From the Principal

Dear families,

2027 Foundation Enrolments – Applications Close Friday 31 July

A reminder that applications for 2027 Foundation enrolment close on Friday 31 July. We have received strong interest from families throughout the enrolment period and thank everyone who has attended a school tour, visited our website or contacted the school for further information.

Families intending to enrol are encouraged to submit their completed application by the closing date. Out-of-zone applicants are also asked to include a brief accompanying letter outlining why Williamstown Primary School is their preferred choice over their designated neighbourhood school.

Enrolment outcomes will be communicated between Monday 3 August and Friday 14 August, with offers to be accepted by Friday 28 August. Further information and enrolment forms are available on the school website.

Teaching and Learning

Two key priorities within our 2026 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) are the school-wide implementation of DIBELS assessments and the development of clear student support documents outlining how we identify and respond to individual learning needs.

DIBELS—Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills—is a series of short assessments that helps teachers monitor the development of essential reading skills. The information gathered allows teachers to identify students who may benefit from additional support, monitor their progress and adjust teaching accordingly. It also helps identify students who are ready for further extension. DIBELS is one part of the broader range of assessment information teachers use to understand each student’s learning.

Alongside this work, we are developing key school-wide documents that clearly outline our student support processes. These documents will provide staff with a consistent approach to identifying learning needs, planning appropriate adjustments or interventions, monitoring progress and communicating with families. This will help ensure students receive coordinated and timely support, regardless of their year level.

Both priorities form an important part of our 2026 AIP, which guides the annual work undertaken to achieve the longer-term goals of our School Strategic Plan.

Williamstown Primary School is scheduled to undertake its four-year school review at the end of 2027. These reviews provide an important opportunity to celebrate the school’s achievements, reflect honestly on our progress and identify the priorities that will guide the next stage of our improvement journey.

Final Reminder: Friends of Willy Trivia Night

The Friends of Willy Trivia Night will be held this Saturday 25 July. This year’s Wild West theme promises to make it a fun and entertaining evening for our school community.

Thank you to the Friends of Willy team and the many volunteers who have contributed to the planning and organisation of the event. Community events such as this require a significant amount of work behind the scenes, and we greatly appreciate everyone who has helped bring the evening together.

We look forward to seeing many of our families there and hope everyone has a fantastic night.

Celebrating 100 Days of Prep

Next Friday 31 July, our Prep students will celebrate an exciting milestone—their first 100 days of school!

This special occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on just how much our youngest students have learned and grown since beginning their primary school journey. Over their first 100 days, they have developed new friendships, established classroom routines and built important skills across all areas of their learning.

Our Prep teachers have planned a range of engaging activities to mark the occasion and make the day memorable. We look forward to celebrating this wonderful achievement with our Prep students and congratulate them on reaching their first 100 days at Williamstown Primary School.

NAPLAN Results

Individual NAPLAN reports have recently been sent home to families of students in Years 3 and 5. These reports provide families with information about their child’s achievement in reading, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and numeracy.

As a school, we continue to grow and thrive in this area. Our collective results across both Year 3 and Year 5 were well above state averages and, in most assessment areas, above those of similar schools. These results reflect the commitment of our students, the expertise of our staff and the consistent teaching practices being implemented across the school.

We were also pleased to receive new data tracking the progress of former Williamstown Primary School students after they transition into secondary school. This information indicates that our Willy Kids continue to thrive in high school, with their learning growth measuring well above both state and similar-school comparisons.

While NAPLAN represents only one measure of student achievement, the results provide valuable information that complements our school-based assessments and teacher judgement. They help us celebrate areas of strength, identify opportunities for further improvement and continue refining our teaching and support programs.

Student Wellbeing and Attendance

Regular attendance remains one of the most important contributors to student learning, wellbeing and connection to school. Establishing consistent routines helps students feel secure, maintain friendships and keep pace with the carefully sequenced learning taking place in their classrooms.

We understand that students should remain at home when they are unwell. However, outside of illness or exceptional circumstances, families are encouraged to ensure students attend school every day and arrive on time.

Upcoming Excursions and Events

Term 3 is always a busy period, with a range of excursions, incursions, sporting competitions, performances and curriculum-based activities planned across the school.

Families are encouraged to regularly check Compass for event information, consent requirements and payment deadlines. Returning permission forms and completing consent promptly helps staff finalise bookings, supervision and transport arrangements.

Year-level teams will communicate specific details directly to families as each activity approaches.

Division Sport Success

Our Grade 5/6 students continue to represent Williamstown Primary School across a range of divisional sporting competitions. This term, our tee-ball, hockey and AFL football teams will compete at the divisional level after progressing through earlier rounds of competition.

Reaching this stage is a wonderful achievement and reflects the students’ teamwork, commitment and positive approach. We are proud of the way they continue to represent our school through their effort, sportsmanship and support for one another.

We wish all three teams the very best in their upcoming competitions. Thank you to the staff and family volunteers who assist with coaching, supervision and transport, making these opportunities possible for our students.

Reminders from last newsletter

Student Withdrawal During School Hours for External Tutoring

At Williamstown Primary School, we recognise that some families choose to engage external tutors to support their child's learning. We understand these decisions are made with positive intentions and a desire to further support student achievement.

However, the school does not support the regular weekly withdrawal of students from scheduled classes to attend private tutoring during school hours.

Research consistently demonstrates that regular attendance at classroom instruction is one of the strongest contributors to student learning, engagement and wellbeing. While external tutoring can be a valuable additional support, the evidence supports tutoring as a complement to classroom learning rather than a replacement for it. Every lesson at school forms part of a carefully planned and sequenced educational program designed to maximise student growth.

When students are repeatedly withdrawn from school, they miss far more than the lesson content. They miss explicit teacher instruction, guided practice, collaborative learning, assessment opportunities, specialist subjects, wellbeing programs and the rich social interactions that contribute to a strong sense of belonging. These experiences are interconnected and cannot always be replicated through catch-up work or individual tutoring.

Regular attendance enables students to benefit from the full breadth of the Victorian Curriculum and ensures they are learning alongside their peers. While tutoring may strengthen knowledge or skills in a particular area, it cannot replace the comprehensive educational experiences that occur within the classroom each day.

For these reasons, we strongly encourage families to schedule tutoring sessions before or after school, on weekends, or during school holidays wherever possible. This approach allows students to access additional learning support without compromising their participation in the school's educational program.

Our shared goal is to provide every child with the greatest opportunity to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. We appreciate the ongoing partnership of our families in supporting regular school attendance and ensuring students can fully participate in the learning experiences, relationships and opportunities that make each school day so valuable.

Warm regards,

Mat Montebello