Dear Waddington Families,
As Term 2 continues to build momentum, Waddington Primary School has been buzzing with learning, enrichment and exciting opportunities for our students.
We began the term with wonderful community spirit, including our meaningful ANZAC Day service, where our student leaders represented the school with pride and maturity. Students have already enjoyed special learning experiences such as the Healthy Smiles incursion from UWA dental students, helping children build positive oral health habits, and the Opera Incursion performance of Little Red Riding Hood, which brought creativity and the arts to life for our learners.
Our Year 3–6 students also recently attended the Barking Gecko theatre excursion to Subiaco Arts Centre, giving them the chance to experience live professional theatre and engage in rich storytelling beyond the classroom. Meanwhile, our Year 5/6 students are continuing to build confidence for the future through their Balga Senior High School transition program, strengthening connections and preparing for the next stage of their education.
Looking ahead, we are excited for our upcoming in-term swimming lessons beginning in Week 5. Thanks to the generous support of 12 Buckets and Sporting Schools funding, this valuable program has been made more affordable for families, ensuring students can continue developing important water safety and swimming skills.
Alongside these enriching experiences, our school is also preparing for an important milestone — our Public School Review on Wednesday 13th May. Over the last few months, staff have worked collaboratively to reflect on and showcase the incredible work taking place across Waddington, including our focus on high-quality teaching, student wellbeing, cultural responsiveness, strong community partnerships and continuous improvement. The review team will meet with staff, students, families and community representatives to learn more about our school’s journey, celebrate our achievements and help guide our future growth.
This process is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the dedication of our entire school community. Waddington continues to thrive because of the strong partnerships between staff, students and families, and we are proud to share the story of our school with the review team.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to provide meaningful opportunities for every child to grow, belong and succeed.
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.
Important Dates
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
9 June 2026 – School Board Meeting 9am
10 June 2026 – Family Afternoon Tea
10 June 2026 – Free Flu Vaccination Clinic – Library 1pm – 3pm
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
2 July 2026 – Parent Teacher interviews – Student do not attend
3 July 2026 – Term 2 2026 ends
20 July 2026 – Term 3 2026 commences for staff and students
Interm Swimming – PP to Year 6 students
Students in years pre-primary to year 6 have in-term swimming lessons in weeks 5 and 6 this term.
Consent/Enrolment forms were sent home last week, and we thank those families who have returned their paperwork and made payments. This year the cost of swimming lessons has been significantly reduced due to the generosity of 12 Buckets and a Sporting Schools Grant.
Lessons this year are only $22.85 per student. If you need to organise a payment plan, please discuss with Ms Janney in the front office.
Please ensure you return your forms and make payment by Friday 8 May 2026.
2027 Kindergarten Enrolments now open!
If you have a child or know someone who has a child in the area that will be turning 4 years old by 30 June 2027, they can enrol in kindergarten now. Applications for enrolment are to be submitted before Friday 24 July 2026.
Vaccination Clinic at Waddington Primary School
We are pleased to let families know that a free vaccination clinic will be held at Waddington Primary School on Tuesday 10 June, from 1–3pm, in the school library.
Each year, many children become unwell with colds or the flu and miss a lot of school while they recover. To help reduce this, children aged 2–11 years can receive a needle‑free flu vaccine, which is given as a simple spray in the nose.
For more information on the flu vaccinations for children, please click on the links below in English, Arabic and Vietnamese.
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.
Room 5 – Our school leaders and their learning journey so far this year!
We have come flying into Term 2 and it has already been full of energy, excitement, and new learning experiences for our Year 5 and 6 students!
In the classroom, we have been exploring Noongar language, focusing on minga (insects). Ask your child about what they are called when you see them around the home or you might even hear some stories about our class kar (spider) visitors who have made appearances in the classroom, supervising our lessons!
There might be a future astronaut in Room 5, with the number of space-inspired experiences we’ve had recently. We were lucky to take part in an online interview with Jaxon Liebeck, an aerospace engineer from Western Australia, who shared insights into his work. This was followed by a visit to the Perth Observatory, organised by Mrs Cahill, and a most recently a live performance of Stellarphant, a story about resilience and chasing big dreams. These experiences have certainly sparked curiosity and imagination!
We also had a fantastic time at the Dianella Secondary College soccer tournament at the end of last term. It was a highly competitive day, and our students showed incredible resilience and teamwork throughout.
Harmony Day was another standout moment, with many families joining us to celebrate culture and diversity. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from one another and recognise the differences that make our community so special. In contrast, ANZAC Day provided an important time for reflection, where our students showed great respect while learning from visiting Reservist Sergeant Downes about his experiences.
In Physical Education, we have been preparing for the upcoming Interschool Lightning Carnival, practising netball last term and AFL this term. We are looking forward to putting our skills into action later this term.
Our 12 Buckets program continues to support students in building important life skills as they prepare for high school—be sure to ask them what they will be creating each week!
Finally, our student leaders have been outstanding, running a variety of lunchtime clubs including Art, Comic, Bush Walk, and Sports Clubs. Their enthusiasm and leadership are beginning to inspire younger students to get involved and try new activities.
It has been a fantastic start to the term, and we are excited for all that is still to come!
Mr Greer
Community Notices
Balga Senior High School – Technology Club Term 2 2026
Please see below a flyer for a program which commenced 29 April 2026 for students in years 5 and 6. Places are still available if your child would like to register!
Resources and Programs for families – Term 2 2026
Please see the flyer below links for various programs available this term for families. Bookings are essential.