Wallington P.S. Newsletter Term 3. Week 5, 2026.
Upcoming Dates
Principal's Report
Dear Families,
Bunyip Camp
Well done to all Prep-2 students who took part in last week’s Bunyip camp! Our annual camp is such a wonderful tradition at Wallington Primary School, with our Preps, Year 1s and Year 2s embracing the chance to enjoy a special camping experience together.
The students enjoyed a jam-packed day of fun, including a campfire, tie-dye socks, Bunyip biscuit decorating, parachute games and a special performance from the travelling theatre group, Flying Bookworm. Following a yummy BBQ dinner, students headed out on a night walk before summoning the Bunyip from Lake Connewarre - and, of course, getting the chance to meet the Bunyip too!
After an ice cream, the Year 1s and 2s then settled in for a movie (Shrek, obviously) and an overnight stay at school before enjoying a yummy breakfast to finish off the experience on Saturday morning.
A huge thank you to all our staff and parent helpers for their time, energy and support. It is such a wonderful school community event, and it simply couldn’t happen without you!
District Athletics
Well done to all our students who proudly represented Wallington Primary School at this year’s District Athletics on Wednesday. Our students competed across a huge range of events, including sprints, long jump, high jump, triple jump, discus and shot put. Please see PE section below for photos and more information.
It has been a particularly busy couple of weeks, but it was fantastic to see our students continuing to embrace these opportunities to try something new, challenge themselves and, importantly, represent our school so positively within the wider community.
A big thank you to the staff who supported the event and helped make the day such a great experience for our students.
I wanted to also acknowledge that there has been some confusion and some late communication around recent sporting events. While these have been particularly busy weeks, we recognise the importance of ensuring families receive clear, accurate and timely information, particularly when events require planning around work, transport, and other commitments. We will continue to review and strengthen our processes to support consistent communication across the school.
Class Lunchtime Borrowing Equipment – In Use
Thanks to P&F fundraising and the Junior School Council for organising, this week classes received their selection of lunchtime sporting and games equipment in their classrooms, and students are already making good use of it all!
It has been fantastic to see students enjoying the new equipment while demonstrating our school values of Respect and Responsibility by taking care of it and ensuring it is returned safely after use. Looking after our equipment means everyone gets to enjoy it for years to come!
Staffing Update
Congratulations to Kate Poole, our Business Manager, who will be taking Family Leave from late October. We are incredibly excited for Kate and wish her all the very best for this exciting next chapter.
Following a recruitment process, we are delighted that Nicole Fecchio was the preferred candidate and will step into the Business Manager role during Kate’s leave. Nicole brings valuable experience and has already developed a strong understanding of our school through her work in the school office this year.
Plans are well underway to ensure continuity across our administration team over the next 12 months. We have advertised a 12-month Administrative Assistant position and expect to have this in place shortly, allowing plenty of time for a thorough handover and transition before Kate commences her leave.
Victorian Fisheries – Little Angler Fishing Kits
Our Year 5 students will have the opportunity to receive a FREE Little Angler fishing kit through the Victorian Fisheries Authority. The program encourages children to enjoy fishing, learn about marine life and spend time outdoors with their families.
Kits include a rod, reel, tackle and fishing information and will be distributed in August, ahead of the September school holidays. Participation is entirely voluntary. For safety, students should not open their kits until they are home with a parent or carer.
Any kits remaining after our Year 5 students have had the opportunity to receive one will be raffled among interested Year 6 students.
2026 Parent/Carer Survey – Opens Monday
Our annual Parent/Carer Survey will open next week, on Monday 17 August, and will remain open until Friday 18 September.
The survey provides an important opportunity for families to share their perspectives on their experience of our school and provide feedback on our school improvement work. The information gathered helps us understand what is working well, identify areas where we can continue to improve, and inform our priorities and planning moving forward.
We strongly encourage all families to take the opportunity to participate when the survey opens. The more families who contribute, the more useful the feedback is in helping us understand our progress and shape our ongoing work.
Further information about how to access the survey, including login details, will be shared via Newsfeed when the survey opens next week.
