PRESHIL WEEKLY
Hello Preshil community,
Welcome to another edition of the Weekly!
Our message to students this year has been simple and heartfelt: we are committed to making this their “best year yet.” Complementing this is our clearly articulated commitment to courageous growth for every child in our care.
We recognise that growth is holistic and deeply individual. It looks different for every learner, yet it is always intentional and sustained.
Each educator, every day, considers how the students in their care are progressing, not only academically, but in confidence, collaboration, participation, innovation and creativity. As a progressive educational environment, we understand that growth is not confined to standardised academic measures. Rather, it is intertwined with the development of character, agency and wellbeing.
With the year still early, we are noticing a learning community that is humming. There is a strong sense of flow in the day-to-day experience of both students and educators. The energy across the School is purposeful and positive. We now look forward to the continued progression of our strategic initiatives, across capital works, program development and partnerships, all in service of this central truth: that the lived experience of each child and our shared community, each day, remains our highest priority.
This afternoon’s Welcome Picnic is an important moment for us to come together as a community. At the time of writing, the event is yet to unfold, but its significance is clear. As a progressive school, relationships and community sit at the centre of who we are. We value opportunities like this not as transactions, but as genuine, authentic moments of connection.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to launching the year so positively. It has been an impressive start to our “best year yet” in 2026.
Lincoln Square – Senior Studio
This week we commenced site and design consultation workshops with our students, undertaking a series of visits to Lincoln Square across various cohorts. These visits will continue over the coming weeks and are central to our commitment to valuing students’ reactions, ideas and needs as we carefully plan and develop the future Senior Studio site.
We recognise that this location is of great interest to families, and we are pleased to offer parent walk-through opportunities over the coming weeks. Below are the details for a series of informal site visits for those who would like to view the space:
- Friday 27 February, 12:00–1:00pm
- Friday 6 March, 12:00–1:00pm
- Saturday 7 March, 1:00–2:00pm
No bookings are required. Please arrive promptly at 23–31 Lincoln Square South and meet at the main entrance at the commencement time of the tour.
We look forward to sharing this important next stage of Preshil’s growth with you.
Arlington Masterplanning
Following a competitive EOI process involving a number of highly regarded architectural firms, we are delighted to announce that Baracco Wright Architects has been selected to lead the Arlington Masterplanning works.
This is a critical step as we explore the interconnection of spaces across the Arlington site, and consider how our school operations and programs will interact between the Arlington and Lincoln Square campuses. Our aim is to open up rich learning opportunities while ensuring operational excellence across both sites.
A number of Arlington children were involved in transition workshops this week with human design firm Portable, sharing thoughtful insights about how we can best support them through this period of change. This consultative approach will continue with staff and families over the coming weeks as we move carefully and collaboratively into this next phase.
Warmly,
Aaron Mackinnon
Principal
Join us! Sleep Smarter: Helping Young People Thrive
Preshil is delighted to host Dr Olivia Knowles for a Sleep-Ed session for students and their parents, focused on the vital role sleep plays in wellbeing, learning, and performance.
This engaging and practical session explores the science of sleep, why sleep is especially important during adolescence, and how quality sleep supports physical health, mental wellbeing, academic success, and sporting performance. Students and parents will gain realistic, evidence-based strategies they can apply straight away to improve sleep habits and routines.
Dr Knowles is a High Performance Manager at Hawthorn Football Club and holds a PhD examining how sleep impacts health and performance. Her experience working with young people and elite athletes ensures the session is both informative and highly relatable for families
Date: Wednesday 11th March
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: BK library
Grow Your Mind at Arlington
This fortnight, our Grow Your Mind focus is the character strength Flexibility. Flexibility means being open to change and understanding that things don’t always go the way we expect. When children are growing flexibility, they learn to adjust their thinking, try alternative approaches, and manage disappointment when plans change.
Across the campus, we continue to “Grab Five” minutes of wellbeing each day — small, consistent moments that support children to build a shared language around emotions, resilience, and relationships through mindfulness, reflection, positive self-talk, and gratitude practices.
By revisiting these ideas regularly, we aim to support children to better understand their emotions, respond positively to change, and develop lifelong wellbeing skills.
Books Ahoy
Welcome to the new edition of Books Ahoy!
Parent’s Craft Club
Preshil parents are invited to an informal catch up weekly on Friday mornings to connect, yarn, have a cuppa and craft together. Bring your own projects or, if you have a skill you would like to share or learn, this space can be flexible and flow with the group. I picture a beautiful space evolving where people not only share their craft skills but also create a community we can connect with outside the craft club.
