Leadership updates and reflections
An update from Julie
🎭 Congratulations on an Amazing Production of Matilda Jr.! 🎉
What a spectacular celebration of talent, teamwork and joy! Our production of Matilda Jr. was nothing short of magical , bursting with energy, passion and an infectious sense of fun that lit up the stage and the hearts of everyone in the audience.
From our confident performers to our dedicated crew, every student from Prep and Grades 3 - 6 had the chance to shine and experience the unique joy that comes from working together to create something truly special. The production built confidence, encouraged creativity and brought our whole school community together in the most joyful of ways.
A heartfelt thank you goes to Tim Phillips and Kristy Salisbury for their outstanding direction and vision, and to our amazing staff and parent volunteers - your tireless support and enthusiasm made it all possible. A special mention must go to Tim, whose vision, talent and passion as director of the show created the environment for every student to grow, shine and truly believe in themselves. And to Kristy, a huge thank you for her creativity and dedication in designing and sourcing the incredible props and costumes that brought the world of Matilda Jr. so vividly to life.
We’d also like to sincerely thank all the parents and extended family members who shared their kind words, praise, and congratulations - your kind words and gratitude meant the world to our amazing students and staff.
Special thanks also to Mount Lilydale Mercy College, and in particular to Tom, for their ongoing support.
Thank you to everyone who helped bring Matilda Jr. to life. We are so proud of what we created together! It was a true community achievement and a joyful memory we will treasure for years to come.
School Review
The 3-day School Review process is now complete. Input from staff, students, and parents was invaluable in highlighting what we value at WP, as well as identifying our strengths and areas for growth. On the final day last Tuesday, we developed new goals, targets, and Key Improvement Strategies, which will form the foundation of our new School Strategic Plan. This plan will guide our priorities and direction over the next four years. We will receive the final report from our reviewer, Lorraine Kennedy in the next four weeks. This will be presented to the staff and tabled at School Council before being distributed to the wider school community.
An update from Adele
Hats On - 1st September
A friendly reminder that from 1st September, all students are required to wear their school sun hats when outside during recess, lunch, and outdoor activities. This is part of our SunSmart policy to help protect children from harmful UV rays as the weather warms up. Please check that your child’s hat is clearly labelled with their name.
Absence Learning Plans
The Department of Education shares the following information for parents regarding attendance: Going to school every day is an important part of your child’s education. Children and young people learn new things at school every day, connect with friends, have fun and develop good habits that help them to succeed. Attending and participating in school will help your child:
- develop important skills and knowledge to help them learn
- develop social and emotional skills such as good communication, resilience and teamwork
- establish friendships with peers, which help develop self-esteem and a sense of belonging.
There is no good number of days for missing school. Being away from school for 1 day a fortnight adds up to missing 4 whole weeks of school a year. Where possible, you should avoid your child missing school, for example, make appointments for your child outside of school hours and keep family holidays to outside term time.
The school creates Absence Learning Plans for students who will be away from school (for non-medical reasons) for 5 or more days. Parents should meet with their child's teacher regarding an Absence Learning Plan if absence will be longer than 5 days.
Disability and Inclusion
Eye contact can be experienced very differently by autistic people compared to non-autistic people. For some, it may cause discomfort, stress, or even pain. This doesn’t mean that they are not paying attention or engaged; it simply means they connect and communicate in other ways.
The article below (shared by Jean, an OT who supports some of our students), Eye Contact in Autism by Dr. Lisa Marnell, explains the differences in how autistic students may experience eye contact, the pressures they face, and how we can support them. It’s a helpful reminder that respecting individual differences is key to inclusion.
You can read the full article here: Eye Contact in Autism.
Online Safety
eSafety – Office of the eSafety Commissioner
This week, we share information from the eSafety Commissioner about Getting help when your child is being bullied online.
Online bullying can be difficult for children and parents to navigate. This fact sheet provides practical guidance to help you:
- Recognise the signs of online bullying
- Collect important information and evidence
- Report bullying to the right platforms and authorities
By knowing what to look for and how to respond, you can better support your child to feel safe and protected online. There is a short video you can catch to support your understanding or you can read the fact sheet below.
Term 3 eSafety Commissioner online workshops
The eSafety Commissioner provides free webinars provide parents and carers with the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe, positive online experiences. Term 3 webinars are listed below:
Remaining workshop for Term 3;
11th September 2025 at 1.00pm: Understanding AI Companions: What parents and carers need to know
AI chatbots and companions that act like friends or partners are becoming more common – but they can be risky to children and young people. This 45-minute webinar explores what AI companions are, the risks to look out for and how to talk to your child about them. It’s suitable for parents and carers of upper primary and high school students. Learn more about this webinar.
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