From the Principal

Dear Families,

School Tours for 2026 Prep Enrolments – Ongoing!

Do you have a child starting school in 2026, or know a family exploring options for Prep next year? Our Williamstown Primary School tours are continuing throughout the term, offering families a chance to see our vibrant classrooms, meet our dedicated staff, and get a feel for the wonderful learning environment we offer.

Tours provide valuable insight into our Prep transition program, curriculum, and school culture.

Our final tour date: Tuesday 20th May at 2:30pm.

We ask that all application forms be sent to the office as soon as possible with the last date for applications being Friday 25th July.

Safety Reminder: Pathways, Gates, Bikes & Scooters

As we head into the busy middle of Term 2, we’d like to remind all students and families about the importance of staying safe when arriving and leaving school—especially around the school gates and pathways.

Bikes and Scooters 

We love seeing students being active and riding their bikes and scooters to school! However, for everyone’s safety, we ask that all students walk their bikes and scooters once they reach the school gates. This helps prevent accidents and ensures our school entrances remain safe for all pedestrians, especially our younger students.

Shared Pathways 

Please remember that school pathways can get quite crowded at drop-off and pick-up times. Whether walking, scooting, or cycling, everyone should move slowly and be aware of others around them. Taking a few extra seconds to slow down helps keep everyone safe.

Gate Exits 

Families are reminded to use the designated gate exits and be cautious when stepping onto footpaths and nearby roads. Please supervise young children closely and always stop to check for oncoming bikes, scooters, and cars before crossing.

A Friendly Reminder About Dogs on School Grounds

We’d like to kindly remind all families that dogs must not be tied up or left unattended around the school, especially near entrances and pathways.

While we understand many of our families enjoy walking to school with their pets, unattended dogs can pose a safety risk and cause anxiety for some students—particularly those who may be fearful of animals.

To help keep our school a safe and welcoming place for everyone, we ask that:

• Dogs are not left tied to fences, gates, or poles around the school
• If you do bring your dog on the school run, please ensure they are always supervised and kept on a lead
• Consider waiting with your dog away from busy entry and exit points

We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe environment for all members of our school community.

A Step Back in Time: Time Capsule Opening with Special Guests! 

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news with the Williamstown Primary School community!

This Monday, we’ll be welcoming back two very special guests—Tilly Barger and Billy Green—former co-principals of Williamstown Primary during the millennium! Tilly and Billy will be joining our Senior Junior School Council (JSC) to open the Millennial Time Capsule, which was sealed 25 years ago.

Buried at the turn of the millennium, with capsules from all Hobson's Bay schools, our time capsule holds memories, predictions, and treasures from the past—carefully collected by students and staff in 1999 in preparations for the time capsules burial on Australia Day, 2000. Tilly and Billy were part of that very moment, and we are excited for them to return and help us rediscover what life was like at Willy Primary all those years ago.

The time capsule opening promises to be a fun and fascinating experience for our senior students, as we reflect on how far we’ve come and imagine what students in another 20 years might find when we create a new capsule for the future.

Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing photos and reflections in next week’s newsletter!

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime 2025 will take place on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 11:00 AM AEST. This annual event, organized by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), encourages children across Australia to read the same picture book simultaneously in schools, libraries, and homes. 

About the Book:

The Truck Cat is a delightful story about a cat who loves to drive trucks. It's a celebration of adventure, independence, and the joy of following one's passion. The vibrant illustrations by Danny Snell bring the story to life, making it a perfect choice for young readers.

National Simultaneous Storytime is a wonderful opportunity to foster a love of reading among children. It promotes literacy, community engagement, and the joy of storytelling.

Facilities Update: Junior Toilets & Heritage Maintenance

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting with the design consultant for our upcoming Junior Toilet Redevelopment. The meeting was extremely productive, and we’re now eagerly awaiting the initial design options, which are expected to be delivered in the coming weeks. This marks an exciting step forward in improving our facilities for our younger students.

In even more exciting news, our large-scale Heritage Maintenance Program has received its final approval. The project will be going out to tender next week. This is a significant milestone as we continue to preserve and maintain our beautiful historic buildings—ensuring they remain a part of the Williamstown Primary landscape for another 150 years and beyond.

We look forward to keeping you updated as both of these important projects progress.

Warm regards,

Mat