We’ll meet each Friday in the Garden Room Studio, at Arlington after school drop off.
Chess Coaching with Chess Australia
We’re pleased to offer a weekly Chess Club every Thursday from 3:30pm – 4:30pm, led under the guidance of International Master and FIDE-accredited trainer Leonid Sandler, former captain of the Australian Women’s Chess Olympiad Team.
Chess encourages students to think carefully, plan ahead and stay focused. Through play, students practise problem-solving, logical reasoning and decision-making under pressure. These skills support concentration, memory, organisation and independent thinking—habits that extend well beyond the chessboard and into everyday learning.
Download the form and learn more here.
Classroom Cuisine. Fresh, simple lunches – ready to order
At Preshil, we’re pleased to offer families access to Classroom Cuisine, an online lunch ordering service designed specifically for schools that provides fresh, seasonal lunches. The menu includes options such as sandwiches and wraps, salads and warm meals and fresh fruit and snacks.
There are choices to suit different dietary needs, and all meals are delivered directly to school on your child’s nominated day.
How to get started:
Visit classroomcuisine.com.au
Create an account and add your child’s details
Select Preshil as your school
Choose your items and place your order before the weekly cut-off
Lunch is delivered to school, ready for your child
You can order casually or plan ahead – whatever works best for your family rhythm.
Offering a flexible lunch option is one way we can support families, especially on busy mornings. It’s there when you need it whether that’s once a term or once a week.
If you have questions about the service, you can explore the menu and FAQs here.
Preshil Careers Hub
Discover everything you need to make a successful transition through high school and into the ‘real world’. Sign up to receive our Pathways & Careers Newsletters, access the latest guides on life and money management, work experience opportunities, and parent resources. You can also connect with the Careers and Pathways Team for personalised support. Click the link below for more information on Preshil’s Careers Hub.
THE WEEK AHEAD
- All Day: Arlington – Peppercorns Camp – Ballarat
- 9:00am – 10:00am: Blackhall – Year 7: Consent Foundations – LIBPRES
- 9:00am – 11:00am: Blackhall – Year 9: Senior Campus Co-Design Session – Front Lawn Blackhall
- 10:00am – 11:00am: Blackhall – Year 7 & 8: Challenge It – Change It – LIBPRES
- 11:30am – 12:30pm: Blackhall – Year 7: Looking Out For Your Friends – LIBPRES
- 1:45pm – 3:15pm: Blackhall – Year 10: Senior Campus Co-Design Session – Front Lawn Blackhall
- All Day: Arlington – Peppercorns Camp – Ballarat
- 9:00am – 10:00am: Blackhall – Year 7: Digital Rights and Online Conflict – LIBPRES
- 10:00am – 11:00am: Blackhall – Year 7: Online privacy and Security – LIBPRES
- 11:30am – 12:30pm: Blackhall – Year 8: Looking Out for Your Friends – LIBPRES
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm: Blackhall – Year 7: Dealing with Conflict – LIBPRES
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm: Blackhall – Year 12: Pre-VTAC Special Considerations Presentation – Academy
- 1:30pm – 2:15pm: Blackhall – Year 7 & 8: Make Your Own Jewellery & Keyrings – LIBREAD
- All Day: Arlington – Peppercorns Camp – Ballarat
- 9:00am – 3:15pm: Blackhall – Year 7 & 8: Understanding Self and Checking In – Media1
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm: Blackhall – Year 10 – 12: Sleep Smarter – LIBPRES
- All Day: Arlington – Peppercorns Camp – Ballarat
- 9:00am – 10:00am: Blackhall – Year 8: Mental Movies – LIBPRES
- 10:00am – 11:00am: Blackhall – Year 7: Understanding and Managing Stress – LIBPRES
- 11:30am – 12:30pm: Blackhall – Year 8: Understanding and Managing Stress – LIBPRES
- 11:30pm – 1:30pm: Arlington – Year 4 & 5: Bell Shakespeare Workshop – The Hall
- 12:30pm – 1:30pm: Blackhall – Year 8: Nutrition 101 – LIBPRES
- 1:30pm – 2:15pm: Blackhall – YMCA Friendly Game of Soccer and Giant Games – Front Lawn
- 9:00am – 11:00am: Arlington: Prep & Year 1: Investigating Public Spaces – Kew
- 9:30am – 1:00pm: Blackhall – Year 7 & 8: Jump For Joy – Bounce, Glen Iris
- 12:30pm – 3:15pm: Blackhall – VCE Art & IB DP: Lyon House Art Excursion – Kew
THE TERM AHEAD
