Principal  Message

As we end the second week of this term, things have been moving along nicely, and the classes are into their learning and routines. We have a few things coming up in May as it is a busy term for us.

Mother's Day Breakfast and Mother's Day Stall

FOWPS are putting on the Mothers Day Breakfast next Friday 8th May at 8am. Orders can be made via the Flexischools app. Please place your order by 4pm on Wednesday 6th May.

The link below will take you to the event in Flexischools 

https://ordering.flexischools.com.au/m/warrandyte-primary-school-mothers-day-breakfast-2026

The traditional Mother's Day Stall is also running on this coming Monday 4th May.  The students will have the chance to purchase a small gift for their mother. If you send your child with a small amount of money, they can purchase from a range of gifts that FOWPS have to offer. It is also a good idea to put a reusable bag in their schoolbag so they can transport the gift back safely.

Open Day

We will opening our classrooms and specialist areas on the afternoon of Thursday 21st May. Classes open for anyone to visit at 2:30pm - 5pm. The classrooms will showcase the students work and there will be activities and games for your child to do with you. We will have a sausage sizzle running at 4pm. 

School Council

We had our first school council meeting with the latest members of the council. A strong School Council plays a part in shaping the direction and success of WPS by fostering collaboration between families, staff, and the wider community. Working in partnership with the principal, Council members contribute to the governance, policy and financial oversight, ensuring decisions reflect the best interests of our students. Their input helps strengthen school culture, support student wellbeing, and enhance learning opportunities. Through open communication School Council helps build a transparent & inclusive environment with a strong community spirit always working towards improving outcomes for the children.

I want to thank the School Council members, both parents and staff, for the time they take to participate in the monthly meetings. There are commitments that take them away from their own families to support everyone and I am personally grateful for their dedication, passion and the respectful way we interact with each other in the meetings. 

The 2026 members of School Council are as follows:

President: Emma Clark

Vice President: Sam McKellar

Treasurer: Carmen Greenhill

Staff members: Elisha McPhedran & Nerole Blair

Parent members: Karen Anderson, James Dimmock, Kelly Maguire & Katie Pelosi

Each of these members bring their unique skills and experience to form a strong council for 2026 and I look forward to working with them.

Principal Conference

I will be away on Wednesday to Friday next week for the Manningham and Monash Principal Conference. Each year the department put together a program that is designed to build our capacity as school leaders and a place for principals to collaborate and share skills and experiences. Rick will be able to help if you need, but I will be available on my email. 

The item I am most looking forward to is speaker, Tim Wilson, on the implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 and the Lesson that are being rolled out statewide for schools to apply the model. This is the first time that I have ever known such a shift in the direction the department is taking towards pedagogy and the science of learning and it is in line with all the work the teachers and I have been doing up here. The game changer is that the for the first time, the Department are giving the resources for all schools to use and not relying on school bringing costly external consultants in, which is something a small school like ours can never afford to do. The playing field is being levelled out so that no matter the size of the school, you have the professional learning and resources available at no cost. All you need is a staff with high efficacy and willing to do the work. Luckily for WPS we have that in abundance. 

Principal Award

As we continue to the Principal Award program, I will be naming the students who have received their award and acknowledging them in the newsletter from this time on. We have a great time at the morning tea and it has become one of my favourite parts of the role. The chat that goes on amongst the multiage students is always so kind and fun. They joke around, exchange stories and talk about the things they like in school and at home. It's not just an acknowledgement of their efforts in school but also a chance for student across levels to interact in a relaxed and positive way.

The first award for Term 2 was awarded to Tom M in Grade 5. 

Tom was recognised as he consistently demonstrates a positive attitude and a genuine enthusiasm for learning. His creative mindset shines through in all that he does, and he approaches challenges with curiosity, confidence and a willingness to grow. Tom works beautifully with anyone and everyone across the school, building strong and respectful relationships. He is highly regarded by his peers for his kind and thoughtful nature, and his warm smile and great sense of humour brighten everyone’s day. Tom lives our school values every day and is a fantastic role model within our school community.  Well done Tom!

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Nieta