Wallington P.S. Newsletter Term 1 Week 5, 2026.
Upcoming Dates
Principal's Report
Dear Families,
Our Team – Staff Introduction Webpage
As we reach the halfway point of Term 1, I wanted to make special mention of the incredible efforts of our staff, who continue to go over and above in every aspect of their roles to ensure our students feel supported, happy and are set-up for success every day. You will not find a more dedicated and supportive team of professionals than our teachers and education support.
If you haven’t met the team, this week we have set-up a page on our school website introducing everyone (‘Our Team’) with all members of staff adding a little something about themselves. Make sure you have a look at the following link to learn all about our wonderful team: https://www.wallington-ps.vic.edu.au/team
Curriculum Day – Next Wednesday 4th March
A reminder that next Wednesday is a student-free day. While students enjoy a day away from school, staff will be busy working on our Annual Improvement Plan actions, focusing on refining and improving our curriculum, planning, and our use of SMART goals and Individual Education Plans. Thank you for your support as we continue this important work to make our school even better!
Cross Country – Local Excursion Permission
With our Whole School Cross-Country coming up on Wednesday 11th February, students have been preparing and training hard for the big run. Please remember that students in Years 2 – 6 must have local excursion consent on Compass to take part in the full course. If you haven’t had a chance, please provide consent on Compass at your earliest convenience. We also seeking volunteers to help with marshalling the event. If you are able to help, please contact your child/ren’s classroom teacher.
School Council Nominations
Just a final reminder that School Council nominations close tomorrow (4pm Friday 27th February). As you know, there are three parent member vacancies and two staff member vacancies. If the number of nominations is less than the number of vacancies, a notice to that effect and calling for further nominations will be posted in a prominent position at the school and communicated via Compass. If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, a ballot will be arranged.
Communication Survey
And finally, this afternoon parents and carers will have received a News Feed containing a short survey regarding communication. We would really appreciate all families taking a few minutes to complete the survey, which will give us important feedback around how we can improve moving forward. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Cameron Edwards
SWPBS Awards
Being Respectful
Sophie - Prep
For consistently demonstrating excellent manners at school. You always listen attentively and treat your teachers and classmates with kindness and respect. Congratulations Sophie!
Kieran - Year 1
For actively participating when talking about the book we are reading. You made a great text to self connection. Keep up the awesome work Kieran!
Lotta - Year 2
For always ensuring your classmates are included and shown kindness out on the yard. Well done, Lotta!
Memphis - Year 3
For always showing respect to all of your peers. You have been ‘a magnet’ this week following what we have been learning in Friendology. Well done Memphis.
Billy - Year 4/5
For always being respectful to his peers and his teachers. You are a pleasure to have in the classroom Billy. Keep up the great work!
Piper - Year 6
For always using kind words and actions in the school community, you continue to excel in your leadership journey. You are determined to always include others and participate in everything. Keep up the great work, Piper!
Principal’s Awards:
Stefan S - For tidying up shared spaces. Without being asked, Stefan tidied up the Imagination Station at the end of lunchtime on multiple days, taking responsibility and cleaning up after others.
Tyler M - For tidying up shared spaces. Tyler picked up a pile of paper that had blown off a table into the garden during lunchtime.
Parents and Friends
WHATS HAPPENING WITH PARENTS & FRIENDS?
SECOND HAND UNIFORMS
We have many summer uniform available with the warmer season approaching. Most sizes available.
Just a Gold Coin Donation. Be share to check it out.
STAY UP TO DATE
Follow us on Facebook “WALLINGTON PS PARENTS AND FRIENDS”
COMING SOON - Very exciting!
Welcome/Easter Picnic - Friday 27th March. 3:30pm - 4:30pm. All invited to attend.
Hot Cross Bun Fundraiser with Bakers Delight, Leopold.
Easter Raffle.
Easter Morning Tea - Children will have the chance to purchase a yummy hot cross bun from Bakers Delight Leopold, to eat for first lunch. YUM.
Guess The Eggs?! - Raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital, Good Friday Appeal. Guess the amount of eggs in the jar.
More information will be shared soon.
Wallington P.S. Gardening Club
Garden Club will be on every Wednesday at second lunch (1.40pm)
Do you love nature, gardening, or just want to help our school bloom?
The Wallington P.S. Gardening Club is always looking for volunteers!
Ask at the office to learn more.
Special thanks to Jess, Yasmin and Kathy!
PE and Dance
This week in Dance, our Grade 3 students have been bursting with creativity and energy. In Dance, they played Remote Control, experimenting with movement dynamics as they travelled around the room and responded to the teacher’s “remote” commands. They also loved Creation Station, working in teams to form imaginative group shapes like boats, towers, and animals using only their bodies. Students also developed their yoga skills too, learning how yoga supports relaxation, balance, and body control. In PE students across the years have been training for our whole‑school Cross Country, practising running the full event distance, keeping an even pace, and developing a smooth, rhythmic running style.
It’s been a fantastic week of movement, teamwork, and creativity.
Mrs Ratcliffe.
Champion of the Week Award
Congratulations to Alfie in Grade 6
Champion of the Week Award this week goes to Alfie. For showing outstanding effort during our cross‑country training. Alfie has been giving his absolute best every session, running the full distance with determination and maintaining a steady, controlled pace. Congratulations, Alfie.
