School Newsletter - 17th September 2025

From the Principal

Grand Opening of the Kitchen and Dining Hall 

It is with great pride that I share the success of our Kitchen and Dining Hall grand opening at Waverley Primary School. This has been a long-awaited project, and to see it completed is a remarkable achievement for our whole community. 

The transformation of the space has only been possible through the generosity and support of many. Our deepest thanks go first to the Tasmanian Community Fund for their significant investment in our vision. We also thank School Food Matters, who provided the essential equipment that links this space directly to healthy and nutritious meals for our students. Finally, we acknowledge our private donors and community partners for believing in our school and helping to bring this project to life. 

• Representing our largest donor, the Tasmanian Community Fund, who contributed $135,000.00 

• From the City Baptist Church, who contributed $50,000.00 

• From the W.D. Booth Charitable Trust, who contributed $13,500.00 

• From the John Lewis Foundation, who contributed $10,000.00 

• From the Cape Hope Foundation, who contributed $5000.00 

• From the Cuthill Family Trust, who contributed $5000.00 

The Kitchen and Dining Hall is much more than a building. It will fuel our breakfast program every school day and provide hot lunches three days each week. It will expand cooking classes for students and families, offer opportunities for café and barista training, and serve as a venue for community events and celebrations. Most importantly, it will build confidence, teamwork, leadership, literacy, and numeracy skills for our young people, while improving food security in Waverley. 

I would like to sincerely thank the staff, students, families, and supporters who gave their time and energy to ensure the project was a success. Your belief in our school and community shows in every detail of this wonderful new facility. 

We should all be very proud of what has been achieved together. 

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The Commissioner for Children and Young People

It was a great honour to have The Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People, Isabelle Crompton, visit our school. At Waverley Isabelle visited our Year 2 class to read the book "I Have the Right to Be a Child". Interweave Studios worked with our Year 2’s to undertake a creative activity in response to the story.

I Have the Right to Be a Child Creative Art Response

2025 Families School Satisfaction Survey

2025 Families School Satisfaction Survey Closes 19th September - Thank you for your participation   

We would like to thank you for your help in finding out what Waverley Primary School is doing well and where it may improve. Your feedback is very important to help us inform our school improvement planning and decision-making. 

If you have not had the opportunity to complete the survey about Waverley Primary School yet, it is still open until midnight, 19 September 2025 and should take about 5 minutes of your time. 

Each family should nominate one person to fill in this survey for their child(ren). 

Take the online survey by clicking this Link, or pasting it in your browser: https://nam.dcv.ms/emMtgl2LrO The survey is carried out on a secure website and all responses are anonymous and confidential. 

All families in this school received the same survey link and no identifying information is collected. A summary of the survey results will be provided to schools. Responses from individuals or small groups will NOT be disclosed to any Department for Education, Children and Young People staff. 

Please contact our school if you require any assistance. 

Thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey. 

External School Review

As part of our focus on continuous school improvement, we will be involved in an External School Review this year. The purpose of External School Reviews is to support schools to raise achievement, sustain high performance and provide quality assurance to build public confidence in government schools.  

All Tasmanian Government Schools will be externally reviewed every four years. The focus of the Review is to evaluate school performance. The Review Team consists of an External School Review Leader and trained Principal Peer Reviewers. The review will occur from Monday 27th – Wednesday 29th October, 2025.  

We will find out the effective school practices that have been verified through the Review processes as well as the improvements that we need to make in the future.  

During the External School Review some students, families, School Association members and staff will be asked to provide information to the Review Team in a number of ways. These include: 

• individual interviews (can include family phone calls) 
• group discussions (with students or staff or families) 
• meetings (usually School Association, staff meeting) 
• visits into classrooms. 

We appreciate your support and time in helping us with this External School Review process. More information will be sent home in Term 4.  In the meantime if you would like more information, please contact the School Office: 6339 1455 

Yours sincerely,

Katie Wightman

Principal

Principal Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of Principal Awards received at the assembly held on Wednesday 10th September.

• Kayden T
• Adelynn L
• Ollie Baldock

Aussie of the Month

AUGUST - BETHANY

Bethany sets a fine example for others with her strong work ethic, always giving her best in everything she does. She is a kind and caring friend, and her behaviour is consistently respectful and responsible. Bethany’s positive attitude and dedication make her a wonderful role model in our school community. Well done, Bethany!" 

