From the Principal

Dear Families,

2025 Staffing 

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, every year brings on change. At Williamstown Primary we are somewhat protected, with a relatively low turnover of staff. 2025 however will see a range of staff changes, some that are long term and others short. 

Retiring

Andrea Duxson’s departure from Williamstown Primary marks the end of an extraordinary 15-year journey, with 13 of those years as principal. Throughout her tenure, Andrea’s leadership was defined by her unwavering commitment to placing students at the heart of every decision. Under her guidance, the school not only grew and evolved but also became a hub of strong community connections, with Andrea always at the forefront, supporting families and fostering a collaborative environment.

Her leadership during the challenging years of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in 2020 and 2021, was exceptional. She prioritized the well-being of both students and staff, ensuring that the school community remained resilient in the face of adversity. Her empathetic approach was a beacon of support for all during those difficult times.

On a personal note, having had the privilege of sharing an office with Andrea for eight years, I witnessed firsthand the care and dedication she brought to her role. Andrea’s thoughtful leadership extended beyond the classroom, and her genuine care for others was evident in every interaction. 

Her passion for teaching and her student-first approach were clearly demonstrated in 2023 when she returned to the classroom as a Grade Prep teacher. This move was a testament to her deep love of education and her ongoing commitment to shaping young minds, even in the later stages of her career.

As Andrea steps into retirement, we extend our heartfelt thanks for her immense contribution to Williamstown Primary and the wider school network. We wish her all the best as she embarks on this new chapter of life, where she will have more time to enjoy with her family. Andrea's legacy at Williamstown Primary is one of kindness, leadership, and a steadfast focus on the well-being and success of every student. She will be deeply missed, but her impact will be felt for years to come.

Robin Nankivell - Robin's journey at Williamstown Primary began in 1997, and over the years, she has worn many hats, contributing greatly to the school community in a variety of roles. As a classroom teacher, Reading Recovery teacher, Leading Teacher, and Tutor Learning Teacher, Robin has demonstrated a deep commitment to student growth and development. Her passion for education was further evident in her work at Melbourne University, where she contributed to the university’s Masters of Education program, enriching the wider educational community.

Throughout her time at Willy Primary, Robin's dedication to supporting students and colleagues alike has left a lasting impact. Her ability to adapt to different roles and her continuous pursuit of professional growth speak to her unwavering commitment to the field of education.

As Robin transitions into retirement, she looks forward to spending more time with her family and enjoying the travel experiences that she has longed for. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Robin for her many years of service to Williamstown Primary, and we wish her all the best in this next chapter of her life. Her contributions to the school will always be appreciated, and she will be fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of working with her.

Christophe Frere - As we shared on Bastille Day, our beloved maintenance man, Christophe, will soon be returning to his homeland of France to spend more time with his family. This marks a full circle moment for Christophe, who has been an integral part of our school community, always going above and beyond to keep everything running smoothly.

We know what everyone’s thinking: “Who will get all our balls off the roof?”  While we do have a plan in place (unfortunately, it doesn’t involve Christophe flying back each term!), we’re sure his unique skill set will be missed. His ability to solve problems, keep the school in top shape, and yes, even rescue those elusive balls from the roof, has made him a true fixture at our school.

As Christophe heads back to France, we wish him all the best in this next chapter of his life. And who knows—maybe one day we’ll find him in a French school, still doing what he does best, retrieving balls from the roof! Thank you, Christophe, for everything you’ve done for us. You will be missed, and we wish you nothing but happiness in your retirement. Bon voyage!

Extended Leave

Carmel Byrne - Carmel has been a long standing teacher at Willy Primary having spent most of her time in the year 3/4 area. Carmel will spend 2025 at a school closer to home. We wish her all the best next year as we wait to see what the future holds.

Emil de Vries- Emil will be taking 12-months leave in 2025 to travel with his family. What an exciting time it is for de Vries family and we look forward to welcoming him back in 2026.

Jo Wilson - Jo Jo will continue her leave in 2025, with Marcia continuing as the school’s art teacher. Jo loved coming back for the art show and seeing all the amazing work the students had undertaken, seeing her vision come to life.

Farewell

Carolyn Watt - Although only here for 6-months Carolyn will be returning to her base school, Willy North Primary. No doubt we will see Carolyn around town. We would like to thank her for filling in for Melati during semester 2.

Welcoming

Emma Chang - Emma joins Williamstown Primary after several years experience teaching in a number of roles at other schools. She is very excited to continue her teaching career at Willy Primary.

Alison Standish - Alison arrives at Williamstown Primary with extensive teaching knowledge, while also having the added experience of being a former parent and school council member of Willy Primary. Alison is looking forward to joining the teaching staff of WPS and continuing her long connection to the school.

Transition - Step Day

Tuesday the 10th December is our official transition day for our students, but transition has already commenced with our current year 2 & 3 students participating in a range of activities including lunch catch-ups. The same has occurred for our current year 4 & 5 students who have come together to discuss and try out for interschool sport as well as prepare for the 2025 Senior JSC speeches.

On Tuesday 10th December all students across the school will step up into their 2025 classes, where they will meet their teacher and classmates.  2024 saw the process of meeting next year’s classmates and teacher brought forward to his day, which was positively received by families and staff.

Students transitioning to a government high school are also involved in their own transition on this day as they will spend the entire day at their 2025 school.

Transition at Willy Primary is more than spending time with new classmates and teachers, as a considerable amount of work goes on behind the scenes with staff undertaking an official handover of all individual students with their new teacher.

We look forward to supporting all our Willy Kids through this exciting, but sometimes nervous process, to ensure it is a positive experience.

2025 Curriculum Days

At last week’s school council meeting curriculum and half days were approved for 2025.

These dates can now be found on the school’s Compass Calendar and dates to remember on the school newsletter.

Term 1 

• Tuesday 28th January (Department Mandated Curriculum Day)
• Wednesday 12th February - Meet the Teacher (12:30pm Dismissal) 

Term 2 

• Monday 26th May - (Curriculum Day, Report Writing)
• Tuesday 1st July - (Student Conferences)
• Friday 4th July - (Curriculum Day, First Aid Training)

Term 4 

• Monday 3rd November - (Curriculum Day, Report Writing)

Grade 6 Creative Minds

Our grade 6 creative minds students held their project expo yesterday. The students were tasked with the creation and promotion of their new podcast with the aim to pitch to Spotify. The program has seen the students utilise many digital tools, also incorporating their creative literacy skills. Congratulations to all the students involved and a big thank you to Steven Puhar, who oversees the program.

Zoo Snooze

The excitement is building amongst the year 3 students as next week they head off for the Zoo Snooze overnight camp. This is a great opportunity where the students will get to experience what goes on behind the scenes to nurture and support all the animals.

Swimming 

Our swimming programs are in full swing, with our year 2 program finishing up, while our Prep swimming has just commenced. Swimming programs are mandated by the Department of Education with schools receiving funding to subsidise the respective programs.

Digital Learning - Transition from Grade Two - Three 

Important information regarding the school’s digital learning program for years 3/4 can be found on the school’s digital learning page and was also communicated out via Compass last week.

Warm regards,

Mat