School Newsletter - 15th October 2025

From the Principal

Welcome to Term 4 

We had such a fantastic Term 3, filled with exciting events, strong learning, and plenty of growth. It was inspiring to see students showing persistence, and teamwork whether it was trying something new, tackling a challenge, or working through tricky moments with a brave heart. 

This term, our focus value is Courage. At Waverley, we demonstrate courage when we accept challenges and embrace opportunities. Courage means having a go, trying our best, and learning from every experience even when it feels hard. This is an important value to carry with us as we finish the year strongly. 

In Weeks 2–4, all students from Prep to Year 6 will take part in PAT testing. These tests measure progress in literacy and numeracy, helping us see the growth each student has made across the year. It’s very important that students are well rested and ready each day to do their best. Parents and carers, your support in ensuring children arrive at school on time and ready for learning will make a big difference. 

Staffing Update

Mr Hewitt joins us from Sydney, where he earned outstanding feedback from his Principal and colleagues. An award-winning educator, Mr Hewitt brings a wealth of experience and passion for engaging students in meaningful learning.

We are delighted to share some exciting staffing news for our Grade 4–5 class.

Mrs Popovich will commence her maternity leave on Friday, 7 November (Week 4). We extend our warmest wishes to Mrs Popovich and her family for the safe arrival of their second child and a wonderful period of maternity leave throughout 2026.

From Week 5, we welcome Mr Caleb Hewitt, who will teach the class Monday to Wednesday.  Mr Hewitt will spend Weeks 1–4 working in a relief capacity to get to know our students and complete a thorough handover with Mrs Popovich.

We are also thrilled to welcome Miss Georgia Creese, who will teach the class Thursday and Friday. Miss Creese is in her third year of teacher training with the University of Tasmania and brings great enthusiasm, warmth, and creativity. Alongside her teaching, she is also a professional football (soccer) player, and we are excited for Miss Creese to contribute to our Years 4–6 sport program on Friday afternoons.

We are delighted to welcome Mrs Tanya Hines back to Waverley Primary School following a period of maternity and extended leave.

Mrs Hines is a highly experienced early childhood educator who has previously made a valued contribution to our school community. This term, she will be working across a range of areas, including supporting flexible programs, delivering targeted intervention, and teaching classes in a relief capacity.

We are thrilled to have Mrs Hines return to Waverley and look forward to reconnecting with her as she once again shares her expertise, warmth, and commitment to supporting every child to SHINE.

At Waverley, we are proud to attract and support high-quality educators who share our commitment to helping every child SHINE – being Safe, Helpful, Inclusive, and Excellent. We know our students will continue to benefit from the strengths both Mr Hewitt and Miss Creese bring to our community.

As always, we ask families to support students to be Safe and Ready to Learn each day by arriving on time, following teacher directions, and contributing positively to a respectful and supportive classroom environment.

We also have lots to look forward to this term: 

• Special celebrations for our Year 6 students as they prepare for high school. 

• Exciting whole-school events and opportunities for students to shine. 

• Continued recognition through tokens, merit certificates, Principal Awards, and Aussie of the Month. 

Let’s make Term 4 a time to be proud of filled with courage, learning, and memories to treasure. 

 Mashed Potato Day 

We were delighted to attend Mashed Potato Day, a wonderful event organised by our Waverley Wonders group in partnership with Sarah McCormack from the City of Launceston through her role with Launnie Connecting Community. 

The event was highly organised, with personalised invitations, a professional welcome, an impressive display of the product, and even stand-up comedy! Potatoes were served in several creative ways, and the beautifully decorated tables set the scene for an enjoyable community gathering. 

It was lovely to attend alongside our Year 6 leaders, members of the SRC, parents of the Waverley Wonders group, and senior staff. This experience has given our Waverley Wonders group the opportunity to generate an idea, create a budget, and deliver a successful event developing skills they can now share with other students. 

We look forward to more student-led events like this in our Dining Hall in the future. 

 External School Review 

As part of our commitment to continuous school improvement, our school will participate in an External School Review this year. These reviews aim to support schools in raising student achievement, maintaining high performance and ensuring quality assurance to build public confidence in Tasmanian Government schools. 

