Hello Everyone.

With the upcoming Social Media Restrictions for children under 16 coming into effect from 10th December 2025,  you may be interested in watching this 4min long video from the E-Safety Commissioner:

Not all social media will be blocked, and it makes some interesting suggestions, including making sure you play whatever game your child is involved in.

There is also a list of practical tips on how to implement safety controls on various platforms:

Parental controls

Project Playground
Having a visual focus for our fundraising efforts is an important way to galvanise support for community funded projects.

You will notice we have a sign up on the corner of Banksia and Warrigul Road. The purpose of this sign is to:

• Let everyone know what we are raising money for (New playground)
• How to help (Donations can be made via the QR code)
• How much we have and how much more we need to go (About 80G)

This platform is live and the QR code can be used to donate (so feel free to donate!)  but given the proximity of the fete we will leave an official ‘Launch’ to a later date.

More information on ‘Project Playground’ on our website HERE

2025.10.30 Year 4 Polly Woodside Excursion
Last week, our Year 4 students embarked on an exciting excursion to explore two of Melbourne’s most iconic historical sites - Polly Woodside and Captain Cook’s Cottage.

The day was filled with hands-on learning and discovery as students stepped back in time to experience life in early Australia. At Polly Woodside, the 1885 tall ship docked at South Wharf, students learned what life was like for sailors over a century ago. They explored the decks, tried their hand at shipboard tasks, and listened to fascinating stories about long sea voyages and maritime adventures.

In the afternoon, students visited Captain Cook’s Cottage in the Fitzroy Gardens. They discovered more about Captain James Cook’s life and his voyages of exploration, and how this tiny English cottage made its journey all the way to Melbourne! The visit provided a wonderful connection to the students’ current studies of Australian history and the early explorers.

It was a day full of curiosity, teamwork, and fun. The Year 4 students returned to school with new insights into Australia’s past - and plenty of stories to share about their adventure!

2025.11.16 Working Bee - Sunday  9.00 - 12 noon
In preparation for our upcoming Fete, we will be having a Working Bee to distribute the gigantic pile of mulch we have in the yard.

Come along, use a shovel and/or wheel barrow and join in! Drinks supplied!

MND Awareness - SHUT UP! TO MAKE A LOUD IMPACT
On Thursday, 13th November, WPPS will be taking part in the SHUT UP! FOR MND challenge. 

As a school community, we will go without our voices to support those who have lost theirs to MND. By taking part, WPPS will help to raise vital awareness and funds for those living with MND now. Each class will endeavour to remain silent for an hour or more in acknowledgement of people with MND often losing their voice as the disease progresses. 

If you'd like to donate to this very worthy cause, please follow the LINK!

Our Students

Ethan L & Opera Australia’s production of Carmen
Ethan L has featured in many productions, at times sharing the stage with other students of ours. This November, you can find him at the Regent Theatre in Opera Australia’s production of Carmen.

For tickets, go HERE

There are likely to be alternate casts of children for the production, so please check with his Mum, Alicia, for details.

Students of the Week!
As a result of our recent School Review, as well as the work we are doing with our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support Program, our school values have changed from six:

Respect, Responsibility, Care, Encourage, Value and Challenge to the ‘Three R’s’;

Respect • Responsibility • Resilience

Congratulations to all of our students who have displayed these values this week.

This week, we investigated RESPONSIBILITY - and how it looks in SHARED SPACES. 

You can view the video HERE

Mathletics Champion

A round of applause for:

                                 Samuel P - 5A

who has excelled in Mathletics this week through consistent participation and impressive performance. Well done Samuel!

House Points
The House Points have been collected for this week.  The winning house decorates the trophy with their colours and has it displayed in the foyer of the school. 

NAPLAN 2026 

Our next NAPLAN assessments will take place in March 2026.

Past NAPLAN papers, please email samantha.kwong2@education.vic.gov.au

Spare practice papers are at the office for collection.

Year 3 Numeracy Practice question example:

Year 5 Numeracy Practice question example:

Available online platforms

Year 3 NAPLAN practice site FREE!

Year 5 NAPLAN practice site FREE!

