Newsletter 23 May 2025

Term 2 Week 5


Principal's Message

Dear Families,

What a fantastic and full fortnight we’ve had at school.

Year Six Camp ~ Firstly, a huge thank you to the dedicated staff and wonderful parents who supported our Year Six Camp this week. Your time, energy, and care ensured the students had a memorable and enriching experience — we’re so grateful for your involvement.

Swimming ~ We’ve also wrapped up our swimming program for the term. It’s been a tremendous effort from everyone involved — from supervising in the pool to helping with logistics and support. Thank you to all the staff and family volunteers who made it possible.

National Simultaneous Storytime ~ A special shoutout to Mr Rooks for coordinating our school’s participation in the National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday. It was a joy to see our students engaging in this nationwide celebration of reading — a fantastic way to build a love of literature across all year levels.

Celebrating our Education Support Staff ~ This week, we also took a moment to recognise the quiet achievers in our school — our incredible Education Support staff. We hosted a morning tea in their honour and thanked them sincerely for the vital role they play behind the scenes, supporting students, staff, and learning every single day.

School Tours ~ We’ve had a fantastic response to our recent school tours, with huge interest in our school. It’s been wonderful to share what makes our community so special with prospective families, and we look forward to welcoming many new faces in the future.

Book Fair ~ A heartfelt thank you once again to Mr Rooks, Ingrid, and all the amazing parents and staff who made this year’s Book Fair such a success. Your contributions and enthusiasm helped spark joy and curiosity in our young readers.

Student-Led Learning ~ Looking ahead, the principal class team will be working next week with Dr Shayam Barr, an expert in Student-Led Learning. We’re excited about this opportunity as we continue building a culture of student independence, voice, and ownership in learning — helping pave the way for a 24/7 curriculum that supports all learners.

Pupil Free Day ~ Finally, a reminder that Friday June 6th is a Curriculum Day  Students will not attend school on this day. Please mark it in your calendars.

 

Thank you all for your continued support and engagement with school life. It’s an exciting time at our school, and we’re so glad to be sharing the journey with such a strong and supportive community.

 

Warm regards,
Campbell McKay
Principal



Wellbeing @ MWPS

Student Wellbeing at MWPS: Staying Healthy and Learning Through Winter

As we settle into the colder months, it’s not uncommon to see an increase in colds, flu, and other seasonal illnesses across our school community. At Mount Waverley Primary School, we understand that student wellbeing is closely linked to health—and that maintaining regular school attendance is crucial for learning, social connection, and routine.

Why Attendance Still Matters

While it's important to keep unwell children at home to rest and recover (and to help prevent the spread of illness), we also know that frequent absences—especially when not due to significant illness—can impact students’ learning progress and sense of belonging. Every day at school is an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect.

The Resilience Project at MWPS

Throughout Term 2, our students will continue engaging with The Resilience Project lessons during class time. These evidence-based sessions focus on developing emotional literacy, empathy, gratitude, and mindfulness—key building blocks of wellbeing and resilience. These skills are especially important during the winter months, when students may feel more tired, unwell, or emotionally flat due to seasonal changes. We encourage families to talk with their children about these lessons and use the shared language of GEM (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness) at home to reinforce learning.

Supporting Healthy Habits at Home and School

We encourage families to support their children in developing healthy habits to build resilience through the winter season:

  • Ensure children are getting enough sleep and eating nutritious meals
  • Encourage regular handwashing and personal hygiene
  • Dress appropriately for the weather
  • Keep children at home if they are unwell, and notify the school

We’re Here to Help

If your child is experiencing ongoing health concerns or anxiety about school attendance, please reach out. Our dedicated Student Support Team—which includes our Assistant Principal for Student Wellbeing, School Counsellor, Speech Therapist, and Disability Inclusion Learning Specialist—meets weekly to monitor wellbeing needs across the school and to develop plans to support students, teachers, and families.

Together, we can work to ensure every child at MWPS feels safe, supported, and ready to learn—no matter the season.

Warm regards,
Ramya Deepak Kumar
Assistant Principal – Student Wellbeing



Important Dates

Please remember to mark these dates in your calendar.

