Principal's Post

Principal’s Message 

Bullying No Way Week – Small Acts, Big Impact

Last week, Wembley Primary School recognised Bullying No Way Week, which was from Monday 17 to Friday 21 August. This year’s theme, ‘Small Acts, Big Impact’, reminds us that creating a safe and inclusive school doesn’t always require big gestures. A kind word, inviting someone to join in, speaking up when something isn’t right, or checking in on a friend can make a significant difference.

At Wembley, we want every student to feel safe, known, included and respected. Throughout the week, students were reminded of the important role we all play in creating a positive school culture and that bullying, whether in person or online, is not okay.

An important part of this work is also helping children understand what bullying is and what it isn’t. Conflict, friendship difficulties or a one-off disagreement can be upsetting and need support, but they are not necessarily bullying. Bullying involves repeated behaviour that causes harm and involves an imbalance of power. Helping our students understand this difference supports them to identify concerns, seek help and develop the skills to manage social situations appropriately.

From 2027, Australian schools will also adopt a nationally consistent approach to responding to reports of bullying, including initiating a response within two school days. This aligns strongly with our commitment at Wembley to listen to concerns, respond appropriately and work in partnership with students and families.

Our message to students is simple: small actions matter. Show kindness, include others, speak respectfully and, when something doesn’t feel right, tell a trusted adult. Together, these small acts can have a very big impact.

On Monday students participated in a Kids Helpline Incursion to support age appropriate content around this topic. 

The Wembley Way: Know It. Show It. Lead It.

We are currently strengthening our school-wide approach to behaviour by explicitly teaching our school rules and helping students understand how their responsibilities grow as they progress through school.

In Prep–Year 2, students learn to KNOW the Wembley Way. 

In Years 3–4, they are expected to SHOW the Wembley Way through their everyday actions. 

In Years 5–6, students LEAD the Wembley Way by modelling positive behaviour, encouraging others and seeking support when someone is being treated unfairly or unsafely.

Students are also learning the difference between minor inappropriate behaviours, which can usually be addressed by the teacher or adult present, and major inappropriate behaviours, which require additional follow-up because they cause, or may cause, physical, emotional or psychological harm.

To support this approach, we are reintroducing our Reflection and Repair Room, staffed by school leaders during recess and lunch. Following a major behaviour, students may attend the room to reflect on what happened, who was affected and how they can make things right.

Students then work through our REP process, which includes:

Repair: Taking steps to address the harm caused.

Educate: Understanding the impact of their behaviour and learning what to do differently.

Privilege: Where appropriate, a temporary loss of privilege connected to the behaviour.

Our aim is to balance clear expectations and accountability with education, wellbeing, support and opportunities to repair harm. Together, we can ensure Wembley remains a safe, respectful and inclusive place for every student to learn and play.

ICAS Assessments

Last week some of our students were busy participating in the ICAS Assessments!

ICAS is an international academic competition designed to challenge students and celebrate their learning achievements. Rather than testing simple memory, these assessments focus on higher-order thinking, problem-solving, and critical reasoning.

It has been wonderful to see our participants embrace the academic challenge and apply their deep-thinking skills under formal test conditions.

Once all testing wraps up, every participating student will receive a certificate recognizing their efforts, with top performers earning Credit, Distinction, or High Distinction honors. Parents will also receive a comprehensive diagnostic report highlighting their child's specific academic strengths and areas for growth. Congratulations to all of our hard-working participants for showcasing their incredible skills and dedication to learning! We have the Mathematics ICAS assessments happening next week. 

A Fortnight of Adventure: Excursions, Incursions, and Team Spirit! 

What an incredibly busy and exciting two weeks it has been across all year levels at Wembley Primary School! Our students have been out and about, connecting with the community, and challenging themselves with new experiences. Here is a wrap-up of what our students have been up to:

• Prep Fire Education Incursion Our youngest learners had a fantastic time learning all about community safety during their Fire Education visit today. Students learned crucial procedures for staying safe around fires and how to confidently respond in an emergency. The absolute highlight of the day was getting to tour a real fire truck up close, courtesy of our wonderful local fire station!
• Year 1 Movie Night: Pizzas, PJs & Friends! There was huge excitement in Year 1 as students traded their school uniforms for their favourite pyjamas for our special Movie Night! It was a magical evening filled with delicious pizza, lots of giggles, and quality time spent relaxing with friends.
• Year 2 Sunny Stones Day CampOur Year 2 students headed off on an unforgettable adventure to the Sunny Stones Day Camp! It was wonderful to see them step out of their comfort zones, build independence, and work together to conquer a variety of outdoor team-building challenges and activities. I heard that the best bit was coming home on the bus when it was dark outside!!
• District Athletics CarnivalA massive congratulations to all the students who proudly represented Wembley Primary School at the District Athletics Carnival this week! Our athletes showed outstanding sportsmanship, determination, and teamwork as they competed against other local schools. You made us incredibly proud!

