Assistant Principal Report

Foundation 2027 Enrolments – Transition Begins Soon!

Early in Term 4 we will begin our Foundation Transition Program for children starting school in 2027.

Enrolments for Foundation (Prep) 2027 at Deer Park West Primary School are still open! Now is the perfect time to enrol and give your child the best possible start to their school journey.

Starting school is a major milestone, and at Deer Park West Primary School, we are committed to supporting families every step of the way. Our school offers a warm, inclusive, and nurturing environment where every child is encouraged to learn, grow, and thrive.

If you have a child starting Foundation in 2027—or know someone who does—please contact our school office to learn more about the enrolment process and collect a transition pack. This can also be accessed through our school website. We’re here to make this transition a positive and exciting experience for every child and family.

Warm regards,

Joshua Fielding

Assistant Principal

Social Emotional Learning at School and Home

Our school is dedicated to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students. As part of this commitment, we deliver the Respectful Relationships curriculum, this teaching program is designed to build social, emotional, and relational skills.

This program helps primary students develop key life skills that promote emotional well-being, healthy friendships, and positive decision-making. Through age-appropriate classroom activities, students learn to:

• Understand and Manage Emotions: Identify personal strengths, process feelings, and develop emotional resilience.
•  Build Positive Friendships: Practice empathy, cooperation, active listening, and fair play.
• Solve Conflicts Peacefully: Learn constructive ways to resolve disagreements and respect different perspectives.
• Understand Consent & Boundaries: Recognize personal space, learn how to express boundaries, and respect the boundaries of others.
• Promote Inclusion and Equality: Challenge outdated stereotypes and foster an environment where everyone feels valued and accepted.

How You Can Support at Home

Simple daily conversations can help ground these concepts outside the classroom:

• Name Feelings Together: Encourage your child to talk about their day and identify how specific situations made them feel.
• Model Healthy Communication: Show how to listen actively and express frustration calmly during family discussions.
• Discuss Personal Boundaries: Remind children that it is okay to say "no" to unwanted physical affection (like mandatory hugs) and to ask before entering others' personal space.
• Encourage Problem-Solving: When conflict arises between siblings or friends, guide your child to brainstorm fair solutions rather than stepping in immediately to solve it for them.

Partnering together ensures our children grow into confident, empathetic, and respectful individuals—both in the classroom and out in the community.

🌻🐝Spring into Wellbeing: Simple Ways to Enjoy the Spring Season Together

As winter begins to fade and spring arrives, it is a wonderful time for families to reconnect, get outdoors and enjoy the small changes happening all around us. Longer days, warmer weather and blossoming gardens can give us a natural boost, and even simple family activities can support children's wellbeing.

Spring doesn't need to mean busy schedules or expensive outings. Some of the best wellbeing activities cost little or nothing at all.

🌱 Get outside and explore

Fresh air and movement are great for both physical and emotional wellbeing. Take a family walk around your neighbourhood and notice what has changed since winter. Look for new flowers, listen for birds, collect interesting leaves or see how many different colours you can spot.

🌼 Grow something together

You don't need a large garden to enjoy gardening. Plant some herbs, flowers or vegetables in a pot, recycled container or small garden bed. Let children help choose what to grow and take responsibility for watering and caring for it.

Watching something grow can encourage patience, responsibility and a sense of achievement.

🚲 Make movement fun

Spring is a great excuse to swap some screen time for active family time. Have a bike or scooter ride, kick a ball at the park, play chasey or simply go for a walk together.

🧺 Have a picnic

Pack a simple lunch or afternoon snack and head to a local park. A picnic doesn't need anything fancy: a blanket, some fruit, sandwiches and water can be enough.

Leave phones and other distractions aside for a while and use the time to talk, play games or simply enjoy being together.

☀️ Practise noticing the good things

Spring provides lots of opportunities to practise gratitude and mindfulness. During a walk or at dinner, ask each family member:

• What was something that made you smile today?
• What is something you are looking forward to?
• What is one thing you noticed outside today?

These simple conversations help children pause, notice positive experiences and share what is happening in their world.

💛 Remember that wellbeing is about connection

Perhaps the most valuable thing we can give children this spring is our time and attention. A short walk, a shared joke, helping in the garden or sitting together for ten minutes can create meaningful moments of connection.

This spring, let's embrace the opportunity to slow down, get outside, move our bodies, notice the world around us and enjoy time together. Small moments can make a big difference to family wellbeing.

Warm regards,

Vanessa Harrison 

Acting Assistant Principal