Principal  Message

Singin’ in the Rain Jr. – What a Show!

Warrandyte Primary School’s production of Singin’ in the Rain Jr. was simply fantastic. It was a joyful, high-energy performance that showed just how much can be achieved when a small school comes together as a team.

From start to finish, the show was packed with highlights. The tap dancing had the audience smiling and I was stunned at how much they had learned in regarding to the techniques of tap dancing. The solo songs from our lead cast members were confident and impressive, and the lead actors shone with their strong acting skills and stage presence. Every character brought something special to the performance, and the cast did a wonderful job capturing the humour, charm and fun of this musical. It was entertaining to watch, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the students shine in the spotlight. Our Preps are always a highlight, and they did not disappoint. 

A huge thank you goes to Kirsty Wolters, whose passion for the arts and dedication to the students was clear in every moment of the show. Her enthusiasm, creativity and commitment helped bring out the very best in our performers. We also want to thank the staff who supported the production behind the scenes, from rehearsals and costumes to backstage organisation.

Seeing over 700 people in the audience on the night was incredibly special and a true reflection of the strong, supportive Warrandyte community. The energy in the room made the experience even more memorable for our students. Congratulations to everyone involved on an unforgettable production!

A quick note to let you all know that on Channel 7 at 7pm tonight (Friday 20th) the State School Spectacular show that took place in September is showing and it will also be streamed through 7+ for the next month.

We say goodbye to our graduating class of 2025 and wish them the very best as they continue their education journey in secondary school. It's a moment of sadness and excitement for our grade 6's but we know they are going to go forth and do great things in the future. Thank you to the families of our graduating class and their commitment to the school.

The grade 6 graduation night went very well and the students each received their certificate. Our award recipients were;

• Rats of Tobruk - Art W
• W.H Everard Award - Marlo A
• Member of Legislative Assembly Award - Harriett Mc
• Warrandyte Academic Award - Callum D
• Sian Hamilton Encouragement Award - Jack D
• Performing Arts Award - Zack P
• Performing Arts Encouragement Award - Hana R
• Visual Arts Award - Scarlett B
• Visual Arts Encouragement Award - Isla M
• Sports Award - Baxter Sm
• Menzie's Kindness Award - Alex W

Principal Awards

We had our last Principal Morning Tea to celebrate with the students that received a Principal Award this term. This is one of my favourite parts of my role as principal.

A Thank You to Our Warrandyte Primary School Community

As we come to the end of a busy and rewarding year, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire Warrandyte Primary School community. This year has been full of energy, commitment and shared purpose. Our staff, students, families and community members have achieved so much and celebrated many significant milestones.

We are incredibly proud of the success of our recent school musical production, Singin' in the Rain Jnr, which showcased the creativity, confidence and teamwork of our students and staff. I have already written about Production above, but it cannot be understated to congratulate our students on an outstanding performance. 

Our 150-year community celebration was a truly special occasion, honouring the rich history of our school and the strong connections that continue to define Warrandyte Primary.  Over the holidays I hope to sort through the time capsule items and begin a project to instal a new time capsule some time in 2026. Again, if there is anyone interested in the photography aspect of documenting Warrandyte in the 21st century for the 1st time, please email me. 

The creation and opening of our Ceramic Wellbeing Garden have also added to the artistic nature of our students and our Art teacher, Eliza. Our specialist teaching team are a highly valued and respected part of our school culture. I also want to thank Mel, who has been taking on PE in Sally's absence. She has been committed, going above and beyond for a relief teacher, who has the right to clock off at 3:30pm. She was the runner for our production, coming on the night to help and be a part of the evening. 

Our classroom teachers have worked with incredible dedication and enthusiasm every day, creating rich learning experiences and meaningful social opportunities for their students. Their passion for teaching shines through in everything they do, from inspiring curiosity and creativity to nurturing positive relationships within the classroom. Both our classroom and specialist teachers go above and beyond to ensure every student feels supported, challenged, and celebrated. We are truly grateful for their commitment, energy, and the positive impact they make on our school community each and every day.

We also could not go without thanking our Education Support Staff. Our Administration ES, Elisha and Cherise, are equally committed to our school and without their hard work ethic and capacity to be flexible and front facing to our community this place would not operate smoothly.  Our Classroom Education Support staff are also so passionate and have supported countless students, staff and families over the year. We see them 'pivot' every day up here to match the needs at any moment in the school. Their kindness and desire to ensure all students access the curriculum and feel valued is incredible. 

We had an amazing FOWPS presence this year also, with Terri Fernando and Jade McKellar working hard behind the scenes and at the front end to support the schools fundraising. We used funds to purchases new sets of laptops, replace lino flooring and cabinetry in the stone building as well as a paint job. The FOWPS committee is a strong and crucial part of our small school, so I want to thank everyone who has helped.  In addition to FOWPS fundraising, we had a very successful Literacy drive which was set up and supported by our Prep families. Their passion for their children's education and the school made it possible to purchase $1000's of dollars of literacy Little Learner readers and resources for the Prep room. Additional funds were also secured via a regional grant to fund new resources in the 1/2 area. This injection of funds into early years literacy will support our students now and, in the future, and we are very grateful to be a part of such a generous community.

The successful implementation of OHSC and the careful planning underway for a tenth class in 2026 reflect our collective focus on meeting the evolving needs of our growing community. Our OHSC coordinator Franzelle du'Plesiss has done a great job of providing a reliable and effective program for the students to access, despite losing our 3rd party provider last year. She started from ground zero and has managed a very successful program that continues to grow. This is an ongoing project and Fran and I are currently in the final stages of being able to apply for the CCS rebate, with a few more red tape hurdles.  We never gave up on getting the rebate, and our pestering is paying off.

Of course, no school year is ever perfect. Along the way there are always challenges and issues to resolve, and this year was no exception.  What has stood out, however, is the way our community responds with understanding, trust and a shared commitment to doing what is best for students. The loyalty, positivity and resilience shown by our families and students is something we value deeply and never take for granted.

Most importantly, throughout the year our school has remained a place of calm, stability and care. The positive learning environments across our classrooms reflect the strong partnership between staff, students and families and our shared commitment to wellbeing, respect and learning. We are lucky also to be able to have very few staff changes in 2026. All classroom teachers remain at WPS next year with an addition to the number with Claire Frankcome in the 3/4 area. We also welcome Cassie, into the 3/4 area as a general education support for the cohort. She will provide support to Greg and Claire as we continue to recruit for additional ES staff across the school.

We do say goodbye to ES staff member, Helen Wong, who has decided to take some time for herself and her family. I would like to thank her for the support she has given our students and the passion in which she did this. We will miss her happy energy and positive attitude but wish her the very best.

The first 2 days of the term are Pupil Free Days so our grade 1-6 students begin on Thursday 29th January and our 2026 Preps begin on Monday 2nd February. We are currently taking bookings for an OHSC curriculum day program for Wednesday 28th January. However, we will need 5 or more bookings to proceed, so if you are planning on accessing OHSC on that day, can you please book via the Kidsoft parent portal. New families are welcome. Just register via Kidsoft. I have attached a flyer that provides a QR code to get any parent set up on the portals we use across our school. 

I want to thank our families and the community for your ongoing support and partnership. Warrandyte Primary School is strengthened by the relationships we share and the sense of belonging we foster together. To our departing families, we also wish you the very best in the future. I wish everyone a safe, restful and enjoyable break and look forward to the year ahead in 2026. 

Take care,

Nieta