Dear Families,

We are almost halfway through Term Four, time is flying by.

Year Three Camp ~ Our Year Three students went to Warburton for their camp this week. Many thanks to all staff attending as well as the wonderful parent helpers who have given up their time. Mrs Deepak, on behalf of the Principal Class Team, visited the campsite on Thursday, and was very impressed.

Playground Safety Upgrade ~ Thanks to the efforts of Mr Chapman, all the climbing webs on the oval play equipment have been replaced and look fantastic. These are the type of things that are happening every week, and I thank Mr Chapman for his efforts (and Pete our maintenance person) for all the ongoing safety and maintenance work – that often goes unseen and unnoticed.

Building Update ~ At our meeting last week, we were informed that the contractor had yet to receive the ‘contract’ from the VSBA (Victorian School Building Authority). We hope that this is the final hold up and works will begin soon.

Parent Payments 2026 ~ To provide high-quality programs, our school relies heavily on the financial support of our community. These contributions fund essential items such as stationery, classroom materials, digital learning subscriptions, student devices, and photocopying. As such, we sincerely thank our families for your ongoing financial support, which enables us to resource the high standard of school experience delivered at MWPS.

2025 Foundation (Prep) Transition Program

The next Foundation transition session is on Thursday, November 27^th. Our future students and families are settling well, and we still have a few places available outside of the zone. So, if you know someone who is keen to attend, please get them to contact me or the office.

Yours sincerely,

Campbell McKay
Principal
Mount Waverley Primary School

Why We Use a
'Think Aloud' to Model Reading
at Mount Waverley Primary School

At Mount Waverley Primary School, we are dedicated to fostering strong reading comprehension skills in all students. One of the most effective strategies we use in our classrooms is 'Think Aloud', a method that helps students understand how skilled readers process and make sense of texts. But why is this approach so valuable, and how does it support our students' literacy development?

What Is a Think Aloud?

A Think Aloud is when a teacher verbalises their thought process while reading a text. This strategy makes the invisible act of reading visible to students by modelling how proficient readers comprehend, question, and analyse what they read. A Think Aloud helps students understand that reading is more than just decoding words—it involves thinking critically, making predictions, and drawing connections.

Why Do We Use a Think Aloud in Reading Instruction?

1. Develops Comprehension Skills – A Think Aloud explicitly teaches students how to monitor their understanding, ask questions, and make inferences while reading.
2. Models Metacognitive Thinking – Students learn how to think about their own thinking, improving their ability to reflect on and adjust their reading strategies.
3. Builds Problem-Solving Strategies – When students encounter challenging texts, they learn to pause, reread, and use context clues to make sense of difficult words or ideas.
4. Encourages Active Engagement – Instead of passively reading, students actively interact with the text by predicting, questioning, and summarising key points.
5. Supports All Learners – A Think Aloud is especially beneficial for struggling readers, English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners, and students developing higher-order thinking skills.

How We Use a Think Aloud in the Classroom

Teachers at Mount Waverley Primary School use a Think Aloud in a variety of ways to strengthen students' reading skills. Some common strategies include:

• Making Predictions – "I see the title of this book is The Storm. I wonder if it will be about a big weather event. Let’s read on to find out!"
• Asking Questions – "This character just made an important decision. I wonder why they chose to do that?"
• Clarifying Understanding – "That sentence was a bit tricky. Let me reread it more slowly to make sure I understand."
• Making Connections – "This reminds me of another story we read about teamwork. I think the theme might be similar."
• Summarising Key Ideas – "So far, I’ve learned that the main character is facing a big challenge. Let’s keep reading to see how they solve it."

How Parents Can Support a Think Aloud Strategy at Home

You can use the Think Aloud strategy while reading with your child at home to reinforce these skills. Try:

• Verbalising your thinking as you read aloud to your child.
• Encouraging your child to share their thoughts, predictions, and questions about a story.
• Asking open-ended questions like, "What do you think will happen next?" or "Why do you think the character felt that way?"
• Modeling problem-solving strategies when encountering difficult words or confusing parts of a story.

By incorporating a Think Aloud into our reading instruction, we empower students to become thoughtful, engaged, and confident readers. Thank you for your ongoing support in helping your child develop these essential literacy skills at Mount Waverley Primary School.

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

2025 TERM DATES

Term 4: 6 October - 19 December


November

11           Junior House Athletics
27          3rd Prep Transition
28          Japanese Day

December

8           Carols Afternoon
9            4th Prep Transition
             WHOLE SCHOOL TRANSITION (11:30am-1:30pm)
             *Year 6-to-Year 7 Orientation Day

• Boys Netball Gala Day Outstanding Fees $26 ~ 11 Nov 
• Year 4 Scienceworks Excursion Outstanding Fees $23.50 ~ 23 Nov

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please be advised that the 2026 Parent Contributions are now live on Compass.

https://mwps-vic.compass.education/Organise/CourseConf/

Please find attached a letter and flyer, both endorsed by the School Council, outlining key details.

For 2026, we have kept the Curriculum Contribution at a similar level to last year — $350, with only a $10 increase to reflect the rise in CPI.

We also kindly encourage families, where possible, to support the Other Contributions (a total of $100) which help cover essential costs including:

• First Aid and Administration
• Compass and the new School Talk App (our integrated tool for planning, assessment, and data management)
• Our newly introduced Personal Accident Insurance policy

In addition, our Building and Library Funds are tax deductible, and we sincerely appreciate any donations to support our upcoming school building and library reconstruction projects.

Your support has allowed us to organise and coordinate rich, extensive programs outside of the traditional teaching and learning programs. Our reading and numeracy materials are extensive, and we are constantly adding new materials for teachers to use to support personalised and quality learning.

