Assistant Principals' Report

Discover the Diverse Learners Hub

At Whittlesea Primary School, we are committed to creating an inclusive learning environment where every child is supported to learn, participate and thrive. To strengthen this commitment, during our Curriculum Day on Monday, our staff explored the Victorian Department of Education's Diverse Learners Hub, a free online resource designed to support teachers, families and school communities in meeting the needs of all learners.

The Diverse Learners Hub brings together practical, evidence-based information about a wide range of learning differences, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, developmental language disorder and sensory processing differences. It also provides strategies for creating inclusive classrooms, supporting student wellbeing, planning successful transitions and making reasonable adjustments so every student can access learning.

The Hub isn't just for educators; it also includes a dedicated Parents and Carers section with helpful information about recognising learning difficulties, working in partnership with your child's school, understanding assessments, supporting learning at home and accessing trusted services and resources. Whether your child has a diagnosed disability, is experiencing learning challenges, or simply learns in their own unique way, these resources offer practical guidance to help families support their child's learning journey. We encourage families to explore the Diverse Learners Hub and discover the wealth of resources available. 

We were also fortunate to have an Autism Visiting Teacher from the region present to staff about 'Understanding Behaviour'. Some of the key takeaways from this professional learning were:

• Sensory systems play a vital role in regulating the central nervous system, and supporting regulation comes before academic learning
• Not every child’s goals are academic, and Individual Education Plans should reflect each student's individual needs
• A child's behaviour is not always what it appears on the surface. The iceberg analogy was a powerful reminder to look beyond what we see and consider the function of behaviour

By continuing to work together and building a shared understanding of diverse learning needs, we continue to build a school where every learner is valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Get ready to celebrate the magic of reading at our Book Week Parade on Wednesday, 26 August at 9:00 am on the Basketball court.

This year's Children's Book Week theme, 'Symphony of Stories', invites us to celebrate the wonderful stories that inspire, entertain and bring us together. Students are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite book character, or, with our school production just around the corner, why not join the fun by dressing as a character from Seussical Jr.?

Families are warmly invited to attend and share in this special celebration of books, imagination and creativity. We can't wait to see all the amazing costumes and celebrate the joy of reading together!🎭📖✨