A Message from Vassie 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wurundjeri, Woi Wurrung and Boonwurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation and pay our respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Aboriginal people have a deep and continuous connection to the place now called Victoria. Aboriginal people have lived in the Maribyrnong River valley for over 40,000 years.

Congratulations to all Wembley PS community members on a wonderful year of learning. We wish you a relaxing, safe and enjoyable summer break and we look forward to welcoming you for the 2024 school year. Merry Christmas to all in the Wembley PS community and thank you again. 

This is our final newsletter for the 2023 school year and it is a special one. You may wish to settle in with a cuppa whilst reading through the information and acknowledgements. 

End of School Year - Assembly and Dismissal

The 2023 school year concludes on Wednesday 20 December at 1.30pm. 

Our farewell assembly will commence at 1.00pm.

We will farewell our year 6 students in their final Wembley Primary School assembly and they will also perform their graduation dance as a group, for the very last time.

Start Date for 2024

Our staff will return to school on Monday 29 January as they focus on classroom preparation and collaborative curriculum planning for two days. 

Our students in Year 1 to Year 6 will commence school on Wednesday 31 January, 2024. 

Preps will commence school on Thursday 1 February 2024. 

2024 School Dates

Please lock the following dates for next year into your diary for next year.

Term 1: 29 January to 28 March

Term 2: 15 April to 28 June 

Term 3: 15 July to 20 September 

Term 4: 7 October to 20 December

2024 Pupil Free Days - Curriculum Days

See below for the 2024 Pupil Free Days approved by the School Council.

Monday 29 January

Tuesday 30 January

Wednesday 28 February

Wednesday 24 July

THANK YOU

As we approach the finish line of the 2023 school year, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for what has been an extraordinary year. We are incredibly proud of ALL community members and our collective tremendous efforts in supporting one another throughout the year:

To our students, the word proud doesn’t seem to cut it! We applaud you and thank you for your focus, efforts and responsibility in your learning. We have no doubt that you have learnt life lessons that will continue to serve you and inspire your identity and education for years to come. Everything we have done, big and small, is for you, the centrepiece of our school-our students! Reach for the stars!

To our parents, thank you for your partnership this year once again. We are in this together and your assistance and support is priceless. We cannot underestimate the impact you have on our students, your child/ren, and our school, as a whole. Your contribution to our school in your support, time and heart, is invaluable and assists in strengthening our wonderful Wembley culture. 

To our School Councillors we thank you in abundance for your support in school governance across Education and Policy, Finance, and Buildings and Grounds. All students, staff members and parent benefit enormously from your leadership and contribution. 

We thank the WPA volunteers for their support and contribution across the 2023 school year in bringing people together, inspiring  a sense of fun amongst our students and also in strengthening our community. 

To our ES staff in the classroom, your focus on supporting our students has been inspiring. The learning and wellbeing support that you provide is truly appreciated by students, parents and teachers. Your tireless dedication in ensuring that all students feel comfortable and confident in the classroom and yard, is inspiring. You are very appreciated. 

To our ES staff in the office, your dedication to the little and big people of Wembley is much appreciated. The way you offer support, encouragement and compassion in answering the phones, greeting families at the gates and doors, caring for children, staff and parents, processing payments, providing devices, supporting ICT infrastructure, and basically in ensuring that the engine room of Wembley PS runs smoothly is an invaluable asset to the Wembley PS community. 

To our teachers, how do we begin to thank you for your awe-inspiring efforts, engaging lessons, and in nurturing the special relationships that you have built which has taken our students from strength to strength. You inspired compassion, empathy and understanding and you have supported our students to thrive as learners and as people. You are the true heroes of education and your impact on our students will endure forevermore. 

To the leaders - thank you for your courageous leadership in focusing on the wellbeing and learning of all Wembley Primary School community members. For every decision, meeting, phone call, email, presentation, letter, card, lesson, timetable, newsletter, smile… we thank you. 

