Principal's Report

Principal’s Newsletter Report: Term 3, week 5, 2026 

REAL Schools – Continuing Our Work Together 

We had a very productive Curriculum Day on Tuesday with the REAL Schools team. 

A key focus of our professional learning continues to be building consistency in the way we teach students to manage and resolve playground concerns. We are working with students to move beyond simply identifying who was "right" or "wrong" and instead consider how everyone involved is feeling, what has happened and what we can do to repair the situation. 

This restorative approach is an important part of building our school culture and putting our values of Respect, Resilience and Citizenship into practice. It was a very successful day of learning for our staff. 

Wet Weather and Winter Challenges 

The wet weather has certainly presented a few challenges this term! We know how much our students enjoy getting outside, running around and enjoying some fresh air. However, when conditions are particularly wet, we need to use our wet-weather timetables and keep students indoors. We also ask students to avoid deep puddles and muddy areas, as we simply do not have enough spare clothes for everyone who may need a change. 

Term 3 also brings the usual increase in winter illnesses for both students and staff. With a chronic shortage of relief teachers, you may notice that classes are split on the first day a teacher is absent. We work hard to minimise this wherever possible. 

We are fortunate that our teachers plan collaboratively and upload learning programs to our shared teaching platform, allowing relief teachers to access planned learning and maintain continuity for students. We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate these challenges. One positive is that students have opportunities to connect with different teachers and classmates, helping to strengthen the sense of community across our school. 

Staff Car Park Reminder 

A friendly but important reminder that the staff car park is for staff only. Please do not use these spaces when dropping off or collecting students. 

We have limited parking available, and when staff spaces are used by families, our staff are required to park further away and walk back to school. This has also affected families attending morning/afternoon Kingswim sessions. 

We appreciate everyone respecting the signage and helping us avoid the need to introduce additional access controls such as a boom gate and staff permits. 

Thank you for being considerate and helping us keep our limited parking available for those who need it. 

Uniform Sale – Thank You! 

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our recent  uniform sale. It was a fantastic success, and we really appreciate the wonderful response from our community. 

Book Week – Friday 28 August 

Book Week is just around the corner! Have you got your costume organised yet? 

This year, TheirCare has generously donated prizes for our most animated characters, so we are looking forward to seeing some wonderful costumes and lots of imagination! 

After-School Supervision 

A reminder that staff supervision of the school grounds operates from 8:45–9:00am in the morning and 3:30–3:45pm in the afternoon. The WAIT ZONES have helped with safety—please remind your child/ren to remain behind the fence until your car pulls up near the gate. 

At 3:45pm, teachers will blow a whistle to signal the end of after-school supervision. Any students who remain on the grounds without a parent or carer will be asked to come to the office and wait there until they are collected. 

This is particularly important as our teachers have meetings and other professional responsibilities beginning at 8:45am and after 3:45pm. Thank you for helping us ensure that students are supervised safely at these times. 

We know that many of our students enjoy playing in this area after school. A reminder to families that the sandpit is intended as a quiet play space. If students would like to kick or play with balls, please encourage them to use the hockey court or Foundation oval instead. 

Foundation Learning – Community Helpers 

Our Foundation students have been learning about community helpers, and we are very fortunate to have families within our school community who are connected with the CFA. 

Thank you to those families who have generously given their time to come and speak with our students and share their knowledge and experiences. These real-world connections make learning meaningful and help our students understand the important roles people play in our community. 

Sustainability – Looking After Our School Grounds 

We are working with a sustainability company to explore ways for our Middle and Senior School students to become actively involved in restoring and mulching our playgrounds. 

A big thank you to our parent contact who has helped us establish this partnership. We are looking forward to getting our students involved in this project during Term 4 and giving them an opportunity to contribute to caring for our school environment. 

This is a wonderful opportunity to put our value of Citizenship into action. 

Preparing Our Students for Secondary School 

Our senior school teachers have begun liaising with local secondary schools to ensure our students have a smooth and positive transition to the next stage of their education. 

Our Year 5 students recently visited our local secondary school and returned very positive about the experience. It was wonderful to hear their excitement about what lies ahead and to see them beginning to picture themselves as secondary students. 

This important transition work will continue throughout the remainder of the year to ensure our students are well prepared for their next step. 

I CAN – Getting Ready for 2027 

I have recently met with the I CAN team, and preparations have already begun for our 2027 I CAN Walk. 

There is lots of exciting planning underway, so stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the event. 

Looking Ahead to 2027 

Foundation 2027 – Getting Ready for the Year Ahead 

We are currently finalising our 2027 Foundation enrolments and are using this information to carefully plan our Foundation Transition Program. 

Information about the transition sessions will be sent to enrolled Foundation families towards the end of this term. We are looking forward to welcoming our newest students and helping them feel comfortable, confident and excited about starting school. 

2027 Booklists 

Planning for 2027 is already underway, including the development of our booklists. 

Our teachers have reviewed the curriculum requirements for 2027 and are using these to inform the resources students will need next year. 

Information about booklists will be shared with families at the beginning of Term 4. 

Year 6 Polos and Hoodies – 2027 

Planning has also begun for our 2027 Year 6 polos and hoodies. 

More information will be shared with families once the designs and arrangements have been finalised. We look forward to seeing our future Year 6 students proudly wearing these as they begin their final year of primary school next year.

Continuing to Sculpt the Future 

There is always plenty happening at Langwarrin Park Primary School, both in our classrooms and across our grounds. 

Whether our students are learning about their community, developing restorative ways to resolve problems, caring for their environment, preparing for secondary school or simply enjoying time with their friends, they are continuing to develop the skills, knowledge and dispositions they need to Sculpt the Future. 

Thank you to our families for your ongoing support and partnership. Together, we continue to nurture students who are Respectful, Resilient and active Citizens of our school and wider community. 

Deb Haddow