Dear Waddington Families,
As we move into the final weeks of Term 4, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all our families for your ongoing support, partnership and encouragement throughout the year. Term 4 is always a whirlwind, and this year has been no exception. From classroom events and transitions to concerts, excursions and celebrations, our students have continued to show persistence, kindness and courage in everything they do.
Our staff also continue to work incredibly hard behind the scenes—updating assessments, preparing reports, supporting wellbeing, and ensuring each child finishes the year feeling confident and ready for their next step. We deeply appreciate the trust you place in us and the way our community consistently comes together to support one another. Waddington truly is a connected community. Thank you for joining us at the Christmas Carols on Friday evening. It was wonderful to see the students participate in their class songs and take such pleasure from performing to their families. Thank you also to the P&C for their Sausage Sizzle, and to those who donated prizes for the Christmas Raffle.
Social Media Restrictions – Important Information for All Families
As part of the Department of Education’s focus on student wellbeing and safety, the first Social Media Restriction Day for schools begins on Wednesday 10 December. This aligns with new government guidelines to reduce the impact of social media on children, and to support safer, healthier habits both at school and at home.
To help families prepare, here are some key points and suggestions:
What this means for students:
- Students should not be accessing social media unless on approved platforms.
- Devices brought to school must remain off and handed in at the office for the day.
- We will continue to teach respectful, safe online behaviours as part of our curriculum.
How families can support at home:
- Talk openly with your child about why limits on social media are important—focus on wellbeing, sleep, friendships and safety.
- Set clear routines for device use (for example: no phones in bedrooms, device-free dinners, or scheduled check-in times).
- Model healthy digital habits—young people notice how adults use their devices too.
- Encourage alternative activities such as reading, outdoor play, hobbies or helping out at home.
What to do if you’re unsure:
If you have questions about how your child is affected or would like wellbeing advice, please reach out to us. We are here to support families as we navigate these changes together.
Looking Ahead
I will publish the 2026 class lists at the end of this week. Students will be visiting their new class and teacher on Friday afternoon. Kindy reports will be sent home on Wednesday; students in Pre-primary to Year 6 will bring home their reports on Friday. Class parties will be held at lunchtime on the last day of term (Thursday 18th). With our Graduation and Awards celebrations ahead, it is shaping up to be a joyful finish to the school year. Thank you for walking alongside us through the busy final stretch.
We wish all families a calm, safe and happy end to the year, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2026.
Warm wishes,
Ms Katherine Chivers
Principal
From the Administration Team
Term Planner
Please see below important information for the last 2 weeks of Term 4 2025. These are subject to change so please keep up-to-date by checking the school website calendar regularly.
Wishing all our families a wonderful Christmas and a safe and relaxing school holiday break. The front office will reopen Tuesday 27 January 2026 for families who would like to purchase new uniforms or have any questions regarding the new school year.
School returns for students Monday 2 February 2026.
Important Dates
8 December 2025 – Newsletter 12 published
10 December 2025 – Kindy Semester 2 2025 reports sent home
10 December 2025 – Year 6 Bounce excursion
12 December 2025 – PP to Year 6 Semester 2 2025 reports sent home
12 December 2025 – 2026 Classes Transition afternoon 1.40pm – 2.40pm
15 December 2025 – Book Awards and Graduation Assembly
17 December 2025 – Graduation Dinner
18 December 2025 – Term 4 ends for students
19 December 2025 – Staff Development Day – Students do not attend
TERM 1 2026 Commences Monday 2 February 2026 – for 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?
- 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.
- Fewer Disruptions: Late arrivals can interrupt the class. When everyone is on time, the day starts smoothly and everyone benefits.
- Builds Responsibility: Being punctual helps students learn to be responsible and manage their time well. These skills are important for their future.
- 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.
- 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.
Breakfast Club – Thank you Woolworths Mirrabooka!
We would like to acknowledge with thanks Woolworths Mirrabooka for supporting our schools breakfast club, our students appreciate you!
Room 9 – So much learning and discovery over the course of the year!
What a privilege it is to reflect on the year, and final term we have had in Room 9! This semester we have been busy learning, discovering and exploring, each day while we are at school. What amazing things we can say we have accomplished alongside our continual learning journey.
