Principal's Report

Principal’s Newsletter – Wimba Primary School

Welcome to the 2026 School Year

Welcome back to all our returning families and a very warm welcome to those joining us for the first time at Wimba Primary School. We hope the summer break provided an opportunity to rest, recharge and enjoy special time with family and friends.

It has been a delight to see our students return with such enthusiasm — reconnecting with friends, meeting new classmates and eagerly stepping into a new year of learning. A special welcome to our Foundation families as your children begin their school journey with us. We are so pleased to have you as part of our community.

A sincere thank you to our dedicated staff who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the school was ready for a smooth and positive start to 2026.

Family Contributions

Please look out for the Compass post

Public education in Victoria is proudly built on the principle of providing a free education. At the same time, family contributions play an important role in allowing schools to enhance programs, resources and opportunities for students.

In recent years, changes to government guidelines around parent payments have led to a noticeable decrease in the number of families contributing. Previously, schools typically received contributions from around 95% of families. This has now reduced to approximately 65–70%.

While we have worked carefully to keep requested contributions as low as possible and to ensure strong value for money, this reduction in income does impact what we can provide.

Over recent years, we have introduced high-quality programs, each of these programs involves a per-student cost. When contributions are not received, the school must source funding from other areas of the budget, which can limit future improvements.

We are very mindful that some families may be experiencing financial hardship. Contributions can be made via part payments or instalments, and we are always happy to work with families to create a manageable plan.

If you are in a position to contribute, we sincerely appreciate your support to the best of your capacity. Every contribution, large or small, makes a difference to the learning opportunities we can provide.

Working in Partnership

We believe that education is a true partnership between school and home. When we work together, students thrive. You can support your child’s success by:

Ensuring daily attendance and punctual arrival (ready to learn by 8:40am)
Supporting completion of homework
Encouraging daily reading
Talking with your child about their school experiences

We value parent involvement in many forms — volunteering, supporting school events, participating in fundraising activities, or simply maintaining a positive and encouraging attitude towards learning.

Together, we can ensure the best possible outcomes for every child in our care.

Meet the Teacher

You have now recieved your information via Compass about booking a “Meet and Greet” session with your child’s teacher. These sessions are a wonderful opportunity to build connections early in the year.

Interpreters can be arranged — please refer to the Compass notice for details.

If you have difficulty booking, please contact the school office.

Student Supervision

To ensure student safety:

Morning supervision begins at 8:30am
Students should not arrive before this time unless enrolled in Kelly Club
Afternoon supervision concludes at 3:15pm, when you hear the music in the afternoon. That is your time to leave the school grounds.

Students remaining after this time will be directed to After School Care (fees apply).

No Hat, No Play

A friendly reminder that our No Hat, No Play policy remains in effect. Please ensure your child brings a hat to school each day.

Birthday Treat Guidelines

To support student safety — particularly for those with anaphylaxis — we have clear guidelines for birthday treats:

Lolly bags or gift bags
Store purchase cup cakes or dougnuts
Ingredients list must be provided
No nuts
No homemade food

Treats must be delivered to the school office and will be distributed at 3:00pm by the classroom teacher. Thank you for helping us keep all students safe.

Annual Privacy Reminder

Our school collects and uses student and parent information for standard school functions, as outlined in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and Collection Notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy is available on our website and explains how images and recordings are used, including when consent is required. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school.

Privacy information is also available in multiple community languages.

Child Safety Commitment

Wimba Primary School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. We strive to maintain a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where every child feels respected and valued.

Our Child Safety Code of Conduct outlines clear expectations to protect children and reduce opportunities for harm. The leadership team actively supports and monitors the implementation of these standards.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning, growth and celebration together.

Warm regards,

Paul Schwartz

Principal

Wimba Primary School