Upcoming Carpark Repair
Over the next fortnight, resurfacing works will be undertaken on our carpark driveway, particularly around the corner near the shed. This will either occur over a weekend, weather dependent, but may need to happen during a weekday. If this happens during the week, we will need to have a small section of the carpark cordoned off to allow machinery to safely access the area and complete the repairs.
The work is expected to be completed in a couple of hours so disruption will be minimal. We thank you in advance for your patience and care around the school grounds while these works take place.
Advanced Notice – Proposed AEU Stop Work Action Wednesday 19th August
As previously communicated, the AEU has proposed a third stop work day for Wednesday 19 August.
At this stage, the proposed action is on hold pending the outcome of the latest AEU member vote on a revised offer for the Victorian Government Schools Agreement. The vote is due to conclude at 10:00am on Monday 17th August.
Please note: if the revised offer is accepted, the AEU has advised that the proposed stop work action on Wednesday 19 August will be cancelled. If the offer is not accepted, the proposed stop work action will proceed as previously communicated.
I will provide further information to families and confirm arrangements for Wednesday 19th August as soon as these are known.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we await confirmation of the outcome.
Cameron Edwards
SWPBS Awards
Being Resilient
Ava - Prep
For showing wonderful resilience each morning. Even though you miss Mum when you arrive at school, you show such courage and determination to settle into your day. We are so proud of the way you keep trying. Congratulations Ava!
Ashton - Year 1
For showing great resilience on Bunyip Camp! You tried new things and had great fun. Keep up the great work Ashton!
Skylar - Year 2
For showing resilience by persevering through small challenges both inside and outside the classroom and confidently seeking help when needed. Keep up the great work!
Chloe- Year 3
Chloe, you have shown great resilience as you continue practising and building your confidence when using the keyboard. Well done Chloe.
George - Year 4/5
For your resilience during Burnside Camp. You made the most of every activity and pushed through challenges, while supporting your friends. Congratulations on being a star camper!
Kane - Year 6
For your resilience during Burnside Camp. You pushed through all the activities and bounced back when there were challenges. Keep up the great work, Kane!
Principal’s Award: - Our Teachers & ES Team
For your outstanding dedication, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to our students. Thank you for going above and beyond to make our camps such a memorable, safe, and enriching experience for every student.
Parents and Friends
WHATS HAPPENING WITH PARENTS & FRIENDS?
Important Dates:
THE NEXT P&F MEETING WILL BE
Tuesday 25th August, 6pm in the school hall. New members are always welcome.
SECOND HAND UNIFORMS
We have lots of uniforms available. Most sizes available.
Just a Gold Coin Donation. Be sure to check it out.
COMING UP
Father’s Day Stall - Week 8.
Special Lunch on Footy Colours Day - Week 10.
More information coming soon.
Wallington P.S.
Gardening Club
Garden Club will be on every Friday at second lunch at 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.
Garden Exchange - Please help yourself to our freshly grown vegetables on display at the front of school. Please also share anything from your gardens here too.
Art & Music
Year 4-6 Vase Shading Artwork
Our Year 4–6 students have been busy creating stunning vase artworks that explore light, shadow, and pattern. The students began by applying a variety of intricate Zentangle patterns to each layer of their vases, carefully selecting and placing their designs to make one side appear darker than the other.
Using charcoal, they then took their pieces to the next level by shading one side of the vase and drawing a realistic shadow on the "table." This required everyone to think critically about the direction of their imaginary light source. The final pieces look absolutely sensational!
Mrs Bishop
Art & Music Teacher
PE and Dance
PE /Dance Weekly Snapshot
Physical Education & Dance Snapshot
District Athletics Day:
Our Grade 4-6 students represented Wallington Primary School with pride at the District Athletics Carnival held at Goldsworthy Reserve this week. Despite the cold and wet conditions, students demonstrated outstanding determination, resilience and sportsmanship throughout the day.
Mrs Ractliffe and Mrs Duckett were stationed at the High Jump event and were incredibly impressed by the effort, skill and perseverance shown by all competitors. It was wonderful to see students challenging themselves, encouraging one another and giving every event their best effort.
Our students were fantastic ambassadors for WPS, showcasing our values of Respect, Resilience and Responsibility throughout the day. Despite the chilly weather, they approached each event with enthusiasm, determination and a willingness to give everything a go.
