Principal's Message

School Easter Fete Eggnormous Success

A huge thanks to the school community and wider community for once again supporting the annual Wedderburn College Easter Fete.   Year 3 class won the free prize for donating the most Easter Eggs.  Pictured above shows the Year 3 class enjoying their free lunch, thanks to Kylie in the College Cafe.   Thanks to everyone who donated to the raffle, we received over 270 eggs which enabled over 20 prize draws.    It was great to have neighbouring small rural schools such as Tarnugulla, St Mary's Inglewood, Inglewood PS and Bridgewater PS attend the fete as well. It was wonderful to have support from the local emergency services and many, many stall holders and local businesses.   A massive thank you to all our college staff and students who worked, assisted and organised the day.

Term 2

A reminder at the end of week 2, ANZAC Day will be observed with a national public holiday on 25th of April and Friday 26th of April is a long weekend for parents as it is a Professional Learning day for all staff.   Please make sure you keep reading the school yearly calendar of events.  School Cross Country and the Reading Olympics launch is next Tuesday. See Shared News for further details regarding the launch. 

Year 7 Information Night

The Year 7 Information Night in Inglewood has been postponed next week due to a number of students from Inglewood & Wedderburn attending Somers camp.  A flyer has been sent home with all prospective Year 7 students.  The Year 7 night will be held on Tuesday 14th May. 

Primary Reading & Homework Expectations

The information below was sent home to all primary parents after Learning Conversations. Please take the time to read the information.   After next week we will be focusing on all primary students reading which will be linked to our 'Reading Olympics Challenge.'

Dear Parents & Guardians,

Your child’s education is best served with a cooperative partnership between home and school. Whether or not you believe in ‘Homework,’ we believe it is a great way to re-enforce skills as well as keep you updated with what they are learning in class. Most of our students are already reading on a nightly basis and have their diary signed. We are wanting to ensure that this happens for every student.

It is an expectation that students will read aloud to an adult or independently for 10-15 minutes per night, at least 4 nights per week. All students have take-home readers supplied   by the college.  These readers should be at the appropriate ‘just right’ level. 

Weekly spelling words or small tasks are sent home every week, for students to practise. Some students have been returning their homework sheets on a regular basis. Once again, it is expected that students will practise writing their spelling words with accuracy and submit this worksheet to the teacher.  Please do not believe that your child does not have any homework.

It is also critical that students can recall number facts quickly and automatically to solve problems. Students will receive a page of maths homework. The maths content will not be anything new, but another chance to build confidence and speed.  We can all benefit from learning our timetables on a regular basis.   

In summary, we are expecting that students’ complete homework 4 to 5 nights per week.

• Reading 10 minutes daily. 
• Spelling 5 minutes, 2-3 times per week.
• Mathematics Tasks 5-10 minutes, 2-3 times per week. 

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s classroom teacher. Look out for the coming weeks when we launch our ‘Reading Olympics’ challenge for all students which will fit nicely with our emphasise on reading for learning and enjoyment. 

School ANZAC Service

Thank you to the local Wedderburn/Korong Vale RSL for being in attendance for our annual School ANZAC service last week.   A big thanks to President Roger Patterson for leading the formal part of proceedings.   Well done to the students who read poems and participated throughout the service.  A special mention to Shelby Giorlando who was our MC for the occasion and did an amazing job.   So much so Shelby and the students have been asked to participate in many local services around the community. 

On the 25th of April, please support as many of the ANZAC services as possible in our local district.  Services will be conducted:

*Wedderburn Dawn Service arriving at 6 a.m, for an early 6:15 a.m. service. Followed by a 

Morning Service at 11 a.m. which includes a march from the Police station assembling at 10:45 a.m.

*Korong Vale 9:30 a.m.  

*Inglewood 11:30 a.m.

We encourage many families to attend the services and support the local communities.   I will be an apology at 11:00 a.m. Wedderburn Service this year as I will be the guest speaker at the Inglewood Service. 

Year Seven/Eight Melbourne Camp

Thanks to all staff and students who enjoyed the week long Melbourne camp at the end of last Term. It was a great camp experience subsidized by our good friends at DOXA and the Wedderburn College School Council.  My highlight was being able to provide 30 students the opportunity to see a live AFL match at the MCG and even better the Saints defeated the Pies!

Year 9 Don Valley Leadership Camp

On the last Friday of Term I was able to attend the Don Valley School for Students Leadership Camp and witness our eight students who had been there since the start of term to deliver their community leadership project. 

Year 9 Mount Egbert Camp

Over the last two days the Year 9 students have enjoyed a short nature & canoe camp. Well done to staff members Miss Van De Wetering and Miss Herrington for organising and participating in the camp.  Thanks to the parents/guardians who were able to attend last night for tea.

Building Works Well Under Way

The new science, secondary toilet block and new classroom facility is progressing well.   The demolition works have been completed and now the foundation works and undergrounds such as fire services, electrical and water connections are being completed ready for further foundation work in the next two weeks.  At the same time the earth works for the new wheelchair ramps at the front of the school and to the top oval have been completed.   The aim is for these ramps to be completed by the end of May.  We will be using the KLC until the ramps are completed, which is expected by the end of week 6 this term.  

Wedderburn College Early Years Childcare Centre 

On Monday we had our first planning meeting for the promised new Wedderburn College Childcare Centre & Kindergarten including consulting rooms and a playgroup room.  It was an initial meet and greet including a site exploration of all stakeholders including V.S.B.A. (Vic School Building Authority), Department Education Strategy Branch, Architects and school staff.    It will be a government run facility,  there will be more  details released soon.   It was mentioned that we are on track to be fully open and operational on the first day of Term 1, 2026.