Welcome to 2026! The beginning of the year is one of my favourite times, as we return feeling refreshed, rested, and ready to go.

Staff enjoyed a wonderful day of reconnecting on Tuesday, with a strong focus on understanding roles, staff supports, structures, and processes across the school. We reviewed student expectations, School-Wide Positive Behaviour strategies, major and minor behaviours, and follow-up processes. We also revisited learning expectations and whole-school approaches to curriculum and assessment.

In addition, staff completed their Mandatory Reporting modules and participated in Child Safe and Anaphylaxis briefings. It was a full day of learning and reflection, balanced nicely with opportunities to chat, reconnect, and catch up along the way.

We warmly welcome new and returning staff to our team this year;

William Jacobs (Grade 3)
Jess Turland-Rhook (Grade 6)
Sarah Milroy (EAL Teacher)
Kylie Fowler (Education Support)
Lauren Grixti (Education Support)
Jodie Hancy (Education Support)
Breanna Tauschke (Education Support)
Amber Cashion (Trainee)

Each week, the LINK will feature a section titled “Meet the Staff,” introducing a new team. This week, we are pleased to introduce the Leadership and Administration teams.

Please take some time to view this section and get to know the wonderful people who make up Team WEPS.

Warrnambool East Primary School is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all students. We recognise the fundamental importance of protecting every child in our care, regardless of their background, disability, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status, or cultural and linguistic background.

Our school is dedicated to providing an environment where all students are safe and feel safe. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to protecting children from harm.

Our comprehensive Child Safety Framework outlines the strategies we use to support student safety and wellbeing. This framework includes a range of policies, codes of conduct, and procedures designed to promote a child-safe culture.

Please click on the link below to review our Child Safe Policies and processes. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of our Child Safe Officers: Ann Dwyer, Kerry McCarthy, or Lesley Keilar.

Child Safe Standards

We will always listen to parent and carer concerns or queries and aim to respond in a timely manner. We ask that all parents and carers adhere to our Parent Code of Conduct and engage with staff in a respectful and constructive way.

We are fortunate to work within a supportive school community, however, we also have a duty of care to ensure that our expectations for respectful behaviour and communication are clear and upheld.

We thank you for your ongoing support and for choosing us to care for and work alongside your children. We recognise the privilege and responsibility of this role and feel truly honoured to be entrusted with the care and education of your children.

Please see Communication with staff Policy.pdf

BEHAVIOURAL EXPECTATIONS (as outlined in our Statement of Values and School Philosophy Policy)

Statement of Values and School Philosophy 25 due 29.pdf – to be updated with revised Vision and Values.

Warrnambool East Primary School acknowledges that the behaviour of staff, parents, carers and students has an impact on our school community and culture. We acknowledge a shared responsibility to create a positive learning environment for the children and young people at our school.

As principals and school leaders, we will:

• model positive behaviour and effective leadership

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community

• work collaboratively to create a school environment where respectful and safe behaviour is expected of everyone

• behave in a manner consistent with the standards of our profession and meet core responsibilities to provide safe and inclusive environments

• plan, implement and review our work to ensure the care, safety, security and general wellbeing of all students at school

• identify and support students who are or may be at risk

• do our best to ensure every child achieves their personal and learning potential

• work with parents to understand their child’s needs and, where necessary, adapt the learning environment accordingly

• respond appropriately when safe and inclusive behaviour is not demonstrated and implement appropriate interventions and sanctions when required

• ask any person who is acting in an offensive, intimidating or otherwise inappropriate way to leave the school grounds.

As teachers and non-teaching school staff, we will:

• model positive behaviour to students consistent with the standards of our profession

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community

• proactively engage with parents about student outcomes

• work with parents to understand the needs of each student and, where necessary, adapt the learning environment accordingly

• work collaboratively with parents to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for students with additional needs

• communicate with the principal and school leaders in the event we anticipate or face any tension or challenging behaviours from parents

• treat all members of the school community with respect.

As parents and carers, we will:

• model positive behaviour to our child

• communicate politely and respectfully with all members of the school community

• ensure our child attends school on time, every day the school is open for instruction

• take an interest in our child’s school and learning

• work with the school to achieve the best outcomes for our child

• communicate constructively with the school and use expected processes and protocols when raising concerns

• support school staff to maintain a safe learning environment for all students

• follow the school’s processes for communication with staff

• treat all school leaders, staff, students, and other members of the school community with respect.

We invite all families to review and discuss the school’s Wide Positive Behaviour (SWPB) Matrix and Major/Minor Behaviour Chart with your children. The charts are available under the SWPB tab.

School Vision and Values

Following our recent school review process, we have drafted the following revised School Vision and Values statements and invite our school community to read and reflect on them.

School Vision

At Warrnambool East Primary School, we promote a culture of nurture, inclusion and high-quality education where all students thrive as learners and contribute proudly to their school and community.

School Values

Be Respectful by treating others with care, listening attentively and valuing differences.

Be Safe by following our school values and caring for ourselves, others, and our environment.

Be a Learner by staying curious, persisting, trying our personal best and growing from mistakes.

Be Kind by helping others, speaking politely and showing care.

We warmly welcome feedback and invite you to email marina.milich@education.vic.gov.au by close of business on Friday 6 February. Please note that while all feedback will be carefully considered, it may not necessarily result in changes.

It is an expectation that all families have the Compass app downloaded and active. This is a school requirement and is our sole digital communication platform, following the reduction of Seesaw in response to parent feedback.

Compass is essential for receiving all school communications and timely updates in the event of any school emergencies. All important information will be communicated through this app.

Using Compass also provides valuable preparation for secondary school, where digital platforms are the primary method of communication.

Please contact our administration team if you are experiencing any technical issues accessing Compass. As this is now our only digital communication platform, we are also undertaking further learning to ensure it is used to its full potential.

Later this term, we will invite parents and carers to join a “How to Use Compass” Webex to support confident and effective use of the app.

Our teachers are really looking forward to meeting with parents next week, either face-to-face or over the phone. Please book your time via the Compass app.

This is a great opportunity to share any important information or updates about your child with their new teacher, or simply to say hello. At this early stage, teachers will have only taught your child for a few days and will not be providing learning updates.

As a SunSmart school, we are currently enacting our SunSmart policy. We ask that you discuss with your children the importance of wearing a hat and applying sunscreen whenever they are outside, even on days when the sun is not strong.

There are times when teachers need to provide reminders about wearing hats. This is a non-negotiable expectation and must be followed for student safety.

The school provides sunscreen for all students; however, you are welcome to send your child with their own if preferred.

Sun Smart Policy

A reminder: Teachers begin their workday at 8:40am and typically arrive at school between 8:00am and 8:30am. This is not a suitable time for students to arrive, as supervision does not begin until 8:40am.

We have noticed a number of students arriving through the gates from 8:10am, and ask that families ensure children arrive no earlier than 8:40am to ensure their safety.

The website is currently being updated for 2026. We will notify you once all information has been fully updated.

Once again, we warmly welcome everyone back to school. A special welcome to our new Foundation students and families and the 11 new families who have joined us across various year levels. We are excited to have you as part of our school community! Save the date Thursday, 26 February and join us for our Welcome to 2026 event and information session for parents and carers.

THE LINK

Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be a Learner, Be Kind

Issue 1 · 29 Jan 2026

In this issue