Principal's Report

Book Week - What a Parade!

We were blessed with a combination of sunshine, costumes, and so many happy faces at our book parade this morning. A huge thank you to all the families who came along to help celebrate this week and support their children. 

Why Do We Dress Up for Book Week?

Each year, schools across Australia celebrate Book Week, a wonderful tradition led by the Children’s Book Council of Australia. It’s a time to highlight the joy of reading and the vital role books play in developing children’s imagination, creativity, and understanding of the world around them. One of the most anticipated parts of Book Week is our dress-up day, when students (and staff too!) come to school dressed as their favourite book characters. While this is lots of fun, it also has a deeper purpose.

• Bringing books to life: Dressing up allows children to step into the shoes of their favourite characters and connect with stories in a new and exciting way.
• Promoting a love of reading: When students talk about their costumes, they naturally share the books and stories that inspire them, sparking curiosity in others to read something new.
• Celebrating creativity: Costumes give students the chance to express themselves and use their imagination, whether it’s through a simple prop or a full character outfit.

• Building community spirit: A whole-school celebration like Book Week creates a sense of belonging and joy, uniting students, staff and families through a shared love of books.

   

Book Week reminds us all that reading isn’t just a skill, it’s an adventure.

By celebrating together, we hope to nurture a lifelong love of literature in every child.

NEMA Principal's Conference 

This week, on Wednesday, 20th August, myself, Rae and Matt attended the North East Melbourne Area (of which the Whittlesea Schools Network is a member). This was held at the Mantra, where we joined Principals from across the LGAs of Whittlesea, Merribee, Nillumbik, Banyule and Yarra. Needless to say, there were over 100 Principal class members in the room.  

The day began with a welcome and an Acknowledgement of Country delivered by Stacey Gabriel, Executive Director at NEMA. This set a respectful and reflective tone for the day ahead. The first session was led by David Howes, Deputy Secretary, who provided a comprehensive update on state-wide priorities and developments across government schools. This vital session offered participants valuable insights into current directions and future planning. Following this, participants engaged in a session which focused on planning for whole-school improvement. The session, led by SEIL, outlined key enhancements to the Annual Implementation Plans (AIPs) for 2026, guiding schools in aligning their strategies for success. The Student Wellbeing and Engagement Division also provided updates. This session focused on VTLM Enabling Learning through behaviour supports and capability building, providing schools with tools and strategies to strengthen student engagement and wellbeing. The day concluded with closing remarks led by Tip Kennedy, Regional Director, bringing the program to a close and allowing attendees to provide feedback.

Community Consultation - Language Provision

After our 2025 school review, we are now commencing a community consultation regarding the provision of language at Whittlesea Primary School. In order to successfully implement a language program at Whittlesea Primary School, and in line with the Department of Education Languages Education Guidance, we ask that you provide to up to three suggestions in the Google Form below. Please enter these in order of preference, including the reasons why these particular languages should be taught. We thank you in advance for your feedback.

Tutoring Update 

Thank you, everyone, for a wonderful week.

I will see you back in week 7 after my week-long service leave.

Regards

Kaylene