A huge thank you to all the staff, parent volunteers, and community members who helped coordinate, supervise, and run these fantastic events to make these opportunities so memorable for our students.

A Special Shout Out!!!

Congratulations to all the Year 5 and 6 Girls who represented Wembley Primary School in Hockey and are the Western Metropolitan Sports Region CHAMPIONS!!!! Well done girls!!

Monty the Monstar Colour Fun Run!

Wembley Primary is raising funds for our Eating Area Redevelopment! Here is everything you need to know about the upcoming event.

The Big Run: Friday 4th September at 1:30 pm

Where: McIvor Reserve

Donations Close: Friday 11th September (Online only)

What to Wear & Bring

• White T-shirt: Best for making the non-toxic colour powder pop!
• Red T-shirt: Wear this if your child prefers no colour powder thrown on them.
• Shoes: Closed-in shoes are mandatory.
• Free Gear: Every student gets a free pair of sunglasses and a headband on the day!

How to Participate

1. Register your child at myprofilepage.com.au.
2. Share the link with family and friends to collect online donations.
3. Raise just $10 to choose awesome prizes or donate to community charities!

Have a great week!!

Sharon 🙂

2027 Enrolment Intentions

If your child is currently enrolled in Prep to Year 5 and will not be returning to Wembley Primary School in 2027, please let the school know as soon as possible. This information is essential in supporting our enrolment projections, staffing and class planning for next year.

Please notify the school office via phone or email if your family's circumstances or details have changed.

2027 Class Placement Process

Planning for the 2027 school year is now underway, and families are invited to submit a class placement request if there are educational considerations they would like the school to take into account. Requests should focus on your child's learning, wellbeing or social needs that may support their success at school. 

Our staff spend considerable time developing class groupings that ensure every student is placed in a learning environment where they can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. This process draws on the professional knowledge of teachers and leaders, taking into account students' learning needs, wellbeing, peer relationships and friendships to create balanced classes that support the success of all students.

For this reason, requests for specific teachers or friendship placements will not be considered.

Families may submit a request where there is a significant educational or wellbeing reason for their child not to be placed with another student. A clear explanation must be provided to support the request.

While every request will be carefully considered by the leadership team, we are unable to guarantee that all requests can be accommodated. Further information, including the submission process and closing date, will be communicated to families shortly.

You can make a 2027 class placement request here: https://forms.gle/1WDG6DpfoxTkDJvJ9

Placement requests close on Wednesday October 21st 2026

And just a reminder if you have not enrolled your child for Prep next year please do this asap.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to create the best possible learning environments for every student in 2027.

Working Together to Support Our School Community

Over the past few weeks, I have really enjoyed spending time in classrooms and out in the yard, talking with our students about what it means to live our school values of Respect, Resilience, Empathy and Inclusion. It has been wonderful to hear students sharing what these values look like in action and discussing how they can contribute to making Wembley Primary School a place where everyone feels safe, valued and ready to learn.

As we continue to build a strong learning culture, we will maintain a clear and consistent focus on our expectations for behaviour. Like all schools, there will be times when we need to work with students to help them reflect on their choices, repair relationships and learn from their mistakes. Our goal is always to support students to develop the skills they need to be respectful, responsible and successful members of our school community.

Working closely with families is an important part of this work. If you have any questions or concerns about your child, I encourage you to contact your child's classroom teacher in the first instance. If further support is required, a member of our leadership team is always available to assist. By working together with open and respectful communication, we can achieve the best outcomes for every child.

To ensure families know their concerns have been received, the school will acknowledge emails or requests for contact within two school days, in line with our Complaints Policy. While we will always do our very best to respond to general enquiries as quickly as possible, some matters require time to gather information and ensure that everyone involved has been heard.

I would also like to remind families that schools operate under the Right to Disconnect legislation. Our staff are not expected to monitor or respond to emails or phone calls outside of their working hours. We appreciate your understanding and support as we balance being responsive to our community while also protecting the wellbeing of our staff.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Together, by modelling kindness, respect and understanding, we continue to build the positive and inclusive school culture that our students deserve. This reflects the shared commitment outlined in our Statement of Values and School Philosophy, where students, families and staff work together to create a safe, respectful and supportive learning environment for everyone. 

Key Events (7-10)