Dear Families

I trust that you have enjoyed yet another successful year as a member of the WVPS school community. As always, we thank you for the privilege of working with your child to obtain the best outcomes for them.

I am taking this opportunity to formally advise the WVPS school community of my intention to retire and I will, therefore, not be returning to the school in 2025. The Department of Education will oversee the selection process for a new, permanent principal, and you will be advised of the outcome of this once the process is completed.

As I reflect on my time at our wonderful school, I can’t help but marvel at all that we have achieved. We have certainly come a long way from the first day on January 30, 2015 when 151 very excited students, and a staff of about 15 first opened the doors to a brand new building. Since then we have grown in numbers and facilities, upgraded the grounds and worked hard to develop a robust and engaging curriculum, and the school, now in its tenth year of operation continues to strive to provide the best opportunities for the children of Wyndham Vale.

Over time the staff numbers have grown considerably, and I have always been in awe of the commitment this team of people have to doing the very best for the children of our school community. I can honestly say that in the 40 years since I commenced in education this team of teachers and support staff are some of the hardest working and talented people I have had the privilege of working with. Thank you to every one of them. I have made what I hope will be some lasting friendships and look forward with interest to see what the future holds for each of them.

Thank you too to the broader school community, and the members of the School Council, and Parents and Friends group, all of whom work tirelessly to improve what we have to offer for the families of our area. Your support to me personally was also always appreciated.

The success of anyone’s journey through their work environment is in part dependant on the people they surround themselves with and I would like to acknowledge each of the Assistant Principals that have been a part of the WVPS story of the past ten years. I have always been in awe of your drive to do your best, your knowledge and understanding and mostly your support not only for the children but for me personally, and professionally. We have been through some good times, and some a little more challenging, but the teamwork and camaraderie have meant that we have continued to move forward. My heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you.

As the year draws to a close, may I take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones all the very best for the upcoming festive season, and may 2025 be everything that you have dreamed of.

Kind regards

Sue Seneviratne

Foundation Principal WVPS.

Foundation Incursion

The Foundation Incursion of Resilience show, run by Rob and Chris, used puppets to engage students in learning about emotions and resilience. Through the puppet characters, students explored different feelings, learned problem-solving skills, and discussed the concept of being the "Boss of My Feelings." The interactive session kept the students excited and involved, with plenty of time for them to ask questions at the end to further their understanding. It was an engaging, educational experience that helped children build emotional awareness and coping strategies.

Lion's Club Peace Poster Competition

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Lion’s Club Peace Poster competition. The students pictured were finalists in the competition. Their posters were of impressive quality and captured thoughtful messages about their interpretation of peace in their lives and their wider world. Students completed these posters during their Auslan lessons whilst learning signs for peace and harmony. Well done to Sanjena in grade 6, who will now go further to represent Wyndham Vale in the district finals….. we look forward to the outcome!

Erica Vandy,

Auslan teacher

In 2024 Wyndham Vale Primary School and Wyndham Council Active Travel appointed our first ever Junior Active Travel Leaders.

Anahat, Helen and Ayden in grade 6, took on this role with great enthusiasm and initiative. They took many hours of their own time to ensure that student and family active travel was optimised.

After an amazing successful year setting up this program and celebrating active travel, we asked grade 5 students to submit an application of interest to become our new active travel leaders for 2025.

We are proud to present to you, the new future grade 6 Junior Active Travel leaders for 2025… they are: Smayra, Bentley and Grace.

Congratulations and we look forward to seeing all the amazing ideas they have, to continue the great work in active travel at Wyndham Vale primary school in 2025.

They each received a prize pack from Dianne at Wyndham Active Transport, and a bike which they will learn to restore and repair during workshops in Term 1 2025.

In term 3, Wyndham Vale trialed a new initiative in association with Dianne Johnson from Wyndham council and Lou and Gian from community shed. Our objective was to engage grade 5 students in a hands-on workshop project by upcycling preloved bikes whilst learning about bike care and repair. Students: Bentley, Xavier and Lucas participated in this project and worked with Lou and Gian to rebuild and maintain a bike of their choice that they now get to keep, to travel actively to school. Another great initiative to promote health, fitness and active travel at WVPS!

TERM 4 - NEW TIME TABLE

SCHOOL SAVING BONUS

In Term 4, 2024, families with a child enrolled in a government school from Prep to Year 12 in 2025 will receive the one-off $400 School Saving Bonus.

The $400 School Saving Bonus provides families with support for education-related costs, such as school activities and/or school uniforms and textbooks.

The School Saving Bonus is not available for full-fee international students, home schooled students, TAFE students and students attending kindergarten in 2025.

Actions for parents and carers

Before 18 October 2024, the Department of Education is asking parents and carers to:

Complete enrolment: If your child, or children are changing government school for Term 1 2025, or starting Prep or Year 7 in 2025. For more information, read about Enrolling in School.

Check your contact information: Ensure your email address and phone number is up to date with us. You can check this information by contacting us directly.

We need to ensure your contact information is up to date as the Department of Education will email you twice:

- October, to verify your email address

- November, with your $400 School Saving Bonus and access to an online system.

Please check your junk mail regularly to make sure you do not miss an important email.

To learn more about the School Saving Bonus, download the School Saving Bonus Information sheet for government school parents and carers or visit vic.gov.au/school-saving-bonus.

Yard Duty and Supervision

Student safety at Wyndham Vale Primary School is our highest priority and the safe and appropriate supervision of students is an important element of our duty of care to students. Part of this duty is ensuring parents and students are aware of our student supervision arrangements before and after school.

Before school: School gates are opened, and grounds are supervised at 8:20am until all students have entered classrooms at 8:45am.

After school: School grounds are supervised at the conclusion of the school day at 2:55pm until gates are closed at 3:10pm.

Students on school grounds outside these times will not be supervised (unless they are attending a before or after school care program or supervised extracurricular activity). Parents/carers/guardians are requested to ensure that students do not attend school outside of these supervised times unless they are attending before or after school care, or a pre-arranged supervised activity (i.e. sports practice).

Families are encouraged to contact the school office on 03 8754 0888 or refer to Team Kids for more information about the before and after school care facilities available to our school community or if you would like any further information about our student supervision arrangements.

For a copy of our school’s Yard Duty and Supervision Policy please contact the school office on 03 8754 0888. This policy includes Wyndham Vale Primary School’s student supervision arrangements across the school day, including before and after school.

Michael Laird

Assistant Principal

All late comers need to go straight to Mrs Bebend to be signed in.

Please remember to label your child's uniform with their name. We have many items of clothing in lost property that we cannot return because there is no name on the items.

Road Safety:

Wyndham Council have contacted us to inform us they will be patrolling our school area due to the large number of complaints they have received regarding dangerous driving, parking across drive ways and on the nature strips as well as the school crossings not being used.

We are asking that you are vigilant at all times and role model for our students the following:

Cross at the school crossings

Do not park on the nature strip

Do not park across our neighbors driveways and block them

Do not double park to drop children off/pick them up

Do not speed, be aware of your speed and the speed limit during school hours

Pedestrians are to give way to vehicles at round abouts.

It is in everyone's best interest to keep the students safe and be respectful to those around you and be a good role model for the students -

DO NOT cross the road without using the crossing

Important Dates

TERM 4

December