Art
Grade 4-6 Self Portraits
At the beginning of every year in Art we draw self-portraits. Years 4-6 created self portraits using one continuous line with a black sharpie pen.
We were influenced by the art work of artist Kris Trappeniers who applies one continuous line in his portraits.
To create shading in the face students painted with diluted coffee and black ink wash for the background.
They look fantastic! Well done Year 4-6 students!
Mrs Bishop
Wellbeing at Wallington
Friendology
Friendship Fire or Mean-on-Purpose?
Conflict is tricky! How can we tell the difference between Friendship Fires, Mean-on-Purpose, Mean-by-Accident, and Bullying?
We classify conflict into just two categories to keep things as easy as possible for kids: Friendship Fires® (normal conflicts between friends) and Mean-on-Purpose behavior. By making this distinction and establishing a common language, we can better coach and guide our children towards healthy friendships.
Is it a Friendship Fire or Mean-on-Purpose?
Kids and their parents sometimes mistakenly believe that any conflict with a friend is “bullying” (a word that is typically misused and misunderstood). Instead, however, we want to use simple, kid-friendly language. Here are a few common questions:
So, how can we tell the difference between a Friendship Fire or Mean-on-Purpose?
The difference really lies in intent—was it a misunderstanding or were they really trying to hurt your feelings? From the data we’ve collected so far, the majority of conflict that exists in schools are Friendship Fires (approx. 90%).
Can a friend be Mean-on-Purpose too?
Yes, absolutely, and it really hurts!
Can a friend be Mean-by-Accident?
Yep, this is a Friendship Fire.
Can a Friendship Fire escalate into Mean-on-Purpose?
Definitely. This is why we teach kids that timing is important when we put out our Friendship Fires. Sometimes we’re not ready or our friend isn’t ready to put out the Fire. If we continue to try and Talk-it-Out when the time isn’t right, we will inevitably make the Fire bigger.
Can we de-escalate a Mean-on-Purpose moment into a Friendship Fire?
For sure. Sometimes we misinterpret someone’s behavior as Mean-on-Purpose. When we respond with a Quick Comeback, the person knows we felt it was mean. This then allows that person to respond in a way that explains that their intent wasn’t to be mean. By doing this, they move into the Talk-it-Out phase on the Friend-o-Cycle and, thus, it’s downgraded to a Friendship Fire.
Scenario
Here is a scenario that demonstrates our step-by-step friendship strategy in-action:
Your friend starts calling you the nickname, “Sweatpants,” because you always wear comfy pants to school. At first, you think it’s fun and it makes you feel closer to your friend. You both laugh about it and think it’s cool.
After time, it feels less funny and more like your friend is making fun of you. You start to feel offended and it’s really bugging you. THIS IS A FRIENDSHIP FIRE®.
In URSTRONG, we teach kids to (1) Retell the situation, and (2) Explain how it made you feel. This is a conversation.
You ask to talk to your friend and let them know that the nickname is actually making you feel bad. Through the conversation, you explain how you feel and you respectfully ask your friend to not call you “Sweatpants” anymore.
The next day, your friend continues calling you the nickname, fully knowing you don’t like it. THIS IS MEAN-ON-PURPOSE.
In URSTRONG, we teach kids to say their Quick Comeback in a strong voice and then walk away. This is not a conversation.
When your friend calls you the nickname again, knowing it’s hurtful, you say your Quick Comeback: “Stop.” You walk away and try to keep your focus on something that makes you happy.
At this point, we would let kids know that if this is a healthy friendship, your friend would respect you enough to stop calling you the nickname. If your friend continues calling you the name, trust and respect (Friendship Fact #3) break down, and this friendship would be in the unhealthy (red) zone of the Friend-o-Meter.
The URSTRONG advice:
Spend less time with this friend. You deserve healthy, feel-good friendships and remember Friendship Fact #4: Friendships change…and that’s okay.
If your friend continued to be Mean-on-Purpose, despite standing up for yourself and communicating it’s not okay (through your Quick Comeback), then THIS IS BULLYING. (We describe bullying as ongoing, Mean-on-Purpose behavior.)
This requires the support of adults to provide deeper interventions. We encourage URSTRONG Schools to follow our Bullying Prevention Plan that outlines the procedure for both the victim and the perpetrator.
Wallington PS Sponsors
Thank you to our PLATINUM Sponsor
Thank you to our SILVER Sponsors
Notice Board
Unexplained absences
Please check Compass for any unexplained absences for your child/s for 2026, if you could put an explanation for each one before the end of term.
If you need any assistance please contact the office.
STEM - BOXES WANTED
We need boxes of all shapes and sizes for STEM activities.
Can any donations be left at the main office, Art/STEM room or the First Nations Media Arts room.
Thankyou. Mr Vaught.
Make it stand out
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
SAVER PLUS
What it is:
Financial Education and Savings:
Saver Plus is a 10-month online program designed to help participants learn about financial management, set savings goals, and develop regular saving habits.
Matched Savings:
Participants who complete the program have their savings matched by ANZ, up to a maximum of $500, which can be used for education-related costs.
Online Delivery:
The program is delivered online, making it accessible to participants across Australia.
Saver Plus is a partnership between ANZ, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, The Smith Family and Berry Street.
Eligibility: To be eligible, participants need to have a current Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card and an eligible Centrelink payment, have other regular income, be studying themselves or have a child in school, be 18+ years old, and agree to join in free online financial education workshops.
