Principal News
CONCERT. What a great night! The children looked great on stage and did so well to perform in front of such a big crowd of around 1,200 people! Thanks to parents/carers for organising the colourful and creative costumes for the children. Of course, big events like this require immense planning and preparation, so thanks to Mrs Burns and Mrs Liversidge for organising everything and helping the children when on stage last night. Thanks also to all of our staff who also contributed to last night being a great night for our school. This morning in typical Grovedale West PS fashion, it was great to get so much positive feedback from parents at the gate.
2026 TRANSITION AND ENROLMENT INFORMATION. This year we will be hosting our 2026 Transition Day on the Statewide Transition Day, which is Tuesday December 9, 2025. On this day we hope that all students will get to spend the morning session from approximately 9.00am-11.00am with their 2026 classmates and 2026 teaching team in their 2026 classroom. As Miss Rosa Kim has been appointed to ongoing position at Belmont HS next year, she won’t be at school however our new teacher Leon Tremain will be present. Teachers will talk to the students about the year ahead, show them around and let them know where to come on their first day. The students will be able to ask questions and they will do some activities with the teachers. The students will be provided with an envelope on 19th December that will have some information along with their 2026 home group and teacher’s name.
Supporting your child with transition
The transition from one year to the next is part of your child’s development and is a change for them. Students are now familiar with other teachers and students across the school. They engage in collaborative activities with older peers and experience activities in various classrooms. They readily move around the school and are quite comfortable at school. The teachers do a handover report of every child to their new teacher and familiarise themselves with the children’s needs and interests to support them.
How to support your children to manage transition:
• Chat to them about what their hopes are for their new level in 2026.
• Talk about the things they are looking forward to.
• Remind them of the good strategies they already have in place and use.
• Prepare for the year ahead and organise their school uniforms together. Remember, name everything including their hat.
• Maintain hobbies, favourite family activities and routines to create a familiar safe environment.
• Reassure them that nerves about starting something new are normal, as is some sadness at leaving familiar things, and that these feelings usually go away.
• Be careful not to impose your own worries or past experiences with school.
• Increase their responsibilities and praise them when they show independence, ie. carry own school bag, pack bag ready for school, check lunchbox, wave goodbye to parent at the gate etc.
• Continue good routines and ensure students are on time to school as this minimises anxiety caused by being late and having to walk in after everyone else or missing the first instructions of the day.
• Sometimes our own anxiety can translate to our children.
The Teachers, Education Support staff and Wellbeing team can be a great support, if or when needed.
ARRIVAL TO SCHOOL TIME. A reminder that students are not to arrive at school prior to 8:45am.
SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGES. From Wednesday 10th December there will be new social media age restrictions. To keep up to date about the new social media age restrictions, visit the eSafety website the eSafety website
Here and some tips on how to talk with young people about social media age restrictions that you may wish to share with children.
FAMILY PICNIC. Our end of year celebration will be held at school, in the garden area near the Prep-2 building, from 5:30-7:00pm on Thursday 18th December. Please see another section of this newsletter for more details. JOCELYN – SEE BELOW
HATS. A further reminder that students need to have and wear a named, blue broad brimmed hat when outside.
2026 PREP PARENT INFORMATION EVENING. On Monday night it was great to see so many parents/carers of our 2026 preps attend this session, designed to help everyone feel more comfortable and confident with the children commencing school next year. Thanks to our staff for preparing the information evening, and for giving their time to stay back late to deliver it.
GRADE 6 GRADUATION. This is a real highlight for schools as it’s the time we get to celebrate the achievements of our departing Grade 6 students and their families. Our ceremony will be held at the Grovedale College Auditorium on Monday 15th December beginning at 6:00pm. Invitations have been sent to families of Grade 6 students. Parents are asked to RSVP attendance by Wednesday 10th December 2025.
ASSEMBLY. Our end of year Assembly will be held outdoors (weather permitting) at 9:15am on Wednesday 17th December. All welcome.
SOMERS CAMP. In Term 1 2026, students from our school will have the opportunity to participate in a ‘Somers Camp’ - available to students in years 5 and 6 at a cost of $350.00 per student. Yesterday I learnt that expressions of interest for students to attend the Somers School Camp program are due by 8th December (Monday). Hence, forms were sent home with Grade 4 and 5 students today and sent to parents/carers via Compass.
