Update from the Campus Principal

It has been another positive and purposeful fortnight here at Bendigo Campus, with a number of exciting initiatives, events, and achievements worth celebrating.

Mission Nutrition – A Powerful Launch

We were proud to officially launch Mission Nutrition, and what a mission it proved to be. Across campuses, the day came to life as a full-scale, high-energy learning experience. Students stepped confidently into their roles, tackled meaningful challenges, and applied their learning in real-world contexts. This was never designed to be a traditional lesson day, and it certainly delivered on that intention. From the outset, there was a genuine sense of momentum and excitement. Engagement was strong across all age groups, and staff demonstrated outstanding ownership in leading the experience. Students were not simply participating — they were actively involved, contributing, and fully immersed throughout the day.

A particular highlight was the Final Mission, where students brought together everything they had learned. Working collaboratively under pressure, they demonstrated problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making skills exactly as intended. Equally important was the impact of the messaging itself. Nutrition concepts were brought to life in practical and tangible ways through activities, discussions, and the healthy canteen experience. This reinforced an important connection between knowledge and everyday choices.

While the mission itself may now be complete, its impact certainly continues. The real success lies in what follows — building on this momentum, continuing to improve healthy options in our canteen, and supporting our students to make informed, positive choices each day.

Biggest Morning Tea – A Fantastic Effort

A sincere thank you to our community for supporting the Biggest Morning Tea. We raised an outstanding $1,400 for the Cancer Council, well exceeding our initial $500 target. This was only possible thanks to the generosity of those who donated and contributed an incredible selection of food. Your support makes a genuine difference and reflects the strong sense of community we value so highly.

Royal Children’s Hospital Fundraising

Across Victoria, OneSchool Global has now raised an impressive $95,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital — an incredible collective effort. We would love to see this total surpass $100,000, and if you would like to contribute further, donations can still be made via the following link:

https://www.mycause.com.au/page/387821/oneschool-global-bendigo

Every contribution, no matter the size, helps support an important cause.

Primary Excursion – Sovereign Hill

A reminder to families that our Primary students will be attending the Sovereign Hill excursion this Friday, 29th May. Departure: 7:45am from Bendigo Campus, 8:15am Castlemaine and meeting Kyneton buses at Daylesford at 8:45am (check your bus chat for leave times from Kyneton).

We look forward to a fantastic day of learning and hands-on historical experiences.

Celebrating Leadership – SLT Initiative

I would also like to acknowledge the excellent work of our Senior Leadership Team in implementing their new KPI initiative. This is already driving a strong focus on academic excellence, and I greatly appreciate their leadership, commitment, and ongoing efforts in guiding our campus forward.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our staff and students. It is through this collective effort that we continue to create a positive, engaging, and high-achieving learning environment.

Mr. Christopher Sanders

Campus Principal

Primary spotlight

TASK

Construct a passage that uses Shasha's voice to describe the relationship between Mama and Sasha.

Curtis

I love Mama, she calls me 'Little Rabbit'. I think it's because I'm like a rabbit, small, fast, energetic. She protects me like her arms are a shield around me, away from the guns and tanks and yelling of the German soldiers. She says that we're NOT helping the partisans and everything will be fine, but I know that's not true.

Fernanda

I love Mama, her smile is like magic. She calls me a little rabbit, I don’t know why. I think I am small and run like one. Mama is trying to protect me; she pretends things are not real even though they are real. I know I can’t stay small forever.

Frankie

My mum is super kind, and she's trying really hard to protect me from all this partisan stuff. She trying to trick me and tell me that the bad things aren't real. I pretend to believe her, but I actually know what's happening. She always calls me Little Rabbit, which makes me feel happy inside. I think it's because I'm small and fast. No matter what it makes me feel happy, and invincible.

Hugo

I think my mum is a very wonderful woman, people cannot help but smiling at her because even though we have lost so much, mama stays strong. I can only hope that is the way she will stay. I love the way she is always hopeful and kind, please help me mum, I need it.

