Hello Everyone,

Movie Night 2026 – A Wonderful Community Success

Wattle Park Primary School extends its sincere thanks to our incredible Parents and Friends Association (PFA) for their outstanding work in delivering such a successful Movie Night.

A special thank you to Emily Beard and Sjaan Keen, whose leadership, organisation, and dedication ensured the event ran so smoothly. We are also grateful to the enthusiastic team of volunteers who generously gave their time and energy on the night—events like this simply would not be possible without your support. 

And the weather… how does one organise that so well? A perfect evening under the stars provided the ideal backdrop for our community to come together and enjoy a memorable event.

It was wonderful to see so many families enjoying the BBQ, picnic setups, and the vibrant atmosphere. The care and planning that went into every detail truly reflected the strength and spirit of our school community.

Importantly, all proceeds from the evening will go towards our new playground fund, which is now fast approaching our goal of $120,000. This is an incredible achievement and a testament to what we can accomplish together.

Thank you once again to everyone involved in making Movie Night 2026 such a fantastic success.

Our Students

Year 1/2 Rickett's Point excursion

Last Friday 20th March, our Year 1/2 students had a fantastic day at Rickett’s Point, taking their learning out into the natural environment. We were lucky to work with two marine biologists who led us through two engaging, hands-on activities.

During our first activity, students explored the rockpools, learning how to do so safely for themselves, the animals and the marine environment. We discovered an amazing variety of sea life, including crabs, sea anemones, starfish (or sea stars, their proper name!), and even evidence of an octopus with leftover crab shells!

In our second activity, students examined a range of fascinating marine specimens we might not have seen in the rockpools, such as shark eggs, unique shells and even brain coral.

To finish the day, students created their own mini rockpools using paper plates, paint and clay. What a fun and creative way to showcase everything they had learned.

It was a super, fantastic day of learning, exploring and “rockpool rolling”! 

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 -  LOTE!

Congratulations to:

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

Our Staff

Continuing our series on getting to know our staff at Wattle Park Primary School, we re-introduce  Ms Annmaria Antonino, who teaches Yr 3A  on Mondays

Dear WPPS community,

“Where do I begin

To tell the story of how great a love can be…”

My relationship with Wattle Park Primary School began in January 1990 when I accepted a position teaching Year 3/4. I was just 22 years old, exploding with passion and excitement, eager to have my first class after a year of shared specialist roles in two other schools. WPPS had around 180 students and just seven classes on enormous grounds, with a shelter shed on top court and mature wattle trees scattered all around… such a beautiful setting. My classroom in the main building was quite bare, just a blackboard with out-of-date canvas pull down maps, traditional heavy wooden desks and one Apple Computer, the Macintosh with the large floppy discs! I was the only person on staff whose parents were born overseas and spoke a language other than English. I was so very proud of my Italian heritage and shared my love of all things Italian with everyone. I was never shy! The WPPS community was so warm and welcoming, I had found my place.

Writing this piece makes me smile as I reflect on a very special relationship so far, 36 years in fact!  I spent the first five years at WPPS as a class teacher, then I had the opportunity to work in industry. My WPPS community wished me well, but they all knew I would return to them and how right they were! Although it was so much fun to wear suits, be taken out for long business lunch meetings, develop teaching programs for adults and experience a life without bells, that year away, chasing profits, made me realise just how important teaching was to me and how this was where I could make a difference in the lives of so many!

I returned from industry to WPPS for another memorable five years as a class teacher, always encouraging families to be involved in their children’s education. My door was always open, or I was just a phone call away on the school landline! I believe communication is key to success and families quickly learnt that together we could work through any challenges they might be facing and together we would also celebrate success!

My WPPS community was there when I married Aurelio in 1997, their children sang in church as my papà walked me down the aisle. I simply went from Miss to Ms Antonino and after my European honeymoon, continued to teach. Then in 2000 I took leave to begin my own family. Motherhood is my other great love, as family means everything to me! I devoted myself to my children, Mia and Gianni, and when they both began their schooling, I finally returned to WPPS. 

I decided to work part time so I could involve myself in my children’s schools and give to their teachers the support that so many parents at WPPS had given to me over the years. I was a class representative most years and involved on so many committees, it was so much fun to be the parent helper! 

Upon my return to WPPS, I was delighted to see the Cameron Close Reading Program was still running weekly and the relationship with our neighbours was strong (I established this program in 1996). I was given the opportunity to teach Italian to Year 3-6 students which was exciting. It was wonderful to be back at school and to be sharing Italian language and culture with students who were so eager to learn a second language. By now WPPS had doubled in size and Deakin University was feeding us enrolments from all around the world. Never had we had such a multicultural community. The school was buzzing with different languages, the community was slowly changing.

When Italian was replaced with Chinese at WPPS, I taught Art for a few years, another interest, but I finally found my calling when I began supporting EAL (English as an Additional Language) students and their families. Teaching students English and helping families establish themselves in our community was very rewarding, but more than a decade later another opportunity came knocking.

In 2024 I returned to the classroom in a shared teaching role with Mr Monea in Year 3, a position I still hold and love dearly. Communication is my focus in class. I keep a written journal with each of my students, where we freely exchange thoughts and feelings each week. I use poetry, songs and games to enhance listening and speaking and I absolutely adore sharing my love of literature. I feel my friendly, energetic personality puts students at ease and draws them into activities that help them improve all aspects of their English language learning, whilst gaining confidence and having fun.

Cooking and gardening bring me such joy, so I am delighted to share both these passions with 3A in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, working closely with our garden specialist Nikki and kitchen specialist Carolina. Promoting environmental and sustainability learning and educating students to develop a lifelong appreciation of fresh, seasonal, delicious food is my current challenge. 

One piece of advice, I just can’t help myself… cook together, set the table and share a meal and conversation with your family every day – you will be surprised what you learn!

If you would like to know more about SAKGP please contact me, as I love welcoming new volunteers to the garden and kitchen. 

I feel blessed to be a part of the Wattle Park Primary School community. 

Thank you for the love, everyone! 

Annmaria Antonino

Notices

Assembly                   Fridays at 9.15am

Running Club             Thursday 8am - 8:40am 

Canteen Volunteers
Wattle Park Primary School is currently seeking parent and carer volunteers to assist in our school canteen on Fridays. Please consider signing up via the following link:

https://signup.com/go/ANkxaYs

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. Working with  Children's Check required.

Year 3

Year 4

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.

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

3. Purple For Epilepsy 


4. 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


5. Early finish 
Please note that on the last day of this term, Thursday, 2nd April school will finish early at 2.30pm. Please make the necessary pick-up arrangements.

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