Dear Waddington Families,
It’s going to be a busy and exciting end to Term 3!
It is hard to believe we have already reached the final week of Term 3! There is plenty happening across Waddington as we finish the term with some wonderful opportunities for our students.
This week our Year 3–6 students will be heading to Interschool Athletics tomorrow, and on Wednesday to the theatre in Subiaco to see Walk of the Whales, based on the beautiful story by Nick Bland. The story carries an important environmental message about looking after our oceans and the impact of rubbish and pollution. We are also looking forward to our Pre-Primary to Year 6 excursion to Perth Zoo on Friday, which will be another fantastic opportunity for students to learn, explore and enjoy an experience together beyond the classroom.
We are also incredibly proud to share that Waddington Primary School has been named a finalist in the WA Education Awards for Excellence in Wellbeing and Learning. This recognition reflects the collective work of our staff, students, families and community partners in creating a school where wellbeing and learning are deeply connected. Our approach includes strong relationships, consistent routines, targeted intervention, cultural responsiveness, student voice and a wide range of supports that help our students feel safe, connected and ready to learn. As part of the finalist process, we have recently been showcasing many of these practices for the Education Awards video, including Sounds-Write, intervention programs, Yarning Circles, Breakfast Club, Noongar learning, daily review, mentoring and our community partnerships.
Being selected as a finalist is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work happening every day across our school, and we are very proud to have Waddington represented at this level.
As we head towards the holidays, thank you to our families for your continued support throughout another busy term. We hope our students enjoy these final experiences together and finish Term 3 feeling proud of all they have achieved.
Warm wishes,
Ms Katherine Chivers
Principal
From the Administration Team
Wishing all our families a safe and relaxing school holiday period. We look forward to seeing you all back on Monday 12 October 2026.
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
21 September 2026 – Newsletter 9 published
21 September 2026 – WA Football after school program 3.10pm – 4.10pm
21 -23 September 2026 – Book Fair 3pm – 3.30pm
22 September 2026 – Interschool Athletics Carnival (Balga PS – selected students)
23 September 2026 – Walk of the Whales – Subiaco Arts Centre (Year 3 – 6 students)
25 September 2026 – Perth Zoo Excursion (PP to Year 6 students)
25 September 2026 – Term 3 2026 ends for staff and students
12 October 2026 – Term 4 2026 commences for staff and students
16 October 2026 – Room 5 students sleepover
19 October 2026 – Ready! Set! Kindy! program (2027 Kindy students)
19 October 2026 – Squash Incursion
21 October 2026 – West Oz Wildlife Incursion (Pre-Primary to Year 6 students)
REMINDER – WA Student Assistance Payment Closes 25 September 2026
Just a reminder, if you have not already submitted a claim for your child to please do so by the end of this week. If you’re unable to locate your child’s student number, please ask at the front office.
Nature Play Gets Kids Moving
Outdoor play is a great way for children to be active without it feeling like exercise. Running, jumping, climbing, balancing and exploring help children develop strong muscles, coordination and physical skills.
Being active outdoors can also be more enjoyable for children because they have freedom to move and play in different ways.
A family walk, a game of chasey, climbing on logs or exploring the local park can all help children build healthy habits.
This week, try: Go for a family walk and look for opportunities to jump, balance, climb or run along the way.
Learning Outdoors Project – Home Challenge #2
Each newsletter we will be issuing a home challenge for children to complete with their families to earn a prize.
Our second challenge is a Park Map.
Go to visit your local or favourite park. Draw a map of the park.
Every child who returns their map to Mrs Fairhead by Friday, September 25th, will receive a prize.
Faction Athletics Carnival
On Friday 11 September we had our Faction Athletics Carnival. We were lucky to have a fine day with temperatures in the mid to high twenties.
Congratulations to Kawlool (Green) who were the winners on the day with 1,425 points, followed closely by Marloo (Blue) on 1,338 points.
Well done to all our students for displaying fantastic sportsmanship and resilience on the day. Congratulations to the students below on their achievements!
| Year Group | Champion Girl | Champion Boy | Runner Up Girl | Runner Up Boy |
| Year 1 / 2 | Brayvenlee S (48 points) | Christopher R (56 points) | Aria H (46 points) | Ali H (53 points) |
| Year 3 / 4 | Amiliah F (66 points) | Mason L (68 points) | Sienna B (59 points) | Ashley M (58 points) |
| Year 5 / 6 | Cin H (76 points) | Daniel M (83 points) | Nevaeh J (72 points) | Ardash S (71 points) |
Ready! Set! Kindy!
Our Pre-Kindy program will be continuing for term 4. The first session for the term will be held on Monday 19 October 2026.
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 5 – Growing as Learners and Leaders
Another busy and exciting term is coming to an end in Room 5, with our Year 5 and 6 students continuing to grow as learners, leaders and members of our school community.
In the classroom, we have made the exciting transition from iPads to Chromebooks, opening up new opportunities for our learning. Students have been developing their digital skills through coding projects using MakeCode and writing their narratives using Microsoft Word. Our Noongar learning has focused on ocean animals, while we have also been making great progress with constructing and understanding full sentences. Science continues to be a favourite for many Room 5 students, with our Science Week competition proving particularly popular as students worked to match seeds with the plants they came from.
One of our highlights this term was our CareerTalk excursion to Koondoola Primary School. Students walked to and from the event responsibly and represented Waddington with great pride while exploring a range of different career pathways. The Police Officer activities were a particular hit, with many students fascinated by the skills and experiences involved in the job.
Books and reading have also been a big focus this term. We were thrilled to welcome illustrator Peter Cheong for an engaging incursion, and Book Week gave students the opportunity to dress up as their favourite characters. It was fantastic to see so many students confidently embrace their costumes. We have also been challenging ourselves to explore different types of books, with students being encouraged to venture beyond familiar choices and discover more non-fiction and novels.
Our Student Leaders have continued to develop their leadership skills, taking on greater responsibility for school initiatives. For our R U OK? Day Assembly, they created video role-plays demonstrating ways to check in with a friend and offer support. They have shown growing confidence in stepping up, organising activities and setting a positive example for younger students.
Our students were fantastic at the Waddington Athletics Carnival, demonstrating wonderful sportsmanship, determination and team spirit throughout the day. We are now looking forward to putting these qualities into action at the Interschool Athletics Carnival tomorrow!
There are still plenty of exciting experiences ahead, with our Walk of the Whales excursion to see the Barking Gecko performance and a visit to Perth Zoo coming up. Then it’s on to our final term, with our Room 5 Sleepover and a range of special Graduation activities as we help our Year 6 students prepare for the final chapter of their primary school journey.
It has been another wonderful term in Room 5, and we can’t wait to see what the final weeks of the year bring!
Mr Greer
Community Notices
School Holiday Volleyball Clinic – Kids and Junior
Please see the flyer below for a 2-day school holiday clinic for any families interested in a fun activity for their child.
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
