Principal  Message

Welcome to the New School Year

Welcome to the start of another exciting school year at Warrandyte Primary School. It has been wonderful to see our school come alive again after the holidays, with smiling faces, busy classrooms and a real sense of enthusiasm for learning.

I’m very pleased to share that we’ve had a strong and positive start to the year. Classrooms have settled quickly into their routines, and students have returned ready to learn, reconnect and challenge themselves. There’s already a great buzz around the school, and it’s been lovely to see how confidently students have stepped back into school life.

One of my favourite parts of this role is to be a part of the Prep students first days of school. A very special welcome to our new Prep students and their families. Our Preps have had a fantastic transition into school, and we are so proud of how calmly and confidently they have settled in. They have taken to their new routines with smiles, curiosity and growing independence. A big thank you to Nerole, Sam and families for supporting such a smooth and happy start for our youngest learners. We cannot wait to watch them grow and learn in their first year of schooling. There are many opportunities for them to reach milestones throughout the year. 

Bushfire Relocation

Last week brought a different kind of challenge, with the temporary relocation to Templestowe Valley Primary School due to the Manningham Shire being rated Extreme on the LGA Bushfire Risk Index. Relocating is never easy, and we understand it can be disruptive for families and staff. I would like to sincerely thank everyone for their patience, flexibility and calm approach during this time. It is not as easy at it looks to relocate and I appreciate that so early in the year, it's a bit of a choppy start to the year.

Living and learning in Warrandyte means we are surrounded by beautiful bushland, which is one of the great privileges of our community. At the same time, it means we must always place safety first. The way our school community has handled this relocation reflects the care, resilience and cooperation that make Warrandyte Primary such a special place. I have attached a slideshow that the Department of Education has written to help explain the Fire Danger Rating Index. In a nutshell, we relocate on days that are Extreme in the Manningham Local Government Area. It's important to note that sometimes the Extreme rating in the LGA of Manningham does not match up with the overall Central region rating that is usually put out by the media. 

The LGA rating gives a more targeted assessment of the Manningham area in relation to its fire danger risk. For example, we were rated as Extreme on Tuesday last week but other LGA's in the Central region were not. The Department of Education follows the advice of Emergency Services Victoria, and the school follows the policy, enacting its plan when advised to do so. As principal, I have no say or input into the decision process and must enact the management plan when asked to. 

Classroom layout

Over the coming weeks, you may also notice a gradual change in the way our classrooms are arranged and presented. Our teachers are deliberately planning and laying out learning spaces with cognitive load in mind. Cognitive Load Theory comes from educational psychology research and explains that our working memory has a limited capacity, so learning is most effective when information is presented clearly and without unnecessary distraction. Simply put, this means carefully considering how much information students are asked to process at one time. 

When classrooms are calm, organised and purposeful, students are better able to focus on the learning itself. Thoughtful classroom layout helps reduce distractions, supports clear routines, and allows teachers to explicitly teach new skills and concepts more effectively. These changes are all about creating learning environments that support attention, understanding and success for every child. 

If your child is struggling with transition...

Whilst across all classrooms, I have seen very settled classrooms that doesn't mean that for some students the transition is easy. It is completely normal for some children to find changes challenging, especially at the start of a new school year. Moving into a new classroom, working with different teachers, or adjusting to new routines can take time.

If you notice your child feeling unsettled, anxious or reluctant to come to school, a good first step is to talk with them and listen carefully to how they are feeling. Reassure them that it’s okay to need time to adjust and that many children experience similar feelings.

Maintaining consistent routines at home, such as regular sleep times and calm mornings, can also help children feel more secure. Encourage your child to share positive moments from their day, even small ones, to help build confidence.

Most importantly, we encourage families to reach out early. Your child’s classroom teacher is always the best first point of contact, and we are very happy to work together to support a smooth transition. When home and school communicate openly, children feel safer, supported and better able to settle into their learning. We have Education Support Staff in almost all of our classrooms so we can work on a plan to help build their confidence and feel happier in their new space.

Out of Hours School Care 2026

We are pleased to confirm that Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) will be offered this year on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, as well as afternoon sessions from Monday to Thursday. Based on the feedback received through our recent family survey, there will be no OSHC sessions offered on Fridays, as demand on this day was very low. Thank you to families who took the time to complete the survey — your feedback helps us ensure our services reflect the needs of our community. For new families you can register your family on the Kidsoft parent portal to begin booking sessions. 

Flexischools 

Flexischools has now been updated for 2026 classes. You will need to go into your Flexischools App and reassign your child/ren to their 2026 class. New families will need to register with Flexischools to set up the app. We use Flexischools for Uniform orders online, to order the Friday Lunch orders from Biddick's Bakery and for any special lunches or events that FOWPS put on throughout the year. 

Have a great weekend.

Nieta