School Newsletter - 29th October 2025

From the Principal

Welcome to Term 4 

We are really pleased to share the 2025 School Wellbeing and Engagement Survey (SWES) Report for Waverley Primary School. The results show strong growth across student, parent, and staff feedback. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making our school a safe, caring, and engaging place to learn and work.  

Highlights from the Student Survey 

• High participation: 96% of students completed the survey, showing strong student voice and reliable data. 

• Feeling safe and belonging: More students say they feel safe and that they belong at school, bringing Waverley in line with the state average. 

• Positive relationships: More students report having an important adult at school who cares about them, showing the success of our SHINE and Ready to Learn work. 

• Happier students: Measures of happiness, optimism, and satisfaction with life are the highest in five years. 

• Greater engagement: Students report stronger perseverance and motivation, with emotional engagement above the state average. 

• Resilience improving: Coping skills are rising, but we will continue to help students build self-regulation and confidence. 

 Highlights from the Parent Survey 

• Stronger satisfaction overall: The school’s average satisfaction rose from 6.4 in 2024 to 8.0 in 2025, now above the Tasmanian average. 

• Leadership and direction: Parents rated leadership and school direction much higher (+2.2), showing confidence in communication and decisions. 

• Behaviour management: Ratings improved by +2.0, reflecting clearer and fairer approaches to student behaviour. 

• Safety and care: Parents see the school as safe and caring, with strong gains in both areas (+1.8 each). 

• Fairness and inclusion: Families value the respectful culture and support for diversity. 

• Partnerships and communication: Parents feel more informed about learning in reading and maths, and more connected through open communication and community events. 

• Sense of community: “I feel part of my school community” increased by +1.8, showing deepened belonging and pride. 

 Highlights from the Staff Survey 

• Positive culture: Staff report a stronger sense of belonging and community spirit. 

• Improved environment: The school’s facilities and grounds are rated higher, recognising visible improvements. 

• Student focus: Staff see students as happy, engaged, and supported in their learning. 

• Clarity in literacy: Staff have a strong understanding of the structured literacy approach that aligns with school priorities. 

• Growth in feedback: Staff feel more supported through mentoring and feedback conversations. 

 Possible Focus Areas for 2026 

While the 2025 results show outstanding growth, we will focus on: 

1. Strengthening student resilience and wellbeing for girls 

• Targeted programs in Years 5–6 will support emotional wellbeing and confidence. 

• Continued focus on self-regulation and coping strategies through Ready to Learn Plans. 

2. Enhancing collaboration and shared decision-making 

• Continue building staff voice and family participation in school planning. 

• Keep improving communication about learning progress through open classrooms, student-led sharing, and family events. 

Waverley Primary School has achieved excellent growth in 2025 across wellbeing, engagement, and community confidence. Our students feel safer and happier, parents are more connected and informed, and staff are proud of the school’s direction and culture. 

Together, we will keep strengthening resilience, inclusion, and partnerships as we move into 2026. 

Waverley is truly shining — Safe, Helpful, Inclusive, and Excellent. 

 External School Review 

As part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, Waverley Primary School will take part in an External School Review from Tuesday 4 November to Thursday 6 November 2025. 

All Tasmanian Government schools take part in an External School Review every four years. The purpose of the review is to support schools to raise achievement, maintain high performance, and provide quality assurance that builds public confidence in government education. 

A Review Team, made up of a Review Chair and a trained Principal Peer Reviewer, will visit our school. They will talk with a range of people to gain a clear picture of how our school is performing and where we can continue to grow. 

During the visit, around 80% of staff, along with students, parents, and School Association members, may be invited to take part through: 

• Individual or group discussions 

• Meetings (such as School Association or staff meetings) 

• Short classroom visits 

Your support in this process is greatly appreciated. 
 

If you would like more information, please contact Katie Wightman at the school on 6339 1455. 

 Celebrating World Teachers’ Day at Waverley 

On Friday 31 October, we join schools across Australia in celebrating World Teachers’ Day a time to recognise the incredible dedication, care, and professionalism of our teachers. 

At Waverley, we are proud of our teachers who go above and beyond every day to make learning engaging, meaningful, and fun for our students. 

A huge thank you to our School Association for providing a beautiful morning tea to mark the occasion. We celebrated a little earlier, last Friday, and it was a lovely way for all staff to come together and feel appreciated for the important work they do. 

Happy World Teachers’ Day to our wonderful Waverley team you truly make a difference! 

Exciting Filming and Photography Day at Waverley  

We are excited to share that on Wednesday 19 November, Clint from Sociality (a professional filmmaker and photographer) will be at Waverley Primary School to create a new promotional video and capture photographs for our school’s marketing materials.

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students, staff, and school community showcasing the learning, engagement, and pride that make Waverley such a special place.

Throughout the day, Clint will be visiting classrooms from Kinder to Year 5 and may also film students taking part in a variety of activities, learning experiences, and sports. Some short, directed clips will help tell the story of our school and highlight our SHINE learning behaviours.

To help our students look and feel their best, we ask that they arrive on the day in full school uniform, with neat presentation and their school jumper or jacket if needed. As always, we will remind students to demonstrate their excellent behaviour, kindness, and school pride throughout the day.

Thank you for supporting this exciting opportunity. We look forward to sharing the finished video with our school community later in the year.

Kind regards, 

Mrs Katie Wightman 

Principal 

Principal Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of Principal Awards received at the assembly held on Wednesday 22nd October.

