Leadership updates and reflections
An update from Julie
It is hard to believe we are already in May – so much has already happened this term and the weeks are flying by!
It was a huge week last week with parent teacher interviews and two very special whole school events! Thank you to our leaders, teachers, ES staff and families for all the phenomenal support that helped make these events so memorable.
ANZAC Assembly
A huge thank you to Tim , Mrs Salisbury and Miranda for organising such a special Anzac assembly last week and to our families who came along to be part of the event. There was so much love and care evident in every little detail that made it a very special acknowledgment and learning opportunity for our students. The choir and soloists and all of the students involved were amazing as were all of our students and I’m sure everyone was very proud of how respectful and engaged all of the students were throughout the assembly.
Thank you also to Keely for taking our Grade 6 school captains to lay a wreath on behalf of our school at the annual Manningham School’s Anzac Service, hosted by the Rotary Club of Manningham. Tiarra, Stevie, Zara and Victora did a wonderful job representing our school showing maturity and initiative to approach and thank those involved in running the service.
Whole School Cross Country
What a great way to finish the week off last week with such a successful whole school cross country! The CC is a much-anticipated event on the calendar every year with many students training for the big day! A huge thank you to Mr O, Tim and Mrs Salisbury for organising such a great day for us. There was such a fun atmosphere with music, commentary and cheering to acknowledge the fantastic efforts of every student. It is always heartwarming to see how much care and genuine support is given particularly to those students who bravely persevere and overcome challenges to finish the race. A huge thank you our teachers, ES staff and our parent volunteers for your support to help the day run smoothly. A special thank you to Julie E. and the wonderful team of parent volunteers for organising the catering for the day – amazing as always and much appreciated. A great day was had by all – thank you everyone!
Parent Teacher Interviews
Thank you to parents who attended the last week’s parent-teacher interviews. It was an important opportunity for parents to discuss how their child is progressing and discuss ways families can support their child’s learning. If you were unable to attend, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher to schedule an alternative time.
New Kiln Arriving
The new kiln is finally arriving today to be installed in the art room! A very exciting upgrade made possible through the amazing support that our families have given to our fundraising events, including the regular pop up canteens. Thank you everyone for making this possible. The new kiln will be safer and more efficient and Kristy has some fun ideas to celebrate its arrival – watch this space! Can't wait to see the beautiful ceramics that our students will be making very soon!
Prep 2027
Planning for our 2027 preps is well underway with small group tours being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays or by appointment on alternative days. Last week an information session was held at the Burch Kinder for parents who have children in the three-year -old and four-year-old groups and we will also be running our annual parent information session at the school next Tuesday evening (May12th) for all families who have a prep starting in 2027. Storytime sessions will also starting shortly for children at 3 year-old and 4 year-old kinder. Enrolments can be made using the Insight parent portal or in hard copy and are due by July 31st.
Mother’s Day Morning
This week the fun continues with the special Mother’s Day morning planned for Friday. Mums and kids will have lots of indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy together as well as getting a photo at the photo booth and sharing some scones and jam and cream! Don’t forget to grab a coffee from one of the two coffee vans that will be onsite and also visit the art room to see the wonderful artistic talents of our students. It should be a lovely morning for all of our mums and kids.
Curriculum Day
Just a reminder to families that the next pupil-free day is Monday, June 1st. Staff will be working together to review the 2-year cycle of our Challenge Based Learning ensuring the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, rich mentor texts, resources and incursions/excursions are reflected in the planning for each of the eight Big Ideas.
Monash and Manningham Principal Conference
Adele and I will be attending the Monash and Manningham Principal conference at Cape Schanck later this week. Thank you to Liz Penny and Natasha Tymensen who will be looking after the school in our absence.
Have a great week and wishing all of our mums a very special Mother’s Day!
