Principal's Report

Dear community,

This term, Arncliffe West Infants School has shown just how invaluable infants schools are in creating a warm, welcoming and nurturing environment where every child feels safe and supported as they begin their learning journey. Our school community has come together to celebrate, connect, and grow, making this a wonderful and memorable term for students, families, and staff alike.

The term began with NAIDOC Week, where students participated in activities to deepen their understanding and respect for the traditional owners of the land.

Public Education Week was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our school’s progress and celebrate public education. Parents visited classrooms to see our explicit phonics lessons in action, a program that has driven a remarkable 24% improvement from last year. Now, 65% of students are on track with phonics, and the number needing additional support has dropped to 10%.

Book Week is always a highlight, with students and staff dressing up and parading for the community. This year was extra special with a “Where’s Wally?” hunt, culminating in cupcakes for every student. Thanks to Ms. Paschal, each class also visited the Arncliffe Library to share stories and view their own artwork on display. Congratulations to all students, especially those who received awards from Bayside Council.

During SASS Week, we proudly acknowledged the invaluable support of our administrative and support staff – thank you Mrs. Kdouh, Miss Chloe, Mrs. Nigro, Miss Jacquie, Miss Salwa, and Mrs. Ellie for all you do to create a friendly, safe, and positive environment.

This term, we have partnered with Barnardos to support families in our preschool and playgroup programs. Lorraine visits every Wednesday morning and is a friendly resource for families seeking advice and assistance.

We have also been focused on strengthening our transition practices by working closely with our two local public schools to support our Year 2 students. This term, students had the opportunity to meet and interact with students from Athelstane and Arncliffe Public Schools, helping to build friendships and familiarity that will support a smooth and confident transition into Year 3. These connections are an important part of ensuring our students feel prepared and excited for the next step in their education.

We are extremely proud of our outstanding NAPLAN and phonics results. Our Year 2 students consistently perform above the state average in all five NAPLAN domains, with a strong presence in the top two bands. As Year 1 phonics screener data shows, the majority of students are on track, reflecting the success of our focus on explicit phonics teaching.

Arncliffe West Infants School is dedicated to building strong learning foundations in literacy and numeracy thanks to skilled teachers, hardworking students, and supportive families. Thank you to our whole community for working together to nurture every child’s confidence, growth, and academic success.

We are excited to welcome new families to Arncliffe West Infants School as we continue to accept enrolments for Kindergarten in 2027. If you have a child starting school next year, we invite you to contact our office or join a school tour. Starting your child’s education journey at Arncliffe West means joining a caring community dedicated to helping every student grow, learn, and shine. We look forward to supporting your child as they take their first steps into primary school.

Visit our Facebook page to see regular updates about the learning taking place at our school - https://www.facebook.com/ArncliffeWestInfantsSchool/

Choosing Arncliffe West Infants School means giving your child a great start to their K-2 education, with quality teaching and a welcoming, inclusive community.

Kind regards,

Bryce Hageman