As the year draws to a close, many of us find ourselves reflecting on what has passed — the challenges faced, the milestones achieved, and the countless small moments that frame the life of a family. In these reflections, gratitude has a unique capacity to change how we nurture our children.

Gratitude is more than polite manners or saying thank you; it’s a way of seeing the world through the lens of God’s goodness. When we practise gratitude, we acknowledge that every good thing we have is a gift — not earned, but given by a loving Father. As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

In a culture that often measures success by possessions or achievements, gratitude draws our attention back to the Giver rather than the gift. It reminds our children — and ourselves — that God’s blessings are not always material. Sometimes they come through the lessons learned in struggle, the comfort of friendship, or the quiet peace of knowing we are loved by Him.

Psychologists now tell us what Scripture has long revealed: gratitude transforms our minds and hearts. It brings joy, strengthens relationships, and nurtures contentment. The psalmist wrote, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). When our homes are filled with words of thanks — for the meal before us, for the laughter at the table, for friends to journey with — our families learn to live from a posture of praise rather than complaint.

As parents or carers, we have the privilege and responsibility to model this spirit for our children. Gratitude can be as simple as pausing to pray before school, expressing thanks for a teacher’s care, or noticing God’s handiwork in creation. When we show our children that thanksgiving is not an event but a daily rhythm, we help them grow hearts that rest in God’s goodness.

Let us reflect on the words of author Maya Angelou, who wrote:

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.”

May our homes be places where gratitude flows naturally — shaping our conversations, deepening our faith, and drawing our families ever closer to the heart of God.

Karen Bryant

Deputy Head of Secondary, Teaching and Learning

Our students have once again shone at the annual SIS Art, Design and Technology Show, held at the Frankston Arts Centre. This exhibition brings together an impressive selection of fine-quality artworks across Art, Visual Communication & Design, Textiles, Studio Arts, Wood and Technology from 17 secondary schools.

We are proud to share that Year 9 student Sophie H received a Recognition Award for her outstanding artwork—a wonderful achievement and a testament to her creativity and dedication.

The final day of the show is tomorrow, from 10am to 2pm, and we encourage families to visit and celebrate the incredible talent of students from across the region, including our own emerging artists.

Dear families,

Can you believe there are only a few short weeks left of term? It’s absolutely flown by! The Parents & Friends team has been super busy lately with BBQs, Grandparents Day and of course, preparations for our Willy Wonka Movie Night…

The countdown is on for the Willy Wonka Movie Night on the 29th of November! Our Oompa Loompas have been hard at work gathering chocolate, lollies and special surprises for the five lucky Golden Ticket winners!

How to Get Tickets:

- Look out for our pop-up stalls around the school in the coming weeks, or
- Purchase via the Parent Portal.
- If you buy through the portal, you can collect your tickets from the P&F during shop hours - that way, you can check if you’ve found a Golden Ticket!

Our grand prize is on display at Reception, and the children have been busy answering a special riddle for their chance to win! The winner will be announced at the next assembly, and they’ll collect their prize at Movie Night, along with the 4 other Golden Ticket winners!

Get ready for games, food, coffee, chocolate, lollies, prizes and plenty of fun for the whole family!
And for an extra bit of magic we’ll be giving out a Golden Goose Egg to the best dressed!
What’s inside the egg? You’ll have to win Best Dressed to find out! Don’t miss out, grab your tickets now before they’re gone!

Grandparents and Special Persons Day was such a lovely morning! The P&F were proud to provide the delicious morning tea spread and help make the event such a success.

We wrapped up our final Wednesday BBQ this week! This term the BBQs have been a sell out hit! We’ve been selling out of sausages by 4pm, so next year make sure you swing by early to grab yours. Thank you to everyone who’s stopped by and grabbed a sausage or a drink, we love the community spirit these BBQs bring.

As the year comes to an end, it’s a great time to check if there are any uniforms that no longer fit. If you’re planning on bringing them down to the Second Hand Uniform Shop, we would be so grateful. Your contributions not only help support new parents and students joining our school next year, but you’ll also receive a portion back from any items sold.

Please just make sure items are washed, and don’t forget to fill out the accompanying form, available in store, or on the Uniform page of the school website.

As always, thank you for your amazing support. We can’t wait to celebrate the end of term with our wonderful school community!

Thank you,
Sally and P&F

Our Primary School students enjoyed a wonderful morning showing off their classrooms and play spaces to over 300 Grandparents and special persons who visited with car parking spaces and seats in our Chapel being in high demand. Our School Captains and student leaders did an admirable job speaking and helping families walk around as they enjoyed their morning tea. Special welcome and thank you cards were drawn and coloured in by students from all Grade levels Prep – Grade 6. The positive feedback from our families says it all.

An excerpt of verses from the poem read by School Captains summarises our appreciation and reads as follows

Ode to our Flinders Grandparents & Families

For Grandparents and family—let’s give them a rap!

