Principal's Report

Welcome Back to Term 4 

A belated welcome back to Term 4, as I was able to enjoy an extra week of holidays by accessing a week of long service leave. I would like to thank Ms Gittos and Mr Kirkright for leading the school during this time.

Today all our Foundation students went to the Pevan and Sarah concert and had a wonderful time. A special mention to our two new 'stage stars', Ayda (0B) and Mr. Jamie (ES), who made appearances on the stage with Sarah. We are very proud of both of you. 

2027 Class Placements & Structures

As we are in the midst of planning for 2027, our school will once again utilise Class Creator, an online tool that helps us create balanced classes for the new school year. Class Creator enables consideration of a range of important factors, including each student’s academic progress, social and emotional needs, friendships, and any additional support they may require. The program helps staff create well-balanced classes where every student has the best opportunity to learn and thrive. Teachers utilise their in-depth knowledge of each student to guide the process, and leadership staff carefully review all classes before class orientation sessions begin. 

If parents have a separation request for consideration, please submit via the school's email address @whittlesea.ps@education.vic.gov.au , clearly stating the reason for the request. While all requests will be carefully reviewed, please note that due to the limited number of classes in some year levels, we cannot guarantee that all separation requests will be possible. 

Students have the opportunity to submit preferences on friendships that will support both their learning and wellbeing outcomes.  We consider all information to ensure that the final class placements are made in the best interests of the entire school community. We appreciate your trust and support as we work to create positive and productive learning environments for all students in 2027.

Please note: In 2027, we will have the same structure as 2026. Foundation, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3/4 (composite classes), Year 5 and Year 6. 

Being Bushfire Ready

Victorian government schools have emergency management plans to support the safety of students and staff during bushfire season. Parents and carers should:

• Be aware of the school's bushfire risk category and any closure or relocation arrangements.
• Keep contact details up to date and monitor school communications.
• Develop a family bushfire plan and know how children will be collected if arrangements change.
• Monitor local fire danger ratings and warnings through VicEmergency.

Please see Whittlesea Primary School's Presentation about being 'Bushfire Ready'.

WWCC: Parent Volunteers

From Monday 19 October 2026, a new online system called WWC Connect will be introduced to help schools manage Working With Children Checks (WWCCs) and meet their child safety responsibilities. At Whittlesea Primary School, we are committed to providing a safe environment for all students. As part of these new requirements, parents and carers who volunteer at school may need to provide some additional information.

Who does this apply to?

These requirements apply to parents, carers and other volunteers who undertake child-related work at our school, including those who:

• Help in classrooms or support learning activities.
• Attend camps and excursions as parent helpers.
• Assist with swimming lessons, concerts, sporting events or other school activities.
• Serve on School Council.

Volunteers undertaking child-related work must have a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC). School Council members are also required to hold a valid WWCC.

What information might I need to provide?

To meet the new requirements, we may ask current and continuing volunteers to confirm their details, including their full name, WWCC card number, address, email address and phone number. From 19 October, the school will use WWC Connect to record the required information about volunteers and notify the relevant authority when volunteers commence or finish their role, or when their details change.

What do I need to do?

If you currently volunteer at Whittlesea Primary School, we will contact you if needed.

If you are planning to volunteer at school, attend an excursion or camp as a parent helper, or join School Council, please ensure you have a valid WWCC and follow the school's usual volunteer procedures. Please click the image below for additional information. 

Mathspace Update:

At the end of last term, I wrote to advise that our school had become aware of a cyber incident impacting a third-party supplier, Mathspace. Mathspace is an online platform used by a small number of our staff and students.  The incident impacted user data, which was exported by an unauthorised party.   As a precaution, the department suspended access to Mathspace.  That issue has now been resolved, and access to Mathspace has been reinstated.  If you have any questions about this information, please contact me.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

Kaylene