Dear Families,

Term One is nearly over with two more weeks to go; hard to believe our Foundation students have nearly completed a term of school, and our Year Sixes are nearing their transition to Secondary College.

Planning Week - Next week staff will have their planning week. Planning week is where staff reflect, in year level teams, about student progress and consider student data to ascertain the next learning. This is a critical part of our work, so that we might teach students at their point of need – that sweet spot where the learning is not too hard and not too easy. This reflection and planning helps guide next term’s foci, and provides the team with time to build plans and resources to skilfully scaffold this learning.

New School Council – This Thursday, we officially welcomed our new School Council team: Nicole Clowes (President), Kristen Haines, Campbell McKay, Marie Garrubba, Carl Jetter, Irene Liew, Zhi (Olivia) Qu, Jacqui Caust, Tania Hunter, Ramya Deepak, Carl Erenstrom, Paul Maczohan, and Timothy Chapman. This dedicated group of parents and staff members are passionate about supporting our school community, working together to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a committed and talented group of individuals stepping into these leadership roles.

At Thursday night’s meeting, the Council formally approved our 2025 Annual Implementation Plan (AIP). This plan serves as a key guiding document, building directly from our School Strategic Plan (SSP) to ensure we maintain a strong trajectory of continuous improvement. The AIP identifies our core focus areas for the upcoming year, ensuring that we remain committed to delivering high-quality education, fostering student well-being, and enhancing school operations. Having a clear roadmap allows us to set meaningful goals and track our progress effectively.

Another important milestone from the meeting was the approval of our 2024 Annual Report. This comprehensive document showcases the many wonderful achievements of the past year, including our students' outstanding progress and key school initiatives. We are incredibly proud of everything our students, staff, and families have accomplished together. The report will be available on our school website in the coming weeks, and we encourage you to take a look when it’s published - it is a fantastic reflection of the collective efforts of our school community!

One of the most exciting developments we discussed was the upcoming $5.8 million school refit, set to begin early next term. This significant project represents a major department of education investment in our school’s future, bringing much-needed upgrades to our learning spaces and facilities. We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our previous School Council for their role in approving these plans, as well as to all the community members, staff and students who took part in consultations and stakeholder meetings. Your input has been instrumental in shaping this project, and we are confident that the improvements will have a lasting positive impact on our students' learning experiences. We can’t wait to see the transformation unfold. This work is likely to be completed in 2025 and we don’t anticipate big interruptions to classes. It is likely each grade (Year Three to Year Six) will need to move for about one week each.

I’m also thrilled to share that our Year Four Camp was once again a tremendous success. This annual event is always a highlight, providing students with the chance to develop independence, build friendships, and engage in a range of exciting outdoor activities. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff and the parent volunteers who generously gave their time to support this experience. Without your dedication, these enriching opportunities simply wouldn’t be possible, and we truly appreciate all that you do.

Finally, I’d like to acknowledge that NAPLAN has come and gone for another year. While we certainly value the insights these assessments provide, we also recognise that they represent just one piece of the broader picture when it comes to student learning. Our priority remains the ongoing academic and personal growth of every child, ensuring that each student receives the support they need to thrive in all areas of their education. We eagerly anticipate reviewing the results and using them to inform our teaching foci, but most importantly, we remain committed to fostering a love of learning and a growth mindset in every student.

As always, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to families for your continued support. The strength of our school community lies in our shared commitment to providing the best possible environment for our students to learn, grow, and succeed. I am so proud of all that we have achieve together.

Kind regards,

Campbell McKay

Principal

Why We Use the Best Lesson
as Our Instructional Model
at Mount Waverley Primary School

Welcome back to Mount Waverley Primary School in 2026. At Mount Waverley Primary School, we are committed to delivering the highest quality education to our students. To achieve this, we implement the Best Lesson instructional model, a research-based approach designed to maximise student learning and engagement. But what exactly makes this model so effective, and why do we use it? Let’s explore the key reasons behind our choice.

A Structured and Effective Approach to Learning

The Best Lesson model follows a structured lesson format that ensures all students receive clear, explicit instruction, ample opportunities to practice, and meaningful feedback. Each lesson is broken into three essential parts:

1. Introduction - Mini Lesson (10 minutes) – This phase sets the stage for learning. Teachers introduce the learning intention and success criteria, ensuring students understand the purpose of the lesson. Explicit teaching of key skills and content occurs here, often supported by visible thinking routines.
2. Embedded Learning - Explore (30-35 minutes) – This is the heart of the lesson, where students engage in guided practice, independent work, and teacher conferencing. Using enabling and extending prompts, students are supported and challenged based on their individual needs. This phase fosters deep understanding through hands-on activities, strategy groups, and collaborative learning.
3. Reflection - Reflect (5-10 minutes) – Learning is consolidated as students revisit the success criteria, reflect on their progress, and share their understanding. This essential step reinforces learning and encourages metacognitive thinking.

Proven High-Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS)

The Best Lesson model incorporates High-Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS), which are evidence-based methods that improve student outcomes. These include:

• Explicit Teaching – Teachers model and scaffold learning to ensure students grasp new concepts.
• Worked Examples – Students learn by analyzing step-by-step examples before applying concepts independently.
• Collaborative Learning – Group activities enhance problem-solving and communication skills.
• Multiple Exposures – Students revisit key concepts through various activities to deepen their understanding.
• Questioning and Feedback – Teachers ask strategic questions and provide timely feedback to guide student progress.
• Metacognitive Strategies – Students learn how to think about their own learning, improving their ability to retain and apply knowledge.

Empowering Students as Active Learners

One of the most powerful aspects of the Best Lesson model is how it places students at the center of their learning. Through independent practice, peer collaboration, and teacher conferencing, students are encouraged to:

• Take ownership of their learning
• Ask and answer questions
• Justify their thinking
• Set personal learning goals
• Develop a growth mindset by taking risks and learning from mistakes

A Commitment to Excellence

At Mount Waverley Primary School, we believe that every student deserves the best possible education. By using the Best Lesson instructional model, we ensure that lessons are engaging, purposeful, and tailored to meet the diverse needs of our students. This approach helps us foster confident, capable, and lifelong learners.

Thank you for your ongoing support in our shared mission to provide an exceptional learning experience for every child. If you have any questions about the Best Lesson model or how you can support your child’s learning at home, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.


Tania Hunter
Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning
Mount Waverley Primary School

♥A BIG thank you to all for your egg-thusiasm and support.

♥Special thanks to our teachers - Ms Johnstone, Ms Kyriacou, and our Parents and Friends.




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