2025 TERM DATES


Term 2 : 22nd April - 4th July

May

26th              Teeth-on-Wheels
29th              Teeth-on-Wheels


June

4th               Teeth-on-Wheels
6th               Curriculum Day (Pupil-free Day)
9th               King's Birthday (Public Holiday)
10th - 13th    Year 5 Camp
30th             Parent-Teacher Conferences


July

4th               Last day of Term.  Early school dismissal at 2:30pm.




Term 3 : 21st July - 19th September
Term 4 : 6th October - 19th December

2026 ENROLMENT

We are excited to announce that enrolment is now open for the 2026 school year at Mount Waverley Primary School.

Enrolment applications for 2026 Foundation (Prep) students has commenced from 22 April 2025 and must be submitted by Friday 25 July 2025. 

Whether you're an existing family or joining us for the first time, we welcome you to begin the enrolment process early to secure a place for your child. As always, we are committed to providing a supportive, enriching, and engaging learning environment for every student.


A.  Foundation (Prep) Enrolment 

Please CLICK HERE for information and resources about the timeline, including factsheets and a poster. 

What you need to do:

1.  Contact our School Office 9807 1480 or email  mount.waverley.ps@education.vic.gov.au to book a school tour or to learn more about our school and the enrolment application process.

2.  Download the Foundation (Prep) enrolment information pack from Enrolling in Foundation (Prep) 

3.  Submit your online application for Foundation (Prep) by Friday 25 July 2025 via the following link students.educationapps.vic.gov.au/s/ 

4.  You will be notified of the outcome of your application between Monday 28 July and Friday 8 August 2025. If you receive an enrolment offer, you should respond to the offer on VicStudents by Friday 22 August 2025.

5.  Take part in enrolment information and transition sessions during Term 4, 2025.

6.  Prepare your child to start Foundation (Prep) from Wednesday 28 January 2026.


A Quick Reference Guide to using the online system is available here.

We’re here to help and will get back to you quickly. We look forward to receiving your application by Friday 25 July 2025, and also to welcoming you and your child into the Mount Waverley Primary School community for an exciting year ahead!

B.  Years 1 - 6 Enrolment

Please contact the School Office.


If you have any questions or need help with the enrolment process, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Warm regards,

Tina Kolivas

Office Manager




Principal Awards

Congratulations to our Principal Award recipients. 
Well done and keep up the great work.





FC   Oliver C  (Japanese)
2A   Jenson Z  (STEM)
2A   Evelyn Z * (STEM)
2A   Olivia P *  (STEM)
2E   Lucy Z   (Art)
4C   Ally G (Global Learning)
5A   Selina H  (Music)
5C   Jonathan G  (Library)
6C   Teegan Russon  (PE/Sport)





3A   Anita H
3B   Jayden H
3C   Anay M
3D   Vivian D
3E   Rose K






4A   Jasmine R
4B   Oliver H
4C   Kian A
4D   Varenya N
4E    Reeva L

MWPS Library

"Salutations to all MWPS families,

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to the wonderful parents who assisted myself and Ingrid with our recent Book Fair. Your time, effort, and enthusiasm were invaluable in making this event a huge success!

I'm thrilled to announce that we had over four thousand dollars worth of sales, which will enable us to purchase new books to the value of over a thousand dollars for our fantastic library! This is a wonderful outcome, and we're grateful for your support.

I'd also like to acknowledge and congratulate our regular borrowers who consistently return their books on time. We've noticed a significant reduction in overdue books, and it's clear that our students take pride in our library.

This pride is evident in the way our students care for the books, return them promptly, and participate in our library activities. It's wonderful to see!

Let's keep up the great work and continue to nurture a love of reading in our school community!

Thank you."

Mr Rooks and the Library Team



National Simultaneous Storytime 2025

Our school participated in the National Simultaneous Storytime 2025 where we joined millions of readers across the country to enjoy ‘The Truck Cat’ on Wednesday 21st May at 12:00 pm AEST.

The book was a heartwarming story about cats and humans, immigration and identity, and homes lost and found and is the perfect book to inspire kindness and compassion in young children everywhere.




Please take a stroll through our gallery below to see some of our students and teachers enjoying being a part of the over 2 000 000 audience.

 



Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) Applications

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you have a valid means-tested concession card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible.
Application forms can only be accepted and processed up till 4th July 2025.

For more information and to download a copy of the form, please CLICK HERE.

CSEF forms are also available at the School Office.