SEPTEMBER - AMARLI

Amarli is a shining example of what it means to be a respectful, responsible and caring member of our school community.  She is always kind and friendly to peers and staff and consistently upholds our behaviour expectations. Amarli takes initiative in helping out around. Congratulations Amarli! 

Merit Certificates

Congratulations to the recipients of Merit Certificates received at the assembly held on Wednesday 10th September.

• Jack S
• Levi H
• Mason McK
• Malakai A
• Huxley G
• Harriette G
• Madalyn M
• Mateo W
• Mason R
• Ben L
• Ronan F
• Toby W
• Zayah MR
• Kayden T
• Dominic N

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Open Classroom Afternoon

In Week 10 of Term 3, Waverley Primary School will host two opportunities for parents and carers to hear about their child’s learning and progress. These events are a chance to celebrate a great term and recognise the work of our students.

At Waverley, we believe strong partnerships between home and school are vital for our students success. Parents and carers are valued members of our community, and together with staff we work to model and support our school DECYP values of Connection, Courage, Growth, Respect and Responsibility. By working side by side, we help every child to grow as a learner. 

Tuesday 23 September

We will hold an open classroom afternoon from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. Parents and family members are invited to:

• Enjoy a FREE BBQ

• Visit classrooms where students will share some of their work, including Visual Arts and HPE activities

• Tour our new dining hall

This event will provide an opportunity to celebrate student learning and our new school development.

Thursday 25 September

Teachers will be available for 15 minute phone appointments from 3:15 to 5:00 pm. These appointments are for parents who would like a private conversation or wish to discuss a specific part of their child’s learning.

Bookings for phone appointments on Thursday 25 September can be made using the link below.

For more information, please speak with classroom teachers or contact the office phone: 6339 1455 

Mr Sam Millwood

Instructional Specialist

Prep/1A Paper Craft

In Prep/1A, students have been engaged in an integrated learning unit focused on measuring time and observing seasonal changes. Through guided inquiry and outdoor exploration, students have identified early signs of spring, including blossoming trees and blooming flowers within our school grounds.

To consolidate our understanding, students created a variety of spring-themed craft pieces that reflect the natural changes occurring around them. 

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Year 2 Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS)

This term, Year 2 Meallin has been learning about how people connect to places in our local community, across Australia, and around the world. Students explored where Australia is in relation to other countries, including the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and discovered how children in different parts of the world travel to school.

Using digital maps, students identified places they’ve visited and discussed the reasons people travel for example to see family, shopping, or having fun. A highlight was creating personal maps of our local area, including street names and places of interest.

This unit links directly to the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) curriculum, helping students build geographical awareness and understand how people and places are connected.

Miss Liv Meallin

Year 2 Teacher

Crazy Hair Day

On Wednesday 10^th September students from Kinder to Year 6 showed off their craziest hair styles, as part of our crazy hair day fundraiser for our Year 6 Leaders. It was fantastic to see how much effort our students and families put in to create such fun and exciting hair styles! The variety, colour and creativity were incredible. They were nothing short of amazing!!

Thanks to students and families this event has raised over $60 towards the end of year celebration activities for our Year 6 students. Our leavers are truly appreciative of the support for their final weeks at Waverley Primary School.

Miss Amelia Harmey

AST

Crazy Hair Day Parade

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Sports Colours Day

Whole School Event: Wear Your Favourite Sports Colours/Team!

Wednesday 24 September students are invited to dress in their favourite sports colours or team gear for the day. Gold coin donation.  All funds raised will go towards the SRC purchasing new sports equipment for our school. We can’t wait to see everyone showing their team spirit while supporting a great cause.

Kinder Enrolments

Kindergarten Enrolments for 2026 

Do you know a child that is turning 4 this year?  

We are now taking enrolments for Kindergarten 2026 at Waverley Primary. 

Pre-Kinder sessions run every Friday from 9:00–10:30am in the Kindergarten room. These sessions give children a gentle start to school life and help them feel ready for Kinder in 2026. 

Families are warmly welcome to join us on Friday's. 

