Hello Everyone,

This week, we, as all schools did, commenced NAPLAN testing.

Every Year 3 and 5 student began the Writing Test on Wednesday. The Year 3s went swimmingly - their test is hand written on actual paper.

The Year 5s experience is best summed up by the apology email sent by the VCAA NAPLAN helpdesk:

As you may have been made aware, NAPLAN testing was impacted this morning by technical issues with the national assessment platform.

ACARA, the national body that oversees testing, has confirmed that testing resumed shortly after the initial incident.

ACARA recognises the significant impact to students disrupted during their NAPLAN writing assessments this morning, and for that we apologise unreservedly.

Schools have been informed to continue NAPLAN testing as per their planned test schedules. ACARA will continue to work closely with states and territories to support students to complete their NAPLAN tests.

Measures are in place to ensure students are not disadvantaged as a result of this technical issue.

Should parents and carers have any further queries about the NAPLAN disruptions this morning, they should contact their child’s school in the first instance.

Kind regards,

VCAA NAPLAN Helpdesk
Assessment Programs | Assessment and Reporting

Fortunately, our Year 5 students, after a quick run around the oval to relieve some frustration and nerves, were able to log on to the test and begin at around 10.15am.

Who knew a NAPLAN Writing test would end up reinforcing our school value of RESILIENCE?

NAPLAN continues this coming week:

NAPLAN Practice - Excel Test Zone 
WPPS has purchased the Excel Test Zone program, so students from Years 2 - 6  can practice in an online test environment that is very similar to NAPLAN online.

Excel Test zone details have been provided to you via your classroom teacher so your child may also have the opportunity to complete this practice as part of homework. Please email your teacher if you have not received these details.

NAPLAN also provides its own online practice environment: Click on the following link to practise.

• NAPLAN public demonstration site Login details are not required to access the site.

Our Students
Finding Our Loud Learning Voices!

During Term 1, our bright and bubbly Year 1/2 students have been focussing on the wellbeing topic of Perseverance. Our students thoroughly enjoyed participating in this fun wellbeing lesson focused on how positive self-talk can help us to persevere. Using our ‘Larry LoudMouth’ craft activity, students created colourful characters with speech bubbles showing the encouraging words they can say to themselves when learning feels tricky. 

Phrases like “I can do hard things,” “I will keep trying,” and “I can’t do it yet” reminded us that mistakes and challenges are an important part of learning. It was wonderful to see students sharing their ideas and building confidence in using their loud learning voices to help them keep going!

Please see a random selection below!

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 changed last year 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

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. 

Class of the Week Awards - VIsual Arts

Congratulations to:

who were awarded ‘Class of the Week’ for their exemplary behaviour and effort in Visual Arts.

Our Staff
Continuing our series on getting to know our staff at Wattle Park Primary School, we re-introduce  Ms Sarah Nolan, who teaches Visual Arts on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

After an extremely busy year last year, where Wattle Park students worked very hard to produce all the amazing art work for the 2025 Art Show, we have started the term strong yet with a lovely sense of calm and productivity.

It’s been lovely getting to know our newest little people in Foundation here in the Art Room, with lots of eager and already very budding artists, they have settled in beautifully.

All levels have started the year with fabulous enthusiasm which is always so important in the Art Room and yet again I can only express how lucky I feel to come to work everyday and teach such amazing and talented students and work alongside the wonderful staff that I do.

If students are ever inspired to do artwork at home and they’d like to bring it in and show me, I would love that!

With Easter fast approaching where there’s lots of things to do and little time to do them, I must sign off…

Very much looking forward to a fun and inspiring year ahead.

Mrs Nolan

Notices

Assembly                       Fridays at 9.15am

Running Club                 Thursday 8am - 8:40am 
Parents volunteer and play games with students who choose to come to the running club. 

Running club is completely free and you will also receive a running club t-shirt which you can wear in school hours. Running club is super fun and you can do it at any age Foundation - Year 6. Please be aware that students participating in this activity are in the care of the parents who run the activity, not in the care of WPPS staff, until 8.45am. 

Canteen Volunteers
Wattle Park Primary School is currently seeking parent and carer volunteers to assist in our school canteen on Fridays. Our canteen plays an important role in supporting healthy food options and providing a valued service to our students, and we would love your support.  If you are available to lend a hand, please consider signing up via the following link:

https://signup.com/go/ANkxaYs. 

Even occasional help makes a big difference, and we greatly appreciate the time and support of our wonderful school community.

Kitchen Volunteers!
We are looking for volunteers from our wonderful school community to help support the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program at Wattle Park Primary School. Volunteers assist students during cooking sessions and help make this valuable learning experience possible. No special skills are required—just a willingness to help and enjoy working with children. If you have some time to spare, we would love you to sign up and lend a hand! 

