Term 2 will be a big one as we move into winter and say goodbye to the longer days of Daylight Savings (I’ll admit, I’m already mourning those extra hours of sunlight—I vote to keep Daylight Savings year-round!).

We’re all looking forward to welcoming everyone back next term, bright-eyed and ready for the challenges ahead. Please note, we’ll be finishing at 2:30pm on Friday, April 4th.

Wishing you a restful, safe, and joyful holiday!

 Still Close to my Heart (and in case you missed it last week) – Did You Know?

As we all work together to make Wandong Primary School a place of excellence, it’s important to recognise the immense value of the limited student-free days we are provided. These days are crucial for our teachers and support staff to engage in essential professional development, collaborative planning, assessment, moderation, and to fulfil the numerous administrative and compliance requirements necessary to ensure a high-quality education for our students.

However, the reality is that there are far too few hours in the year to accomplish everything required. With an ever-growing list of expectations, from curriculum planning and implementing additional support programs, to meeting OHS compliance and mandatory training, the time available always falls short. Our staff are stretched thin, and without student-free days, it becomes an impossible feat to prioritise what has to be ‘let go’ from all these demands, whilst always working to support teachers in continuing to improve their practice.

It’s also important to note that these minimal student-free hours are just the start. Beyond the regular 38-hour work week, our teachers frequently volunteer additional time away from their own families for school camps, after-school activities, weekend events, provision of three-way conferences, parent meetings, as well as providing extra programs to ensure the holistic development of our students and prioritising student and family engagement. The time they spend going above and beyond is invaluable and indicative of the selfless, giving, and grateful culture we have built at Wandong.

Supporting our teachers and staff through critical student-free days ensures they have the time to focus on their professional growth and other mandated duties, ensuring the quality of education at Wandong Primary remains strong and continues to grow. Our teachers are committed to your child’s success, but they need sanctioned and prioritised time and support to do this effectively.

A positive school culture, one that values and supports our teachers’ well-being, is at the heart of providing the best learning environment for our students. When our teachers and support staff are given the time they need to grow and plan, it directly impacts the positive, student-centred programs we deliver every day.

Did you know… We greatly value our home/school partnerships and are eternally grateful to be working together to ensure our Wandong staff have the resources and time they need to help your children thrive.

Easter Raffle

Thank you to all our wonderful families who are organising their Easter Raffle donations. Remember to ensure you buy a raffle ticket or ten, as there are always amazingly huge hampers on offer. I know that the children will enjoy their free dress day. There will no doubt be some members of our school community who have sore bellies after indulging in their winnings! However, I know these prizes have always been a welcome supply of gifts.