Hello Everyone,

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Biannual School production this week. 

Even years - School Production

Odd years - School Fete

Particular thanks to Barb Wong and Micheal Hunt who made several trips to the Besen Centre on Monday of this week when the transport of props was critical!

2027 Foundation Enrolments

Have you enrolled your child into Foundation at Wattle Park Primary School yet?  If not, please do so as soon as possible.  This enables seamless planning in Term 4.

Our school uses the Victorian government schools system called ‘VicStudents’. for new Foundation (Prep) enrolments to Victorian government schools.

To get started:

• The Department of Education has created a Quick Reference Guide to help you get started. The guide is attached via this link: Foundation Digital Enrolment Parent Guide.
• Visit https://students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/s/ to create an account and complete the online application form as soon as possible.
• We will then review the information submitted and be in contact with you as soon as possible.​
• When accepting an offer, you will be required to provide additional personal and health information that will be shared with the school.

Spread the word!

Run Club - cancelled for 2 weeks

Run club for the next two Thursday’s- 29/10 and the 5/11 is cancelled.

Thank you to everyone, especially Rachel Crilly, who continue this marvellous, parent led initiative.

Drones on school sites

Earlier this week, one of our Mum’s observed a drone hovering above the school car park without prior permission from the school.

Under Department of Education guidelines, members of the public must not fly drones within or above school grounds, or take photographs or footage of school buildings and grounds, without prior permission from the Principal.

These requirements are important in protecting the privacy, safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and families. While drones can have legitimate educational and promotional uses, their operation on school grounds must be appropriately authorised and comply with the relevant Department requirements.

You can find the Department of Education’s policy on our website HERE

Our Students 

Production comments

FA:
I loved going on stage at the Besen Centre doing ‘The Circle of Life ’- Peggy

It was so cool being backstage and sitting in the audience during the Besen Centre rehearsal - Felix

I was nervous going on stage, but after the performance I felt better - Tyler

12A
I liked doing the dance with my friends. My ribbon came off mid performance, which was very funny. - Sonny

I liked dancing in front of my parents. When I saw them I got very excited. - Ollie 

12B
My favourite part was seeing my mum and my auntie in the audience. - Evelyn

I had so much fun dancing on stage with my friends. I wish that we could do it again.- Kai

3A
I have loved watching the other dances and skits. I think all of the dances were good! - George

I liked watching the skits. I think all of the costumes are really good. I hope everyone likes it and has a great time! - Jean

4B
I loved all of the outfits of all the children as well as the actors! - Violet F

I enjoyed all of the support from parents, guardians and teachers. - Emma L

I liked how we got to perform Aladdin on the big stage! Evie A

5A
The WPPS whole school production was a superb experience, the wonderful dances, the fantastic skits and brilliant speeches! The amount of perfection and dedication the staff put into the production is phenomenal. - Avery

The production was fantastic, the experience was wonderful not only for the students but also for the teachers and parents. 10/10 - Olivia

5B
"It was so fun acting and dancing" - Ella

"I was kinda nervous at first, but when I got onto the stage I felt confident and started cooking. My favourite part was the finale dance" - Felix

"Before going on stage I was scared to act as Kristoff, but the second I said my first line I felt more confident and comfortable" - Emma 

6B
‘It was an amazing and wonderful experience working with all our castmates’ -Lexi

‘Would definitely do it again’ - Celie

‘Stunning voices and incredible recreations of out childhood disney stars’ - Zan

Students of the Week

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

Class of the Week Awards -  LOTE!

Congratulations to: 3B     

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

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. This weeks’ winner is ACACIA!


Our Staff

This week's interview is with our long term and much respected year 3A teacher - Ms Annmaria Antonino. She likes to tell her story, as it’s part of the WPPS history.

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

2027 Class Formation

WPPS will soon be sorting 2027 classes.

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

• medical requirements
• safety concerns
• legal obligations (intervention/court orders etc) 
• 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 13th of November.

The WPPS ‘Class Formation Policy’ is on our school website.

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

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School

2. Exit Form
Planning has began for 2027 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.

3. Remembanrance Day 
The Student Representative Council will be coming around to classes next week with items to purchase to support the Poppie Appeal.  Prices range from from $2 to $50.

Special Offer: $16 per print. Order online before 31/10/2026 to secure this discounted price. After this date, the price reverts to the standard $20/$25 per print.

How to Order
You can now create an advancedlife account to view groups, download digital portraits, and track orders.

To get started, visit the website and use the following:

School Code: Q32 WP2 PAR
SIC Code: Located on your portrait package or the back of your photobook.

• Online Only: These photos must be ordered online; please do not return payments to the office.
• Additional Images: If your child's group or team is scheduled to be photographed at a later date, you will receive an additional email notification when the images are ready to be ordered.
• Delivery: Photos will be delivered to the school for distribution.
• Guarantee: offer a 21-day refund policy and a 100% money-back guarantee.

If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to Advancedlife at www.advancedlife.com.au/contactus

5. Chess Club

• Newsletter

Australian Girls Choir Open Day

Congratulations to students who recently took part in the AGC assessment workshop at school. Everyone is welcome to come along to our Open Days on Saturday November 7 and Sunday November 15, which will give you the opportunity to try a free class and attend an information session. Ph 03 9859 6499 for more information or visit ausgirlschoir.com.au/joinagc/