Dear Parents and Caregivers,
As we approach the end of another busy and rewarding term, I wanted to take the opportunity to share some of the exciting things happening around Woodend. Whether it is major building projects, outstanding student performances, new students joining our community or international connections being strengthened, there is certainly plenty happening across our school.
Building Works Set to Begin
After a long wait, we are delighted to finally see progress on the six classrooms along the street frontage that have required significant rectification.
Demolition is expected to begin during the school holidays, with the project likely to take around 12 months to complete. While there will be some temporary changes to the way we move around the school, the end result will be well worth it.
During construction, the basketball court will be used as the builders’ compound and access between the two sides of the school will be via the pathway adjacent to the garden area. There will also be a slight adjustment to the Edward Beck Drive entrance to the oval once the compound is established.
The rebuilt classrooms will look very similar to the current buildings but will provide much newer and refreshed learning spaces for our students and staff. It is exciting to see this long-awaited project moving forward. We just ask that everyone be careful around the building site if walking past on the way to or from school.
Woodend Presents Seussical – The Musical
We are now well into our performances of Seussical the Musical, and what a wonderful showcase it has been of student talent, commitment and confidence.
The students involved have been nothing short of amazing, bringing energy, enthusiasm and creativity to every performance.
A special thank you goes to Regi Crook, whose leadership as our Performing Arts teacher has been instrumental in bringing the production to life. We also thank Kelly Packer for her outstanding work in design and direction, Dave Aparicio for sound production, Paige Wellstead for props and artwork, Lauren Fuller and Cheleigh Jaffer for their hands on support, and former students Harry Crook, Jude Wellstead and Taylor Dempsey, who have generously given their time and expertise.
Productions like these truly demonstrate the strength of our school community and the willingness of people to contribute for the benefit of our students.
Woodend Performance Team Prepares
Rehearsals are also underway for our Woodend Performance Team as they prepare for their appearance at the Entertainment Centre on Wednesday 19 August.
Students are currently creating a stage-ready performance that combines dance, drama and vocals to tell a meaningful story. The opportunity to share important messages through performance is both empowering and inspiring, and we are excited to see what this year’s team creates.
Woodend was involved in the very first Schools Challenge event in South Australia and, as a result, continues to receive an invitation to perform each year alongside professional dance schools and secondary presentations. It is a wonderful tradition that we are proud to continue. Thankyou to Kellie Najjar for leading this, along with Karen Sheppard, Belinda Yardley and an ex student, Taya Najjar who are invaluable team members.
Pedal Prix Success
Last Friday, our Pedal Prix team competed at Victoria Park supported by a dedicated group of parents who generously gave their time and support throughout the event. Thank you to Kerry Middleton who has coordinated our Woodend Pedal Prix for some time now.
The students represented Woodend with enthusiasm and determination, and we thank everyone involved for making the day such a success. Keep an eye out for a separate blog post featuring photos and highlights from the event.
School Tours for Families
Our school tours continue to attract strong interest, with between 16 and 20 families attending each session.
Many visitors comment on the breadth of opportunities available to Woodend students. It is always a pleasure to share our school with prospective families and showcase the learning, wellbeing and extracurricular opportunities that make Woodend such a special place.
Interestingly, we have also received enquiries from overseas families who have heard positive things about our school through online channels and community recommendations. It is wonderful to see Woodend’s reputation continuing to grow.
While the upcoming building works are certainly part of our conversations with prospective families, most see these improvements as an exciting investment in the future of our school.
Welcoming Our New Reception Students
At the beginning of Term 3, we will welcome 33 new Reception students as part of our mid-year intake.
These students will form two classes led by experienced teachers Kate Kelly and Jess Schmitt. Transition visits have already commenced and it has been lovely meeting many of the children and their families as they begin their journey with Woodend.
We look forward to officially welcoming them into our school community next term.
Year 6 Canberra Trip
Next week, our Year 6 students head off to Canberra for what is always an unforgettable learning experience.
The trip provides students with a unique opportunity to see Australia’s democracy in action by visiting Parliament House and Old Parliament House. Often they are fortunate enough to meet current Members of Parliament and, on occasions, even the Governor-General. A regular comment by members of parliament is how positive it is to see the high level of knowledge about our democratic processes exhibited by our Woodend students.
Students will also visit national institutions such as the Australian Institute of Sport and gain first-hand experiences that bring classroom learning to life. We wish all students, staff and parent volunteers a safe, enjoyable and educational trip.
Celebrating 20 Years of Collaboration and Friendship with MYOJO
Although our visit to MYOJO School in Tokyo is still a few months away, preparations are already well underway.
The planning required to organise this exchange program is extensive and begins many months before the visit takes place. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of Vinall Sensei, who manages the complex approval processes required by the Department for Education and coordinates countless details behind the scenes. This year Sarah Vinal and Marc Saffin will be accompanying students on their trip.
This year is particularly significant as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our partnership with MYOJO. Since 2006, Woodend has maintained a continuous relationship with the same sister school, something that is unique in Australia.
Our friends in Japan are planning several special celebrations to mark this milestone, and we look forward to continuing this valued friendship for many years to come.
Friday Playgroup Continues to Grow
A special thank you to Cathie Luke, who has taken on the organisation of our Friday Playgroup in the hall.
With support from Mary Balnaves, the program has grown steadily over recent weeks and has become a wonderful opportunity for families with young children to connect with our school community.
It is lovely to see parents and children enjoying the activities on offer, building relationships and feeling connected to Woodend before their children even begin school. Please contact Cathie at the school if you wish to be a part of Playgroup.
More Facilities Improvements on the Way
We are also pleased to report progress on two additional improvement projects.
The first is the complete redevelopment of the boy and girls hall toilets. Many people who have visited these facilities over the years would agree that they were ready for an upgrade. David Willoughby from Keves Building Company will soon begin work on the refurbishment, and we look forward to providing modern and welcoming facilities for our students.
The second project involves increasing the covered area outside the hall. This will provide additional sheltered space for both our OSHC program and general student use. While there have been a number of complexities to work through, we are now much closer to seeing this exciting project commence.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support of Woodend Primary School. Whether you are attending events, volunteering your time, supporting learning at home or simply being part of our wonderful community, your contribution helps make Woodend such a welcoming and vibrant place for our students.
There is much to look forward to in the months ahead, and we are excited to share these opportunities and milestones with you all.
Warm regards,
Steve Freeman
Principal