Dear Families,

NAPLAN ~ Further to what I shared last week, we now have three-year trend data for the NAPLAN testing to share. The data below, shows the percentage of students achieving ‘strong’ or ‘exceeding’ in the NAPLAN testing from 2023 to 2025. The data represents the average data; it is this trend data that is important for us as a school; it demonstrates that we are consistently achieving high outcomes for our students. Notably, we scored in the top five schools (of the 22 schools in our local Monash Network of schools) in every test listed below - only one other school achieved this.

‘MWPS students achieving ‘strong’ or ‘exceeding’ in NAPLAN testing from 2023 to 2025 including other cohorts’

2026 Enrolments ~ Applications for enrolments for Foundation in 2026 have now closed. Families would have received an offer of a place first thing on Monday morning, and we would appreciate it if families could confirm their acceptance of the offer, as soon as possible. If you have not applied for a place in 2026, you must reside inside the MWPS zone to be granted a place now that the application window has closed. Please contact Tina (in the office) if you have any questions about enrolment. Our Foundation Transition for 2026 program will commence next term.

Building Update ~ Currently the tenders are being considered, and we will know who was successful in their application for our $5.86 million school upgrade. As families will know, this will see an upgrade of two of our blocks, including the area where many of the Year Four, Five and Six students have their classes. The Foundation classrooms, the library and staffroom plus the whole administration block will be refitted. Much of the work will see painting and new carpets. Some structural work will be at the front office, redirecting all visitors to the school through the front entry – improving student safety. Equally, CCTV cameras and building security will be upgraded, in alignment with DET building upgrade, requirements.

Traffic On Park Lane ~ Over my years at MWPS, I have had several families raise concerns over the traffic, and behaviour of drivers on Park Lane. Although this is beyond my control, I can certainly appeal to people’s goodwill to be patient and safe around the school - where young children are walking and crossing the road. In conjunction with the local council, we have attempted several improvements, to help the flow of traffic and improve safety. You would have seen the pink lines, near the two minute drop off zones, designed to make it clear where students can be dropped off. We did this, as some families did not know how far up the street the zone went to and to improve the flow of traffic. Having a pedestrian crossing is wonderful, and we ask that families use this wherever possible. I do note families crossing the road, where we would hope that the safer option would be a quick walk down to the pedestrian crossing.

Kind regards,

Campbell McKay
Principal
Mount Waverley Primary School

Why We Use Little Learners Love Literacy
in Foundation to Year 2
at Mount Waverley Primary School

At Mount Waverley Primary School, we are committed to providing the best possible start in literacy for our students. That’s why we use Little Learners Love Literacy (LLLL) in Foundation to Year 2—a structured, evidence-based approach that helps young learners develop strong reading, writing, and spelling skills. But why is this program so effective, and why have we chosen it for our students?

A Research-Based Approach to Literacy
LLLL is grounded in the science of reading, focusing on explicit and systematic phonics instruction. Research shows that children learn to read best when they are taught the relationship between letters and sounds (phonics) in a structured and sequential way. LLLL follows this approach, ensuring that students build strong foundational literacy skills from the very beginning.

The Power of Explicit Phonics Instruction
Phonics is the key to decoding words, and LLLL teaches it in a way that is:

• Sequential – Children learn sounds and letters in a carefully designed order, allowing them to build on their knowledge step by step.
• Cumulative – Each new concept builds on previous learning, reinforcing understanding and confidence.
• Engaging – With games, songs, and hands-on activities, learning is fun and meaningful for young learners.
• Multisensory – Students use speaking, listening, reading, and writing to reinforce learning, catering to different learning styles.

Building Strong, Confident Readers
One of the biggest advantages of LLLL is that it sets students up for success. By explicitly teaching phonics and high-frequency words, children gain the tools they need to become fluent and confident readers. This approach helps prevent reading difficulties and supports all students in developing essential literacy skills.

Encouraging a Love of Reading
At Mount Waverley Primary School, we want all children to enjoy reading. LLLL includes engaging decodable books, which match students’ phonics knowledge, allowing them to read with success and independence. When children experience success in reading, their confidence grows, and they develop a lifelong love of books.

A Strong Foundation for Future Learning
Reading is the gateway to all learning. By ensuring that our students have a solid foundation in phonics, we give them the skills they need to excel not only in English but across all subjects. The structured approach of LLLL means that every child is supported and challenged at the right level, ensuring they make steady progress.

How You Can Support Your Child at Home
Parents play a crucial role in their child’s reading journey. Here are some ways you can support learning at home:

• Read decodable books together – Encourage your child to use their phonics knowledge to sound out words.
• Practice letter-sound relationships – Play simple word games to reinforce phonics skills.
• Celebrate progress – Praise your child’s reading efforts to build their confidence.
• Make reading fun – Share stories, talk about books, and foster a positive reading environment at home.

By using Little Learners Love Literacy, we ensure that all students in Foundation to Year 2 receive the best start in their literacy journey. Thank you for supporting your child’s learning at home and working with us to create a strong foundation for lifelong success.

If you have any questions about LLLL or how to support your child’s literacy development, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Tania Hunter
Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning

'As part of our ongoing work to strengthen curriculum delivery, visitors will have the opportunity to observe our structured planning meetings in action. These sessions are designed to align teaching practice, deepen collaboration, and ensure clarity in what we teach and why.

Something we have been working on and would like to share progress, relates to the use of a closed AI planning tool. This is aimed to support teams to draw only on curated, high-quality resources that reflect our shared values, local curriculum priorities, and context. This focused method ensures that planning remains both relevant and purposeful.'

We were pleased to have such a positive response to the work we are doing to ensure that each student has access to high quality teaching and learning. The schools were all very complimentary of our processes for collaborative planning and were blown away by the exceptional level of educational discussion around teaching and learning with our staff. 

We are very proud of the work we do at MWPS and that was shining through on Tuesday. Thank you to all of the staff involved in making this experience so rich and inspiring for our visitors.

Tania Hunter
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning

Celebrating Team Spirit!

Congratulations to Ethan, Lachlan, Nathan, Micah, Prithvi, Swarit, Keon, Andriel, Minul and Seth.

On 30th July, 10 of our Year 6 boys competed in the Boys' Netball Division at Waverley Netball Centre in Wheelers Hill. We won our first 3 games and advanced to the Semi Finals against Brandon Park Primary School, where we won 26-9. We then capped off the remarkable run by winning the Grand Final against Jells Park Primary School with a score of
21-7.

It was a huge effort by all the boys, and they conducted themselves with pride and sportspersonship.

Keep that momentum going, and good luck at Regional on 13th August!

Casey Giles
Year 6 Teacher

What a week it was celebrating the first 100 days of Prep with all of our students!

We had a week full of fun and surprises which included making biscuits, scavenger hunts and a range of arts and crafts. We also made necklaces with our buddies using 100 Fruit Loops!

The week was topped off with our parade where we all dressed up like we were 100 years old. Thanks to all the staff and parents who helped us make the day such a success! We were inspired by some wonderful costumes and inventive lunch ideas!

The Prep Team

Our Leading Teacher
Mr Chapman

     Moon River

Good hygiene is crucial
to prevent the spread of illness
in every season.