School Newsletter - 3rd September 2025

From the Principal

Mrs Sally Foley Retirement 

We officially farewell Mrs Sally Foley as she commences her retirement after many years of dedicated service to Waverley Primary School. Over the past few weeks, we have had the privilege of celebrating Mrs Foley in style first with a heartfelt staff event, and then with a wonderful gathering of families at Playgroup. Both occasions reflected the deep appreciation and admiration our school community holds for Mrs Foley and her work. 

 We sincerely thank everyone who reached out to Mrs Foley with kind messages and for those who joined us in celebrating her remarkable career. While Mrs Foley is stepping away from her role, you may still see her around our Waverley from time to time. Her passion for our school and her commitment to helping make it even better will no doubt continue to shine through in the years ahead. 

 Congratulations Mrs Foley on a wonderful career we wish you all the very best in your retirement. 

Our Vision

At Waverley we foster a safe, inclusive community, nurturing lifelong learners through trust, respect, and positive relationships, empowering students for success. Our students show us they are safe and ready to learn when they make positive choices.

While Term 3 has a focus on growth, it is also a time to remember an important message: to not waste a lesson even when learning is tough.  Every lesson counts. 

That’s why if you need to leave class, you must be safe and always ask first. You need permission to leave. You may go to the RRR with a Teacher Assistant, or to play equipment with a timer. This way we know where you are, and you stay safe. 

The expectations are clear: 

• Action: follow directions straight away. 

• Rule Reminder: respect the classroom rules. 

• Make up missed learning time: catch up on what you have missed. 

• Parents contacted: if needed, your parents will be told. 

Every choice our students make matters.  

Term 3 is also a time to reflect on the progress we have made as a school and to share feedback. Feedback is valuable because it allows us to celebrate what is working well and to kindly identify areas where we can continue to improve. With feedback comes what our department affectionately calls survey season. Across the state, staff, students and families are invited to take part.  

At Waverley we value the input of families. Parents and carers are invited to take part in the annual School Satisfaction Survey, which asks for feedback on what Waverley does well and where we can improve. This survey is open until Friday 19 September and takes about five minutes to complete. Your feedback is very important in helping us with our planning and decision making. 

Take the online survey by clicking this Link, or pasting it in your browser: https://nam.dcv.ms/emMtgl2LrO or scan the QR code. 

HOT LUNCH PROGRAM

We are delighted to share that our hot lunch program will continue in Term 4. Kinder students will keep enjoying their Wednesday hot lunch, and we are excited to announce that Prep–Year 6 students will now have hot lunch available on both Thursday and Friday each week.

TA APPRECIATION WEEK

This week, we celebrated the incredible dedication, care, and expertise of our Teacher Assistants. Each day, they make a lasting difference in the lives of our students supporting learning, building confidence, and ensuring every child feels seen, valued, and capable of success. 

Our TAs are the quiet achievers in classrooms, playgrounds, and beyond. They bring patience, creativity, and heart into everything they do. We are so grateful for the way they partner with teachers, families, and each other to create a safe, inclusive, and engaging school environment. 

Please take a moment to watch and enjoy our video tribute to the outstanding TAs of Waverley Primary School. Thank you for everything you do – we appreciate you, not just this week, but every day. 

• Mrs Bec Ainslie
• Mrs Tracey Avery
• Mr Ollie Baldock
• Mrs Toni Bland
• Mrs Petrina Evans
• Mrs Amanda Colgrave
• Mrs Kim Ewart
• Miss Gemima Hindrum
• Miss Emily Iles
• Ms Leanne Jex
• Mrs Lisa Johnstone
• Ms Belinda Manning
• Miss Emily Rodman
• Mrs Nicole Wager

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WAVERLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL DINING HALL GRAND OPENING

We are thrilled to announce the official opening of our new Kitchen and Dining Hall on Friday 12th September a remarkable milestone for our school and community. 

This new facility is a semi-commercial kitchen and dining space designed not only for student learning but also as a place for our community to gather, connect, and celebrate. The space will be available for hire and will provide opportunities for meetings, learning programs, and community events. 

For our students, the Kitchen and Dining Hall means even more opportunities to learn and grow. They will continue to enjoy: 

• Breakfast Club every morning, five days a week 

• Hot lunches (Kinder on Wednesdays, Prep–Year 6 on Thursdays and Fridays) 

• Cooking classes as part of our learning program 

For our wider community, we are excited to offer: 

• A welcoming space 

• A barista course for adults, providing skills and opportunities beyond the classroom 

This project would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors, the dedication of those who supported the vision, and the expertise of the design and building teams who brought it all together. 

We are excited to share this special occasion with everyone who played a part in making this dream a reality. 

Mrs Wightman

Principal

Principal Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of Principal Awards received at the assembly held on Wednesday 27th August.

