Principal's Report
Principal's Welcome – Term 3
Welcome back to Term 3!
I hope all of our students and families enjoyed a restful and refreshing holiday break. It has been wonderful to see the calm, settled and focused way our students have returned to school. They have certainly hit the ground running, and while Term 3 is often described as our "quieter" term, there is certainly plenty happening across our school!
Over the coming weeks (next term), students will enjoy a range of exciting learning experiences, including the Grade 3/4 Camp, Prep 100 Days of School celebrations, swimming lessons (Grade 1-6), Book Week, and a variety of sporting opportunities for our Grade 5/6 students. We look forward to sharing these special moments with our community throughout the term.
Our staff also participate in Curriculum Day on Tuesday 18th August with a focus on strengthening teaching and learning. Kelly Club will be open for the day and offering full day care. Please contact them for further information.
Book Week – Save the Date!
Book Week will be celebrated in Week 7. We invite all students to join in our annual whole-school dress-up day and parade on Monday 24 August. It's always one of the highlights of the year, and we can't wait to see everyone's wonderful costumes. More information will be shared with families soon.
Celebrating Our NAPLAN Success
We are incredibly proud of our Year 3 and Year 5 students following the release of this year's NAPLAN results. Student reports have now been sent home, and as a school we are delighted to celebrate the outstanding achievements and growth of our students.
Our results continue to reflect the high expectations we have for every learner. Across the ten assessment areas in Years 3 and 5, Wimba Primary School performed above our Similar Schools in nine out of ten areas and achieved results above our network in every assessment area.
These results are a wonderful reflection of the hard work and determination of our students, the dedication and expertise of our teaching and education support staff, and the ongoing partnership we share with our families. Thank you to everyone who plays a part in supporting our students to achieve their very best.
Child Safety and Wellbeing at Wimba Primary School
You may have noticed some recent updates to the Wimba Primary School website. We have separated our Child Safety and School Policies sections to make it easier for families to find the information and support they need.
At Wimba Primary School, we are committed to providing an environment where every student is safe, supported and feels safe.
Our Child Safety section on our website outlines how we support and maintain child safety and wellbeing across our school. It includes our:
- Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
- Child Safety Reporting and Responding Obligations Procedures
- Child Safety Code of Conduct, which outlines the expected behaviours of all staff, volunteers and visitors to our school.
Our students and families are valued partners in creating a child safe environment. Regular communication, including updates like this, helps ensure our school community understands:
- our commitment to child safety and wellbeing
- how to provide feedback or raise any child safety concerns.
If you have any concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child at any time, please contact the school office on (03) 8000 6080 and ask to speak with a member of the Principal Team. Any child safety concerns or complaints are taken seriously and responded to in line with our Child Safety and Complaints policies.
We also welcome your ideas and feedback on how we can continue to strengthen our child safety practices. If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact the school on (03) 80006080 or email wimba.ps@education.vic.gov.au.
Keeping Our School Safe
A friendly reminder to all of our families that we ask students, as well as younger brothers and sisters, not to ride bikes or scooters through the school grounds before or after school.
Over the past few weeks we have had several near misses, and our priority is ensuring everyone feels safe when entering and leaving the school. We appreciate your support by encouraging children to dismount at the school gates and walk their bikes or scooters through the grounds.
Swimming Program
Our annual swimming program is fast approaching, and families will notice important consent and payment cut-off dates appearing on Compass.
Swimming is an important part of our curriculum, providing students with valuable water safety and confidence-building skills. To support families, the school has subsidised the program by $60 per student, reducing the family contribution to $45.
Our swimming program will run as follows:
- Week 7: Grade 3–6 students
- Week 8: Prep–Grade 2 students
We encourage all students to participate and ask families to complete the required Compass permissions before the closing dates.
School Camp Update
Thank you to everyone who completed our recent School Camp survey. We were delighted with the overwhelming support for camps and the many thoughtful responses received.
Families told us they value camps because they help students develop independence, resilience, confidence, teamwork and provide meaningful outdoor learning experiences.
The feedback also indicated strong support for:
- Camps beginning from Grade 3.
- Students attending camp each year from Grades 3–6.
- A one-night camp for Grades 3, 4 and 5.
- A two-night camp for Grade 6, with a focus on outdoor education and adventure.
One of the strongest themes that emerged was the increasing cost of school camps. Based on current pricing, families can expect a one-night camp to cost approximately $250–$300, while a two-night camp may range between $400–$500. These costs remain despite the significant financial support the school provides through staffing and other subsidies.
As we develop our School Camp Policy, our aim will be to balance providing outstanding camp experiences while keeping them as affordable as possible. We also heard loud and clear that families highly value student safety, clear communication, strong teacher supervision and ensuring every child has the opportunity to participate. These principles will continue to guide our planning.
We are excited about continuing to build a strong camping program for Wimba Primary School into the future.
Respecting Our School Facilities
We are asking all families to have a conversation with their children about using our school toilets respectfully.
Recently, we have noticed an increase in inappropriate behaviour, including paper being thrown and toilets not being used appropriately. We want all students to feel comfortable using our facilities, and this relies on everyone showing respect for shared spaces.
Thank you for reinforcing these expectations at home.
Arriving at School on Time
Learning begins promptly at 8:50 am, and every minute counts.
School gates open at 8:30 am and are locked at 8:50 am. We encourage families to aim for students to arrive by the 8:40 am music bell, allowing plenty of time to unpack, settle into class and be ready to learn.
Developing strong attendance and punctuality habits has a significant impact on student success, and we appreciate your support in helping every child make the best possible start to their school day.
Coming Up Soon
Parent / Carer Opinion Survey
The annual Parent and Carer Opinion Survey is a Department of Education mandated process that seeks feedback on you and your families’ experience of attending your local government school. A specific link will be shared with parents and caregivers on the week starting 17th August. The survey will be open for several weeks and we encourage all families to participate.
Staffing Update
Congratulations to two staff members who have recently commenced new leadership roles at Wimba Primary School.
Many families will already know Brianna Vale, who has officially commenced as our Assistant Principal, leading Disability Inclusion and School Organisation. We congratulate Brianna on her appointment and know she will make a wonderful contribution in her new role.
We also welcome Mr Dean Dray to Wimba Primary School. Dean has joined us as the classroom teacher in Grade 2D and will also work as one of our Learning Specialists, supporting high-quality teaching and learning across the school.
Congratulations to both Brianna and Dean—we are thrilled to have them as part of the Wimba leadership team and school community.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support of our school. We are excited for another fantastic term of learning, growth and opportunities for our students.
Paul Schwartz
Principal