All Tasmanian Government schools undergo an external review every four years. The primary focus of the review is to help us enhance student learning outcomes. The Review Team will include an External School Review Leader and trained Principal Peer Reviewers. Our review is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 4th November to Thursday 6th November 2025. 

Through this process, we will identify effective school practices that have been validated by the Review Team, as well as areas where we can make future improvements. 

As part of the review, some students, families, School Association members and staff may be invited to share their perspectives with the Review Team. This may occur through: 

• Individual interviews (including phone calls with families) 

• Group discussions (with students or staff) 

• Meetings (such as School Association or staff meetings) 

• Classroom visits 

We appreciate your support and time in contributing to this important process. 

Kind regards, 

Mrs Katie Wightman 

Principal 

Principal Awards

Congratulations to the recipients of Principal Awards received at the assembly held on Wednesday 24th September.

• Zayah M R
• Hunter T
• Mrs Wager
• Miss Popovich

Merit Certificates

Congratulations to the recipients of Merit Certificates received at the assembly held on Wednesday 24th September.

• Daniel C
• Lillian M
• Harvey P
• Castiel P
• Charlie F
• Amora K
• Melodie D
• Hope C-P
• Esmae L
• Rubi D
• Braxton G
• Maddilyn M
• Mariah R
• Myron K
• Paislee P

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Halloween Disco

Term 4 Sunsmart

A reminder that school hats are compulsory for all students in Term 4 and Term 1. 

No Hat, No Play – In the Shade We Stay 

School Hats 

• A complimentary hat is provided at the start of Kindergarten 

• Replacement hats: $12.00 from the office or via the QKR! app 

• Hats stay at school in bag boxes and are regularly washed 

If your child no longer has their original hat or it’s too small, please ensure a replacement is purchased ready for Day 1 of Term 4. 

Thank you for helping us keep students safe and SunSmart. 

Big Emotions Workshop: Parents and Carers

Can you recall a time when someone reacted with strong emotions perhaps appearing to “flip their lid” or “explode like a volcano”? These moments are examples of experiencing big emotions. For children, these reactions can happen when they feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure how to express what they need. By recognising the signs and helping children calm and reset, parents can play an important role in teaching emotional awareness, self-regulation, and positive coping skills. 

When we have big emotions, energy can build up in our body. If we don’t let the energy out it stays in our body, builds up and can then come exploding out.  

Linda from City Mission and the Inside Out 4 Kids team will be at our school on:

• Monday the 17th of November, from 2pm to 3pm (just before school pick up), to run a workshop for parents to help them to support children’s emotional wellbeing and when they are having big emotions. 

During the free 60-minute workshop Linda will share things like:  

• What happens when we have big emotions; 

• Words to use to help describe what’s happening; and 

• Steps and strategies that can help children to let out their emotional energy safely before they lose control. 

If parents or other adults in the family would like to attend the workshop, please contact the school office to RSVP  to confirm your place in this FREE workshop. 

Faraday Cup

In the last week of term 3, selected students competed against Ravenswood Heights Primary School students in a netball competition. After a time extension Ravenswood came away with the win by just 2 goals.

We are so proud of our students, they showed grit and determination and represented our school with pride and resilience.  Congratulations to Shayla for winning the best and fairest medal. The Footy game was unfortunately cancelled due to wet weather but will be rescheduled sometime for term 4. Please keep an eye out for the amended date. 

Students v Teachers Netball Game

Our Year 6 students took on their teachers in the highly anticipated annual teacher vs. student's netball match in the last week of term 3! The game was competitive as always and the student's demonstrated determination and grit throughout the game. The teachers claimed the victory for another year, but it was a fun and fair game from start to finish. Well done and thank you to everyone who participated.

Mrs Siobhan Matuska

HPE Teacher

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 

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.

Spare uniform: Our supply of spare clothing, including trousers, underwear and socks, is running low. Please send a spare set of clothes in your child’s bag if they might need one. If your child borrows any school clothing, we ask that it is returned promptly so it can be used by others. We also appreciate any donations of outgrown uniform items.

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