• Rory P
• Taleah S
• Mrs Colgrave

Aussie of the Month

Jye has made wonderful new friendships this year and is always kind and polite to others. He's shown great improvement in his engagement with schoolwork and is getting more involved in school life. Jye's confidence has grown, and he's interacting more with his peers and teachers, making a positive impact in the classroom and beyond.

Merit Certificates

Congratulations to the recipients of Merit Certificates received at the assembly held on Wednesday 27th August.

• Lillian W
• Jayde R
• Harrison S
• Jayda R
• Levi G
• Avah-Rose P
• Taleah S
• Isaac R
• Laniyah W-D
• Athena C
• Lorenzo C
• Rory P
• Mason M
• Adalynn Hewson
• Oliver H
• Leah R
• Isaiah K-O
• Lucas C
• Ava G
• Mahalia-Rose P
• Hunter T
• Amarni F
• Xavier D
• Elyce W
• Titus F

Merit Award Winners

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Mid-Year Reporting Awards

OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO LEARNING CERTIFICATES

At assembly last week we presented the Outstanding Commitment to Learning Certificates (SHINE Merit Awards) these are awarded to the top 15 percent of each grade, this time based on behaviour ratings. 

These awards recognise students who show our SHINE learning behaviours every day. At Waverley, this means being Safe, Helpful, Inclusive, and Excellent. Across all subjects and in every lesson, these students demonstrate what it means to be ready to learn. They regulate their emotions, use good manners, show kindness and ensure the classroom is a safe place for everyone. These learning behaviours are celebrated at Waverley.  

• Harper A
• Hamish O-K
• Lorenzo C
• Rylyn M
• Cruz T
• Indigo R
• Leah R
• Jayda R
• Bethany W
• Adalyn H
• Rory P
  

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OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATES

We recognise academic success. The Outstanding Academic Achievement Certificates are awarded to the top 15 percent of each grade based on academic ratings from the mid-year report.

• Mason McK
• Rubi D
• Zane R
• Amarli K
• Leo R
• Kayden T
• Phoebe F
• Dominic N

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS

We present Academic Excellence Awards to those students who have achieved both Outstanding Academic Achievement and Outstanding Commitment to Learning. 

• Connor D
• Charlie F
• Isaac R
• Mason R
• Lincoln G
• Ben L
• Ava G
• Zayah M R
• Melodie D

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Outstanding Attendance Awards

We celebrate attendance. When students attend school every day, they have the best chance to succeed. The Outstanding Attendance Award is given to students with a perfect attendance record. We also award Gold for 95 to 100 percent attendance, Silver for 90 to 94 percent, and Bronze for 80 to 89 percent. Congratulations to these students for their effort and commitment. 

Gold Attendance Awards

Silver Attendance Awards

Bronze Attendance Awards

Father's Day Stall

Across this week our students will have the opportunity to visit the School Association Father's Day Stall to explore the wonderful range of gifts available for purchase. 

 Kinder, P-Year 2 students will visit the stall on Wednesday, while classes from Year 3-6 will attend on Thursday. 

Gift prices range from $1 to $5, with a maximum spend of $10 per student. The stall offers a lovely selection of items for students to choose from, whether for their father or another significant person they wish to celebrate this Sunday. 

Families who would like to visit the stall themselves are welcome to do so after school on Thursday or Friday from 3:00–3:15 PM. 

Thank you for supporting this special event! 

Ms Caitlyn Cunningham Olding 

School Association Chair 

Crazy Hair Day

On Wednesday 10 September, students are invited to take part in Crazy Hair Day. This is always a fun and creative event where students can come to school with their wackiest, brightest, or most imaginative hairstyles. A gold coin donation is appreciated, with funds going towards our Year 6 end of year activities.  Students are encouraged to use spikes, plaits, bows, wigs, bright accessories and other fun ideas. 

On Friday 12 September, we will celebrate the grand opening of our new Kitchen and Dining Hall. This will be a very special occasion with invited guests and media representatives in attendance. Because of this important event, we kindly ask families to avoid coloured hair sprays that stain skin or hair for Crazy Hair Day. We would like our students to be able to enjoy both occasions while looking their best for the opening ceremony. 

We look forward to seeing the amazing hairstyles on Wednesday and then celebrating together again on Friday as we open this wonderful new space for our school community. 

Thank you for your support. 

Year 6 Leaders

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey

Attention: Parents and Carers of students in Years 4-6 

At Waverley Primary School the wellbeing of our students is one of our main priorities. We want to hear directly from our students about how they’re feeling and what’s happening in their lives. 

Students in Years 4-6 will soon be participating in the Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey. This important survey helps us build a clear picture of our students’ current wellbeing and identify ways we can better support them to thrive and engage in learning. 

The more students who take part, the more meaningful the insights will be. 

This survey is part of the Department’s Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy. 

