Dear Families,
What a wonderful start to Term 4! It has been a busy and exciting few weeks at Waddington Primary School, with opportunities to celebrate our community, strengthen connections and recognise the contributions of the many people who make our school such a special place.
Thank You to Our P&C – Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
A huge thank you to our fantastic P&C and everyone who volunteered their time to support the recent Bunnings sausage sizzle fundraiser.
Events like these require considerable organisation, preparation and, of course, people willing to give up some of their precious weekend! We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers for their time, energy and commitment to our school.
Our P&C plays such an important role in bringing our community together and raising funds that help provide additional resources and opportunities for our students. Every sausage sold contributes to making a difference for our children.
Thank you to everyone who helped behind the scenes, worked at the sausage sizzle or stopped by to show their support. Your generosity and community spirit are greatly appreciated!
NAIDOC Celebrations – Celebrating Culture, Country and Connection
What a fantastic celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures we enjoyed at Waddington last week!
Our NAIDOC celebrations were a wonderful opportunity for our students, staff and wider community to come together to celebrate culture, connection to Country and the rich histories, knowledge and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s NAIDOC theme, 50 Years of Deadly, provided an important opportunity to recognise the strength, resilience, achievements and enduring cultural heritage of First Nations peoples.
It was particularly special to see our students participating in the celebrations, learning from others and developing their understanding of the importance of culture, identity, respect and belonging.
I would like to sincerely thank the Elders, community members, visitors and staff who contributed to making our celebrations such a success. Events like these do not happen without considerable planning, collaboration and generosity.
At Waddington, cultural responsiveness is not something we focus on for just one week of the year. It is an important part of who we are, reflected in our relationships, learning environments, Yarning Circles and the opportunities we create for students to learn about and celebrate Aboriginal culture throughout the year.
Our NAIDOC celebrations were a beautiful reminder of the strength of community, the importance of connection and the value of learning together.
Your School, Your Voice – School Community Surveys
At Waddington Primary School, we believe that strong schools are built through genuine partnerships between students, families and staff.
As part of our ongoing school improvement journey, we will shortly be inviting parents and carers to participate in our School Community Survey.
Your feedback is incredibly important to us. We want to know what we are doing well, what you value about our school and, importantly, where you believe we could improve.
We are particularly interested in hearing your thoughts about communication, student learning, wellbeing, inclusion, school culture and the relationships between our school and families.
The feedback collected will help inform our future planning, guide school improvement priorities and support decisions about how we can continue to strengthen the learning experiences and opportunities we provide for our students.
Every family’s voice matters. Whether you have been part of the Waddington community for many years or have only recently joined us, your experiences and perspectives are valuable.
We understand that families are busy, so we will aim to make the survey straightforward and accessible. Further information about how to participate will be shared soon.
We also recognise that completing a survey may not suit everyone. Please remember that our doors are always open, and we welcome conversations, suggestions and feedback throughout the year.
We want Waddington to be a school where families feel welcomed, respected, listened to and genuinely involved in their children’s education.
Looking Ahead
As we move further into our final term, there is plenty to look forward to, with learning, special events and end-of-year celebrations ahead.
Thank you for your continued support, encouragement and partnership. It is the collective efforts of our students, staff, families and community that make Waddington such a wonderful little school.
Together, we continue to strive to succeed!
Warm wishes,
Ms Katherine Chivers
Principal
From the Administration Team
Term Planner
Please see below important information for Term 4 2026. These are subject to change so please keep up-to-date by checking the school website calendar regularly.
Important Dates
26 October 2026 – Ready! Set! Kindy! program (2027 Kindy students)
26 October 2026 – Bike Program – Year 1 – Year 6 students
26 October 2026 – Newsletter 10 published
28 October 2026 – Room 1 and 9 Assembly
30 October 2026 – P&C Halloween Disco (Waddy Hall)
2 November 2026 – Ready! Set! Kindy! (2027 Kindy students)
2 November 2026 – Bike Program – Year 1 – Year 6 students
6 November 2026 – Room 8 Kids Helpline online 9am – 10am coping with change
9 November 2026 – Staff Development Day – Students do not attend
11 November 2026 – Kindy 2027 Transition Morning (9am – 10.15am)
16 November 2026 – Newsletter 11 published
16 November 2026 – Kindy 2027 Transition Morning (9am – 10.15am)
18 November 2026 – School Board Meeting 9am
23 November 2026 – Kindy 2027 Transition Morning (9am – 10.15am)
25 November 2026 – Family Afternoon Tea
30 November 2026 – Kindy 2027 Transition Morning (9am – 10.15am)
30 November 2026 – NRL Incursion
2 December 2026 – Thank You Morning Tea 10.30am (Library)
4 December 2026 – Community Carols
7 December 2026 – Newsletter 12 published
7 December 2026 – Kindy 2027 Transition Morning (9am – 10.15am)
8 December 2026 – Balaga SHS Transition Day
9 December 2026 – Red Cross Emergency Ready Pillowcase lesson (Room 8 and 5)
14 December 2026 – Graduation and EOY Book Awards 9am
15 December 2026 – Reports go home for all students
16 December 2026 – Graduation Dinner
17 December 2026 – Class Party Day and Last day of term 4 for students
18 December 2026 – Staff Development Day – Students do not attend
1 February 2027 – Term 1 2027 starts for students
Nature Play and Wellbeing
A breath of Fresh Air for Big Feelings
Nature play can support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Being outdoors gives children space to make choices, explore at their own pace and enjoy time away from busy schedules and screens.
