From the Principal 

Elissa Campbell

The weather has finally caught up to the actual season, as we well and truly welcomed Winter this week. This morning was particularly frosty, as the cold weather sets in we know the student wear extra layers of clothing in the morning, please ensure all clothing items are labelled. When students start removing the extra layers as the day warms up, we end up with lots of lost property with no names on it.

Principal Appointment

As many of you may be aware from the Compass notification that was sent out on the 22nd May from Tim Bates our School Council President, I was recently the successful applicant for the ongoing Principal position at Woodend Primary School. I feel honoured to have been provided with the opportunity to lead our wonderful community. I look forward to continuing to work with the students, staff and families. As you may be aware we recently completed our School Review process and we are awaiting Department of Education approval of our new strategic plan, this is a great opportunity to continue to move forward with the significant school improvements that we have been working towards over the last few years. Once this report is approved it will be shared with School Council and the community. 

Around the Classrooms

Please take the time to read the Year Level reports in this newsletter as the students and staff love to share what they have been learning about. I am a regular visitor to classrooms throughout the week and often get to engage with the students during different learning. Last week I visited 1/2L when Ms Adamson was bravely teaching the students how to create paper mâché planets for their Science Inquiry unit. Most of the students appeared to be enjoying the opportunity to dip newspaper into the glue and stick it on a balloon. I look forward to seeing their finished products once they are dried and painted.

Housemates

This year we have introduced a new way for our students to interact in a cross age environment via our Housemates program. Yesterday we held our first Housemates event which focused on Reconciliation week, thanks to Ms Libby Tobin and Mrs Kylie Minchew for their organisation of this activity. Thanks also to Mr Bromley for his work preparing the student performance, which some families were able to attend and enjoy. Some of the upcoming Housemates activities we have planned will focus on Cyber safety and Book Week, families will be invited to attend each of these. Please look out for further information over the next few terms. Housemates allows us to utilise our House structure for more than just supporting events and allows our Year 6 student leaders the opportunity to support these events. They will generally be held twice a term in lieu of assemblies on a Wednesday afternoon. 

Storage for our Community Garden

The storage container for our Community Garden is now in place and is proving a very welcome addition for Nicole Middleton (our volunteer Garden Co-ordinator), our students and the many adult garden helpers. We were very fortunate to be the recipient of a donation from The BMD Group who provided funds for us to purchase, refurbish and install the container adjacent to the garden area.

Ben Power is a current Woodend Primary school parent and Area Manager of BMD Construction. Ben reached out to offer help with a project and the timing couldn’t have been better. This project had been in the planning phase for over a year and the provision of funds to cover container purchase, transport, painting and ventilation enabled our vision to become reality.

Ben & another BMD Group representative, Stuart Murchie, visited the Garden Club Group last Monday to witness the students enjoying the garden activities, including harvesting the carrot crop and to see first-hand how important it was having storage facilities so close. Thanks Ben & BMD!

Foundation Enrolment 2026

Just a quick reminder that if you have a child in Kinder this year that will be starting Foundation in 2026, please contact the office so they are able to provide you with an enrolment pack. We are currently still operating fortnightly tours on a Tuesday morning for any potential enrolments.

Stay warm

Principal

Elissa Campbell