We have now well and truly settled into the term, and it has been wonderful to see the positive energy across Wimba Primary School. Classrooms are focused, students are engaged, and there is a strong sense of momentum in learning throughout the school.

A gentle reminder to families about the importance of students arriving at school on time each day. The beginning of the school day is an important time for establishing routines, preparing for learning and ensuring students are settled and ready for the day ahead. Arriving punctually helps students feel confident and ensures they do not miss valuable learning opportunities.

It has also been fantastic to see more students riding their bikes and scooters to school. This is a great way to encourage independence, wellbeing and active lifestyles. We encourage all students to continue riding safely and using the designated bike storage areas appropriately.

School Monitoring

Unfortunately, our school has once again experienced a break-in, with damage occurring in the area that holds our water meters. Sadly, this is not the first incident of this nature. We ask members of our community to remain vigilant and, if you notice any suspicious activity around the school, please contact the police and report it.

Industrial Action Update

You may have seen recent media reports regarding discussions between the Australian Education Union and the State Government. While these discussions are encouraging, a formal improved offer has not yet been presented. The union executive rejected an earlier proposal as the wage increase offered to education support staff — the lowest-paid employees in our sector — was significantly lower than that offered to teachers and principals.

As part of the current negotiations, the union has paused the proposed half-day regional stop-work actions for a fortnight; however, other industrial action measures remain in place. This includes the ongoing ban on writing comments for student reports.

To ensure transparency with families, please note that even if a new agreement is reached in the coming weeks, mid-year reports will not include written comments this year. At this stage of the term, the reporting process is already well underway, and it would be unreasonable to expect staff to complete comments later in the cycle.

Reports will still include progression points to provide families with an accurate overview of student achievement and progress. Reports will be distributed electronically via Compass

Education Support Staff Day – Friday

The role of Education Support staff in schools continues to grow in importance each year. Our ES staff work closely alongside teachers and school leaders to support students and contribute greatly to the success of our school community.

We deeply value and appreciate the dedication of our Education Support team at Wimba Primary School and will acknowledge their outstanding contribution with a special lunch and messages of appreciation from students.

Family Contributions

Thank you to families who have continued to support the school through contributions via Compass. Your support plays an important role in sustaining and enhancing our curriculum programs.

While the principle of “free education” remains, changes in parent contribution patterns have had a noticeable impact on government schools. In previous years, approximately 95% of families contributed to school programs; this figure now typically sits between 15% and 20%.

Although we work hard to keep contributions affordable and provide strong value for money, a reduction in contributions has a direct impact on the range and quality of resources and programs we are able to provide for students.

We understand that some families may be experiencing financial hardship, and contributions can be made in part rather than in full. If you are in a position to do so, we encourage you to support the school to the best of your capacity.

School Policies

Wimba Primary School regularly reviews and updates school policies in line with Department of Education guidelines. All current policies are available on our school website. If you have any questions, feedback or suggestions regarding school policies or practices, please contact the school office wimba.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Celebrating NAPLAN Achievement

I am very pleased to share some encouraging news regarding our indicative NAPLAN results for our Year 3 and Year 5 students. These early results show clear improvement in both Reading and Numeracy, reflecting the strong progress our students are making in these key areas of learning.

This achievement is a testament to the consistent and focused work taking place in classrooms every day. Our staff remain committed to evidence-based teaching practices and supporting every student to grow from their individual starting point.

It is particularly pleasing to see this improvement across both cohorts, highlighting the impact of our whole-school approach to teaching and learning in the years leading up to these assessments. I look forward to sharing further results, including student growth data, with our community in the near future.

2027 Prep Enrolments Now Open

We are pleased to advise that enrolments for our 2027 Prep intake are now open.

If you have a child starting school in 2027, or know of families within the community who may be interested in joining Wimba Primary School, we encourage you to begin the enrolment process.

If you are unsure about enrolment timelines or have younger siblings who may attend in the future, please contact the school office. Our staff are always happy to discuss your individual circumstances and assist you through the process.

Student-Free Dates – Please Add to Your Diary

Tuesday 9th June
Wednesday 12th August
Monday 5th October
Monday 2nd November
Friday 4th December

The Wimba Way

Integrity · Happiness · Community · Excellence

Issue 3 · 17 May 2026

In this issue