Principal's Message

 Dear Parents/Carers,

School Council Membership for 2025

We are pleased to announce the members of the School Council for 2025. This dedicated group of individuals will work together to support our school and the wider community. We truly appreciate their commitment and look forward to their contributions throughout the year.

2025 School Council Members: Georgina Logan (President), Clinton Brown (Vice President), Liz Leonard (Treasurer), Edwina Medro (Minute Secretary), Peter Lee (Executive Officer - Principal), Danielle Toone, Tonya Ferguson, Aaron Hammersley, Greg Gent, Nick Mills, Steph Packer & Kylie Foreman.

We thank each of them for their involvement and their continued support in making our school a better place for all.

BIG LIFE SCHOOL

We are excited to be working with A Big Life implementing their Footsteps Program across all year levels in our school. The Program has been developed and informed by evidence and in collaboration with students, teachers, and parents of our local Warrnambool & District Schools, to ensure that it meets the needs of young people in our local context.  The program also aims to lean into our schools’ current strengths and the great work that is already happening. The Footsteps Program is supported by Warrnambool Student Wellbeing Association, Fletcher Jones Foundation, La Trobe University, and the Department of Education.

 The Footsteps Program provides classroom lessons and teacher professional development, to support students to build the skills and capacity to navigate life’s ups and downs and safeguard their mental health. Each fortnight students participate in a new Footsteps lesson and parents can access these resources through the Parent Website. https://sites.google.com/education.vic.gov.au/biglifefootstepsparentaccess/about-footsteps 

We encourage parents to extend and support this learning and conversation at home. 

SCHOOL ATHLETICS

The School Athletics Day on Friday 21st March 2025, was a fantastic event that brought together students, staff, and the school community for a day filled with energy, excitement, and sportsmanship. The weather couldn’t have been better – slightly cloudy and mild temperatures with the sun peeping through at times made for a perfect day of outdoor activities.

As the students gathered on the sports field, the air was buzzing with anticipation. The day kicked off with the usual cheer and enthusiasm, with everyone eager to participate in the various athletic events. Whether it was the sprint races, the long jump, the relay, or the shot put, each event saw students giving their all while also encouraging their peers along the way. It was inspiring to see such a high level of sportsmanship from all the students. They not only competed fiercely but also supported one another, cheering for their classmates, regardless of the outcome. The true spirit of teamwork was evident all day long.

Due to the high amount of events being held today some of the running races were held throughout the week. Below are pictures of the winners from those races.

The success of the day was thanks to the hard work of the school staff, who provided invaluable assistance in ensuring everything ran smoothly. From managing the event logistics to keeping everything on track, their support was instrumental. A special thank you goes to Cherine Owen, whose exceptional organisation played a key role in the day’s success. Cherine’s careful planning, attention to detail, and ability to keep everything running on time were remarkable. Her dedication helped create a seamless experience for everyone involved, making sure each event was well organized and that the students had a memorable and enjoyable time.

Overall, the School Athletics Day was a huge success. The students’ enthusiasm and sportsmanship, paired with the great weather and impeccable organization, made for a truly special occasion. We are grateful to all who participated, volunteered, and supported the event, and we look forward to future events where we can continue celebrating the spirit of sports and community.

We also thank Rowena Massey and her team from Woolworths for providing water, fruit and popcorn for all students.

CHILD SAFE STANDARD 1

Child Safe Standard 1 is part of a set of standards aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of children within organizations, particularly in educational and community settings. Standard 1 focuses on "Creating a child-safe environment" and emphasizes the importance of establishing an environment where children are protected, respected, and supported.

Key Aspects of Standard 1:

Cultural Safety for Children:

It ensures that children, particularly those from diverse backgrounds (such as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children, children with disabilities, and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds), feel safe and included within the organization.

Leadership and Commitment:

Leaders, including school leadership, staff, and volunteers, must actively demonstrate a commitment to the child-safe practices. This includes prioritizing child safety at all levels and leading by example.

Child-Centered Policies:

Organisations are required to implement policies and procedures that promote a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for children. These policies should focus on the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of children, promoting a climate of respect, trust, and transparency.

Clear Expectations for Behaviour:

It is essential to have clear codes of conduct and expectations for staff, volunteers, and any adults interacting with children. These should outline appropriate behaviours to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing.

Safe Recruitment and Training:

Organisations must establish recruitment processes to screen staff, volunteers, and others who come into contact with children. This may include background checks and training to ensure they understand their responsibilities for child safety and can identify potential risks.

Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation:

The organisation must regularly evaluate its child-safe practices to ensure they are working effectively and take necessary steps for improvement. Regular monitoring helps ensure that child safety measures are continually upheld.

By adhering to Child Safe Standard 1, organizations can foster a safe and supportive environment for children, helping them feel valued and protected while engaging in various activities, whether at school, in the community, or elsewhere.

CELEBRATING OUR DIVERSITY - HARMONY WEEK

At Warrnambool Primary School, we pride ourselves on fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates the rich diversity of our school community. To honor this diversity, we will be hosting a special assembly on Monday 24th March at 9am to showcase the vibrant cultural backgrounds of our students. The event will feature the 2025 Cultural Walk with Flags, where students will proudly represent their countries and cultures.

This event is an opportunity for us all to learn from each other, celebrate our differences, and embrace the richness that each cultural background brings to our school community. Below, we acknowledge the students who will be representing their countries during this special event.

Please note the revised list below. This list contains those staff and students who were born in that country.

Cultural Representation by Country

We encourage all members of our Warrnambool Primary School community to join us for this special assembly, where we will come together to celebrate the diversity of our students and the cultures they represent. Through this event, we aim to foster mutual respect and understanding, ensuring our school remains a welcoming environment for all.

We look forward to seeing you at the assembly and walking together in this vibrant celebration of cultural unity.

SCHOOL PHOTOS

This years School Photos will be held on Friday 28th March. 

Photos need to be ordered online via the following steps:

1.     Go to www.leadingimage.com.au

2.     Click on Order Your School Photos

3.     Enter your Access Key: W9QZ9EJH

Individual and family photos can be ordered with the same access key.

Family photos must be ordered before 4.30pm on Thursday 27th March (the night before photo day). Please make sure your orders are placed before this time. 

If you have any questions or require assistance please contact the school office.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

As per the school uniform policy, students will be expected to wear the school logo jumper, polo tops and hats. Students may wear plain navy bottoms without a logo which can be purchased from the school uniform shop or other retailers.

There are options available to assist families with the purchase of uniforms including using the School Saving Bonus and State Schools Relief.

If you have any questions or require assistance with the purchase of uniforms please contact the school office on 5561 5955.

Have a great weekend.

Peter Lee

Principal