Survey Details 

When:                                    Week 7 (week beginning 1 September) 

Who:                                       Year 4-6 students 

What do I need to do:     You and your child don’t need to do anything. The survey will be done in class time and will not require your child to prepare in any way. 

A letter with more information has been sent home for all Year 4-6 students and includes a form to return if you do not want your child to participate. 

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Mrs Anita Price. 

Thank you for supporting our efforts to ensure every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn. 

Answers for Families about the Students Wellbeing and Engagement Survey 

Student Wellbeing and Engagement Survey answers for families - Department for Education, Children and Young People 

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Kinder Enrolments

Kindergarten Enrolments for 2026 

Do you know a child that is turning 4 this year?  

We are now taking enrolments for Kindergarten 2026 at Waverley Primary. 

Pre-Kinder sessions run every Friday from 9:00–10:30am in the Kindergarten room. These sessions give children a gentle start to school life and help them feel ready for Kinder in 2026. 

Families are warmly welcome to join us on Friday's. 

If you’re interested in lending a hand, please ph: 63391455 or email waverley.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au 

Book Week

This year’s Book Week was an absolute highlight at Waverley, with our whole school community coming together to celebrate the joy of reading. Throughout the week, students and staff engaged in a wide range of activities that brought books to life and reminded us of the power of stories.

Our staff set the tone by sharing favourite stories with students, creating wonderful moments of connection and sparking lively conversations about characters and ideas. We were also delighted to welcome our Rotary Readers, whose continued commitment to reading with our students is such a gift. A special highlight was the visit from Mrs Kim Millar from 7 News, who read to our entire school an experience that had students buzzing with excitement and pride.

Book Week wouldn’t be complete without our much-loved parade. The creativity and enthusiasm on display was truly inspiring, with students proudly sharing costumes inspired by their favourite book characters. Adding to the fun, students from Queechy High School joined us to read with our younger learners, modelling a love of reading and showing what’s possible as they continue their learning journey.

We rounded out the week with a whole school treasure hunt in response to the book title, “Where is the Green Sheep?” written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Judy Horacek. The hunt was a joyful way to bring everyone together, with laughter, teamwork, and problem solving filling our classrooms and playgrounds.

Book Week 2025 has been a wonderful reminder that reading connects us, inspires us, and builds our future. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making the week such a success our staff, families, volunteers, and community partners.

Mr Sam Millwood

Instructional Specialist

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School Opens at 8:30AM

Please sign in at the office if you are at school prior to 2:50pm

Reminder to Families and Carers

If you are at school before 2:50pm for any reason, you must report to the school office first. All adults on DECYP sites are required to sign in at the office and show their Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) card before entering the school grounds or classrooms.

If you are collecting your child during the school day, this must be done via the school office. Parents and carers that do not hold a WWVP card are only permitted on school grounds before 3:00pm if accompanied by a Waverley Primary staff member.

If you are attending assembly in the hall you can sign in at the hall from 2:15pm. 

From 3:00pm onwards, parents and carers may enter the school grounds to collect their children without needing to sign in via the office.

Thank you for supporting the safety of all students.

Early Years Programs 2025

Vegetable Garden

Our school vegetable garden is growing beautifully, and we’d love your help! Volunteers are needed to help with planting, watering, weeding, and harvesting. 

Whether you have green thumbs or just a bit of spare time, your support makes a huge difference — and it’s a fun way to connect with our school community and see the students enjoy the fruits (and veggies!) of your efforts. 

If you’re interested in lending a hand, please ph: 63391455 or email waverley.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au 

 Let’s grow something amazing together!  

Hot Lunch Program 2025

e-Safety Education

Technology is an integral part of our daily lives, so it is vital to prioritise the online safety of our children and young people. This helps them understand how to safely navigate the digital space. 

Here are some tips and resources to help you when considering e-safety for your children. 

⭐ Educate: Teach your children about the potential risks online, including cyberbullying and privacy concerns. Explain how to recognise suspicious behaviour and the steps they should take if they encounter something uncomfortable or threatening. Encourage them to think critically about the content they view and share, and the people they interact with online.  

For e-safety education resources designed for children, see Kids | eSafety Commissioner 

For resources designed for teens, see: Young People | eSafety Commissioner 

⭐ Monitor: Keep an eye on their online activities and use parental controls to set boundaries. Check out the Parental Control factsheet on the e-Safety Commissioner website for more details on steps you can take to improve e-safety through parental controls.  

⭐ Communicate: Encourage open discussions with your children about their online experiences and reassure them they can come to you with any issues. It is important to have ongoing conversations about digital safety – with the online landscape changing rapidly, children and young people are often the first to adopt these changes. Continually touching base on these topics allows you to monitor what is happening while also ensuring their safety. 