One week a visitor appeared in our classroom – it was a Wombat. We started our journey to learn facts about Wombats. We made a burrow for it to live in and became authors of our own information text. Everyone we shared this with was impressed by our writing and illustrating skills.
In Science we have carried out another experiment – this time to test the needs of a plant. We discovered that plants need water to survive and noticed that if we coloured this water our white flowers changed to match it. This was something we had to monitor and record, which made us feel like proper scientists. We have also been learning about the features of animals. We identified the needs of our pets and created artworks of Australian animals. We have been practicing describing their external features.
In HASS we are exploring the built features of our community. As a class we have created a map of Koondoola with all the landmarks that are important to us. We have been learning about how we care for special places in our community and the world.
We have entered our construction and engineering era, creating increasingly more complex built structures. We have been working to communicate with our friends what we need and work together to create a design. In the process we are using full sentences to explain their purpose and how they work. These new teamwork and communication skills have also helped us when playing board games, to share the rules and take turns.
Santa’s workshop has officially opened now it is December. We have become busy elves, making and packing gifts. We have been using our patterning skills to decorate Christmas tree outlines, and place baubles on our big class tree.
As our school year draws to a close, we are able to enjoy Birak weather and take our learning outdoors. We are out on Boodja any chance we get. From greeting our new friends (the shinglebacks that frequent out doorway) to the birds and spotting all kinds of interesting insects. Country has so much to teach us. As part of Maths, we collected and sorted natural materials and sorted them into groups according to attributes. In another Unit of work, we have been learned about shapes on country. It has focused on identifying shapes in our class, our houses and on Country. We have created a floor book of our work to map our learning journey. We have made geometric shapes from natural materials and created a portrait of our shinglebacks out of leaves. From the smallest snail shell to the bark on our big trees, we have noticed that shapes are all around us.
It has been an action packed year but we could not be more proud of all we have achieved.
Community Notices
Saver Plus information for families
Saver Plus have received valuable feedback from the community suggesting that a referral form would help connect parents and carers with the Saver Plus program more easily.
In response, they are pleased to introduce a new Referral Form, designed to simplify the process of getting in touch with us. You’ll find this form in a link below.
This is a great opportunity to remind families about Saver Plus and the $500 they can receive to support their child’s education costs. The program not only provides matched savings but also equips eligible families with budgeting skills that help ensure children are prepared for school with the resources they need—contributing to long-term financial wellbeing.
Families can still enquire directly by calling our free number 1300 610 355, or by clicking the ‘Enquire Now’ button on The Smith Family website under the Saver Plus financial literacy program. A Savings Coach will then be in touch for a friendly chat.
Summer Reading Quest – City of Wanneroo
Head to City of Wanneroo Libraries these school holidays and let your imagination run wild with our Summer Reading Quest!
Cam the Chameleon is back – and this time he’s brought along his friend Tam the Turtle! This book loving duo are diving into an epic underwater adventure, and kids aged 2 to 15 are invited to join the quest. There will be fun games to play, challenges to conquer, and plenty of fantastic books to discover – plus loads of prizes to be won.
Visit your local library to collect your activity booklet and start your reading journey today.
To find out more visit: https://wanneroo.wa.gov.au/srq
Free Healthy Lifestyle Programs for families!
Want to build healthy family habits and further support your child’s academic performance? Jump into a FREE healthy
lifestyle program today!
The Active8 & Better Health Programs offer fun & interactive support from a health professional that is specific to your family’s needs! NO
fuss, NO cost, & NO waitlists!
- Up to 8-10 x 30-minute coaching calls and FUN e-learning resources in online or group-based settings!
- Learn about quality nutrition, balancing screen time & staying active.
- For kids 2-5 (Active8) & 6-12 (Better Health Program) & their families.
- Online program available year-round! Group programs available during school terms in select metro locations.
The Better Health Program group dates and locations: https://betterhealthprogram.org/program-location-list/
The Active8 Program group dates and locations: https://theactive8.org/program-location-list/
For more information on the programs, visit the following links:
https://betterhealthprogram.org/ or call 1300 822 953
https://theactive8.org/ or call 1300 822 953
Still unsure? Hear how a BHP family “set in really good habits” to enhance their “healthy lifestyle.
Creative Kids Art Club – December School Holiday Program
Please see below information about some art school holiday programs for your child. Visit their website for further information and to make a booking. https://www.creativekidsartclub.com.au/school-holidays/
