From the Principal

Dear families,

2027 School Structure

As we continue planning for the 2027 school year, we are pleased to confirm some important changes to our class structure.

Following the strong interest in Prep enrolments for 2027, we will be increasing our Prep classes from three to four classes, allowing us to welcome a larger group of our newest Willy Kids.

We will also be increasing our Grade 3/4 classes from five to six classes. This decision has been made to reduce class sizes across these year levels, providing teachers with greater opportunities to support individual student learning needs.

These changes reflect our ongoing commitment to balancing enrolment growth with manageable class sizes and ensuring we continue to provide a high-quality learning environment for all students.

Our leadership team is continuing to finalise staffing and class placements, with further information to be shared with families in our week 8 newsletter.

2027 Class Placements

A reminder to families that the opportunity to submit considerations for 2027 class placements has now closed. Our teachers and school leadership team are currently in the final stages of developing next year's classes.

Class placement is a comprehensive process that takes approximately six weeks, with the individual learning, social and wellbeing needs of every student carefully reviewed and considered.

Alongside these individual considerations, significant attention is given to creating balanced classes that reflect a broad range of academic, social, behavioural and learning needs, while also supporting positive peer relationships.

We appreciate that class placements are important to families and want to reassure our community that every student's needs are considered throughout this process. We thank families for their understanding and trust as our staff work towards creating the best possible learning environments for 2027.

Preparing for 2027 – Step Up Day

As we move closer to the end of the school year, preparations are well underway for our annual Step Up Day on Tuesday 8 December.

In the lead-up to Step Up Day, students will participate in a range of transition activities designed to help them prepare for the year ahead. These activities focus on building confidence, developing positive relationships and supporting students as they prepare for the changes that come with moving into a new year level and classroom.

On Step Up Day, our Grade 6 students will head off to their respective secondary schools for their transition programs, while all other Willy Kids will have the opportunity to meet their 2027 teachers and classmates.

Step Up Day is an important part of our transition process, helping students establish new connections and become familiar with their learning environment for the year ahead.

Families will receive an email confirming their child's 2027 class placement on Monday 7 December, the day prior to Step Up Day.

We look forward to supporting all our Willy Kids through a positive and successful transition into 2027!

School Funding

School Funding and Voluntary Parent Contributions

Families will have recently received our annual communication outlining how Victorian government schools are funded and the important role voluntary parent contributions play in supporting our school.

To put this into perspective, Williamstown Primary School has currently received approximately 63% of the total possible voluntary parent contributions for 2026. This leaves a funding gap of approximately $50,000, which the school must make up through a range of fundraising activities and other available resources.

While we greatly appreciate the generosity of our school community and the incredible fundraising efforts of our Friends of Willy team, it is important to recognise the difference between funding essential school resources and funding improvements to our school.

Closing this funding gap would allow us to direct more of our fundraising revenue towards school enhancements, such as playground improvements, facilities and additional learning opportunities, rather than using these funds to cover everyday school essentials.

We understand that every family's financial circumstances are different and that contributions are entirely voluntary. However, for families who are in a position to contribute, your support makes a genuine difference to what we can provide for our Willy Kids.

Changes to Disability Inclusion Funding

The Department of Education has recently announced changes to the Tier 3 Disability Inclusion (DI) funding model, which provides additional support for students with significant and complex disability-related needs.

Unfortunately, these changes will result in a reduction in funding for some students, which will subsequently impact the number of Education Support (ES) hours the school is able to provide.

Our leadership team is currently working through the implications of these changes, with a strong focus on minimising the impact on students and maintaining appropriate levels of support wherever possible.

We understand the importance of this support for students and families. Once we have completed our review and determined how these changes will be managed, we will communicate directly with families whose children may be impacted.

While these changes have come completely unexpected to schools, please be assured that our commitment to providing an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all Willy Kids remains unchanged.

District Lacrosse Success

What a fantastic day it was at the District Lacrosse Tournament, with all four of our teams representing Williamstown Primary School with incredible Willy spirit, teamwork and determination!

A huge congratulations to our Gold Mixed Team, who went through the entire tournament undefeated to claim the District Championship! This outstanding achievement has secured them a place in the State Finals on Friday 27 November.

We are incredibly proud of all our Willy Kids who competed, demonstrating great sportsmanship and representing our school with pride.

We wish our Gold Mixed Team all the very best as they prepare to take on the state's best later this month!

Grade 1 Dinner – A Fantastic Evening!

What a wonderful evening we had at last night's Grade 1 Dinner! It was fantastic to see our Grade 1 Willy Kids enjoying a special evening at school with their friends and teachers.

I had the pleasure of helping hand out the pizzas, and it was great fun seeing the excitement, smiles and energy of our students as they enjoyed dinner together.

Events like these are such an important part of the primary school experience, providing students with opportunities to build friendships, develop independence and create special memories beyond the classroom.

A big thank you to our Grade 1 teachers and staff who helped organise and run the evening. It was another great example of the wonderful experiences we provide for our Willy Kids!

Buildings and Grounds Update – Bluestone Building

After a lengthy period of planning and consultation, we are pleased to share that the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) has finally received the necessary heritage approval for the replacement of the southern box gutter of our historic Bluestone Building.

This is an important step forward, as the ongoing issues with the box gutter have contributed to water damage and the closure of Room 7.

The appointed contractor, Boongala, has recently visited the school with a prospective roofing contractor to assess the works and begin planning the next stage of the project.

The replacement of the box gutter will pave the way for the much-needed internal rectification works to Room 7, allowing us to address the damage and work towards returning the classroom to use.

Works are scheduled to commence Monday 30th November. There is not expected to be any disruptions to school operations during this time.

Warm regards,

Mat Montebello