Executive Principal's Report

It's been a slightly shorter fortnight with the extra-long weekend for students, but the eight school days since our last newsletter have certainly been anything but uneventful!

As we move into the second half of Term 4, there's plenty happening across the school, and the weeks ahead are shaping up to be just as busy.

Farewell to Shea

Last Thursday, we farewelled Shea as she commenced family leave ahead of an exciting new chapter for her and Eric.

I think the best way to understand the impact Shea has had on Richmond West is to look at the connections and trust she has built with the students, families and colleagues she has worked with.

It's not uncommon to see students who were taught by Shea in previous years returning to visit her classroom, sharing stories and catching up. They often speak fondly about the structure, routines and high expectations she established in her classroom, and the positive impact these had on their learning.

I think that says a great deal about a teacher. Students might not always appreciate structure and high expectations at the time, but when they look back and recognise how much those things helped them learn and grow, you know you've made a lasting impression.

Shea has also been a valued colleague, contributing enormously to our teaching teams and building strong relationships with staff and families throughout her time at Richmond West.

While we're absolutely delighted for Shea and Eric as they prepare to welcome their newest family member, Richmond West has certainly felt a little quieter in her absence over the past week! For now, we wish her and Eric every happiness as they prepare for this exciting new chapter.

Bilingual World Cup

Last Friday, our students joined their peers from across our network of bilingual schools for the second annual Bilingual World Cup.

One of the things I particularly enjoy about this event is that it brings our students together in a way that doesn't often happen through our regular school networks.

As a network of bilingual schools, our teachers and leaders have plenty of opportunities to meet, share ideas and collaborate. In fact, that's exactly where I am today, meeting with the other bilingual school principals!

But it's particularly rewarding when our students have the opportunity to come together, enjoy some friendly competition and connect with other children who share the experience of learning in a bilingual school.

Unfortunately, history didn't quite repeat itself this year. After a triumphant inaugural competition in 2025, the championship trophy that has spent the past twelve months sitting proudly on my office bookshelf has now made its way to Bayswater South Primary School. I'm still adjusting to the empty space on the shelf.

Nevertheless, our students represented Richmond West wonderfully, demonstrating great teamwork, determination and all the qualities of a good sport throughout the day. While the trophy might have found a temporary new home, I'm confident we'll see it back at Richmond West at some stage.

A big congratulations to all the students who participated and gave their best on the day and a particular thank you to Jacqui for once again taking on the considerable organisation, coordination and logistics involved in making the day happen, and to Kai and Daniel for supporting our students throughout the event.

It's a terrific annual event and one we're already looking forward to next year.

School Concert

Rehearsals for our school concert, Fairytale Fixers, have certainly stepped up a gear this week!

It's been great to see classes making the most of opportunities to rehearse with their teachers, while Sonia and Mary have also jumped in to assist Ruth with rehearsals and coordination as we bring the various elements of the production together.

With just under a week to go, we're looking forward to seeing all the hard work come together next Wednesday evening.

Concert Details: Wednesday 18 November

• 5.00 pm: Pre-concert entertainment begins, featuring our brass band and other musical performances.
• 6.00 pm: Fairytale Fixers begins.
• 7.30 pm: Approximate concert finish.
• Tickets: $5 for non-RWPS students. Richmond West students attend free of charge.

Student Supervision

Students will remain under the supervision of their teachers in their designated class groups until it is time for them to perform.

Once their class performance has finished, students will be able to return to sit with their families. From this point, parents and carers are responsible for supervising their children.

There will still be other classes and performers on stage, so we ask families to ensure their children remain with them and are respectful of those who are yet to perform.

There's usually an opportunity for some music and dancing at the end of the evening, particularly if the weather is kind to us. It's always a lovely way to finish the night, and families are very welcome to enjoy this time together.

However, please remember that parents and carers remain responsible for supervising their children during this part of the evening as well. Staff will continue to be on duty until all families have departed, but this does not replace parental supervision once children have been returned to their families.

Thank you in advance for helping us make the concert an enjoyable and safe evening for everyone.

Working with Children Checks: Important Changes for Volunteers

There have been some important changes to Victoria's Working with Children Check (WWCC) requirements, which affect how schools record and manage the details of people who volunteer with children.

From 19 October 2026, schools are required to use a new system called WWC Connect, which allows the Social Services Regulator to monitor where people holding Working with Children Clearances are working or volunteering. 

At Richmond West, we're incredibly fortunate to have so many parents, carers and community members who generously volunteer their time. Whether it's helping in classrooms, attending excursions and activities, supporting sporting events or assisting with cooking or school productions, these contributions make an enormous difference to the opportunities we're able to provide our students.

However, with these opportunities comes an important responsibility to ensure that everyone working with children meets our child safety requirements.

What does this mean for volunteers at RWPS?

Under our school's Volunteer Policy, all volunteers are required to hold a current Working with Children Clearance.

If you're volunteering at school, please ensure that:

• You have a valid Working with Children Check before commencing any volunteer activities.
• You provide the school office with your current WWCC details and present either your physical card or digital clearance for verification.
• You advise the office if your details change or your clearance is renewed.

The school will be responsible for entering and maintaining the required information in WWC Connect for volunteers undertaking child-related work. In some circumstances, we may also ask volunteers to complete a consent form so we can register their details.

Please note that if we cannot verify your current Working with Children Clearance, you will not be able to volunteer until this requirement has been met.

We appreciate that this adds another administrative step, particularly for families who have volunteered at Richmond West for many years. However, these requirements form an important part of our responsibility to provide a safe environment for every student.

Thank you for your understanding and for the many ways you continue to support our school.

For families who don't currently hold a Working with Children Check, we've included information here about how to apply.

The Final Stretch of 2026

The next few weeks are shaping up to be particularly busy as we balance everything still happening this year with the planning and preparation required for 2027.

Behind the scenes, we're working through student class groupings, teacher placements and learning area structures for next year, while teachers are also finalising assessments and preparing student reports.

Of course, there's still plenty to look forward to before the year is over!

Alongside next week's concert, we have our Prep Breakfast, Year 1/2 excursion, Year 6 Graduation and the Year 6 Big Day Out, among other activities and celebrations that will bring the school year to a close.

It's a busy time for everyone, and there's always a temptation to race towards the finish line, ticking off one event or task before moving straight on to the next.

I'm reminding myself, as much as anyone, that it's important to pace ourselves at this time of year. There's still a lot to achieve, but there are also some wonderful experiences ahead that deserve our energy and attention.

With just over five weeks of school remaining, there's certainly plenty left to tick off before we close the doors on 2026.

Until next time,

Trevor