• Rise+ – https://riseplus.education/naplan-practice-tests/
• EXCEL Test Zone https://www.exceltestzone.com.au/

These platforms closely resemble current NAPLAN assessments. They offer timed test conditions, instant reporting, growth analysis, and rankings that compare your child’s results with other national test takers. 

NAPLAN resources

• ACARA past papers (FREE):
• NAPLAN 2012–2016     

https://acara.edu.au/assessment/naplan/naplan-2012-2016-test-papers

• NAPLAN 2008–2011

https://acara.edu.au/assessment/naplan/naplan-2008-2011-test-papers

• Blake’s Back to Basics NAPLAN (Officeworks, Amazon, Booktopia)
• EXCEL NAPLAN-style tests (Officeworks, Amazon)
• School Zone NAPLAN (Kmart, Target, Officeworks, Amazon)
• Test Mate NAPLAN (Amazon)

Our Staff

Continuing our series on getting to know our staff at Wattle Park Primary School, we re-introduce  Mr Adam Lawrence, who teaches 5A.

Hi there!

It’s been just over a year since I joined Wattle Park full-time, although it feels as if it’s passed in the blink of an eye. I’m lucky enough to be teaching a terrific bunch of hard-working, inquisitive students in Year 5. Some of the highlights this year have included City Camp, Night of the Notables, and, of course, Mr Lawrence’s ‘Joke of the Week’. (I think my students would agree with 2/3 of those.)

Prior to Wattle Park, I taught in schools across both Melbourne and northeast Victoria, where I grew up. Before that my resume looks a bit like a season of ‘The Amazing Race’, with teaching adventures in places as far-flung as the UK, Italy, Georgia, Myanmar, and a few others. I like to think those experiences have helped shape me into the teacher I am today.

Outside of school I dabble in different hobbies and interests: cooking, stained glass, history and hiking are all up there. But my two biggest passions are football (both playing and watching, although I get considerably less enjoyment these days out of watching Essendon) and, surprise surprise, travelling. I recently returned from a diving trip in Indonesia where I was fortunate enough to see the most amazing critters you’ve never heard of up close.

Looking forward to an exciting remainder of the year!

Adam

Notices

2026 Classes
Class formation for 2026 is well underway.

For 2026, we will have this class structure:

Please note our Class Formation policy mentioned later in this newsletter.

Class Formation Policy
WPPS is sorting out the 2026 classes.

Students are placed in classes based on a variety of factors, including:

• medical requirements
• legal obligations (intervention/court orders etc) 
• safety concerns
• academic needs and
• student generated friendship preferences

If you feel your child has specific educational needs in relation to class placement, please communicate this via email to steven.donohue@education.vic.gov.au by Friday 15th of November.

Running Club
The ever popular Running Club is back up and running for term four. Every Thursday at 8.00am join the team on the Top Oval.

‘Hats on in September’ … and till the end of the year

Have a great weekend.

Bake Stall Info - 2 Weeks until Fete Day!

Wristbands and tickets on sale until Monday 17th November - https://events.humanitix.com/wpps-twilight-fete-2025

Volunteers urgently needed for mail drop delivery (from Monday 10th November), set up on Friday 21st and pack down on Sunday 23rd November - https://signup.com/go/JntLHUX

Silent Auction - https://www.32auctions.com/WPPSFETE2025

Voluntary School Contributions for 2026 have now been ratified by School Council.

For your information – and forward planning, the Voluntary School Contributions for next year is set at $360, an increase of $15. The suggested donations for the Building Fund - $200 and Library Fund- $180.  Grounds Maintenance - $130, these all remain the same. 

The donations to the Building Fund and/or Library Fund are TAX DEDUCTIBLE and can be made to the school at any time.

Payment will not be requested until the paperwork has been posted on COMPASS early in Term 1 2026.

With thanks

Lisa Ewan

Relieving Business Manager






2.  Exit Form
Planning has began for 2026 classes. To help us in this process, if your child/children will not be returning to Wattle Park Primary School next year, please complete the Exit Form and sent it back to school as soon as possible.Thank you.