Thank You to Our School Fair Committee and Community

Our recent school fair was a wonderful celebration of the Wales Street community, and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to our dedicated Fair Committee for their incredible work in bringing the event to life. It was lovely to see so many families and community members at our school fair on Saturday. The weather was superb and allowed a spectacular day, jam-packed with entertainment, camaraderie and fun. Supporting the fair, be that by volunteering or participating, helps provide a better school for our students. The turn out was magnificent. It makes me both proud and grateful to belong to such a fabulous community!

A special thank you to Emily, our Fair organiser, whose leadership, organisation and commitment ensured the day ran so smoothly. Alongside Emily, the committee and many volunteers generously gave their time over many weeks to plan, coordinate and prepare the stalls, activities and entertainment that made the fair such an enjoyable event for our students and families.

We would also like to sincerely thank our fair sponsors for their generous support. Their contributions helped make many aspects of the event possible and are greatly appreciated by our school community.

Grade 6 Camp

On Monday, an extremely excited group of Year 6 students boarded the bus for the Golden Valley Adventure Camp on the Mornington Peninsula. They returned on Wednesday afternoon. I am pleased to report that they all had an amazing time and really enjoyed the activities and adventure. Camps are one of those special extra-curricular activities that allow students rich experiences that just are not possible within the normal school environment.

Many thanks to all staff who volunteered to attend camp to support the students in having an amazing camping experience.

School Facilities Upgrade

Many thanks to our community members who have already signed our petition. The newsletter now has a section

'School Facilities Upgrades' Please keep yourself in the loop by reading this section take the time to see what's in this section. You can also sign the petition in this section.

Our Annual Implementation Plan: Driving Improvement at Wales Street

At Wales Street Primary School, we are committed to continuous improvement to ensure every student thrives as a confident, capable and curious learner. Our Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) outlines the key priorities we are focusing on this year to strengthen teaching, learning and student wellbeing across the school.

Goal No. 1 Optimise Student Learning Growth

Key Improvement Startegies to achieve this:

1. Strengthen teacher capacity to differentiate the curriculum and increase the learning challenge of students.

2. Deepen the capacity of all staff to use data to inform planning, teaching and evaluation.

Goal No.2 Improve Student Wellbeing Outcomes

Key Improvement Strategies to achieve this:

1. Develop and implement a whole school approach to consistent systems, processes and procedures to support student wellbeing.

2. Build the capacity of all staff to identify and support the wellbeing needs of students.

We are proud of the strong outcomes our students continue to achieve, particularly in literacy and numeracy, and we remain committed to ongoing improvement. Our AIP ensures that we stay focused, intentional and responsive as we work together to provide the best possible education for every child.

Thank you for your continued support as we partner together in your child’s learning journey.

Importance of developing independence – starts with a seemingly simple thing!

Drop off routines that help reduce anxiety and develop the independence students need are easy to implement. You may have been asked by a teacher at some time, 'Why are you carrying a school bag?' Stop carrying their school bag! I realise their bag looks big; in fact, some young students look like they could fit inside them. You can carry it most of the way, but the walk towards the classroom or building is the time to hand it over. It is the time their role changes to being a student.

Drop off time is emotionally busy with lots of people, movement, noise, expectations and change. Having the job of carrying their bag gives their brain something to focus on. Their job is to carry their bag in, place it in its pigeonhole or hang it on the hook, then get ready for learning. Four small actions that create predictability and support regulation. When children know what comes next, their nervous system feels safer and transitions become smoother.

Clear routines, a simple responsibility and ownership of their space help build smoother drop offs. It isn’t about pushing them to independence; it’s about taking a step back and letting them know you trust they can do it.

Harmony Day

Yesterday we proudly celebrated Harmony Day at Wales Street Primary School — a day that recognises and celebrates Australia’s rich cultural diversity and reminds us that everyone belongs.

Students and staff came together wearing a touch of orange or traditional dress to show their support for inclusion, respect and a strong sense of community. Throughout the day, classes engaged in meaningful learning experiences exploring identity, culture and the importance of understanding different perspectives.

At Wales Street, Harmony Day strongly connects to our IB Learner Profile, particularly being open-minded, caring and principled. Our students are encouraged to appreciate and celebrate differences, listen to others’ stories and contribute to a community where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.

Across the school, students participated in discussions and activities that highlighted:

The many cultures that make up our school community
The importance of kindness and inclusion
How we can take action to ensure everyone feels they belong

Harmony Day is more than just a celebration — it reflects the values we live every day at Wales Street. We are proud of the way our students demonstrate respect, empathy and curiosity as they learn about the world and each other.

Thank you to our community for continuing to support a school culture where diversity is celebrated and everyone belongs.

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