If you’re interested in lending a hand, please ph: 63391455 or email waverley.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au 

The Sound on Tour

We are delighted to share that the Mowbray Heights Primary School band, The Sound, will be performing at Waverley on Wednesday 16 October. We are very much looking forward to hearing their music and welcoming them to our school.

Did you know that all our students from Kinder to Year 6 have a specialist music lesson each week with a qualified music teacher? Miss Denni Sulzberger is a musician herself and brings her expertise and passion to every class.

We are also fortunate that our students now can participate in choir. We look forward to hearing our students sing. Perhaps next year we could have a Waverley band performing and even touring!

School Opens at 8:30AM

Please sign in at the office if you are at school prior to 2:50pm

Reminder to Families and Carers

If you are at school before 2:50pm for any reason, you must report to the school office first. All adults on DECYP sites are required to sign in at the office and show their Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) card before entering the school grounds or classrooms.

If you are collecting your child during the school day, this must be done via the school office. Parents and carers that do not hold a WWVP card are only permitted on school grounds before 3:00pm if accompanied by a Waverley Primary staff member.

If you are attending assembly in the hall you can sign in at the hall from 2:15pm. 

From 3:00pm onwards, parents and carers may enter the school grounds to collect their children without needing to sign in via the office.

Thank you for supporting the safety of all students.

Early Years Programs 2025

Vegetable Garden

Our school vegetable garden is growing beautifully, and we’d love your help! Volunteers are needed to help with planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting. 

Whether you have green thumbs or just a bit of spare time, your support makes a huge difference  and it’s a fun way to connect with our school community and see the students enjoy the fruits (and veggies!) of your efforts. 

If you’re interested in lending a hand, please ph: 63391455 or email waverley.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au 

 Let’s grow something amazing together!  

Hot Lunch Program 2025

From the Nurse's Desk

Commencing in Term 4, all students are required to wear their school hat. Our teachers have checked hats in each class, and if your child has outgrown or lost their hat, you will receive a letter asking you to replace it. Hats are available from the school for $12.00. Please organise a hat before Term 4 begins so your child can fully access the playground.

Our school sun safety rule is: No hat, no play – on the deck they stay.

e-Safety Education

Technology is an integral part of our daily lives, so it is vital to prioritise the online safety of our children and young people. This helps them understand how to safely navigate the digital space. 

Here are some tips and resources to help you when considering e-safety for your children. 

⭐ Educate: Teach your children about the potential risks online, including cyberbullying and privacy concerns. Explain how to recognise suspicious behaviour and the steps they should take if they encounter something uncomfortable or threatening. Encourage them to think critically about the content they view and share, and the people they interact with online.  

For e-safety education resources designed for children, see Kids | eSafety Commissioner 

For resources designed for teens, see: Young People | eSafety Commissioner 

⭐ Monitor: Keep an eye on their online activities and use parental controls to set boundaries. Check out the Parental Control factsheet on the e-Safety Commissioner website for more details on steps you can take to improve e-safety through parental controls.  

⭐ Communicate: Encourage open discussions with your children about their online experiences and reassure them they can come to you with any issues. It is important to have ongoing conversations about digital safety – with the online landscape changing rapidly, children and young people are often the first to adopt these changes. Continually touching base on these topics allows you to monitor what is happening while also ensuring their safety. 

To find comprehensive info on e-safety, as well as some great links and resources, check out:  DECYP Staying Safe Online fact sheet  

Safeguarding Articles

Volunteer Requirements 2025

As we are well into the new school year, we want to remind our school community about the important requirements for volunteering at our school.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, it is mandatory for all volunteers to have their RWVP (Registration for Working with Vulnerable People) and to have completed the Your Obligations-Safeguarding training 15-minute video before engaging with children and young people in a volunteer capacity at our school. Certificates for the training video are valid for 12 months from the date of completion. These steps are essential in helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment for our children.

To apply for a Working with Vulnerable people, please visit the Service Tasmania website.

To complete the Your Obligations-Safeguarding Training 15-minute video please visit the DECYP website.

Volunteers are a vital part of our school community, and we are excited to collaborate with you the year ahead!

