Assistant Principal Report

2027 Foundation Enrolments

Enrolments for Foundation (Prep) 2027 are still open at Deer Park West Primary School.

We are looking forward to welcoming our future Foundation students and supporting them as they transition to school. Throughout the year, we work closely with local kindergartens to help children become familiar with school and feel confident about starting their learning journey.

This term, we are excited to welcome children from our local kindergartens for school visits, giving them the opportunity to explore our school, meet staff and students, and experience school life firsthand.

If your child is starting school in 2027, or you know a family looking to enrol, please contact the school office for more information. We would love to hear from you.

Science Week

This term, our school is excited to celebrate National Science Week with a strong focus on science inquiry learning across all year levels. Throughout Term 3, every class from Foundation to Year 6 has been exploring the world of science through engaging investigations, hands-on experiments, and real-world learning experiences.

Science helps students develop curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking as they ask questions, make predictions, test ideas, and draw conclusions based on evidence. Through our inquiry approach, students are not just learning scientific facts, they are developing the skills of young scientists.

Across the school, students are investigating a wide range of topics aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0 Science learning areas. Some examples include:

• Foundation students exploring the features and needs of plants and animals.
• Year 1 students investigating the factors that impact the shape, movement and sound of objects
• Year 2 students are learning about our place in Space
• Year 3 students are learning about the Water Cycle, human activity and its impact on Earth’s resources and climate
• Year 4 students exploring how heating and cooling changes states of matter
• Year 5 students are investigating the effects and changes of Earth’s surface over time
• Year 6 students are learning about the transfer and transformation of electrical energy

Classrooms have been buzzing with excitement as students design investigations, observe chemical reactions, construct models, test hypotheses, and share their discoveries with their peers. From erupting volcanoes and engineering challenges to plant growth experiments and electricity investigations, students have been actively developing their scientific understanding through authentic learning experiences.

We encourage families to keep an eye on Seesaw throughout the term, where classes will be sharing photos, videos, reflections, and examples of the incredible experiments and learning taking place. Seesaw provides a wonderful window into the rich scientific thinking and inquiry happening across our school.

Australian Mathematics Competition

Last week, 57 of our high-achieving students proudly represented our school in the Australian Mathematics Competition. This internationally recognised competition provides students with the opportunity to challenge their mathematical thinking, apply problem-solving skills, and engage with complex and creative questions beyond the regular classroom curriculum. We congratulate all participating students for embracing this challenge and demonstrating resilience, perseverance, and a love of learning. We look forward to celebrating their achievements when the results are released later this term.

Here are some examples of questions from previous years that students work with;

Warm regards,

Joshua Fielding

Assistant Principal

Introducing Our Acting Assistant Principal for Wellbeing

Hello everyone, I am Vanessa Harrison and I have been recently appointed as the  Acting Assistant Principal for Wellbeing for the remainder of the year. Having worked in schools for multiple decades, I bring a wealth of experience in curriculum, student welfare and leadership. I am passionate about creating a respectful, collaborative, safe and supportive environment for every student and family in our community.

I will be working closely with staff, students and families to strengthen our wellbeing programs and ensure that every child feels connected, supported and ready to learn. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you would like to introduce yourself or discuss any wellbeing concerns.

Supporting Wellbeing at Home Following a Community Incident

When something unsettling happens in our community, children may experience a range of emotions including worry, confusion or sadness. Here are some strategies families can use at home to support wellbeing during these times:

• Keep communication open — Let your child know it's okay to talk about how they're feeling. Use age-appropriate language and answer questions honestly without overwhelming them with detail.

• Maintain routines — Predictable daily routines provide a sense of safety and stability. Try to keep mealtimes, bedtimes and family activities consistent.

• Limit media exposure — Repeated exposure to news coverage can increase anxiety. Monitor what children are seeing and hearing, and turn off news when it's not needed.

• Validate emotions — Acknowledge your child's feelings without dismissing them. Phrases like "It makes sense that you feel worried" help children feel heard.

• Model calm behaviour — Children take cues from the adults around them. Demonstrate healthy coping strategies such as deep breathing, going for a walk, or talking things through.

• Stay connected — Spend quality time together as a family. Simple activities like reading, cooking or playing a game can provide comfort and reassurance.

• Know when to seek help — If your child's distress persists, affects their sleep or appetite, or leads to significant behavioural changes, please reach out to the school wellbeing team for further support.

Warm regards,

Vanessa Harrison 

Acting Assistant Principal