Channel Newsletter

From the Deputy Principal

As we approach the joyful season of Easter, we are reminded of the heart of our faith and the hope that unites our school community. Easter is a time to reflect on the incredible love of God shown through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout this term, our students have been learning about the Easter story and its message of forgiveness, sacrifice, and new life.

Students have explored what it means to live with kindness, compassion, and grace - values that are central to the Easter message. Through prayer, discussion, and creative activities, they have been encouraged to see how the story of Easter continues to shape the way we care for one another and our world today.

The resurrection reminds us that even in difficult times, there is always hope. As it says in Scripture, ‘He is not here; He has risen!’ (Luke 24:6). This powerful truth emboldens us to live with courage and faith, trusting in God’s promises and sharing His love with those around us.

After the Easter break, we look forward to gathering once again as a school community for a Resurrection celebration at Amped on Friday 10 April. Together, we will reflect on the risen Christ, celebrating the hope, new life, and victory over death found in Jesus’ resurrection. This special time of worship, reflection, and fellowship invites students and families to pause, reconnect, and be reminded of the true meaning of Easter, that through Him, we are made new and given everlasting hope.

We wish all families a blessed and peaceful Easter. May this season bring renewal, joy, and a deep sense of God’s presence in your homes. Thank you for being a valued part of our school community as we continue to grow together in faith and learning.

Grainne Brocklesby – Deputy Principal

Growing Leadership in
Year 5/6

At our school, leadership is something we intentionally nurture in our Year 5/6 students. This term, students have been exploring what it means to lead with initiative, responsibility and care for others. One exciting way this is coming to life is through student-led lunchtime groups, launching in Term 2.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the fantastic groups on offer:

Action Art!
’Some days we will be doing active games and some days we will be doing crafty things. We will be doing it on Wednesday lunch on the basketball court or on the 5/6 deck. The leaders are Matilda, Elsa, Sage and Sophie (M.E.S.S). Whether you like sporty activities or crafty activities we’ve always got something for you! So come join us and have some fun!’

Dodgeball Dash
’Hello, the names of the leaders in our group are Ezz, Archie, Harvey, Oscar and Archer. We are running Dodgeball Dash for 2026. We will be doing lots of different games of dodgeball like king of the hill, jails and much more. It will be Thursday at recess in the ARC or the basketball court. You should come because it is a fun game to play, keeps you moving constantly and is very competitive. Hope to see you there!’

Skipping Group
’Hello everyone, this term Keziah along with Holly, Eliza and Elsbeth, will be running a lunchtime skipping group focused on improving fitness, developing skipping skills, and having lots of fun! We will be running our group on a Thursday at lunchtime. We are running this group so that you can prepare yourself for Channel Rhythm Jumpers and work on your fitness skills! So come along and enjoy! Hope to see you there!’

The Cubers Club
’Our group will be on a Wednesday at recess, run by Will and Caleb at the 5/6 deck. We will be learning or getting faster at solving Rubik cubes! You can come even if you have never solved one before, or if you can solve it in 20 seconds. You can bring your own cubes if you wish.’

Kinder Lunchtime Group
’Hello, we are Lucy and Adele and we’re running a Kinder lunchtime group with some other Year 5 and 6 volunteers. We started this group so Kinders can be included in lunchtime fun! We will mostly play running games like Sleeping Lions and Fruit Salad, and we hope you’ll make new friends! This group will run most Tuesdays at lunch (unless we’re busy). Please join us. We hope it’s lots of fun! Remember, the important thing is to have fun!’

Mindful Movement Masters (MMM)
’The M.M.M. is a great multi-activity group. We will be doing energetic sports activities on some days and mindful and calm activities on other days, like our group name says. The group is held in the amphitheatre on Wednesday, but the place will vary depending on the day. We will also announce it at assembly, so do not worry. The M.M.M. is run by Vedhika and Melinda. We are excited to have fun with you all!’

Gang Ups
’Gang Ups is a game where the tagger is decided by foot in the middle and stays ‘it’ for the game. Their goal is to tag everyone, while others try to survive until they are the last one left. The group will be held at the new playground on Monday and Tuesday at recess. This group will be run by Xavier, Peter, Joel, Tom, Ruben and Sybrand.’

These groups have been thoughtfully planned and designed by our students, giving them the opportunity to take ownership, organise activities, and create inclusive spaces for others to connect and have fun. The plans outlined below reflect what students have prepared so far and are subject to change as groups begin and develop.

Erica Wyllie – Year 5/6 Teacher

World Down Syndrome Day

We celebrated World Down Syndrome Day by wearing colourful and crazy socks!

