Good afternoon Parents and Carers,

How good is this – a welcome to the new school year without any information about restrictions, access limitations, testing processes, isolation requirements, health advice or that COVID word.

Instead, I comment on the wonderful approach our staff and students have made to the new year, the opening of our facilities, the amazing vibe that exists around the school, the gradual establishment of our new landscaping, the excitement of having new faces in our community (both staff and students) and this positivity that we are able to focus on what is in front of us, not something that is lurking around us.

I offer a sincere welcome back to Windsor PS as a dominant hub of your weekday routine and I welcome all our new families to our wonderful school and community.

I will share more further into the term but a unique highlight so far for me has been our students exploring our re-designed grounds on their first day back similar to our pet dogs exploring new territory; very inquisitive, yet cautious until sure the surrounds are safe and then letting the excitement take over.

We have the new spaces, new names for them (The Deck), new staff, new students, new families and a new school year. How exciting!!!

It has been so great to get to know our new Prep students and their families. While the transition started back in November last year, it is now that our relationship begins in full earnest. The progress that we have seen even to now in the students (and the parents) adjusting to this phase of their lives has been wonderful.

A huge welcome to Amber (Prep A) and Amelia (1/2A) to our staff, a welcome back to Nathan (1/2B) and Mia (Physical Education) who return to WPS in teaching roles and have made a wonderful start to their time here/back at Windsor. A welcome back also to Max Morris & Annecy Homberg who this week started as casual Education Support staff members; Max & Annecy being former students of WPS.

Over the past three years, our enrolment numbers have taken a hit and while we finished 2022 at 129 students, we need to remember at one point we dropped to 117 students. We finish this week with an enrolment of 141 students. Well done to everyone who has been part of the promotion and support of the school during our recent tough years (COVID and building works), now we get to enjoy the fruits of that hard work yet with our eyes firmly on the goal to reach 200 enrolments over the next couple of years. The significance of our international community was made evident during the pandemic (we simply lost them) and now they are an important part of our enrolment revival. It is wonderful to have our international families back as they are such an important part of the core fabric of who and what Windsor Primary School is.

While COVID and the building works did make it tough, at no point over the past three years did the quality of our staff or programs drop, and once again I am happy to declare that regardless of how the school looks, it is our terrific educational program and educators that define us as a school.

The beginning of a new school years means we ask parents/carers to consider a voluntary role at school, either through our Parents and Friends Association or our classroom helpers program. These are great ways of contributing to our school community and are so rewarding. If interested in participating in either or both, please leave your details at the office with Michelle or Mary.

Our School Council sub committees are also a great way to become involved in the school. There are three main areas that parents/carers can contribute – Buildings and Grounds, Community Engagement and Finance. Again, any time you can give us by being part of one of these crucial groups is so beneficial to the school.

Finally, a huge thank you to all of our parents who have not only paid their 2023 school fees (parent contributions) but have also generously contributed to our call out for voluntary contributions. While the government funds your children’s education in regard to teacher’s salaries and facilities, no funding is provided for the programs or the equipment/resources a school requires to deliver your child’s education.

Curriculum