THE LITTLE MERMAID – WE’RE GETTING EXCITED!

The excitement is building at Warrnambool Primary School as our students busily rehearse for The Little Mermaid! Our students are singing, dancing, acting and having outstanding fun as they prepare for what promises to be a fantastic whole-school production.

There is a wonderful buzz around the school as the children learn their songs and routines, and we can’t wait to see them perform on stage!

Wednesday 2nd September 2026

12:00pm and 7:00pm performances

We are expecting two sell-out shows, so please don’t leave it until the last minute.

Buy your tickets through CompassTix or the school office and get in early!

There will be no tickets sales on the door.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to see our students shine, so please encourage family and friends to secure their tickets early.

It’s going to be a fantastic celebration of our students and the performing arts at Warrnambool Primary School!

MANGA (JAPANESE COMICS ARTIST) WORKSHOPS

Last week we hosted professional Manga artist (Japanese Comics artist) Mr Kenny Chan. All year levels participated in a 1 hour workshop in Manga drawing. We learnt so much about techniques for drawing different facial features and body parts and useful tips and tricks to create personality in characters. The students thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and we saw the skills of some budding artists shine through.

WARRNAMBOOL SCHOOL 1876- 2026 150 Years

Enjoy the History. We are finding more pictures by the day. Have a look at these beauties. Please send the school anything you have. It’s going to be a fantastic celebration. We can’t wait.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION - ACADEMIC PRIZE

A remarkable find. This book, by the well-known author R.M.Ballantyne, was awarded to Edith Newton in 1877 when she was a pupil at the Warrnambool State School. This school was opened on August 1st 1876 when the National School in Warrnambool closed and most of the pupils of other denominational schools in Warrnambool at the time moved to the new State School. The Head Teacher, William Bryant was at the school until 1894. (Blanch) Edith Newton was born in 1868, the eighth child of Robert and Mary Newton. Robert Newton was a Rate Collector, Borough Inspector and Manager of the Town Common in Warrnambool. It is noted that the prize received by Edith Newton was an adventure book mostly appealing to male readers.

Significance

This book is significant because it is connected with important elements in Warrnambool in 1877 – the school, Warrnambool State School, the pupil, Edith Newton and the Head Teacher, William Bryant,

Physical description

This is a hard cover book of 330 pages. It has a dark red cover with etched ornamental borders and patterns and an image of a jungle scene on the front cover and on the spine. The title and author’s name are in gold lettering. At the heading of each chapter there is an ornamental scroll and there are several black and white sketches throughout the pages. There are blue stamps of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society at the front and back of the book and a school plate label attached to the inside front cover. The spine is partly detached and torn and the cover is very worn and water or mould damaged. A letter from the donor accompanies the book.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Warrnambool State School, No. 1743, Prize Awarded to Edith Newton, 4th Class, Divn. 111, for Home Exercises, 19th December 1877, W. Bryant, Head Teacher.’

Have a great weekend.

Peter Lee

Principal

Student Birthdays