Some drive us to school in cars big and small,

Some pick us up; some answer our call.

They bake up a storm—cupcakes that spin!

With sprinkles and giggles and flour on chin.


They tell us their stories of days that were tough,

They guide us with wisdom and say, “That’s enough!”

They teach us good manners, how to live right,

Their hugs are like sunshine—so cozy, so bright.

So, thank you, dear Grandies, for all that you do,

Flinders College is grateful—our hearts stick like glue!

We honour, appreciate, and shout out “Hooray!”

For our wonderful families—Happy Grandparents Day!


Thank you to our school community and especially our amazing grandparents for supporting our students on this special morning. Your participation on this special day meant a lot and we are already looking forward to next year.

Mr Van Tienen

Recently, our curious Grade Five students had the exciting opportunity to visit the secondary Science lab—not once, but twice! During these hands-on sessions, they explored the fascinating world of light through a series of engaging experiments. From investigating how light interacts with opaque, transparent and translucent objects, to observing how it bends (refraction) when passing through different substances,, and even experimenting with reflection using mirrors, the students were immersed in scientific discovery.

A huge thank you to Mrs Priest for organising such inspiring and interactive lessons. There's no doubt—hands-on is the best way to learn!

Grade Five Team

Our Grade 2 students were thrilled to take part in an engaging science incursion led by Fizzics Education. The session focused on the concept of forces and the principle that every action has a reaction. Students participated in a range of hands-on experiments, sparking curiosity and deepening their understanding of how forces work in the world around us. From interactive demonstrations to practical investigations, the day was filled with excitement and discovery. It was a terrific learning experience that brought science to life and inspired our young learners to think like scientists!

This term, our 4-Year-Old Kinder children have been busy exploring a research project all about animals. Each child selected an animal of interest, investigated its features and habitat, and other interesting facts, then used this knowledge to design their own concert t-shirt. To further showcase their learning, the children recorded videos sharing fascinating animal facts, which will be presented at our end-of-year concert. This project has been a joyful journey of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, highlighting the children’s growing confidence as learners and communicators.

As we head toward the end of the year, things are wonderfully busy up at Ag! The warmer weather and bursts of rain have brought everything to life — including the students, who have been diving into all things farm, garden, and sustainability.

Primary – Growing, Discovering, and Getting Their Hands Dirty
Our Primary students continue to absolutely love their time in Ag. Whether they’re in the garden hunting for strawberries, banana passionfruit or those pesky snails, or working alongside Kerry to sow seeds and explore what’s ready to harvest, their enthusiasm is contagious.

The hothouse is also bursting with new seedlings the students have sown. These will soon be transplanted into our garden beds, or given to Parents and Friends to sell. The students are very proud of what they’ve grown.

Prep–2 have been learning about what it means to be more sustainable, with lots of hands-on work in compost and recycling.

Years 3–4 are diving into animal classification with a focus on vertebrates — lots of curiosity, questions, and great discussions.

Years 5–6 have been exploring the intricacies of social colonies, studying ants and discovering how teamwork shapes survival. They’ve loved seeing how every tiny role matters.

Secondary – Big Thinking and Bigger Projects
Across the paddocks, the secondary students have been preparing the farm for summer. With the warm weather and rainfall, the grass — and the weeds! — are growing rapidly. Students are gaining a real appreciation for the importance of early weed management and how it affects pasture health and grass availability for livestock.

Year 7 are focusing on sheep husbandry and are beginning to understand the complexities of caring for a flock.

Year 8 are finishing their biomimicry unit with a fantastic STEM excursion to the Cranbourne Gardens. Students explored plant adaptations and used these ideas to inspire their own innovative product designs.

A Joyful Term Full of Energy
It has been a term full of fun, laughter, discovery, and joy. Whether digging in the soil, observing animal behaviour, or finding inspiration in nature, students from Prep to Year 12 continue to show curiosity, creativity, and a genuine love for learning in Agriculture.

As the year has gone by, we’ve also seen many students bravely overcoming their initial fears of the sheep and chickens. As they learn more and begin working with the animals more closely — and calmly — their confidence in themselves grows. They’ve also been trying new foods and new experiences, from tasting garden produce to tackling new skills on the farm. The overwhelming pride they show in these moments is truly uplifting.

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:12

A beautiful reminder that every student, every class, every creature, and every task — from tiny seedlings to big paddocks — plays an important part in our shared learning community.

Siobhan Morris

Agricultural Studies Teacher

Flinders Basketball Club Update: Summer Season 2025/2026

The summer season has kicked off, and we know the first few weeks can feel a little bumpy. Some parents worry, “Our team isn’t strong enough for this grade,” while others feel, “We’re too strong for this grade.

That’s exactly why we have grading games in the first few weeks of the season. These games are designed to make sure each team ends up in the right spot, playing against others of similar ability. Coaches and organisers are watching closely, and adjustments can be made if needed. So, hang in there, trust the process, and remember – even after grading, changes can still be made if things don’t feel quite right.

