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Dear Waddington Families,

As we reach the end of Term 1, I would like to thank our families for your ongoing support and partnership. It has been a busy and productive term, and it has been wonderful to see our students settling into routines, building relationships and engaging in their learning with confidence and enthusiasm.

A highlight this term was our Harmony Day Picnic, which brought together students, families and members of our wider community in a celebration of culture, connection and belonging. Events like this reflect what makes Waddington such a special place—our strong sense of community and the way we value and respect one another.

In classrooms, students have been working hard across all learning areas. Our teachers continue to use evidence-based approaches to support student learning, including clear learning goals, regular review of prior learning and targeted support within the classroom. You may hear your child talking about how they get “ready to learn”—this is part of our Berry Street Education Model work, helping students to regulate, focus and feel confident in their learning.

We have also completed important assessments this term, including NAPLAN, reading and listening comprehension, and mathematics testing, which will help us plan for each student’s next steps. Our focus remains on ensuring every child is supported to make progress, with additional help provided in classrooms through small group and one-to-one support where needed.

Attendance continues to be an important priority for our school. We know that regular attendance has a direct impact on student learning, and we appreciate your support in ensuring your child arrives on time, and attends school as often as possible.

We look forward to welcoming you all to our annual Easter Hat Parade and Raffle draw in the Under Cover Area on Thursday. Please arrive at 2:20pm for a 2:30pm start. The P&C organise these events to fundraise for our school, so thank you in advance for your support with this event.

Please note, the first day back for students next term is Monday 20^th April. Our ANZAC Service is on Friday 24^th April at 2.15pm and the following Monday 27^th is a Public Holiday.

Warm wishes,

Ms Katherine Chivers 

Principal

From the Administration Team

Term Planner

Please see below important information for Term 2 2026. These are subject to change so please keep up-to-date by checking the school website calendar regularly.

Wishing all our families a wonderful school holiday break and look forward to seeing you back at school Monday 20 April 2026!

Important Dates

20 April 2026 – TERM 2 COMMENCES – STAFF AND STUDENTS

23 April 2026 – Theatre Trip Year 3 – 6

24 April 2026 – ANZAC Day Service

27 April 2026 – ANZAC Day Public Holiday

29 April 2026 – Healthy Smiles Incursion

1 May 2026 – Opera Incursion UCA Little Red Riding Hood

4 May 2026 – Newsletter 4 published

18 May 2026 – Swimming Lesson – PP to Year 6 commence (daily lessons week 5)

25 May 2026 – Newsletter 5 published

25 May 2026 – Swimming Lesson – PP to Year 6 (daily lessons week 6)

1 June 2026 – WA Day Public Holiday

2 June 2026 – Staff Development Day – Students do not attend

4 June 2026 – St Johns First Aid Incursion

15 June 2026 – Newsletter 6 published

19 June 2026 – Lightning Carnival – Warriapendi PS

22 June 2026 – Aboriginal Ear Health Clinic

24 June 2026 – NOM Cooking Incursion Year 3 – 6

1 July 2026 – NOM Cooking Incursion Year 3 – 6

3 July 2026 – Term 2 2026 ends

20 July 2026 – Term 3 2026 commences for staff and students

Attendance – Everyday counts!

Why It’s Important to Be On Time for School

Being on time is a key skill that helps students succeed both in school and in life.

Why is being on time so important?

1. More Learning Time: When students arrive on time, they don’t miss out on important lessons and activities. Every minute counts and being there from the start helps them fully participate in the day’s learning.
2. Fewer Disruptions: Late arrivals can interrupt the class. When everyone is on time, the day starts smoothly and everyone benefits.
3. Builds Responsibility: Being punctual helps students learn to be responsible and manage their time well. These skills are important for their future.
4. Better Academic Performance: Regular attendance and being on time are linked to better grades. Students who are punctual are more likely to be active in class and do well in their studies.
5. Shows Respect: Being on time shows respect for teachers, classmates, and the school community. It shows a commitment to learning and the importance of education.

We know mornings can be tough, but with a bit of planning, we can make sure our students start their day right. Let’s make being on time a priority and help our students succeed!