To find comprehensive info on e-safety, as well as some great links and resources, check out:  DECYP Staying Safe Online fact sheet  

Safeguarding Articles

Volunteer Requirements 2025

As we are well into the new school year, we want to remind our school community about the important requirements for volunteering at our school.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students, it is mandatory for all volunteers to have their RWVP (Registration for Working with Vulnerable People) and to have completed the Your Obligations-Safeguarding training 15-minute video before engaging with children and young people in a volunteer capacity at our school. Certificates for the training video are valid for 12 months from the date of completion. These steps are essential in helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment for our children.

To apply for a Working with Vulnerable people, please visit the Service Tasmania website.

To complete the Your Obligations-Safeguarding Training 15-minute video please visit the DECYP website.

Volunteers are a vital part of our school community, and we are excited to collaborate with you the year ahead!

Working With Vulnerable People Registration

Parents and carers if you remain with your child in their classroom beyond school drop off, or volunteer for parent help, or would like to attend a school excursion we must see a copy of your registration card.  When you sign in at the office please enter your RWVP number.  

Reminder: all adults visiting our school must sign in at the office and wear a name badge.  

It is against the law for a person to work or volunteer at any DECYP School without a current working with vulnerable people registration. 

If you would like to volunteer at Waverley Primary School we would love to hear from you.  To apply for registration please follow the link below:

Staff Email

We believe that communication between families and staff is crucial in building relationships. You are welcome to speak with teachers face to face before or after school.  The school office can book an appointment or pass on a message.  You can visit the school office in person or phone: 6339 1455.  

2025 Staff Contact Information

Professional Support Staff 2025

Communication

Newsletter access

Please note the following information: 

Schoolzine SZapp and our Text message service are our main source of communication. 

The newsletter is published every second Wednesday through Schoolzine and can be viewed through the SZapp.   

The Waverly Primary School Facebook page is a great way to stay informed about what is happening in and around our school. 

Attendance

At Waverley Primary students attendance and safety are high priorities.  If your child is absent or late please phone our school office ph: 6339 1455 or send a note via the SZapp.  All lateness and absence must be explained.  This is a legal requirement by the Department for Education Children and Young People.  

An SMS text message will be automatically sent to the mobile phones of parents/carers explaining that our records show that your child is absent from school.   

The message will arrive on the phone displaying the number: 0407 580 106. Please save this number as ‘WPS Absentee’ so that when the message arrives you are aware is has come from our school.   

You can reply to the text to explain the absence please add: your child’s name, reason they are absent or late.   

Messages from you to school

To ensure your messages are received and actioned in a timely manner and without error, please use the following:

• Absentee notifications - Enter details using the SZapp by 9:00am to notify the office of student absence.
• End of day messages - Send a message using the SZapp or call 63391455 before 2:30pm.
• Queries and other messages - Send a message using the SZapp or email waverley.primary@decyp.tas.gov.au
• Uniform & icecream/icypole orders - Order and pay on the Qkr! app

We endeavour to respond to enquiries within 2 business days during school terms.

Messages from us to you

In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, we will push information out to you via the SZapp.  It is very important that all of our parents have signed up to the Schoolzine app to receive notices and information. 

If you require assistance in setting up or using the SZapp or the Qkr! app, please contact the office. 

School Association

Committee Meetings

The School Association is made up of the parents, staff and community members of a school. The School Association is an important part of the school, working with the Principal to achieve shared outcomes for learners and for the whole school community.  

The School Association Committee is an elected group of members that work together for the benefit of the school. The Committee manages and conducts the affairs of the School Association and performs administrative and decision-making tasks on behalf of the School Association. 

Parent participation on our Committee is highly valued.  We meet on the third Tuesday each month, excluding school holidays, from 1:40-2:50pm.

Ms Caitlyn Olding

Chairperson

Uniform

A reminder to please ensure your child(ren) are dressed in school uniform for their day at school. Our school has very high expectations for our school uniform and many visitors to our school give extremely positive feedback about how smart our students look. We ask that any long sleeves under polo tops are gold keep to with our school colours. We ask that students please wear black trackpants/trousers or shorts. 

A reminder that our Waverley Primary School jackets are great for an extra layer over a school jumper. Uniform items can be purchased at the main office or through our Qkr! app, with items being delivered to students within a day. 

Please note: branded leggings and very short hot pant style shorts are not part of our school uniform.

Ice Cream Sales

A reminder that we have ice cream sales on a Monday at lunch time.  All proceeds support our Year 6 celebration activities.  You can order your ice cream or icy pole on the Qkr! app or you can bring cash on the day.

Important Dates

4/5/6 Sport Roster

Allergy Aware

We are an allergy aware school.  We discourage the use and consumption of nuts and nut products as well as eggs and egg products. 

Move Well Eat Well

A reminder to everyone that we do not bring energy drinks to school.  

Community Notices