Year 3

Year 4

2026 WPPS Colour Fun Run
Monty the Monstar Colour Run Update! 
Excitement is building as we count down to our Monty the Monstar Colour Run, which is now only three weeks away! It’s shaping up to be one of the most colourful and fun days of the year.

New Challenges Begin!
Starting this week, brand-new Monty the Monstar Fun Run challenges have begun. Students are encouraged to jump onto their My Profile Page, share their fundraising link with family and friends, and start working towards some fantastic prizes.

Lunch Order Winners
This week, we celebrate our lucky lunch order winners. Congratulations to all of this week’s winners and another five winners in assembly next week. Huge thanks to Katrina in the Canteen for supporting our Fun Run!

Banksia Café Class Prize
Here’s a prize that everyone will love!

The highest fundraising class will win a Banksia Café voucher for a cookie and a milkshake for every student in the class – including the teacher! Start sharing those fundraising pages and see if your class can take the lead.

Hero Fundraiser
A big congratulations to our weekly Hero Fundraisers. Who will claim this title?

The moment everyone has been waiting for…a teacher will be slimed next Thursday! Who will it be?

Students who would like to have the chance to slime a teacher simply need to enter the Monty the Monstar Colouring Competition. It’s that easy!  This week it was Mr Roberts!

Please make a profile page and raise much needed funds for our new playground!

myprofilepage.com.au

Kind regards,

WPPS Colour Fun Run Team

2026 Movie Night

Friday, 20 March 2026!
Gates Open: 6:00pm
Tickets
Purchase your tickets online via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/wpps-movie-night-2026
Tickets will also be available at the front gate on the night (card payment only). 

Reminder: A discount applies when you buy tickets in advance online.

BBQ and Snacks
A BBQ will be available offering sausages, hamburgers, soft drinks, popcorn, and other delicious snacks (card payment only).

Hot food options:

Important Note
There will be no bar, and no alcohol will be available for purchase.

BYO
This is an open air screening. Please feel free to bring your picnic rug, camping chairs, blankets and your own food and drinks. If you’re bringing chairs, please be mindful of others by sitting toward the back.

Children
All children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Event Sponsorship
Interested in becoming an Event Sponsor? You can sign up via Humanitix. We’ll promote your business on the big screen and on our Instagram!

Raffle
We’re giving away a $400 Dinner Voucher at Prohibition Food & Wine Camberwell! 

Be sure to purchase your tickets via Humanitix for a chance to win.

Volunteers Needed
We’d love your help! If you’re available to volunteer on the night, please sign up here: https://signup.com/go/QecgQbD

We can’t wait to see you for a fun-filled evening under the stars!

For more information or enquiries, please contact 

Em Beard at: 0408 887 741 or pfawattleparkps@gmail.com

Department of Education requirement - Annual privacy reminder for our school community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ privacy policy and the Schools’ privacy collection notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn.

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school.

For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ privacy policy: information for parents. This information is also available in eleven community languages:

•         Amharic
•         Arabic
•         Chinese
•         Dari
•         Gujarati
•         Mandarin
•         Somali
•         Sudanese
•         Turkish
•         Urdu
•         Vietnamese

This information is also available on the WPPS school website under Policies

Have a great weekend.

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School

If you are the holder of a Govt Concession Card or Health Care Card, you are eligible for Government assistance called CSEF, (Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund).

Payment amounts for eligible family this year is $400 for any school activity including camps.

Please fill out the form HERE along with a copy of your concession card, and hand into the office.

Please return completed CSEF application forms to the office by Friday 26 June 2026

If you have  any enquiries, please contact the office on 9808 2165.

2.  Second Hand Uniform Shop
Located in the school gymnasium. 
Cash and Card welcome.

Next Opening Time

• Thank you to all the generous families who have donated uniforms to the  Second Hand Uniform Shop.  The shop is in desperate need for dresses and larger sizes.  If you have uniform dresses no longer required, please consider donating to the Shop.  Clothing may be dropped off in the box near the office.

• Clothing must be washed and in very good condition. 
• Please bring donations to the school office.
• Thank you for supporting this initiative!

Thank you for taking time to read through the contact information.

4. School Photo
If you haven't ordered the School Photo here is where to do so:


5. First Aid Room Reminder

In order to keep our First Aid Room clean and tidy, we require volunteers to assist with this task. It is not time consuming and requires approximately 15 minutes of your time on a FRIDAY.

Please click on the link below to sign up.

Thank you for your time

https://signup.com/go/GZAwtYc


6. Digimaker

• Newsletter