Every student should feel incredibly proud of their efforts. Success isn't always measured by ribbons or placings; it is about having a go, challenging yourself and celebrating personal achievements. Whether students achieved a personal best, tried a new event or encouraged a teammate, each student experienced success through participation, persistence and a positive attitude. It was wonderful to see so many supportive friendships and moments of achievement throughout the day. Well done to all involved!
Foundation-Grade 3 PE
Meanwhile, our Foundation to Grade 3 students were busy refining their fundamental movement skills during PE. Students focused on running, dodging, jumping and throwing, developing confidence and control through a variety of engaging activities and games.
Students practised dodging around objects and changing their pace while running, helping them develop agility and spatial awareness. They also challenged themselves with two-foot jumps moving forwards, backwards and sideways, building coordination and balance. Throwing skills were another focus area, with students exploring both underarm and overarm throws to improve their distance and technique.
It has been fantastic to see students enthusiastically developing these important movement skills while encouraging one another and celebrating their progress along the way.
Grade 1 Dance: Wind Dance
Our Grade 1 students explored the theme of Wind Dance this week. Through creative movement activities, students investigated how their bodies could represent the movement of the wind using flowing, sweeping and gentle actions.
Working collaboratively with their classmates, students created short dance sequences inspired by a windy day. They experimented with different speeds, levels and directions to show how wind can change and move through the environment.
Students developed their understanding of how dance can be used to express ideas and tell stories through movement, while also building teamwork, confidence and creativity. It was fantastic to see so many imaginative ideas brought to life as students moved like gusts, breezes and swirling winds across the dance space.
Exciting News: Sporting Schools Grant Success!
We are thrilled to share that Wallington Primary School has been successful in receiving a Sporting Schools Grant this term! As part of this fantastic opportunity, students from Foundation to Grade 6 will participate in a badminton program delivered by coaches from Badminton Geelong.
Badminton is a fast-paced and engaging sport that develops a wide range of important skills, including hand-eye coordination, agility, balance, reaction time, movement awareness and strategic thinking. Students will also have opportunities to build confidence, teamwork, perseverance and sportsmanship as they learn and refine new skills.
We are incredibly excited to welcome the coaches from Badminton Geelong and can't wait to see the skills, enthusiasm and talent our students bring to the program. It promises to be a wonderful learning experience for everyone involved!
Champion of the Week Award
PE Champion of the Week: Kai (Year 4/5)
A huge congratulations to Kai for being our PE Champion of the Week!
Kai demonstrated outstanding effort and teamwork during the 4 x 100m relay at the District Athletics Carnival. He approached the event with determination, gave his absolute best from start to finish, and played an important role in supporting his team.
Well done, Kai! You should be incredibly proud of the effort, teamwork and determination you displayed on the day.
Mrs Ractliffe
Physical Education & Dance Teacher
First Nations, Media Arts & STEM
Please enjoy our latest STEM, First Nations and Media Arts video below.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything further, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be more than happy to have a chat.
Mr Vaught
First Nations, Media Arts and STEM Teacher
Wellbeing at Wallington
Wallington PS Sponsors
Thank you to our PLATINUM Sponsor
Thank you to our GOLD Sponsors
Thank you to our SILVER Sponsors
Thank you to our BRONZE 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.
An unexplained absence in compass us a record indicating that a student was marked “not present” (absent or late) without a reason entered by a parent/guardian. It means that school is aware the student is missing but not why.
How to Fix: Under the "Attendance" tab, the "Unexplained" tab lists these absences. Parents can select the relevant dates and click "Explain with Note/Approval" to provide a reason.
Why It Matters: Schools are required to ensure they know the safety of students and keep attendance records, requiring a reason for every day a student is absent/late.
If you need any assistance please contact the Admin team.
Compass notifications
Have you stopped receiving notifications of Campass?
Compass has recommended that you try the following:
1) Ensure that your app is updated to the most recent version.
2) Check in settings to ensure that you have all the notifications settings on.
3) Confirm that your mobile number and email address is correct in Parent Portal -> Update My Details. Changes are sent to school administrators for confirmation.
4) Confirm affected recipients are not marked Do Not Contact.
The Admin team are here to help should you need further assistance.
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.