Our Specialist programs of Art, Music, Japanese and PE are exemplary, and your financial contributions assist us with the purchasing of numerous art resources, musical instruments including electric guitars, keyboards, drumkits, ukuleles, and many more. Our fantastic playgrounds, oval and outside facilities have all been supported through our combined efforts.

Additional programs we can continue to offer because of your contributions include choir, art shows, end-of-year Christmas carol, community nights, sports events, various club activities and wellbeing programs such as lunchtime clubs, R U OK Day, SPARKS, robotics, and Sustainability projects.

These programs and events are essential to providing rich learning opportunities and experiences that foster our belief and commitment in nurturing the whole child.

Thank you very much for your ongoing generosity and support for our school’s learning and wellbeing programs.

For further information, please refer to the Department of Education Policy - 
Parent Payments: Policy | VIC.GOV.AU | Policy and Advisory Library

Abbey XIE
Business Manager
Mount Waverley Primary School

Shining Bright and Soaring High

Congratulations
to our Principal Award stars!

2025 

Fancifully Fete-tastic

Food, Fun and Flair

The vibe? Absolutely electric
The teamwork?  Next level  
The fun?  Off the charts
The memory? Unforgettable

On 31^st October, MWPS held a mini fete like no other. 

In an unexpected twist of tradition - thanks to vacant spaces that appeared at the most opportune time - the occasion shifted indoors, away from the whims of the weather.



The vast room spaces instantly transformed into a spectacular hub of activities, buzzing with vibrant energy, humming with heartbeats, bursting with colours and saturated with the irresistible aroma of sausage sizzles, pizzas, waffles and dumplings.



Parents and students, poured love into every detail, crafting and orchestrating a kaleidoscope of joy and fun that danced across the day.



Our Year 6s ran their stalls like seasoned showrunners. 



Each stall was a testament to their commitment and creativity, drawing smiles and admiration from every corner of the rooms. 



The atmosphere was rich with a perfect blend of warmth and connection. 

The day finished with a sweet scent of success and pride.  It was quite simply, a fete to remember.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our wonderful Year 6 families for your unwavering support.


 


WELL DONE to our fabulous Year 6 cohort.  Your hard work and commitment have truly shone through.





Last but certainly not to be missed ~
HATS OFF to our legendary Year 6 teachers for your incredible pizzazz, guidance, inspiration and encouragement.

From left: Ms Pertile, Mr B., Ms Donnely, Ms Giles and Ms Harris

 
A Waffle Whirlwind

 
Boing-tastic


So Deli-cious


No Time For The Dentist


Oh So Enchanting...


The Crochet Companions


Quirky & Charming


... and Teamwork Tales


Carb-Loaded...Yeah!


Starry, Starry Night


Stick Around to Chill


Boba Bliss 4 Brain Breaks


Crunchies & Munchies


Jazzy Jangles


Chemistry In Motion


Yoghurt Loaded with Love


Pingpong & Carton Chaos


Time to Get Accessorised!




Check out our Facebook and Instagram for more pictures.
  

Unstoppable

Untouchable

Legendary

A huge congratulations to Victor Huang and Hamish Basdeo who represented our school at the State Athletics Championships held yesterday at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park.

Victor Huang had an outstanding day, taking home two gold medals in the Long Jump and Triple Jump events, while Hamish Basdeo put in an excellent performance to finish 4th in Long Jump.  

Competing at state level is an incredible achievement, and both students should be extremely proud of their effort, determination, and the way they represented our school!














Interviewer: Congratulations Victor!  That's an amazing feat!
Victor: Thank you.

Interviewer:  What do you believe sparked and powered your success? Could you share with your peers the moments, choices, and strategies that can truly shape success in competitive sport? Your insights might just inspire someone else's next 'big leap'.
Victor: Staying calm.  Thinking about my techniques.  Making sure I kept a positive mindset.

Interviewer: Who would you attribute your success to?
Victor: My school community - Principals, teachers, peers, and my parents and coach.

WELCOME HOME

TO OUR VERY HAPPY

YEAR 3 CAMPERS!!!

After three days of outdoor adventures, team challenges, movie night, and lots of memory-making moments, we’re very thrilled to have you home.

You’ve braved the bush, bonded with your buddies, and brought back stories we can’t wait to hear.

We hope your hearts are full, your spirits still soaring from all the fun, and your socks only slightly soggy.

Now it’s time to rest, recharge, and ease back into the fun of learning after the weekend.

Samantha Kennedy

Disability Inclusion Learning Specialist

@ MWPS

Hi, my name is Samantha Kennedy and I have been the Disability Inclusion Learning Specialist here at Mount Waverley Primary School for nearly a year now.

With over twenty years experience in education, my role here is to work closely with teachers, families and support staff to ensure that each child's unique strengths and needs are recognised and supported.

When I am not at school, I'm most likely to be ferrying around my two awesome daughters, Elise (10) and Lucy (8) to any number of sporting commitments or walking my four year old labrador, Daisy.  I love the warm weather, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine and Allen's freckles! 

What do I find most rewarding about working in a school:

Supporting students and teachers to feel a little happier and more confident each day. I love seeing those little moments of growth, when a student begins to believe in themselves, or when a teacher feels supported and valued. Being part of a community that works together to make a difference in young people’s lives is incredibly rewarding.

If I could travel anywhere, where would I go:

Back to Italy. I’d love to explore more of the Italian countryside, wandering the cobble stoned streets of small villages, enjoying long lunches in the sun, and staying in villa.

If I could have dinner with a historical figure, who would it be:

Princess Diana. She was known as the people’s princess for her compassion, warmth, and courage. I’d love the chance to talk with her or simply be in her presence. I often wonder what the world would be like if she were still alive.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Frozen yoghurt

My guilty pleasure....Netflix