Across Oliver's Desk 

Dear Parents,

As this is the final newsletter of the term, I’d like to congratulate our whole school community on a brilliant start to the year. Woori Yallock Primary School has never been as large and as new as it is today. I have been doing a lot of tours for perspective parents for 2026. Most of them are simply gobsmacked by how amazing our kids and teachers are. Which, is not totally new but seeing them amazed at the facilities is. We have lots to be thankful for. 

STAFFING

One of the things we pride ourselves on is, making sure that we have the best teachers. However, we do have Kat Clark, Jess Lowe and Katie Thatcher all leaving to go on maternity leave next term. 

Kat Clark, currently works in 2B on Thursday and Friday. When she leaves halfway through term 2 there will be three weeks where the Thursday and Friday will be taken by current staff Jess Howe and Mary Menta. In week 9 Jess (White) Banfield will come back from her maternity leave and take over the Thursday and Friday for the rest of the year. 

Jess Lowe is currently working in Prep C on a Tuesday and 1C on a Thursday. We currently have a position advertised to replace Jess when she leaves mid term 2. 

Katie Thatcher is currently taking Art 3 days per week. She will be replaced by Craig Hall who is currently doing one day a week in Art.

I will let you know the successful candidate for Jess Lowe’s position after we have finished the hiring process. 

LONG SERVICE LEAVE

Next term I will be taking some long service leave. I will be away for 3 and a half weeks starting week 5. For two of the weeks I will be in Bali soaking up the sun! I must admit to being a little excited just thinking about it. While I’m away Flick will be Acting Principal, while Jess Howe and Rachel Ward will share the Assistant Principal role. 

DISTRICT ATHLETICS

On Friday our grade 3-6 children went and competed in the district athletics carnival. I’ve been at the school for 14 years and this is the first time I can ever remember us winning. Therefore, I would like to congratulate Mr Gibbons, Jobe Ormsby our sport captain, all of the house captains and all the fast runners we have at the school. Apparently, we won every relay event which again has never happened before in the history of the district athletics. 

Some of the students that did well on the day were, Nate Whitehouse 1st Overall, Grade 6 Champion. 

Cayde Bond 3rd Overall, Grade 6 Champion. 

Savanna Waterworth 8-9 Girls 1st in Long Jump and 1st in Sprint. 

Charlie Hoxha-Cole 10 Boys 1st in High Jump, 1st Long Jump,  3rd Sprint and 3rd Shot put

What a fantastic day for the school. Every year I love seeing our kids in the Woori sports tops and how proud they are to wear them. 

Go Woori!

THE WOORI EXCELLENCE AWARD

The Woori Excellence Award is the highest honour a student can achieve in their grade each term. Teacher’s judge who they believe has strived for excellence academically, socially and upheld our values of high expectations and respect.

The recipients of this award will have their award (and their picture) displayed in a frame in the office area until the following term. They will also receive a special pin to be worn with pride on their uniform. Pin colours are determined on how many previous excellence awards a child has received. Winning one of these awards is a major achievement. The colours for this award are:

1st –    White

2nd –   Green

3rd –    Pink

4th -     Yellow

5th -     Orange

Congratulations to this term’s winners:

STEPS WINNERS FOR THE TERM

The following students received the most “step ups” in their classrooms this term and therefore will be invited to have scrumptious morning tea with me first week back in term 2.

ANZAC DAY - 2025

This year ANZAC day falls on the first Friday of term 2.  This year the Upper Yarra RSL will again stage their very child friendly ceremony. Students are encouraged to March down the main street of Yarra Junction to the cenotaph where a service will be held.

I would like to invite students of all age groups to participate. Please join us on Tuesday 25th April at 10:15am in front of the Commonwealth Bank in Yarra Junction. We will march behind our Woori Yallock Primary School flag. Children are encouraged to wear medals belonging to grandparents or other relatives. 

I wish you all a very safe and happy Easter, I hope you get time to read and relax.

I hope to do the same and I also hope to see Carlton begin to bring me some joy again, at the moment all I have is that word hope. It also doesn’t help to have Ellen in the office rubbing it in after every Carlton loss. As a Collingwood supporter Ellen is in the category I would call a fundamentalist.  ( he means Fun to Be With)

Editor:   Bring it on big boy!

Thanks again for a great term.