year 3

As part of our Unit of Inquiry, “Where We Are in Place and Time”, the Year 3 students have been examining how people, places, and aspects of daily life have changed over time. To support this exploration, students were invited to bring in either two photographs—one older image of themselves or a family member alongside a more recent photo—or an artefact from home. These items were shared with peers and used as a basis for thoughtful discussions and observations about changes in appearance, clothing, and surroundings across different periods of time.

In addition, during Science Week, the Year 3 students participated in an excursion to Brimbank Park. Throughout the day, they engaged in guided nature walks, observed local wildlife, and collected a variety of rocks and minerals. Back in the classroom, students examined their samples closely and worked collaboratively to identify and label each rock type. This valuable experience enriched our inquiry into “Sharing the Planet – Third Rock from the Sun” and supported our unit on Earth’s resources and their significance to both living and non-living things.

Ms Iman Moustafa
Year 3 Class Teacher

Year 4

LEARNING TO EXPRESS, LEARNING TO CONNECT

Our students have been diving into the PYP unit How We Express Ourselves, discovering the many ways people share ideas, emotions, and stories.

A highlight of the past week was our mini exhibition, where students proudly showcased their learning. From artworks to written pieces, their creativity shone through. It was inspiring to see them express their unique voices while demonstrating our school Values of respect, curiosity, and confidence.

We’re now looking forward to our excursion to ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image). Students will step into the world of film, media, and storytelling, exploring how different forms of expression can capture and communicate ideas. This hands-on experience will not only deepen their understanding of our central idea, but also spark plenty of excitement as they see behind the scenes of movie-making and digital creativity.

Ms. Julie Grima
Year 4 Class Teacher

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 11

Next

Year 5

The Year 5 visit to the Pentridge Prison Museum was a powerful and eye-opening experience. As Year 5 students learning about laws, government systems, and the history of Australia, this excursion helped bring our classroom learning to life. Walking through the prison cells and hearing real stories from the past gave us a deeper understanding of what life was like for prisoners and how the justice system has changed over time. We learned about the different types of punishments that were used, and it made us think about fairness, human rights, and the importance of having clear laws to protect everyone. We also explored how governments have created systems over time to keep people safe, maintain order, and provide justice. It was interesting to compare the strict rules of the past to the democratic values we follow today. The museum encouraged us to ask big questions: What is justice? Why do we have laws? How can we make sure systems are fair for everyone? These ideas will continue to guide our learning as we explore civics and citizenship in more depth. A highlight of the day was being interviewed by local newspaper journalists. They asked us about our thoughts on justice, fairness, and how we believe the legal system should work. Many students shared their opinions confidently, expressing how important it is for laws to be fair and to consider the rights of all people. It was a great opportunity for our voices to be heard and taken seriously. Overall, the excursion was both educational and thought-provoking — one we won’t forget soon

Ms Amanda Dessmann
Year 5 Team Leader

Important Dates to Remember