Louis

I think Mama calls me little Rabbit because I am little and small, afraid of dark times and look up to my mother. I sense the fear in her eyes, and she senses mine.

Alsa

Mama calls me 'Little Rabbit' when I jump, run around, hide and become shy but I think it's just because I'm really cute. Sometimes I have to pretend I haven't seen or heard things because she may become upset, even when I see the obvious things like the strange man-like lady in our home.

Wilson

My Mama acts like a lot of things, she talks to me in a soft voice that makes me feel safe even when every thing is scary, but sometimes I have to lie just to keep Mama her little rabbit through my whole life. If I can, with all these German monsters.

Tori

Mama is my favourite person, even though Yelena is close behind. I am her "Little Rabbit", and she is mama rabbit. She tries to protect me from the outside world, from hardships, getting war on the mind, and from real things, but I know more than she thinks, even though I don't want to.

Spencer

He gets called a rabbit by his mum because he is small and he is kind and it is sort of like a compliment to him.

Tiffany

I feel sorry for my mother, it wouldn't be easy for your kid at a young age to go off to war. I apricate how she cares for me and calls me little rabbit, I keep saying it's not real, but it's not true, I try to help her even when German tanks mess up our town, even when our home is broken, even when all hope seems lost.

Evanna

Mama thinks I'm cute and she calls me little rabbit, but I am changing now. I see guns and a note. I know what is happening I know that the soldiers are coming. I wish I could stay Mama's little rabbit forever. Mama doesn't want me to grow up but I am. Sometimes I lie to make Mama happy.

Willow

I think Mama is a little scared she’s going to lose me in this horrible war. But she tries to hide it, but you can see it in her eyes. She doesn’t want me to grow up, and go to the war like Papa and Rosa, and use those horrible guns. She's trying to keep me safe by saying all the stuff from the war I've seen isn't real, so then she can keep me safe. But I know all those things form the war are real. I know I won't be able to stay her little rabbit forever, but I can be her little rabbit right now.

Brennan

I love my Mama because she always calls me little rabbit and she is also fun. But I know why she does it I've seen the guns I know she is helping the partisans, but she is acting as though everything is fake when it's all real and I don't know but I do know why she does it. Well kind of because I have two possible reasons either she doesn't want me to be in danger or she doesn't want me to tell.

Tana

Mamma looks more and more stressed. I want to help her, I really do. but how? It seems that every time we talk about those Prince Monsters, she smiles but inside, she is just a kid with worries. worries that are stuck in her mind telling her the same thing, over and over and over. She doesn't want me to tie nots on those monsters' ankles. she doesn't want me to help the partisans, and she doesn't want to lose me. not like Rosa. I know it. I feel as if the world is crumbling beneath my feet and Mamma is the only one keeping me up. Without her, I would be nothing but a falling rain drop.

Isla

Mama calls me her little rabbit, and I like it when she does because it makes me feel more like I am hers. I think it's also because even when I get scared sometimes it makes me feel safe and I am small and can run fast. So, I am mamas little rabbit.

Ronan

(Written as if he was Sasha age 6)
I lov mama she is the bast mama in the wi hol worl. i cant tel wat is rel or not. mi mama is a big help thou lik teling me the patisian is not rel. she lovs me a lot, and she cal me litle rabit. pobaly becus im very fast lik a cheta.

Secondary spotlight

Year 12 Food studies Excursion

The Year 12 Food Studies students enjoyed an immersive and hands‑on excursion in Melbourne on May 18th, beginning their day at William Angliss Institute. Students completed a short barista course where they learnt the craft of preparing a range of black coffees, including espresso, long black and macchiato. They then moved on to milk‑based beverages, practising techniques for frothing milk and creating cappuccinos, hot chocolates, and mochas.

In the afternoon, students visited Brunetti Classico in Carlton for a behind‑the‑scenes tour. They explored the history of the iconic Italian pasticceria, observed the operations taking place in the production areas, and of course enjoyed sampling a selection of Brunetti’s famous Italian treats.

The excursion offered students valuable industry insights, practical skill development, and a delicious taste of Melbourne’s hospitality scene.

Mrs Bryan