PLEASE NOTE: Students who arrive after 9.55am miss more than half of the morning lessons. This will be marked as an unauthorised absence and will need an explanation.

Room 8 (Year 3 / 4) – Mookaroo

The Mookaroo class has had a great start to 2026. We are working hard on improving our sentences by including where or when, as well as vocabulary, punctuation and adding detail to make them more interesting. We are continuing with reading the novel Matilda, and the students are getting really good at understanding everything that is happening in the novel and relating it to their own lives.

In Maths, we have begun working on multiplication, and students have been surprised by how many multiplication facts they already know. The class has also been working hard on their assembly item, which is all about how we work together to help everyone, and they have some pretty cool dance moves. We look forward to seeing you all at the assembly on Wednesday morning.

In Science, the Mookaroo class have been looking at the properties of materials, and students were amazed that some materials, such as hand sanitizer, do not freeze, and some metals, such as gallium can melt at 29 degrees Celsius.

In HASS, the class have been learning about the First Fleet and in Digital Technologies, they have been investigating how everyday activities can be thought of in terms of algorithms, such as brushing your teeth or making a sandwich.

We are all looking forward to an action packed start to Term 2.

Mrs Cahill and Miss Porch

Community Notices

Kids and Anxiety – free parenting program

Please see the flyer below for details of a free program for parents run by Communicare and hosted by Waddington Primary School. Bookings essential and creche services will be provided.

Parent assistance – Early Intervention for families

Creative Kids Art Club – April 2026 School Holidays

Please see the flyer below for some art club school holidays activities for your child. For more information, please visit their website for more information http://www.creativekidsartclub.com.au.

Flight Spark Sports Space Launch – May 2026

BluSky Sports Australia is opening a brand‑new FLIGHT SPARK Sports Space in the local area — a low‑pressure, inclusive place for children to play, move, and belong.

Program Details  

• First Program Day: Tuesday 5 May 2026  

• Time: 4.00–5.30 PM  

• Venue: Playpoint Indoor Sports Centre (Ballajura), 7/40 Oxleigh Drive, Malaga  

• Ages: 5–13  

• Cost: $5 per session  

• Sign‑up link: https://forms.gle/zCznhwy3z4PW5DU19 (forms.gle in Bing)  

Parent assistance – Early Intervention for families

Please see the flyers below that may be of interest to families.

Dear Waddington Families,

Term 1 has started with great energy across the school and it has been wonderful to see students settling back into routines, reconnecting with friends and engaging in their learning. Our classrooms have been busy building strong foundations for the year ahead, with a focus on belonging, relationships and understanding what helps us learn well together. Students have been exploring our school values through activities such as Yarning Circles, where they share ideas about how they can support their class and contribute positively to our school community. These conversations help students develop empathy, responsibility and a sense of shared ownership of their learning environment. 

There has also been plenty happening across the school beyond the classroom. Students have enjoyed special learning experiences including our SciTech incursion exploring hydraulics and engineering, and a vibrant Lion Dance performance which helped celebrate culture and diversity within our community. Later this term we are also looking forward to our Harmony Day picnic on Friday 20th March which coincides with the anticipated celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. All families are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the many cultures that make up the Waddington community. We also hope to welcome a group of Aboriginal students from Balga SHS who will be face painting  for us this year. 

Our staff have been working closely together to ensure strong teaching and learning across the school. This includes using assessment information to guide planning and support student progress, as well as continuing our work with evidence-based teaching practices. Alongside this, we are continuing our focus on student wellbeing through the Berry Street Education Model, helping students develop strategies for managing emotions, building positive relationships and feeling safe and supported at school. 

We are also continuing to strengthen our work in Aboriginal cultural responsiveness through our Cultural Standards Committee, working alongside community members and local Elders to guide our journey of reconciliation and ensure that Aboriginal perspectives are meaningfully embedded in learning. This partnership helps our students deepen their understanding of culture, respect and connection to Country. 