• Zara M
• Evie L
• Mrs Manning
• Mrs Salter

Aussie of the Month

Zayah is a shining example of kindness and integrity in our school community. Always ready to lend a helping hand, Zayah consistently supports others in their learning, encouraging them to do their best. Reliable and dependable, Zayah leads by example and is a positive role model to peers. Their thoughtful actions and uplifting attitude make our school a better place every day.

Merit Certificates

Congratulations to the recipients of Merit Certificates received at the assembly held on Wednesday 22nd October.

• Lincoln C
• Acksal K
• Willow R
• Amity I
• Alydia P
• Shayla W
• Bethany W
• Isaiah K-O
• Malakai A
• Hamish O-C
• Harper O-C
• Adrian W
• Harvey K
• Lincoln G
• Ben L
• Amarli K
• Zara M

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Halloween Disco

Student Free Day and Public Holiday

Friday 31st October is a Student Free Day for teachers to attend Professional Learning and Monday 3rd November is a northern Tasmania public holiday. We hope that you enjoy a relaxing and safe long weekend.

PCYC Life Skills and Adventure Program

A group of our students recently completed the Life Skills and Adventure Program run by PCYC, an opportunity that was enjoyed by all!  The program offered a wide range of engaging activities designed to promote personal growth, resilience, and teamwork. 

Throughout the program, students had the chance to challenge themselves, try new experiences, and develop important life skills in a supportive and fun environment. The final session was a highlight for many, with archery proving to be a favourite activity which was a great way to finish on a high note! 

We are sincerely grateful to the PCYC team for providing such a valuable opportunity. Their dedication to youth development has made a lasting impact on our students, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the future. 

Mrs Anita Price

Assistant Principal

Reading in Prep to Year 2 at Waverley Primary School

In our Prep to Year 2 classes, students have been learning to read with UFLI Foundations. UFLI (pronounced you-fly) Foundations is a phonics program that helps students build strong reading skills. 

 UFLI Foundations is a program that builds the early skills needed to become a confident reader through short daily lessons focusing on the sounds and letters needed to spell, say, recognise and read words. 

 We are using the UFLI Foundations program because it is based on research about how children learn to read. It is an interactive way to learn reading skills that allows our students to practise, revise and build on their skills each week. 

 Our students are loving their UFLI lessons. They are focused and engaged in the activities, and we can see their confidence as readers already growing. Class starts at 9:00am daily. Arriving from 8:30am to school, enjoying breakfast club and a play outside before the morning literacy block helps children feel ready for learning at 9:00am.

Mr Sam Millwood

Instructional Specialist 

Schoolastic Book Fair

We are holding the Schoolastic Book Fair this year from Monday 10th November to Friday 14th November. Parents and students will be able to visit the book fair between 8:30-9:00am and 3:00-3:30pm on those days. Students will have an opportunity during school hours to visit the book fair and write and Wish List. 

It will be a great opportunity to purchase some Christmas gifts while supporting our school.

Staff Wellbeing

Staff at Waverley Primary School all work together to ensure that students achieve the best learning outcomes in a safe and friendly environment.  

To do this, we recognise we need to look after the wellbeing of our staff alongside our students.  

Recently DECYP have improved the range of wellbeing supports offered to school staff. The services include the creation of the School Staff Wellbeing Team which supports staff at 13 schools across the state.  

Staff Wellbeing Consultant Jarrod Lightfoot is employed by DECYP to support our school and works most Fridays on site.  

Jarrod is available to: 

• Provide wellbeing education and information to school staff. 

• Provide confidential guidance and support to individual staff.  

• Connect staff and school leadership with professional supports. ​ 

We hope this extra resource will assist our staff continue to provide a supportive environment for student to learn in. 

Mr Jarrod Lightfoot

Staff Wellbeing Consultant

Term 4 Sunsmart

A reminder that school hats are compulsory for all students in Term 4 and Term 1. 

No Hat, No Play – In the Shade We Stay 

School Hats 

• A complimentary hat is provided at the start of Kindergarten 

• Replacement hats: $12.00 from the office or via the QKR! app 

• Hats stay at school in bag boxes and are regularly washed 

If your child no longer has their original hat or it’s too small, please ensure a replacement is purchased ready for Day 1 of Term 4. 

Thank you for helping us keep students safe and SunSmart. 

Big Emotions Workshop: Parents and Carers

Can you recall a time when someone reacted with strong emotions perhaps appearing to “flip their lid” or “explode like a volcano”? These moments are examples of experiencing big emotions. For children, these reactions can happen when they feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure how to express what they need. By recognising the signs and helping children calm and reset, parents can play an important role in teaching emotional awareness, self-regulation, and positive coping skills. 

When we have big emotions, energy can build up in our body. If we don’t let the energy out it stays in our body, builds up and can then come exploding out.  

Linda from City Mission and the Inside Out 4 Kids team will be at our school on:

• Monday the 17th of November, from 2pm to 3pm (just before school pick up), to run a workshop for parents to help them to support children’s emotional wellbeing and when they are having big emotions. 

During the free 60-minute workshop Linda will share things like:  

• What happens when we have big emotions; 

• Words to use to help describe what’s happening; and 

• Steps and strategies that can help children to let out their emotional energy safely before they lose control. 

If parents or other adults in the family would like to attend the workshop, please contact the school office to RSVP  to confirm your place in this FREE workshop. 

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 

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

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

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