Working With Vulnerable People Registration

Parents and carers if you remain with your child in their classroom beyond school drop off, or volunteer for parent help, or would like to attend a school excursion we must see a copy of your registration card.  When you sign in at the office please enter your RWVP number.  

Reminder: all adults visiting our school must sign in at the office and wear a name badge.  

It is against the law for a person to work or volunteer at any DECYP School without a current working with vulnerable people registration. 

If you would like to volunteer at Waverley Primary School we would love to hear from you.  To apply for registration please follow the link below:

Staff Email

We believe that communication between families and staff is crucial in building relationships. You are welcome to speak with teachers face to face before or after school.  The school office can book an appointment or pass on a message.  You can visit the school office in person or phone: 6339 1455.  

2025 Staff Contact Information

Professional Support Staff 2025

Communication

Newsletter access

Please note the following information: 

Schoolzine SZapp and our Text message service are our main source of communication. 

The newsletter is published every second Wednesday through Schoolzine and can be viewed through the SZapp.   

The Waverly Primary School Facebook page is a great way to stay informed about what is happening in and around our school. 

Attendance

At Waverley Primary students attendance and safety are high priorities.  If your child is absent or late please phone our school office ph: 6339 1455 or send a note via the SZapp.  All lateness and absence must be explained.  This is a legal requirement by the Department for Education Children and Young People.  

An SMS text message will be automatically sent to the mobile phones of parents/carers explaining that our records show that your child is absent from school.   

The message will arrive on the phone displaying the number: 0407 580 106. Please save this number as ‘WPS Absentee’ so that when the message arrives you are aware is has come from our school.   

You can reply to the text to explain the absence please add: your child’s name, reason they are absent or late.   

Messages from you to school

To ensure your messages are received and actioned in a timely manner and without error, please use the following:

• Absentee notifications - Enter details using the SZapp by 9:00am to notify the office of student absence.
• End of day messages - Send a message using the SZapp or call 63391455 before 2:30pm.
• Queries and other messages - Send a message using the SZapp or email waverley.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au
• Uniform & icecream/icypole orders - Order and pay on the Qkr! app

We endeavour to respond to enquiries within 2 business days during school terms.

Messages from us to you

In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, we will push information out to you via the SZapp.  It is very important that all of our parents have signed up to the Schoolzine app to receive notices and information. 

If you require assistance in setting up or using the SZapp or the Qkr! app, please contact the office. 

School Association

Committee Meetings

The School Association is made up of the parents, staff and community members of a school. The School Association is an important part of the school, working with the Principal to achieve shared outcomes for learners and for the whole school community.  

The School Association Committee is an elected group of members that work together for the benefit of the school. The Committee manages and conducts the affairs of the School Association and performs administrative and decision-making tasks on behalf of the School Association. 

Parent participation on our Committee is highly valued.  We meet on the third Tuesday each month, excluding school holidays, from 1:40-2:50pm.

Ms Caitlyn Olding

Chairperson

Uniform

A reminder to please ensure your child(ren) are dressed in school uniform for their day at school. Our school has very high expectations for our school uniform and many visitors to our school give extremely positive feedback about how smart our students look. We ask that any long sleeves under polo tops are gold keep to with our school colours. We ask that students please wear black trackpants/trousers or shorts. 

A reminder that our Waverley Primary School jackets are great for an extra layer over a school jumper. Uniform items can be purchased at the main office or through our Qkr! app, with items being delivered to students within a day. 

Please note: branded leggings and very short hot pant style shorts are not part of our school uniform.

Spare uniform: Our supply of spare clothing, including trousers, underwear and socks, is running low. Please send a spare set of clothes in your child’s bag if they might need one. If your child borrows any school clothing, we ask that it is returned promptly so it can be used by others. We also appreciate any donations of outgrown uniform items.

Ice Cream Sales

A reminder that we have ice cream sales on a Monday at lunch time.  All proceeds support our Year 6 celebration activities.  You can order your ice cream or icy pole on the Qkr! app or you can bring cash on the day.

Important Dates

4/5/6 Sport Roster

Allergy Aware

We are an allergy aware school.  We discourage the use and consumption of nuts and nut products as well as eggs and egg products. 

Move Well Eat Well

A reminder to everyone that we do not bring energy drinks to school.  

Community Notices