From the Principal

Dear Families,

Last night I had the privilege of presenting to a group of parents as part of the Friends of Willy Welcome night. The night, which has now become an annual event,  gave me the opportunity to reflect upon the school work of 2024, while outlining the plans for 2025.

While working through the school’s Annual Implementation Plan goals for the year, articulating the annual theme of ENGAGE and explaining the work that goes on behind the scenes, it was an opportunity to engage with parents/carers. It was also an opportunity to answer any questions from parents which we always enjoy.

The presentation from the night will be circulated via email in the coming weeks. I would encourage anyone who had any questions about the event or presentation to contact me directly.

Thank you to those in attendance, in particular Julia, FOW President, who coordinated the event.

School Parking

Recently there have been a lot of cars parking in our driveways, which are signed ‘keep clear’ areas. It is essential that these driveways are kept clear at all times and we are asking all school community members to be mindful of where and how they park. Of note road bollards have been placed in these areas to restrict unauthorised parking.

Parking concerns also include double parking behind parked cars and near the school crossings at both drop off and pick up times. Recently we have had some very close calls with students exiting or entering these vehicles. 

Road safety around the school is the responsibility of everyone and we are asking for your support on this matter.

If you do observe unsafe parking or driving on the roads around the school please contact myself or the school office.

Thank you for your support on this matter

Easter Hat Parade

It is not that far away! The world famous Williamstown Primary Easter hat parade. The parade which will be held on the front basketball court at approximately 9:15am is a community event and we would encourage all families to attend. So get your raffle tickets in and come and join us for the fun. We are even expecting a special guest to be in attendance.

NAPLAN

Congratulations to all our year 3 & 5 students for finishing NAPLAN. As previously mentioned as a school while we value the insight NAPLAN gives us from a holistic trend perspective for each individual student it is only a snapshot in time. We feel it is valuable to not overemphasise the assessment period. Essentially we do not teach to the test, instead looking at it as something we undertake as part of our school journey.

That aside we know that some students find the period stressful and we will always continue to encourage them to always have a go, try their best and follow their passions.

Term 1 Open Afternoon

A reminder that on Tuesday the 1st April from 3:15pm - 4:00pm we will be hosting our term 1 open afternoon.

This afternoon gives parents/carers and family members the opportunity to visit classrooms and share work students have engaged in this term.

We look forward to seeing as many families as possible.

Important Reminders 

Student Leadership Badge Ceremony

On Friday 21st March we will be holding our student leaders badge ceremony. This will take place at our fortnightly whole school assembly. All Junior School Councillors from Prep-6 and House captains will be presented with their leadership badges and certificates. We welcome all families and in particular families of student leaders to join us for this special assembly commencing at 2:45pm.

School arrival times. 

In recent weeks we have seen an increase in students arriving at school well before the designated supervision time. Official yard supervision commences at 8:45am, and we are asking families to refrain from allowing children on-site before 8:30am. During this time staff are occupied setting up for the day or in early meetings. This in-turn means there is minimal supervision in the yard at this time. Your support on this matter is much appreciated. 

Building independence

With the dust now settled for the start of a new school year, routines have now been established and students are doing a great job at preparing for the day. To further help support the building of student independence can we ask for morning farewells to occur outside of buildings and hallways. Building student independence in getting ready to learn starts with them independently hanging up bags, pulling out their drink bottles and entering the classroom. Providing students the time and space will also decrease congestion and busyness in our hallways.

External Tutoring 

In recent years, the topic of external tutoring has gained significant attention. We understand that parents and carers want the best for their children and are seeking additional support to help them thrive, something we wholeheartedly appreciate.

However, when families consider engaging with external tutors, a common question often arises: What is the best time during the school day for students to be withdrawn to attend tutoring programs? At Williamstown Primary, we deeply value every hour and every session of class time, a sentiment reflected in our 2025 Annual Implementation Plan under the theme of ENGAGE – “Every Minute Counts.”

When students are withdrawn from school for tutoring, they risk missing out on valuable instructional time. The fluid nature of our timetabling means that curriculum lessons may shift week to week. As a result, one week a student might miss a writing lesson, and the next, a maths lesson. We recognise that some students must attend appointments with allied health professionals, and we fully support their access to these essential services.

That said, catching up on missed lessons can be challenging. 

We kindly ask for the support of parents and carers in minimising these disruptions to ensure our students don’t miss critical learning opportunities.

Warm regards,

Mat