Outdoor play can help children feel happier, calmer and more relaxed. When children make decisions, try something challenging and work out how to overcome small setbacks, they are also building confidence, independence and resilience.
Sometimes a little dirt, a climb or a challenge is exactly what children need!
This week, try: Spend some quiet time outside together. Look at the clouds, listen to the birds, notice the trees or simply sit and enjoy being outdoors.
Learning Outdoors Project – Home Challenge #3
Each newsletter we will be issuing a home challenge for children to complete with their families to earn a prize. Our third challenge is Nature Walk Bingo.
Children will be receiving a Bingo Sheet today to take home. While going for a walk outside, encourage your child to look around and mark off any of the items they find. When they have crossed off 5 in a row or column, they bring their sheet back to school. Every child who returns their Bingo Card to Mrs Fairhead by Friday, November 13th, will receive a prize.
West Oz Wildlife Incursion
On Wednesday 21 October our students enjoyed a visit from a number of Australian animals and got up close and personal with Nutella the Koala, Ginger and Rex two non-venomous pythons, Toffee the Sugar Glider and Toothless the Bobtail.
Thank you to Pauline Marcoux from the BNI Foundation for providing the school with the funds for this incursion as part of our NAIDOC celebrations.
Ready! Set! Kindy!
Our Pre-Kindy program has resumed for term 4.
Please see the letter below for further information should you know any families in the local area with children who are eligible to start Kindergarten in 2027. A registration form is available at the front office for any parents who would like to join this wonderful program.
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 9 – Loving their new Nature Play Area!
We are right back into our routines and learning in room 9 as term 4 kicks off. We are at the point in the year where we can see how far we have come. Our room 9 students are all a little bit taller, more confident and continuing to learn new things every day.
In Birak class we have been absolutely loving our new nature play area, we have been exploring new ways to interact with our play space and work together. We have also been taking our learning outdoors and exploring the nature around us which fits perfectly into our science as we have been learning about weather and Australian animals.
In maths our Pre-primary students have started learning how to subtract while our Kindy’s are continuing to practice their counting and patterns.
In literacy we have started reading “Are We There Yet?”. The Pre-primarys have been very excited to start reading decodable books to their teachers and at home, it is a big step forward in their reading journey. Our Kindy students have begun learning their letter sounds and the correct way to write some of their letters.
Our recent highlights have included going to Perth Zoo, a visit from West Oz Wildlife and the campsite and Australian animals that has sprung up in our classroom. It is no surprise that our students have become so interested in adventures and animals, we may have some future zookeepers or wildlife conservationists in our midst!
It has been a great start to the term, and we look forward to learning even more before the end of the year.
Miss Porch and Ms Ruthven
Community Notices
Better Health Program
Please see the information below for a free family health coaching online initiative provided by the Better Health Program. Qualified health coaches will work with families 1-on-1 and provide them with personalised guidance to help them set realistic health goals and build healthy habits that stick.
Communicare Programs – Term 4 2026
Please see below two programs provided by Communicare. One program is a face-to-face session and the other is online.
Big Brothers Big Sisters WA
Please see below details from Big Brothers Big Sisters WA regarding their Community Mentoring Program, which is available to young people aged 7–17 years living in Mirrabooka and surrounding suburbs.
The program provides young people a with carefully screened positive adult role model to support, help them build confidence, develop skills and interests, and form meaningful connections within their community.
For further information please reach out by email or give them a call (details below)
T 1300 463 686 | M 0456 365 442
yolande.gomez@bbbsau.org | www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.au
Big Brothers Big Sisters Mirrabooka WA | Facebook