Finally, it has been wonderful to see renewed energy in our P&C, with several new parents joining and helping to plan upcoming community events such as the Easter Raffle and Easter Hat Parade. We now have a team of 10 parents working together for our school  and students. If you would like to join, please pop in to the office, or email p_c.waddy@hotmail.com to express your interest. Opportunities like these help bring our community together and support the many wonderful experiences we provide for students. 

Thank you to all families for your continued support. Working together as a connected community helps us create a school where every child feels they belong and is supported to strive to succeed.

Warm wishes,

Ms Katherine Chivers 

Principal

From the Administration Team

Term Planner

Please see below important information for Term 1 2026. These are subject to change so please keep up-to-date by checking the school website calendar regularly.

Important Dates

9 March 2026 – Newsletter 2 published

11 March 2026 – NAPLAN commences

11 March 2026 – STEM Club Program 2.40pm – 3.40pm

18 March 2026 – STEM Club Program 2.40pm – 3.40pm

23 March 2026 – NAPLAN ends

25 March 2026 – STEM Club Program 2.40pm – 3.40pm

27 March 2026 – Room 5 Excursion – Perth Observatory

30 March 2026 – Newsletter 3 published

1 April 2026 – STEM Club Program 2.40pm – 3.40pm

2 April 2026 – Term 1 ends

3 April 2026 – Public Holiday – Good Friday

20 April 2026 – TERM 2 COMMENCES – STAFF AND STUDENRS

When should sick children stay home?

To help keep our school community healthy, we ask families to keep children at home if they are unwell. Sending children to school when they’re sick increases the risk of spreading illness to classmates and staff, and often makes it harder for them to learn and recover.

Thank you for helping us keep our school a safe and healthy place for everyone!

Attendance – Everyday counts!

Why It’s Important to Be On Time for School

Being on time is a key skill that helps students succeed both in school and in life.

Why is being on time so important?

1. More Learning Time: When students arrive on time, they don’t miss out on important lessons and activities. Every minute counts and being there from the start helps them fully participate in the day’s learning.
2. Fewer Disruptions: Late arrivals can interrupt the class. When everyone is on time, the day starts smoothly and everyone benefits.
3. Builds Responsibility: Being punctual helps students learn to be responsible and manage their time well. These skills are important for their future.
4. Better Academic Performance: Regular attendance and being on time are linked to better grades. Students who are punctual are more likely to be active in class and do well in their studies.
5. Shows Respect: Being on time shows respect for teachers, classmates, and the school community. It shows a commitment to learning and the importance of education.

We know mornings can be tough, but with a bit of planning, we can make sure our students start their day right. Let’s make being on time a priority and help our students succeed!

PLEASE NOTE: Students who arrive after 9.55am miss more than half of the morning lessons. This will be marked as an unauthorised absence and will need an explanation.

Schools Clean-up Day

Our annual School Clean‑Up Day was a great success! Well done to all those that contributed on the day.

Please see below the thank you note from Clean up Australia for our hard work.

Room 4 (Year 2 / 3) – Working hard and learning so much!

Room 4 have been working hard this term!

In Mathematics we have been focusing on numbers up to 1000 and beyond, skip counting by 5’s and our addition and subtraction fluency skills.

In Literacy we have been working on our confidence and fluency when reading and writing.

In HASS we have just finished learning about why it is important that we have rules, and we will be starting to look at artifacts and the past.

In technologies we are learning about how to be safe on the internet, and we have been continuing our learning about the Zones of Regulation in Health.

Mondays are our favourite day, we have sport, music with Mr Friis and Noongar!

In this music session, we have been playing songs on the xylophone, which we are getting very good at! Recently we participated in the 2026 Clean Up Australia, each class had a section of the school, we wore gloves and collected all of the rubbish. We also spoke about why it is important not litter, and to recycle the things that can be recycled.

Community Notices

Kids and Anxiety – free parenting program

Please see the flyer below for details of a free program for parents run by Communicare and hosted by Waddington Primary School. Bookings essential and creche services will be provided.

Parent assistance – Early Intervention for families

Please see the flyers below that may be of interest to families.

Parent workshops – March 2026

Please see below for a selection of parent workshops available for Term 1 2026.