Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of joining our Grade 6 students and staff on camp at The Outside Inn, Wannon (just outside Hamilton). It was a joy to spend Thursday evening with them and hear about all their adventures so far — Surrey bikes, tower challenges, frisbee golf, bushwalking, games, and more.

On Friday, I joined in for the animal encounter and thoroughly enjoyed spending time away from school with our wonderful Grade 6 students. Their manners and behaviour were exceptional, and we were so impressed by their resilience when some were missing home, the support they showed each other, and their persistence in trying new things (food and activities).

We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated and caring team of teachers who supported our students throughout the entire camp experience. I’d like to take this opportunity to remind our school community that our teachers generously give up time away from their own families to provide these valuable experiences for our students.

A heartfelt thank you to Ms Mary Lee, Mrs Lexi Cooper, Mr Ben Wormald, Mr Dale Beaton, Mrs Nikki Calderwood, Ms Brooke Halleyburton, Tiger, and Zoe for their time, care, and enthusiasm in making camp such a fabulous experience for everyone involved.

This week, we have been fully immersed in our school review process. We have just completed Day 2, and it has already been an incredibly valuable and rewarding experience. I personally feel re-energised for what lies ahead, and as a team, we are so proud of all that we have achieved together.

Day 1 – Wednesday

Celebrating school highlights
Validating evaluations from the past four years
Classroom observations in Grades 3–6

Day 2 – Thursday

Parent focus group
Classroom observations in Foundation to Grade 2
Student focus group
Staff focus groups
Online parent focus group

This evening, we are looking forward to welcoming many parents to join discussions with our reviewer, Tracy Hammill, and Senior Education Improvement Leader, Cherie Kilpatrick, to share school highlights and identify areas for continued growth.

On Monday, our review panel will come together once more to reflect on all feedback, classroom observations, and discussions, and to set the direction for the next four years — exciting times ahead!

I would like to sincerely thank our exceptional review panel for their time, insights, and guidance throughout this process. I look forward to sharing the outcomes of our review with the school community before the end of the year.

Changes to digital device useFrom 2027, the Victorian Government is introducing changes to the use of digital devices for students from Prep to Grade 6. At WEPS we will be enacting this plan from the beginning of 2026. All grade 5/6 students will have access to chrome books to support their learning where required, grade ¾ students will have access to an integration of laptops and iPads where they enhance learning and Foundation to grade 2 students will have some access to iPads where required – within the outlined guidelines below.

Technology Access Across Year Levels

Grades 5–6: All students will have access to Chromebooks to support their learning as required.
Grades 3–4: Students will have access to a combination of laptops and iPads where these tools enhance learning.
Foundation – Grade 2: Students will have limited access to iPads for specific learning activities, as outlined in the guidelines below.

Under the new guidelines, schools: • will no longer invite families to purchase or bring their own digital devices to use at school for Prep to Grade 6 • will follow new recommended digital device times, including minimal device time for Prep to Grade 2; and a maximum of 90 minutes per day for grades 3 to 6.

These changes are intended to support families by reducing cost-of-living pressures. They will also support students by reducing screen-time which can reduce the risk of eye strain, sedentary behaviour, and reduced peer interaction. These reforms complement Victoria’s nation-leading mobile phone restrictions, ensuring an integrated approach to addressing digital distraction and the inappropriate use of technology.

What this means for our school

This means we will be ceasing our current BYOD program for Grades from grade 3-6 from 2026.

Instead, we will provide class sets of digital devices for use by students.

Students with a disability who use a digital device as a reasonable adjustment are exempt from these changes.

These changes are intended to support families with cost-of-living pressures and reduce student screen time.

You can read more about the changes on the department’s website: Digital Learning: Policy.

Digital Learning: Policy | VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

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