Warrandyte Primary School - Alert

Principal  Message

100 Days Prep

Our Prep celebrated a wonderful milestone today – 100 days of Prep! Our youngest learners have spent the past 100 school days making friends, learning new skills, and growing in confidence and independence. From their very first morning at Warrandyte Primary School to today, they have explored numbers and letters, developed their reading and writing, and discovered the joy of learning together. The celebration was filled with fun activities, smiles, and plenty of “100”-themed creations. We are so proud of how far our Prep students have come and look forward to seeing all the amazing things they will achieve in the years ahead!

 

Book Week Parade

This coming Tuesday, we are excited to celebrate one of our favourite events of the year – Book Week Parade! The parade is a great time to bring our school community together to share the joy of reading, creativity, and imagination. Students are encouraged to come dressed as a character from one of their favourite books and join in the parade for a morning full of colour, fun, and literary celebration.

 

This year we have a special guest, State Member of Victorian Parliament Nicole Werner, who will have the tough (but enjoyable!) job of judging costumes and presenting awards. We know our students’ creativity and enthusiasm will make her job a challenge!

 

Costumes aside, Book Week is a celebration of the vital role reading plays in every child’s education inside and outside of school. Research shows that reading for pleasure not only improves literacy skills but also builds empathy, sparks creativity, and develops critical thinking. This week is an opportunity to connect children with books in a way that inspires them to become lifelong readers. Fostering a love of reading is one of the most powerful ways we can support our students’ learning and wellbeing. Events like Book Week help bring reading to life, making it exciting and meaningful for children of all ages.

 

We look forward to seeing everyone’s costumes and sharing in the celebration next Tuesday. The teachers are busy getting their costumes ready also! Thank you for supporting your child to find a character they love, and for helping us keep the joy of reading alive in our community. Prizes for each class for Best Costume and Most Creative. The parade kicks off after the roll has been taken in the morning. 

 

Athletics Carnival 

 

 

So far the weather is looking good to go ahead with the Athletics Carnival tommorowhe Whole School Athletics Carnival! This exciting event will see our entire school community down at the George Road Track and Field for a day filled with energy, teamwork, and school spirit.

 

Our Prep to Year 2 students will be taking part in a fun program of mini athletics games, designed to introduce them to the skills, movement patterns, and enjoyment of athletics in a supportive environment. Meanwhile, our Year 3 to 6 students will participate in the full range of track and field events, from sprints to long jump, discus, and relays. Some of our students will even qualify to represent Warrandyte Primary School at the District Athletics Carnival but the aim of the day is for our students to have some fun and have a go.

 

Participating in Athletics is not just about running fast or jumping high. It is an important part of the Victorian Curriculum, which recognises the role of physical education in developing persistence, goal-setting, and sportsmanship. Participating in competition helps students learn how to challenge themselves, strive for personal bests, and respond positively to both success and disappointment.

 

From a social and emotional learning perspective, events like the athletics carnival build resilience and teamwork, while also teaching the value of simply “having a go.” Not every student will win a 1st ribbon, but every student will walk away with a sense of achievement from pushing themselves, supporting their peers, and embracing the day with enthusiasm. We are looking forward to seeing the whole school out on the track next Monday, cheering one another on and making memories. Thank you to our staff and parent volunteers who make this event possible – your support is invaluable in helping us create such a vibrant, inclusive school culture.

 

For our new Prep families, the Preps will engage in engaging in a circuit of activities and games in a multi age group. The acdtiviites take place in the middle of the track as the older students compete in their events. Parents/Grandparents are welcome to attend and help out or cheer their children on. 

 

Please make sure you pack a raincoat, jumpers, food and drink bottle.

Grade 3-6 Fixture

 

Building Self Efficacy in children

This week, we were lucky to have a parent workshop with psychologist Emma-Rose Parsons. I have heard Emma-Rose a few times now and each time I am left with a renewed sense of how we, as educators and parents, can help our children grow into capable, confident young people.

 

Emma-Rose spoke confidently about the importance of building self-efficacy – a child’s belief in their ability to do something, even when it’s challenging or unfamiliar. Self-efficacy is developed through real experiences of trying, persisting, and succeeding (sometimes after a few attempts!). It’s not just about telling children they “can do it” – it’s about giving them the opportunities to prove to themselves that they can.

 

One of the most powerful takeaways for me was Emma-Rose’s point that resilience begins with what a child believes they can do when they feel uncomfortable or challenged. Instead of pushing too far too fast, we can start from a point of confidence and then gradually build on it, helping children expand their comfort zone step-by-step.

 

We also discussed the important difference between self-efficacy and self-esteem:

  • Self-efficacy is about belief in ability: “I can work through this challenge.”

  • Self-esteem is about belief in worth: “I feel good about who I am.”

     

While both are important we give self-esteem more attendtion when self-efficacy actually has a direct impact on a child’s willingness to take on challenges and persist when things get tough – key ingredients for resilience.

 

As a school, we are committed to creating learning environments and opportunities that allow students to practise skills, take safe risks, and see the results of their own effort. It is okay to fail and Emma-Rose suggests giving them opportunities to 'safe fail' so we can normalise it and give it less power. 

 

A big thank you to Emma-Rose for sharing her expertise, and to our families who joined the conversation. 

 

Have a great weekend,

Nieta