Principal  Message

The Family BBQ evening was a big success with a huge turnout. The Reptile Show was a hit as students and siblings settled in to learn about a huge range of reptiles as the parents socialised. The weather was kind to us and, as always, our FOWPS team did a great job catering. The spirit of the WPS community was strong and it was lovely to see new families attending and getting to know our community.  Thank you to FOWPS and Staff who supported this event.

Principal Conference's message affirms the work we are undertaking at WPS

I have attended two principal conferences/Network days in the last 2 weeks and have returned energised at the work we have in front of us in relation to work that the staff and I are doing in relation to explicit instruction in the classrooms and the implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model 2.0 that was launched last year by the Department of Education and aims to have full implementation by 2028.

Our new Literacy model is in the first phase of implementation since its inception at the beginning of the year. Teachers are using the model and gathering data and information on where the model is working and where we can focus our attention for improvement. Each component you see below in the pie chart has now been broken down to ensure we are explicitly teaching and assessing each piece of the pie. Lessons are sequential and skills are built upon and scaffolded to support all levels.  

At the Principal's Network Conference on Wednesday, we heard from Phillip Coloca, Education Consultant, who affirmed the need for all schools to consider the science of learning and use the current research to drive our schools towards school improvement.

The Science of Learning Model (2019) pictured above was developed by Oliver Caviglioli as a visual framework that summarises how students take in, process, store, and retrieve knowledge. It combines findings from cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience to explain how learning actually happens in the brain.

All learning requires students' attention and focus before anything can be learned. Once they are focussed information can move into the working memory to be encoded. They are then making meaning from information so it can be stored in the long-term memory where facts and skills are kept. Learning is strengthened when students retrieve knowledge from their memory. 

Building Excellence in Literacy Through Collaboration 

At our school, we remain relentless in our commitment to improving student learning outcomes. Central to this work is the strength of our Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), where teachers collaborate with purpose, precision and a shared responsibility for every student’s growth.

This year, our whole-school focus is on strengthening literacy through carefully designed, evidence-based teaching programs. Staff have worked collectively to analyse school-wide data, moderate student work samples and identify clear areas for improvement. From this analysis, teachers have set challenging yet achievable goals to ensure every student can experience measurable growth and success.

Our PLC process is deeply collaborative. Teachers meet regularly to reflect on impact, refine instructional strategies and ensure consistency in high-quality practice across classrooms. By using research-informed approaches and aligning our teaching methods, we are building a cohesive and strategic pathway for literacy development from Foundation through to Year 6.

We are fortunate to David Pelosi as an experienced educator who has previously guided this initiative at a Department of Education level to strengthen student outcomes across the State. Their expertise and leadership are supporting our staff to think critically, teach intentionally and remain focused on what makes the greatest difference for learners.

Importantly, this is not just a planning exercise, it is an active cycle of inquiry. Teachers are implementing agreed strategies, collecting evidence of impact and adjusting practice in real time. Students are highly engaged in their learning, with clear goals, feedback and targeted support driving progress.

Already, we are seeing meaningful gains in student achievement, alongside a noticeable enhancement in teacher capacity. Through collaboration, reflection and shared accountability, our staff continue to strengthen their professional practice, ensuring our students benefit from the very best teaching.

This work reflects our belief that improvement is never accidental. It is the result of deliberate, collective effort, and we are proud of the momentum building across our school community.

Hot Cross Bun Drive 

Biddicks Bakery are running their hot cross bun drive again this year through the Flexischools App. From Monday 9th March you will be able to place orders on Flexischools. Orders will close on Friday March 27th at 8pm and delivery to the school will be on Mach 31st. 

Take care,

Nieta