Dear Families,

The Annual Report for 2024 & Strategic Plan 2024 - 2028

The 2024 Annual Report is complete and has been endorsed by the School Council. The report is now posted on our school website for anyone who would like to read it. There is a lot to celebrate in our 2024 Annual Report as shown by the range of data published.

The Annual Report format is set by the Department of Education and all schools report on the same data sets. As you will see we compare favourably, see link: https://www.mountwaverleyps.vic.edu.au/page/58/Reports-&-Plans Also available, on the same page, is our Strategic Plan 2024 – 2028.

2026 Enrolments

A reminder to families that we are a month into the enrolment window and that if you have a sibling that will be attending MWPS next year, you will need to complete the online enrolment process prior to July 25th. I would encourage local families to submit their applications as soon as possible. This allows the school to begin planning for the year ahead.

King’s Birthday Public Holiday

The King’s Birthday public holiday is on Monday June 9th. The school will be closed on this day.

Student Survey

Each year students in Years Four to Six participate in the Attitudes to School Survey (AToSS), a survey completed by all Victorian Government schools. Thanks to Mrs Deepak Kumar, we have just completed the process of administering this survey working with our students to support their understanding of the questions.

The de-identified data and responses provide our school with a great understanding of what is happening at MWPS and an important piece of student voice and agency in their school. This data helps the school establish strategic targets and identify areas for improvement, it also allows us to focus in on things that the school has improved or done well over the last twelve months. Students in the SRC (Student Representative Council) and SWAT (Student Wellbeing Action Team) use this data to drive the work they do around the school. Mr Goldstraw also uses the data to drive the SPARK program (with his team of teachers) which is run across the school every second Friday. The school wide shift to ‘The Resilience Program’ (as the MWPS wellbeing program in 2025) was also supported by the AToSS student data.

2025 Government Schools Principal Conference

Mrs Hunter and I attended the Government Schools Principal Conference on Tuesday 3rd June and Wednesday 4th June. The theme for this year’s conference was: Excellence in Every Classroom. This was an exceptional opportunity for Victorian government school principals and assistant principals to hear from renowned thought leaders in education; discover new ways of thinking about leadership excellence and learn and reflect from one another.

EduTech Conference:

Next week, Mrs Deepak Kumar, Mrs Hunter and I will be attending the EduTech Conference in Sydney, one of the largest gatherings of educators and innovators in the region. A key focus this year is the role of Artificial Intelligence in Education—how it is already reshaping learning and what we, as a school, can do to be ready.

I’m looking forward to exploring practical insights and tools that will help us navigate this exciting shift while staying true to our educational values. I look forward to sharing key takeaways with our community upon my return.

Kind Regards,

Campbell McKay

Principal

Why We Use Visible Thinking Routines (VTR) in Our Math Lessons at Mount Waverley Primary School

At Mount Waverley Primary School, we are committed to providing our students with the best strategies to develop deep mathematical understanding. One of the key ways we achieve this is through the use of Visible Thinking Routines in our math lessons. These routines encourage students to explore, question, and reflect on their mathematical thinking, helping them become confident and capable problem solvers.

What Are Visible Thinking Routines?

Visible Thinking Routines are structured approaches that help students externalise their thought processes. Rather than just focusing on the final answer, these routines encourage students to explain their reasoning, ask questions, and make connections between concepts. They provide a scaffold for students to develop their problem-solving skills, communicate their understanding, and build mathematical confidence.

Why Do We Use Visible Thinking Routines in Math?

1. Develops Deep Understanding – When students articulate their thinking, they move beyond rote memorisation and develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.
2. Encourages Multiple Strategies – Math problems often have multiple solutions or approaches. Visible Thinking Routines help students see that there are many ways to solve a problem and encourage creative problem-solving.
3. Promotes Collaboration and Discussion – By sharing their thinking, students learn from each other, clarify their ideas, and refine their reasoning through discussion and feedback.
4. Builds Confidence and Independence – When students regularly engage in Visible Thinking Routines, they become more comfortable tackling challenging problems and taking risks in their learning.
5. Supports Metacognition – Reflecting on their thinking helps students become more aware of their learning processes, allowing them to self-monitor and adjust their strategies as needed.