Warm regards
Julie
An update from Adele
In this issue, information is shared about:
- Education Sub Committee: Policy Update: Child Abuse (Including Grooming) – Identification and Response Policy and Procedures
- Disability and Inclusion: AllPlay Learn – Supporting Inclusion Beyond School
- Parenting Session: Reminder: Supporting Students Experiencing ‘School Can’t’
- Child Safety: Cyber Safety Tip: Chatting Safely Online
- Child Safety: Cyber Safety Project Parent Webinar Series (regular Wonga Weekly entry)
- eSafety Commission online workshops (regular Wonga Weekly entry)
Policy Update: Education Sub Committee
Child Abuse (Including Grooming) – Identification and Response Policy and Procedures
The Child Safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedures has been updated and is now titled Child Abuse (Including Grooming) – Identification and Response Policy and Procedures.
The purpose of the policy is to:
• describe how staff at Wonga Park Primary School identify and respond to child safety
concerns and child abuse following the 4 Critical Actions
• ensure our staff and school community raise concerns about child abuse.
You are encouraged to be informed and review this policy on our website.
Disability Inclusion
AllPlay Learn – Supporting Inclusion Beyond School
Families may like to explore opportunities beyond school that support social connection, confidence and physical activity for their child. AllPlay Learn offers practical resources for families, including AllPlay Footy and AllPlay Dance, designed to help children participate in inclusive, enjoyable community activities.
The AllPlay Dance Directory also includes listings of inclusive programs across Australia for children and young people. These resources may be a helpful starting point for families looking to support friendships, belonging and participation beyond the school setting. Families can explore the resources here: https://www.allplaylearn.org.au/primary/parent/parent-guide/#resources1
Reminder: Parent Session 'School Can't' opportunity
Supporting Students Experiencing ‘School Can’t'
Maroondah City Council (in conjunction with several other councils) is hosting a free online parenting session to support families of children who experience difficulty attending school, often referred to as “school can’t” (previously known as school refusal).
This session will provide practical strategies to help parents and carers recognise early signs of distress, understand the impact of stress and the nervous system, and support children who feel unable to attend school. It also emphasises the importance of reframing this experience as a wellbeing response rather than behaviour, and offers guidance on supporting both your child and yourself.
The webinar will be presented by School Can’t Australia and is designed to build confidence, understanding and practical tools for families.
Date: Tuesday 12 May
Time: 7:00–8:30pm
Format: Online (recording available for registered participants)
Bookings: via this link
Cyber Safety
Cyber Safety Tip: Chatting Safely in Online Games
Many games allow players to communicate through text or voice chat. Encourage children not to share personal information such as their full name, school or location. Remind them they can mute, block or report players if someone behaves inappropriately.
You are encouraged to refer to the eSafety Commissioner's information about issues and advice for gaming for more information.
Cyber Safety Project Parent Webinar Series
The Cyber Safety Project offers the Cyber Safe Parents 2026 Webinar Series, a practical, engaging online program designed to help families raise smart, safe, and kind digital kids.
Across four live online sessions, parents will gain clear, realistic strategies to confidently support children at home. Topics include:
AI & Critical Thinking – Understanding what AI really is (and isn’t) and why it matters for your family
20 May 2026 | 7.30pm AEST (45 mins)
Balancing Life & Tech – Reducing conflict and restoring healthy screen balance.
3 August 2026 | 7.30pm AEST (45 mins)
Cyberbullying & Resilience – Supporting young people to manage wellbeing online
27 October 2026 | 7.30pm AEDT (45 mins)
This series provides valuable guidance for navigating device set up, online risks, app safety, screen time, critical thinking and digital wellbeing, all in a supportive and parent-friendly format.
We strongly encourage all families to take part in this important learning opportunity.
If you’re unable to attend on the night, you can still register to receive the recording and resources.
Register via: bit.ly/Parents-2026
eSafety Commission Online Workshops (regular Wonga Weekly entry)
The eSafety provides free webinars that provide parents and carers with the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe, positive online experiences.
The schedule for 2026 can be accessed via this link .
Sign up for the eSafety Newsletter to receive the latest online safety news, resources, and advice.
Warm regards,
Adele Brice
Assistant Principal