Principal  Message

Production - Ticket Sales - nearly a full house

We are ramping up for our Production of Singing in the Rain, with Kirsty working so hard in rehearsals and behind the scenes organisation of props, costumes and all the things that make the evening always go off without a hitch.  Tickets are still on sale so don't forget to get online and purchase yours. The ticket sales are done directly through the George Wood Performing Arts Centre, and we do not have any control over the process. All tickets are being sold online via gwpac.com.au/whatson  . Please check your Compass messages regularly at the moment as Kirsty posts quote a bit of information about the costumes and logistics for the dress rehearsal and the night of the performance.

New Staff recruited

We are pleased to announce that we have secured a teacher the join our growing staff profile. Classroom teacher, Claire Frankcombe, will be coming in before the year is out to participate in transition program. The teachers for next year have been allocated and are listed below. 

Classroom teachers for 2026

Prep - Nerole Blair

Prep - Sam Crigan

Grade 1/2 - Claire Lambert

Grade 1/2 - Nori Sato

Grade 1/2 - Chris Cavill and Kylie Somerfield (1 day per week)

Grade 3/4 - Claire Frankcombe (new classroom teacher)

Grade 3/4 - Greg Edwards and Tricia Canny (1day per week)

Grade 5/6 - Rick Griffiths and Tricia Canny (1 day per week)

Grade 5/6 - James Shultz

Grade 5/6 - David Pelosi

Our ES team is expanding in 2026, and we will have Tier 1 supports (whole class ES support), Tier 2 support (Literacy Intervention and small group work) as well as Tier 3 supports for individual students, where required. There will be Tier 1 ES supports next year in all levels (with varying hours dependent on the needs of each cohort).

Whilst we are still recruiting for additional ES staff, below is the list of the current ES staff to be at WPS in 2026:

Penny MacDonald

Sharon Hayes

Alessia Costanzo

Kylie Mackay

Cassie Smyrnios

Our tutoring program is not being funded by the Department of Education as a specific program next year. The tutoring program was brought in by the Department in response to the impact of Covid-19. We will still fund an intervention program next year for students identified at risk and provide either small group or one-on-one tutoring.

Christmas Carols

We have begun learning the first of 3 carols we are going be singing at the Community Carols on 13th December at Stiggant's Reserve. We don't have our own Carols Night this year as production has been moved to December. However, next year, we anticipate the production to move back to its usual timeslot so the Carol's Night will return in 2026.

I have embedded a YouTube clip of the first song we are singing this year, Blitzen's Boogie. As always, our students are so confident with performing that they were able to tune into this song in record time and it is already sounding great.  There's a more traditional carol of Santa Claus is coming to town and this week we will begin a 3rd song.

Transition

We have had 3 of our Transition programs for next year's Preps and the Grade 1-5 cohorts. A strong end-of-year transition program plays an essential role in supporting student's wellbeing as they move from one stage of schooling to the next. These programs help students reflect on their achievements, celebrate growth, and prepare emotionally and academically for upcoming changes. By offering structured opportunities to meet different teachers, explore expectations for the year ahead, and build connections with peers, transition activities reduce anxiety and boost students’ confidence. Most importantly, they ensure that every student feels supported, informed, and ready to begin the new school year with a positive mindset.

Parents can support a positive end-of-year transition by talking openly with their children about upcoming changes and encouraging them to share both their worries and excitement. Resilience is strengthened in a child’s life when they navigate changes, learn to adapt, problem-solve, and grow more confident with each new experience.

All students from grade 1-6 for 2026 will meet their teacher/s and peers on the 12th December @11:30am.

Resurfacing of the front entrance to the school

We are thrilled to announce that our school has successfully received funding to resurface the front entrance area with brand-new artificial turf! This upgrade will transform a well-used space into a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming environment for our students, families, and visitors.

The new turf will provide:

• A softer, more durable play surface for students to enjoy
• Improved safety, reducing muddy or slippery areas in wet weather
• A bright, inviting entrance that reflects the pride we take in our school
• Low-maintenance greenery that stays vibrant all year round

This project will have a positive impact on daily school life, creating a space where students can play and feel proud of their surroundings.

A very special thank you goes to Bendigo Bank Warrandyte for their incredibly generous $25,000 contribution. Their support has made this improvement possible, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to our local community. We will be installing the turf as soon as the funds are made available to us.

Have a great week and see you all at the production evening!

Nieta