From the Principal

Dear Families,

Camps

It’s that time of year again when our students pack their bags, lace up their walking shoes, and get ready for camp!

• Year 3/4 Camp – ADANAC

  Next week, our Year 3/4 students will be heading off to Camp ADANAC for three days of adventure, teamwork, and fun. They’ll be taking part in a range of activities designed to challenge themselves, build friendships, and create lasting memories.

• Year 5/6 Camp – Toolangi

  In Week 6, our Year 5/6 students will embark on their own adventure to Camp Toolangi. This camp offers a fantastic range of outdoor challenges and group activities, all set in the beautiful Toolangi State Forest.

Camps are a wonderful opportunity for students to step outside their comfort zones, try new things, and strengthen their bonds with classmates and teachers. We can’t wait to hear the stories, see the smiles, and share in the amazing experiences when they return.

Uniform Reminder

We’d like to remind families of our school uniform policy to ensure consistency, equality, and pride in our school appearance.

Please note that navy blue and black pants, leggings, and shorts are not part of our school uniform. Students are asked to wear the approved school colours and uniform items at all times. We believe the current uniform covers a broad range of fabric and style options.

Our uniform policy helps create a sense of belonging, avoids competition, and ensures we are not encouraging fashion trends that can distract from learning.

Thank you for your support in maintaining our school’s high standards and ensuring all students are dressed appropriately and consistently.

Fathers Day Luncheon

We’re excited to celebrate all the amazing dads, grandfathers, and father figures in our school community with our Father’s Day Luncheon on Thursday 4th September.

Proudly hosted by our Friends of Willy team, this special event is a wonderful opportunity to spend time together, enjoy a delicious meal, and recognise the important role our dads and father figures play in our students’ lives.

Full event details will be emailed directly to all families shortly, so please keep an eye on your inbox.

We encourage all families (and especially our dads!) to get behind this event and join us for what promises to be a warm and memorable celebration.

District Athletics

Yesterday, our school proudly competed in the District Athletics Carnival at the Newport Athletics Track. It was a fantastic day filled with energy, teamwork, and plenty of personal bests.

We’re thrilled to share that our team finished in a respectable 5th place overall. A huge congratulations to all of our students who participated – your effort, sportsmanship, and school spirit were outstanding!

A special mention goes to those students who have progressed to Divisional Athletics – we wish you all the very best as you take on the next level of competition.

Well done, team – you’ve done our school proud!

Regional Hockey Finals

Our school hockey team recently travelled to Footscray to compete in the Regional Finals.

It was an exciting day, showcasing the team’s hard work, skill, and determination throughout the season. They represented our school with great sportsmanship and pride.

We’re thrilled to share that the mixed team was competitive and represented the school well, while the girls made it through to the final, narrowly going down to Wembley Primary in the final! Congratulations to all players on an outstanding effort and for making our school proud.

Well done, team – your dedication and teamwork truly shone on the field!

Reminder – Book Parade Tomorrow!

What: Book Parade

When: Friday 15th August, 9:15am

Where: Basketball Court

We can’t wait to see our students dressed as their favourite book characters for this year’s Book Parade! Families are warmly invited to come along, enjoy the colourful costumes, and celebrate the joy of reading with us.

Families are warmly invited to come along and enjoy the parade. We can’t wait to see the creativity and colour on display!

Important Update: Wearing School Hats for Sun Safety – Change of dates

We’re writing to inform you about an important update to our school’s Sun Safety Policy. To better protect our students from harmful UV rays, we will now be wearing school hats from mid-August to April 30th, not just in Terms 1 and 4 as we have in previous years. This change will help ensure our students are consistently protected from the sun throughout the year.

Research has shown that UV rays from the sun can cause skin damage even on cooler or cloudy days. The risk of skin damage increases over time, and early sun protection is key to preventing long-term health issues like skin cancer. By wearing hats during more of the year, we are taking an important step in safeguarding our students from these risks.

Starting on Monday, August 18th, all students will be required to wear their school hats during outdoor activities until April 30th. This simple measure is an easy and effective way to protect their skin from the sun.

We ask that parents support this initiative by ensuring their children bring their hats to school each day.

A reminder will also be sent home in the coming weeks, and the change of date will be launched at our whole school assembly next Friday.

Families are also encouraged to download the SunSmart app. The app can help inform families of the UV Levels predicted for each day. On the homepage of the school’s website, you can find a Sun Smart widget outlining the predicted temperature and UV levels for the day.

Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping our school community safe and healthy.

Parent, Caregiver and Guardian Opinion Survey

In the coming week each family will receive a link to complete the 2025 Parent/Caregiver/Guardian Survey.

This annual survey is a valuable opportunity to share your thoughts and experiences with our school. Your feedback plays an important role in shaping and supporting our ongoing improvement and strategic planning. It helps us understand what we’re doing well and where we can continue to grow.

Traditionally, we’ve had a relatively low response rate, so this year we are encouraging as many families as possible to take part. Capturing a broad and representative sample ensures that the data we receive accurately reflects the views and experiences of our whole school community.

We strongly encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey when it becomes available. Your voice matters, and your input helps us build the best possible learning environment for all students.

Warm regards,

Mat