In class, we thoughtfully talked about diversity of people, inclusion and acceptance of people with Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21). We believe everyone is made in God’s image, including kids with intellectual disability and development delay, or physical disability.

We learnt that, historically, people with Down Syndrome have been excluded and treated unkindly, but we can change that through greater knowledge and friendship.

We also explored the WDSD theme ‘Together Against Loneliness’ as people with Down Syndrome often experience loneliness. We thought about how to make great friendships by talking and playing with kids with disabilities.
We are much more alike than different!

Farewell to Mrs Boonstra

Mrs Boonstra began as a Teacher Aide at Channel in 2012. Over the past 13 years, she has brought great joy and energy, serving our community without grumble or complaint. Her servant heart has reflected Christ’s love in countless quiet moments.

We will miss her competitive spirit and her playful way of stirring the pot—especially with the older students on the bus and at camps. Thank you for your laughter, dedication, and the meaningful impact you have had on both students and staff.

You will be deeply missed and fondly remembered as a valued member of our school family. We are truly grateful for every year you have shared with us.

Maternity Leave for Mrs Hartog

Mrs Hartog has started her maternity leave this week. We wish her and her husband all the best as they eagerly anticipate the arrival of the little one. Mrs Schenk will be teaching full time in Prep for the rest of the year.

Netball

This term has seen the exciting formation of our Year 3/4 and Year 5/6 netball teams — a wonderful example of our commitment to strengthening family partnerships.

The journey began with a simple idea shared by Mrs Smith in a newsletter, inviting families to express interest in joining the Kingborough Netball League. The enthusiastic response from students and families was inspiring, with many children eager to try netball for the very first time. Mrs McCallum and Ms Cato have been kind enough to generously give up their personal time to train the students. Their dedication and selfless service are deeply appreciated by both students and families.

Game days have also been a highlight, with parents and families turning out in large numbers to cheer from the sidelines. Their encouragement creates a positive atmosphere in which students feel supported, confident, and proud to represent their school. Most importantly, this experience is not about the scoreboard but about participation, teamwork, and confidence. We are incredibly proud of the effort, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship shown by every player.

Congratulations and thank you to all students, coaches, organisers, volunteers, and families for creating such a positive opportunity for our young people.

This is the Channel community at its finest.

Chickenpox Alert

We currently have a student in upper primary (isolating at home) who has a confirmed case of Chickenpox. For your information you can access a fact sheet here.
Please be vigilant in monitoring your child/ren for any symptoms such as a fever, feeling generally unwell and an itchy skin rash.

Swimming Lessons
Years 3 - 6

Swimming lessons start for Years 3 - 6 students on Wednesday 8 April and go through until Tuesday 14 April. Lessons are being held at the Kingston Pool between 11.30am - 1.45pm. Students will travel to and from the pool on our school bus.

Students must bring the following named items:

bathers (speedos/trunks for boys and one piece for girls)
a towel
a swimming cap and/or goggles (optional)
a good size bag to place their wet items in

The schedule for swimming is as follows:

Wednesday 8 April till Tuesday 14 April (Years 3 - 6)

Year 3/4 CH: 11.30am - 12.00pm
Year 3/4 SB: 12.05pm - 12.35pm
Year 5/6 EL: 12.40pm - 1.10pm
Year 5/6 EW: 1.15pm - 1.45pm

Please contact the office if you have any questions.

Prayer Wall

Pray for our expectant mums (families) and those who have welcomed new babies into their family over the last few weeks. Children are a blessing from God.
Pray that the message of Easter will be received by many in our community.
Pray that the Easter break will be a time to reflect and accept the wonderous gift of the cross and all it means to us.

School Calendar

MAY
6 | First Day of Term 2
11 - 15 | Year 5/6 Canberra Trip

SCHOOL CALENDAR

School Reminders

Free Bus Travel

Students can now hop on buses for free till at least 30 June.
Free travel applies to all bus services statewide, including:

adult, concession, urban, non-urban, and child/student fares
all government-contracted school bus services that charge a fare

School Photos

It is not too late to place an order for school photos. Go to leadingimage.com.au click on ‘Order Your School Photos’ and enter access key LV3BCLB4.

Updated Handbooks

We have updated our Handbooks. You can download and read a copy via the Parents page on our website.

Facebook Page

To see all the latest photos and updates in the life of the school please visit and like our Facebook page.

Your Feedback is Welcome

If you have any suggestions on how to improve our newsletter, we would love to hear from you! You can contact us or fill out our feedback form.