We understand that the strong culture that exists at Wembley Primary School does not occur by accident, instead by a collective sense of moral purpose and collective efficacy. Our Wembley PS team has certainly demonstrated the power of the Wembley values and have worked tirelessly to give students opportunities and choices in learning, and in life. We well and truly live our mission of empowering all students to learn at high levels, to become successful, independent, lifelong learners. 

We are proud of each and every one of our community members and look forward to welcoming you back in 2024 for a great year of learning. 

Wishing all Wembley families a safe and restful break as you gather around the Christmas tree reflecting on your blessings.

2024 School Workforce Plan and Class Formation Update 

Our 2024 workforce plan is now complete. See below for the class composition with 28 classes: 

• 5 x Prep classes
• 4 x Year 1 classes
• 4 x Year 2 classes
• 4 x Year 3 classes
• 4 x Year 4 classes
• 4 x Year 5 classes
• 3 x Year 6 classes

Step Up Days and Transition for 2023 Classes

On Tuesday 12 December we held our first Step Up day for students in Year Prep-5. They spent time with their 2024 class and teacher in preparation for 2023. New students and teachers were in attendance!

Farewell to students and families moving on from Wembley PS

We would like to bid some families a fond farewell who are moving on from Wembley PS. As we’ve said in conversation, whilst you may be moving on in purchasing homes elsewhere or deciding upon a sea/tree change, you haven't lost anything but rather are taking with you lifelong friendships and learning growth, that will stay with you in the treasure trove of life for many years to come. 

Update on Staffing for 2024

As we approach the end of the school year, we are farewelling some staff members, and welcoming others to the Wembley family. It is always bittersweet see staff move on or take leave, and we wish our staff all the best in their future endeavours and thank them for their contribution to Wembley Primary School. We will be holding our own staff special farewell event next week to thank these staff members for their contribution and impact on Wembley PS. We thank the WPA who arranged catering for our final staff meeting of 2023. 

2024 Staffing List

We are proud to share our 2024 staffing list with you. 

We are enthusiastically planning for 2024, and have finalised our 2024 staffing list. 

We thank the parents that shared requests with us. Whilst we have read and taken all preferences into consideration when we built classes, we remind parents that not all requests can be met. We thank you for your understanding and remind you that as classes have now been developed, we wont be taking any further requests. 

We would like to congratulate our current staff members who have sought positions and promotions in other schools, and/or are taking leave for 2023. We have shared the news about each staff member in our weekly Monday morning briefings and all of whom we will acknowledge in our final PLC meeting where we will bid them a fond farewell…It’s so long, farewell, but not goodbye!

Farewell, and congratulations to:

• Joel Magnabosco - who was successful in picking up a role as Leader of Data and Learning at Queen of Peace PS. Id like to thank Joel for his contribution to Wembley PS for 13 years, as a teacher, facilitator (team leader), Learning Specialist and Acting Assistant Principal. Joel’s leadership, impact and calm demeanour has had an impact of the learning of all students, staff members and parents that he has supported. Joel will be sorely missed. 
• Lindsey Delooze - who was successful in picking up a role as Assistant Principal at Warringa Park Special School. I’d like to acknowledge Lindsey for her impact of the learning, health and wellbeing of our students, staff members and parents, as she’s worked as a Leading Teacher-Wellbeing, and Acting Assistant Principal-Disability Inclusion since 2021. Lindsey’s heart and work ethic will be missed. 
• Tom Penberthy - who was successful in picking up the mental health and wellbeing leader role at Dinjerra PS. I’d like to acknowledge Tom for his significant contribution to Wembley PS for the past 7 years, as a teacher, facilitator (team leader), and Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader. Tom’s legacy is far reaching and his passion, dedication and moral purpose is unwavering. Tom will be missed by all. 
• Michelle Metcalf - who was successful in picking up a teaching role at Footscray West PS. I thank Michelle for her dedication to the students that she has supported for the past 3 years at Wembley PS, in year one and four. Michelle’s collaboration with staff and baking skills will be missesd. 
• Bec Grieve - who was successful in picking up a teaching role at Footscray West PS. We thank Bec for returning to Wembley PS in 2023 to teach environmental science. Bec’s passion, interest, commitment and work ethic is second to none and she has built a strong community of enviromental scientists. 
• Jenna Thompson - who was successful in picking up a position at Altona Meadows Primary School. We thank Jenna for working across all specialist subject areas, and in intervention this year. Jenna has been very adaptive and supportive of the specialist team and students across the school. 
• Eugenie Edillo - who will be studying in 2024. We thank Eugenie for her kind demeanour, dedication and contribution to the students of 4C this year. 
• Jonathon Gill and Matthew Ross who will be doing CRT work in 2024. We thank Jonathon for his work in PE this year, and Matthew for working across all specialist subject areas, and as an internal CRT (casual relief teacher).
• Margaret Webb, who will be taking leave in term one, and then transitioning into retirement. We thank Marg for her contribution to Wembley PS as a parent, as School Council President, and most recently as Office Manager. Marg’s knowledge and skills in financial management, and her humour in the office will be missed. Wishing Marg all the best as she sails into retirement with hsu husband Fred, children and grandchildren.  

