Dear Parents and Carers,

With it already being the end of week 3, the Easter holidays are now a distant memory, and we are well underway into the new term. As always, it has been a busy start to the term, with many purposeful things taking place and coming up in the near future.

Annual Report to School Community

The Annual Report to the School Community is now available on our school website. The report provides an overview of the achievements, progress and priorities of our school over the past year, including student learning, wellbeing and engagement, as well as financial information. I encourage all families and members of our school community to take the time to read the report. It can be accessed on the school website by going to ‘School’, then ‘Our Annual Reports’.

North Children’s Choir

I attended the Anzac Day dawn service at St Thomas Aquinas Church to watch some of our students who form part of the North Children’s Choir. As part of the service, their performed multiple items and did a fantastic job. They have shown tremendous commitment being part of this group and have been fantastically supported by their families. I’m sure each household would have welcomed a rest after such an early start to the day! Well done to the following students:

•  P/1S – Grace 
• 1/2HB – Ayla, Amity 
•  2/3K – Delilah, Freddie, Teddy, Isabelle
• 3/4A – Sally, Viyaan, Zali, Emme, Sebastian

2027 Prep Tours

School tours for prospective families with children commencing Prep in 2027 have already well and truly began, as I have already conducted numerous group tours at the end of last term and the beginning of this term. When presenting to these families and showing them around the school, it has been fantastic to give insight into all the wonderful things happening at Wangala and how our students are nurtured and developed into ‘respectful, caring, community-minded, future focused’ children.

Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS)

The AtoSS is a voluntary student survey conducted with Year 4-12 students each year to help schools and the department understand students’ experiences of school. It gives students the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about their school, their learning, relationships with other students, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general. We will be conducting this with our Year 4-6 students in the coming weeks. A Compass post will go out with further information and a consent letter regarding this, should you wish to withdraw your child from completing it.

School Review

Our school will be participating in a School Review during Term 3 as this year marks the conclusion of our current four-year School Strategic Plan cycle. School reviews are a regular part of all schools’ improvement processes and provide an opportunity to reflect on progress, celebrate achievements, and identify areas for continued growth. The review will involve a panel of experienced educators who will work with our leadership team to examine a range of evidence, including student learning data, teaching practices, and school programs. They may also speak with staff, students, and members of our school community to gain a broad understanding of our school. Importantly, the findings from this review will form the foundation of our next School Strategic Plan (2027–2030), helping to guide our priorities and direction over the coming years. There may be opportunities for parent/carer input as part of the review, and we will share further information closer to the date. We look forward to engaging in this process and continuing to strengthen our school for all students.

Attendance

A friendly reminder that regular attendance plays a crucial role in student success. Every day at school builds on the last and missing even a small amount of time can make it harder for students to keep up, both academically and socially. We understand that occasional absences are unavoidable, especially due to illness. However, we encourage families to prioritise school attendance wherever possible and to notify the school promptly if your child is away. Thank you for your continued support in helping every student make the most of their learning opportunities.

Curriculum Day

Just a reminder that there will be a Curriculum Day (student-free) on Friday 22nd May. This day has been approved by School Council and will be the second of four Curriculum Days scheduled for 2026. On this occasion, our staff will be participating in a professional learning workshop focused on literacy, supporting our ongoing commitment to improving student outcomes. If minimum numbers are met, OSHC will operate for the duration of the day for families who require this service. Stephanie Sutherland (OSHC Coordinator) will be sending out an expression of interest form with further details.

University Visit – Deakin Science Students

On Monday 18th May, we will be hosting pre-service teachers from Deakin University, who will be conducting some engaging Science demonstrations with our students. They will be running a one-hour session with each class, which I’m sure the kids will love!

Parent Communication

The school has recently experienced a high volume of parent enquiries and requests being directed through the office and leadership team that would be more appropriately addressed by classroom teachers in the first instance. To support effective communication and timely responses, families are encouraged to contact their child’s classroom teacher regarding classroom matters, learning progress, friendships, routines and day-to-day concerns. Classroom teachers are best placed to provide information, clarify matters and work in partnership with families to support students. Where further support is required, matters can then be referred to the appropriate leadership staff. We appreciate families supporting these communication processes to ensure enquiries are addressed efficiently and by the most appropriate staff member.

Regards, 

Joseph Doyle

Acting Principal