Term 1 Concludes: Friday 4 April (normal finishing times)

Term 2 Commences: Wednesday 23 April 2025

ANZAC Day Public Holiday: Friday 25 April 2025

King's Birthday Public Holiday: Monday 9 June 2025

Student Free Day: Friday 20 June 2025

Term 2 Concludes: Friday 4 July 2025

To access all important dates for the year:

Click on 'Links' tab on Flinders Connect and choose: 'Important Dates' from the list

OR

Visit the College Website and choose Parent Resources from the Carrum Downs list and select 'Important Dates': Click HERE

Ballarto Road Upgrade - Important Update on works to commence Sunday 23 March

We want to thank you for your patience during the latest roadblocks on Ballarto Road. The process of updating Ballarto Road has certainly been a long one, and we know that the impact has been felt by everyone at Flinders.

The next stage of the upgrade begins next week and is detailed in the attached flyer.

In summary:
From 7pm Sunday 23 March until 6am Monday 24 March, Ballarto Road between Lyrebird Drive and Flora Park Way will be closed in both directions to set up barriers for the next stage of roadworks.

From Monday 24 March until late April, Greenwood Drive at the Ballarto Road intersection will be open, and Ballarto Road will be reduced to one lane between Greenwood Drive and Flora Park Way (westbound traffic only).

This means that Flinders traffic exiting the school will be able to turn left and right. However, traffic turning right will be detoured down Greenwood Drive.

Thank you to everyone who displayed the red access stickers during the last three weeks. These stickers will no longer be needed for cars traveling eastbound along Ballarto Road from Monday 24 March.

Please read the attached flyer for more extensive details on roadblocks, bus access, and a map of the detours.

Dear Flinders Families,

As we approach Term 2, it's time to start preparing for the changeover to the winter uniform. Due to the unpredictable weather changes in Melbourne, students will have the first two weeks of Term 2 to transition from the summer to the winter uniform.

Uniform Shop Hours (during school term):

Monday: 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Tuesday: 8.00am - 10.00am

Wednesday: 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Thursday: 8.00am - 10.00am

First Saturday of the month during term (except Public Holiday weekends): 9.00am - 11.00am

Holiday opening time:

Tuesday 22 April: 9.00am - 4.00pm

Please plan ahead to avoid long queues at the Uniform Shop the day before Term 2 commences.

This week, we started our 2025 What’s on Podcast with Primary captains. I encourage you to have a listen - a good way to access the Primary school news in a new way. The Primary What’s On Podcast will be sent every fortnight via the Flinders Connect App. Next week, Grade 6 will be heading to Canberra as they study Government and democracy. We wish them the very best and pray for safe travel.

I will continue to promote a few ideas from the Collapse of Parenting book.
Chapter three is titled ‘School’. Author, Leaonard Sax, discusses some concerns with education in the United States. He reiterates that a culture of respect in the classroom is imperative. He dives deeper into the idea of conscientiousness, writing that it is most important to teach children to be honest, helpful and to have self-control. Character and conscientiousness are more important than performance – ‘I’d rather you get a ‘C’ on the test honestly, than cheat and get an ‘A’. Again, he states, if you want your child to be healthy, well-off and happy as an adult, your priority, and our priority as teachers, should be to teach children to be honest and conscientious (p. 78)

https://www.flinders.vic.edu.a...

World Maths Day is generally celebrated on the 14th of March each year. Here at Flinders in 2025, we will be celebrating World Math's Day on

Monday the 31 March

We have a lot of school based activities planned, including:

A whole School Bingo Game

A Four Minute Number Challenge – who can write the most numbers in 4 minutes

A Staff House Jigsaw Competition

A Grade Estimation Challenge

Classroom Based Challenges.

It will be a wonderful day of fun and learning.

Show your support for the Leukaemia Foundation by wearing Crazy Hair to school on Thursday, 3 April! All funds raised will help provide better care, treatments, and information for those affected by blood cancer. Students are encouraged to wear their PE uniform and bring a gold coin donation. Crazy hair ideas can include wigs, temporary hair colouring, or fun hair accessories. Let’s get creative for a great cause!

The Flinders values award is presented at each primary chapel to students that exemplify one or more of our Flinders values. Congratulations to Fred, Hunter and Sierra for receiving the award during this week’s Primary Chapel Service

Frederick displays Excellence in all areas of his learning and Faith in his enthusiastic discussions about the Bible and faith.

Hunter exemplifies the Love, Faith, Grace, Humility and Perseverance values by showing kindness to classmates, having a respectful attitude and humility in his victories.

Sierra demonstrates the values of Love, Faith, Excellence and Perseverance in all her endeavours and inspiring others with kindness and determination.

We are excited to announce that we will be holding our bi-annual Drive-in Movie Night here at school on Friday 2 May at 6.00 pm.
Gates open at 5.00 pm

As Term 1 finishes, we take a moment to celebrate some fantastic achievements. Our students have now completed NAPLAN—well done to all for their focus and effort during the testing period.

The Year 7 Camp at Phillip Island Adventure Resort was a great success! Students loved the activities and partied at the disco like it was 1999. Thank you to the staff who made this experience possible.

A special congratulations to Mr. Cairns, Mr. Barlow, and the entire Cuthbert staff team for an outstanding Cuthbert Carnival. Cuthbert House students put in an incredible effort to run the event, and their hard work paid off—everyone had a fantastic day filled with fun and community spirit.