Welcome back to:

• Kim Cleghorn and Nathan Welsh who are returning from a year of long service leave, as they’ve travelled this year, and supported us in doing CRT work throughout the 2023 school year.

We would like to welcome the staff members new to the Wembley PS family. 

Welcome and congratulations to:

• Phoebe Moore to Wembley PS who will fill the role of as a Prep-Year 2 Learning Specialist. Phoebe comes to us from Footscray North PS, where she has worked for 10 years in teaching and senior leadership roles. Phoebe will be supporting all staff across prep to year 2, with instructional coaching. 
• Alexander Wignall, who comes to us from Balwyn PS, as a classroom teacher. 
• Dennis Mazzella who comes to us from Truganina P-9 college, and who has filled Spanish and Italian Language roles in the past. 
• Gus Carty-Cowling who comes to us from Melton PS where he has filled the role of PE teacher and Specialist team leader (facilitator).

F=facilitator 

2024 School Map

See below for the school map to identify where your child/rens new classroom is situated.

Junior School Councillors

We thank all students who were elected into Junior School Council. Your leadership and demonstration of the school values has inspired an improvement in the learning, health and wellbeing of all students. 

Year 6 Graduation Farewell –  14 December 

On Thursday 14 December we will hold our final Year 6 celebration; the Year 6 graduation ceremony. The graduation ceremony will be held at the Yarraville Club on Stephen Street, with doors opening at 6pm, ready for a start time of 6:15pm. The ceremony itself will consist of students sharing memoirs and the presentation of subject and value based awards to individuals, as well as certificates for each student across the cohort. The ceremony will conclude with the Year 6 dance, which students have begun practicing this week! At 8pm, staff will hand back over to families and the students are invited to remain at the venue for the Year 6 disco, which is being organised by one of our Year 6 parents Disco committee. Many thanks to all the volunteers for your hard work. We thank our Year 6 community for their ongoing support and very much look forward to celebrating with you all.

Year 6 Philanthropy Day

Congratulations and thank you to the year six students, teachers and parents for supporting the development of our philanthropy day. It was a great success. We also thank the whole community who contributed to the day. The students raised over $6000 which is a record for student led fundraising at Wembley ps. This money will go towards much needed charities of the students’ choice.

Year 6 Memoirs

The Year sixes have been working hard, reflecting on their primary school memories and time at Wembley Primary School. We would like to share their written memoirs with the community so that families can share in the celebration of the students’ writing and recollections. These memoirs capture a range of experiences including: camps, sporting events, making friends and fun classroom moments.

We hope that you enjoy reminiscing with your child while reading through their seven years of primary school memories together! 

Year 4 and 5 Choir

Congratulations to our WONDERFUL year 4 and 5 choir who performed at the Kingsville Carols last week. We are immensely proud of their effort, commitment and talent. They will be also be performing at the year 6 graduation. 

School Council December Meeting

The final school council meeting will be held on Monday 18 December 2022 at 6:00pm via Webex.