Kids Health Matters

Please read important information below on Teeth-On-Wheels and from the School Nurse.


1. Teeth-On-Wheels

The first visit has been scheduled for next Monday 26th May.

Although the cut-off date to submit the online form was on May 20th, if you have missed this date and would still like your child to partake in this program, please don't hesitate to contact the Teeth-On-Wheels team at (03) 9338 1191.


2. Message from the School Nurse

Winter is approaching
with the usual cough and cold symptoms.  We urge you to please keep your child home if s/he is unwell. 

We hope you find the following guidelines helpful:-

  1. Stay Well This Winter with Simple Daily Habits

Good health begins with consistent, everyday actions. Eating a balanced diet, staying active and hydrated, rugging up against the cold, and getting enough sleep all support your immune system. But it’s also important to focus on basic hygiene and to avoid contact with others if you’re unwell.

  1. Basic Hygiene is Your Best Defence

Practising good hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent illness. Remember to:

  • Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 30 seconds.
  • Use a tissue or your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
  • Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Teach kids proper handwashing and hygiene habits early.
  1. Get Your Flu and COVID Vaccinations

Staying up to date with your flu vaccination and COVID-19 vaccine is an important way to reduce your risk of serious illness during winter. Vaccination protects you, your family, and the community. Please check with your doctor to see if you’re due for a COVID booster or influenza vaccine.

  1. Wear a Face Mask in Crowded Spaces

Wearing a face mask in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, especially indoors, helps prevent the spread of viruses. It’s particularly important if you’re visiting high-risk settings like medical clinics, public transport, or aged care facilities.

  1. Keep Indoor Spaces Well-Ventilated

Fresh air helps reduce the build-up of airborne viruses indoors. Open windows, when possible, use fans and consider air purifiers to improve indoor air quality. This is especially helpful in shared spaces such as offices or schools.

  1. Stay Home If You’re Unwell

If you’re feeling sick—whether it’s a mild cold, the flu, or possible COVID symptoms—stay home and rest. Avoid going to work, school, or public places. This helps stop illness from spreading and gives your body time to recover.


FAQs About Staying Well in Winter

What’s the best way to boost my immune system naturally?

Eating a balanced diet, getting regular sleep, staying active, and managing stress can all support a healthy immune system.

Yes, it’s safe to get both at the same appointment. Speak with your GP about booking your flu vaccination and COVID-19 vaccine together.

Should children wear masks in winter?

In crowded or high-risk areas, wearing a mask can help reduce virus spread in children and adults.

How do I know if I have COVID or the flu?

These illnesses share similar symptoms. It’s best to take a COVID test and consult your doctor to determine the cause of your illness.




You may also find this article useful to help you navigate this flu season :  Flu season in Australia



Camp Australia








Community News


















For more information and to submit your nomination, CLICK HERE.

Year 6 Camp

Our Year 6 cohort has returned safely from Alexandra Adventure Resort.





Our exceptionally happy campers have had the time of their lives this week. 
They were engaged in numerous resilience-building activities, and have shown superb and consistent compassion and support for one another.

We want to take this opportunity to thank our awesome Year 6 team and parent volunteers for your invaluable time and support.



"It is really lovely to see the students promote and celebrate each other's successes."  ~ Parent Volunteer


Something Special ...



Under The Spotlight




Visiting Collingwood members (Back Row) :  Oleg Markov.
(Second Last Row - from left) : Jakob Ryan, Oscar Steene, Charlie Dean, Harry Perryman

On Tuesday 13th May, five Collingwood players visited our school for a special meet and greet with the senior students. The students had the opportunity to ask a range of questions and were thrilled to hear the players share stories about what inspired them to start playing football and how old they were when they began.

The players spoke about the best parts of being a professional footballer, with many highlighting the excitement of playing in front of passionate crowds and the strong friendships formed with teammates. There were plenty of laughs as they revealed who the funniest teammate or team “troublemaker” was.

Students also learned who their football heroes were growing up and why they looked up to them. The players offered great advice on how they stay motivated after a tough loss, and shared fun memories of the games they loved playing during recess and lunchtime when they were at school. They each reflected on their favourite school subject, giving students a fun and personal insight into their lives beyond the footy field.

To finish off, students were invited to get signatures from the players.

What an absolute treat!

Ms Natalie Wynd

Y4 Classroom Teacher