Upcoming Events

Backflips Against Bullying Workshop – 27 March 2025
Year 7: Periods 3 & 4
Year 8: Periods 5 & 6

Easter Chapel – 1 April 2025 (Period 3)

Last Day of Term – 4 April 2025

Homeroom Devotions
This term, students have been participating in a newly developed Homeroom Devotion curriculum aimed at deepening their faith and fostering closer, more resilient relationships within their house and homeroom groups.

Parents and staff are reminded that there is powerful payer group of staff that meet every Tuesday morning that are keen to pray for your needs. If you have anything you want us to pray for, please put it on our prayer request form in the LINK

Thank you to our staff and students for a wonderful term 1. Your dedication and enthusiasm are truly appreciated, and we look forward to finishing the term strong!

Two new dance groups at Flinders meet on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday after school in the Drama Room. Selected students from these groups (plus our big band musicians and choir members!) will perform and represent Flinders at the SIS Big Night Concert on Tuesday 1 April, with other partnering SIS schools.

Year 12 student Abbey Bartlett is making her choreographic debut for this event, choreographing and teaching the entire Hip Hop routine! And Jazlyn Hoy is representing our school as a feature performer, showcasing her VCE VET Dance solo. Tickets for the SIS Big Night Concert are on sale now HERE

The Flinders Gala: A Musical Celebration in June, showcasing all the different talents at Flinders. While it is in place of our Secondary Musical Production this year, the Gala will celebrate all the Musical Productions Flinders Carrum Downs has down over the past 20 years; with songs from Annie, Oliver, Seussical, Grease, Legally Blonde and more.

Auditions took place recently and we have over 100 students involved in this event from musicians to dancers, to singers, choirs, actors and more.

Tickets will go on sale early next term and every student at Carrum Downs and their families are invited to attend this red-carpet formal event on Wednesday night 25 June at the Frankston Arts Centre.

Gala Rehearsals
All primary students cast in ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King’ and ‘Let it Go’ are required to start attending choir rehearsals on Thursdays at lunchtime with Mrs. McLaren in the Music Centre.

Please note, for those students involved in the following items, your term 1 afterschool rehearsals are:

(Week 8 Term 1) Wednesday 19 March – Students in ‘Easy Street’ to rehearse in the Drama Room 3:30-5 pm, and ‘Whipped into Shape’ in dance 3.30-4.20pm

(Week 9 Term 1) Wednesday 26 March - Students in ‘One Feathered Tail/Amazing Mayzie’ to rehearse in the Drama Room 3:30-5 pm, and ‘Whipped into Shape’ in dance 3.30-4.20pm

(Week 10 Term 1) Tuesday 1 April - Students in ‘I Know it’s Today’ to rehearse in the Drama Room 3:30-5 pm

(Week 10 Term 1) Wednesday 2 April - Students in ‘Easy Street’, ‘One Feathered Tail/Amazing Mayzie’ and ‘I Know it’s Today’ to rehearse in the Drama Room 3:30-5 pm, and ‘Whipped into Shape’ in dance 3.30-4.20pm

We are super excited for our Primary students too, with auditions for our Primary School Production taking place next term for performances in Term 3. Stay tuned for more details - VERY exciting things happening!

If you have any questions or just want to know more about getting involved in Performing Arts at Flinders, you can email

Mrs. Sarah Cossey (Secondary) Sarah.CosseyGlaubert@flinders.vic.edu.au or Mrs. Ashlene Mendolia (Primary) at ashlene.mendolia@flinders.vic.edu.au

Private Performing Arts Tuition is at capacity in the primary school and prospective students can be placed on a waiting list, however limited availability remains for secondary school students to study with Ms. Cossey.

More information can be found HERE

Flinders Basketball Club will be running a “Have a Go” Clinic for Prep and Grade 1 players who are new to basketball and are thinking of joining an after-school team. If this is your child, please complete the form on this link -->: HAVE A GO

Carrum Downs Students - CD Gym
DATE: 24th March (Monday)
TIME: 3:30 - 4pm (sign-in from 3:20pm only) please do not enter the gym if there is a class using the gym (wait outside or in the foyer).

Please wear PE uniform or basketball attire. Runners essential. Please bring a SIZE 5 ball if you have one.
Places are limited - only if you are interested in playing domestic basketball, please complete this form.
A parent/guardian (or responsible adult) is required to be present (duty of care).

Background information about domestic competitions:
Carrum Downs Campus u8 students play in the Frankston competition (Saturday morning) or in the Chelsea competition (Friday from 4:45pm-7pm)
Season fees apply. All players require a basketball uniform.

Children and Youth Services team at Cranbourne Library have a number of programs that run for youth after school.

Attached are three documents. A flyer with all the programs that run at all the Connected Libraries branches throughout the City of Casey; Youth Chess Club; and Book Ninjas.

Book Ninjas is their newest program here at Cranbourne that runs twice a month and is a club for kids to share their love of books with others.

The P & F are a group of Parents, led by a school appointed coordinator who are not only concerned with fundraising, but also offer support and help organise various events around the school.

Joining the group is a great way to meet other parents and be involved in the school community.

Volunteering at least 10 hours with P and F activities count towards the Flinders community program with the payment reimbursed back onto your fees schedule at the end of the year.

The next P&F meeting for will be held on Thursday 3 April in the Rotunda at 8.30am.

Come along and grab a coffee. New members are always welcome.

If you would like to be part of the team, but can’t make the meeting or you would like further information please contact Marianne at Marianne.morgan@flinders.vic.edu.au

We look forward to meeting you.