How Do We Use Visible Thinking Routines in Math Lessons?

At Mount Waverley Primary School, we integrate a variety of Visible Thinking Routines to support our students’ mathematical growth. Some examples include:

• “See, Think, Wonder” – Students observe a math problem, share what they notice, explain their thinking, and ask questions about it.
• “What Makes You Say That?” – Encourages students to justify their reasoning and provide evidence for their answers.
• “Think-Pair-Share” – Students first think about a problem independently, discuss their ideas with a partner, and then share with the class.
• “Number Talks” – A short daily routine where students discuss different ways to solve a math problem mentally, improving flexibility with numbers.
• “Notice and Wonder” – Students explore patterns, identify key information, and generate questions to deepen their understanding of a concept.

How Parents Can Support Visible Thinking at Home

You can encourage Visible Thinking at home by:

• Asking your child to explain their thinking when solving math problems.
• Encouraging them to explore multiple strategies and discuss why they chose a particular approach.
• Using open-ended questions such as “How do you know?” or “Can you show me another way?”
• Playing math games that promote reasoning and problem-solving.

By embedding Visible Thinking Routines in our math lessons, we help students develop strong problem-solving skills, deepen their mathematical understanding, and become confident learners. Thank you for your continued support in fostering a love of learning and mathematical thinking at Mount Waverley Primary School.

Tania Hunter

Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning

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

• Be at school by 8:00am.
• REMEMBER your child's MEDICATION.
• Pack snack & lunch in a disposable bag for Tuesday ONLY.
• Please label/name all your child's belongings.
• Items not permitted - money, additional snacks/lollies, electronics.
• Students are expected to arrive back at school on Friday by3:30pm. Should there be a delay, parents will be notified via Compass.

Library News

1. What or who inspired you to write?

Well, I have always been a passionate reader. I love books and narratives, so I decided to have a go at writing one, with the hope of having my work in print. After lots of tweaks, I had it published. My book was titled Sophie and Rory's Adventures- Summer Camp Mystery.

2. What made you choose this specific genre?

I chose fiction and mystery because I personally love reading these genres. I find them very interesting. All the books I have read so far that include these two genres have been very intriguing and I hope my book is too?

3. Would you be able to share a brief outline of the book?

Sophie and Rory are in summer camp. They are supposed to go on a forest walk and stick together; however, they get lost. They spot a cabin and go inside it, but both of the curious girls get locked in! How will they manage to get out?

4. What message would you have for other emerging writers?

I really want to inspire young kids to follow their dreams.

I am sure that all of us at Mount Waverley Primary School, wish Myraa all the success with her future writing journey.

Mr Rooks
School Librarian

STEM Competition for Years 3 – 6

Calling all budding space scientists and engineers!

The Year 6 STEM leaders are running a STEM competition.

Design a satellite, spaceship or rover; make a poster or a model of your design.

Winners will be announced at the end of term.
There are prizes for the winning entry in each Year level.

Battery Recycling

This program involves the collection of used batteries to ensure they avoid landfill and are disposed of correctly.  Students from Caulfield Grammar School have donated a battery collection bin that is located at the office and have placed posters around our school to explain the importance of battery recycling. 


We are encouraging families to bring in their used batteries and place them in our battery recycling bin (located at the School Office) to support this project and help educate our students around sustainable practices. 

We thank you for your support of this initiative. 


Mr Tim Chapman
Leading Teacher

1.  CHEER TOASTIE TRUCK on Wednesday 2nd July. 
Please complete and return the consent form together with cash ($4/toastie) to your Class teacher by Thursday 19th June.

2.  PYJAMAS DAY FUNDRAISER on Friday 4th July ~ For Xolani, MWPS Sponsor child from Zimbabwe, Southeast Africa.