Dear Waddington Families,
It’s been an incredibly busy and positive few weeks at Waddington Primary as we’ve rounded out Term 3 and launched into Term 4 with fresh energy and optimism.
Our students finished Term 3 on a high note — with swimming lessons, gymnastics in PE, and some fantastic NAIDOC-inspired classroom activities enjoyed by our Room 5 students following their excursion to Balga SHS. These activities built on our commitment to deepening understanding and respect for Aboriginal cultures through shared learning experiences that they introduced to the rest of the school last Friday. The Book Fair also brought plenty of excitement, with eager readers exploring new stories to take home — thank you to everyone who supported this!
We began Term 4 with our focus value of Respect, and our classrooms have been filled with rich discussions about what it looks and feels like to show respect — for ourselves, for others, and for our learning. Teachers are leading whole-school practices through Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) strategies, such as body rhythm-based brain breaks, grounding exercises, and daily opportunities for students to notice, regulate and reset. It’s been beautiful to see students building these lifelong wellbeing skills.
In the classroom, our focus on Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) continues to strengthen academic language and student confidence. This term’s “tweak for the week” is encouraging students to answer in complete sentences — a simple but powerful strategy that builds vocabulary, comprehension, and pride in speaking and writing.
Staff have also been hard at work preparing for upcoming assessments and our next cycle of improvement. We’re building strong routines for data collection, coaching, and professional learning so that we continue to provide quality, evidence-based teaching across every classroom.
The school choir performed to a large audience with 4 other schools on the Community Stage at the Telethon performance last weekend. This was a wonderful celebration the joy of music and community connection.
And finally, a quick reminder that this Friday is a Staff Development Day — there will be no school for students as our staff engage in professional learning on first aid, wellbeing, and school planning for 2026. These days are a vital part of ensuring we keep learning too — so we can continue to offer the best for your children.
Thank you, as always, to our wonderful families for your support, encouragement, and partnership. Waddington is truly a connected community — and every week, that’s reflected in the smiles, kindness, and courage we see in our students
Warm wishes,
Ms Katherine Chivers
Principal
From the Administration Team
Term Planner
Please see below important information for Term 4 2025. These are subject to change so please keep up-to-date by checking the school website calendar regularly.
Important Dates
27 October 2025 – Newsletter 10 published
29 October 2025 – Assembly – Student Leaders
31 October 2025 – Staff Development Day – Students do not attend
29 October 2025 – Assembly – Student Leaders
12 November 2025 – Kindy 2026 Transition morning 9.00am – 10.15am
17 November 2025 – Newsletter 11 published
26 November 2025 – Family Afternoon Tea 1.45pm – 2.30pm
3 December 2025 – Thank you morning tea
5 December 2025 – Community Christmas Carols
8 December 2025 – Newsletter 12 published
10 December 2025 – Kindy Semester 2 2025 reports sent home
11 December 2025 – Year 6 Outback Splash 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
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.
Interschool Athletics Carnival
First week back this term and Waddington hosted the Interschool Athletics Carnival on Friday 17 October 2025. We had a glorious day, as you can see by the beautiful blue skies in the photos!
Balga PS, North Balga PS and Warriapendi PS students and their families attended on the day, and we were very proud of the way our students behaved and competed against the other schools. All of the teachers commented on how great the day was and how well organised the event was.
Thank you to Mrs Hartfield for all your hard work organising the carnival.
Australian Children’s Music Foundation – Telethon Choir performance
On Sunday 19 October 2025 our choir was lucky enough to perform in front of a large audience along with 4 other schools on the Community Stage at Telethon. A big thank you to Hannah from the Australian Children’s Music Foundation for providing our students with this wonderful opportunity.
Healthy Lunchbox ideas
Below are some healthy lunch box ideas for parents.
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 8 – Learning about native plants, animals and more!
Hi Waddington Families,
Room 8 has a fantastic start to Term 4. We went on our bushwalk to Koondoola bushland last week, where we saw lots of native plants and animals. The students were really good at spotting unusual flowers and identifying what should not be in the native bushland. Sasha and Jenny were great at guiding the students through the pathways and we had the perfect weather for it.
In English we are continuing to read Charlottes Web, and learn a lot about Pigs and Spiders, as well as new vocabulary words and sentence structure.
Last term we completed our unit on Refugee’s and the shoes they may wear to be safe around a refugee camp. The students then designed and made their own shoes using scraps of recycled material. I really hope you have had the opportunity to see these creations in the front office. We are now designing packages to keep biscuits from breaking in transit and the class are very excited to get started.
Wishing everyone a great rest of the year,
Mrs Cahill and Miss Porch
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.
Roseworth Child and Parent Centre – Being a Parent Program – Term 4 2025
Please see attached a flyer for the above program running weekly in term 4. It’s free to attend and there free creche is available. Registrations are essential.
Morley SHS – Year 5 Specialist Experience
Morley Senior High School is pleased to invite interested Year 5 students in the local area to attend our Specialist Experience Day on Wednesday, 26 November, from 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
This event is designed for students who have a keen interest in one of our specialist programs:
- Aviation Academy
- Media Arts Design Academy
- Soccer Academy
Students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities and get a taste of what one of these programs offer.
Key Details:
Places are limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Parents are responsible for drop-off and pick-up.
RSVP is required by Wednesday, 12 November via the QR code on the attached flyer.