Prep Transition

Our 2024 Prep students have visited Wembley PS for two transition sessions to meet with their class and prep teacher, enjoy some learning tasks and enjoy a school tour, spying the all-important Prep playground. Last week we held our Prep Family Gathering which was extremely well attended, and it was fantastic to gather together with established and new families at Wembley PS. We have been very proud of all students throughout these transition processes as they have demonstrated great independence, respect, responsibility and resilience. We look forward to seeing our newest and youngest students walk through our school gates and begin their learning journey with us.

2023 Semester Two Student Reports

Semester Two student reports were shared on Sentral on Wednesday 13 December. We encourage all parents to read the reports with your child and reflect on their learning achievements in Semester Two 2023. 

Congratulations to 2024 Year 6 School Captains

We wish to acknowledge all students who applied for the school captaincy roles, in writing applications, being shortlisted and sitting interviews. Whilst we understand the feeling of disappointment for the students who were not appointed to the roles, we believe they demonstrated great resilience and have learnt great life lessons. We applaud their effort and maturity. Peer mediators will be announced in 2024. 

We congratulate our 2024 Year 6 school captains on their appointment to the role. 

Please visit the student leaders tab of the newsletter for the full list of captains.

See below for my farewell message to our year six students. 

Farewell message to our year 6 students

Dear the class of 2023,

The time has come to bid you farewell from Wembley Primary School, however please be assured that this isn’t goodbye, but farewell. You will always be honorary members of Wembley Primary School, and who knows you may return as a teacher, education support staff member or even a future Principal, one day.

You should be proud of your growth and development, as people and as learners, throughout your primary years of schooling. It’s quite a significantly, formative time. As I look back throughout your years at Wembley Primary school, I see many engaging classroom experiences, camps, excursions, sporting achievements, remote and flexible learning, friendships made, lessons learnt, leadership roles fulfilled, concerts, art shows, and great learning opportunities that have provided a strong launching pad for you, as young people.

I remember you walking through the school gates for the very first time; some of you on the hips of your parents, as you attended school as toddlers, as your older siblings began their primary schooling journey; others as older siblings, as you supported your sisters and/or brothers on their first day of prep. It has also been wonderful seeing students join us along the way, and form part of the cohort, making friendships, many of whom sure to last a lifetime.

Please remember that as life presents it challenges, that your mind and heart is a superpower. Be kind, be brave, be curious, be courageous, be vulnerable, be resilient, be YOU.

My advice to you it to take a moment to take it all in…the nostalgia as you walk into the school gates for the last time as a student at Wembley Primary School, the classroom vibe as you chit chat to your friends, the special sentiments written on your Wembley PS polo shirts and yearbooks, the wise words shared by your teachers as they share their pride and well wishes with you, the gleaming eyes of your parents as they cuddle you on your final day of year six, and on that first morning of year seven. Take the extra time to cuddle your family members that little bit tighter, as both yourselves and your parents will need it.

Whilst your parents will be brave, they will be carrying you in their hearts, whilst letting you fly as you move into another level on independence. While parents may not be beside you every step of the way, they will most definitely be behind you to catch you if you fall. No doubt there will be falls along the way. Use these experiences to grow, develop and flourish and never be too embarrassed to ask for help.

By leaving primary school you haven't lost anything, and nothing has come to an end, just a natural progression on the journey of life. All your friendships and memories are yours, and yours to cherish. You'll just keep adding to your collection over your years at secondary school and beyond.

Congratulations and all the very best for a wonderful journey through life.

One thing is for sure, you are destined for greatness, and you will always have the Wembley PS village to support you. I ask and invite you to visit us regularly! The door and Wembley PS will always be open to you.

Go proudly and go well.

Vassie Vatsilas-D’Arcangelo

Capital Building Works 

There is much progress being made in our project. Please visit the capital works tab of the newsletter to see the full update. 

When we return to the 2024 school year, the site will be transformed. 

The handover date is 17 July 2024. It is promising to see great progress!