✅ PlayHQ Registrations
All players should now be registered for their summer teams. Team Managers, if you notice anyone missing, please let Club Admin know so we can sort it out quickly.

✅ Communication
Parents, if you have questions about the season, your first stop is your Team Manager or Coach. If they don’t have the answer, they’ll reach out to Club Admin for you. This helps keep communication clear and simple.

✅ Flinders Basketball Merchandise
Great news - Flinders Basketball hoodies, backpacks and other merchandise are arriving this week! If you ordered items, please bring proof of payment when collecting. Items can be collected from Tuesday, 18th
Nov:

Carrum Downs: CD Secondary Admin (E-Block, from Emma)

Tyabb: TY Reception

Thanks for your patience and support as we get the season rolling. We’re excited to see the kids out on court, learning, competing, and having fun. Let’s make it a great summer together. Go Flinders! 🏀💙

We are incredibly grateful for the generous support shown towards our upcoming Basketball Tour for the Australian School Basketball Championships, held on the Gold Coast. Every contribution — whether through donated items, services, or financial support — plays an important role in helping our players access new opportunities, support their development, and represent our community with pride. Thank you to everyone who continues to stand behind our program; your generosity truly makes a difference.

On 31 October, Azaia had the incredible honour of serving as a flag bearer at the Australia vs India T20 match at the MCG. She described it as the best experience and felt especially privileged to take part in the tribute to Ben Austin, who tragically passed away last week. It was a memorable and meaningful moment she will never forget.

The Year 10 Drama students did an outstanding job performing “Senior Year Survivor” an engaging reality TV show that took audiences on a comic journey through the ups and downs of High School’s final year, where 6 students from various backgrounds and personalities compete for the grand title of Senior Year Survivor.

This week in Science, JCD explored the wonders of light and lenses by constructing their own telescopes. Using retort stands, eyepiece lenses and objective lenses, students worked collaboratively in teams to design and test their telescopes. They carefully measured and recorded the focal lengths of each lens and investigated how adjusting the distance between them changed the focus and clarity of their view. It was a hands-on and engaging way to deepen their understanding of optics, magnification and scientific measurement—all while having plenty of fun experimenting!

In JCA’s math class, students explored sharing and fractions in a hands-on way! They cut out pieces of fruit and worked together to divide them between two lunch boxes. It was a creative and practical activity that made math come alive. Great job, everyone!

Students enjoyed a day of fun and connection with their buddies in a whole new setting. Highlights included the exciting reptile show, the impressive sheepdog demonstration, and a scenic tractor ride. Everyone loved the hands-on experiences, being able to hold adorable guinea pigs and even lizards! It was a day full of laughter, learning, and unforgettable memories for all.

Congratulations to the Year 7 music students who this week performed their showcase to the Year 6 cohort. A program filled with 5 classic songs, each representing technical skills such as dynamics, articulations, emotion and musical structure.

During the rehearsal process all students gained knowledge on how to perform using performance etiquette which enhanced their confidence and entertaining skills.

Thank you to our specialist instrumental staff for their tireless work helping our students achieve their best.......Kate, Tonino and Liam.

As students conclude their first year of their Secondary Music education, we warmly encourage them to continue their musical journey by enrolling in individual or small group instrumental lessons in the coming academic year.

Enrolment can be completed via submitting the Flinders Music Instrumental Lesson Expression of Interest Form – Fill in form, or by contacting our Music Administrator, Margaret Simpson, at margaret.simpson@flinders.vic.edu.au

Congratulations Year 7 musicians!

Yours musically,

Mrs Annette Yates
Year 7 Music

Congratulations to the continued commitment of our Flinders Music Primary School Captains, Emilia & Matylda. The second edition of the "Music Magazine" has been released by Matylda and includes articles about the Instruments and Ensembles offered to students at Flinders, Practice Tips, and a compilation of the Term 3 Music Events. We look forward to the third edition of the Music Magazine!

We are excited to invite all Primary and Secondary students to perform in our upcoming Term 4 Music Soiree, a celebration of our talented musicians across the College!

The Soiree provides a wonderful opportunity for students learning an instrument, either within or outside of the College, to showcase their progress and passion for music in a supportive and welcoming environment. Performances may be solo or part of a small ensemble.

Date: Monday 24th November

Location: Flinders Tyabb Music Department

Session Times:

Primary Students: 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Secondary Students: 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Students wishing to perform can enrol via the links below.

Primary Soiree: https://forms.office.com/r/RFShLDr0ja

Secondary Soiree: https://forms.office.com/r/wKTrHgHUjz

Flinders Music encourages instrumental students to take part and share their musical journey with peers, family, and staff.

We look forward to an afternoon of wonderful music and celebrating the efforts of our young musicians!

Adam Carson,
Head of Performing Arts