It has been a very busy couple of weeks at Windsor Primary School. Students have participated in various excursions which have aligned with their classroom learning. We have also started lunchtime activities that the students are enjoying.

I am excited to let you know that the students will now be doing an Auslan Language Program instead of Greek. Auslan Education Services will deliver the program. As part of this program, the children will be taking part in video lessons, where they will be taught by a qualified Auslan teacher. The teachers will also be taking part in professional learning to support the children during the lessons.

Finally, I would also like to announce that Kath Gratz has been appointed as the Acting Assistant Principal. Catherine McGarrity will be Leading Teaching and Learning in P-2 and Steve McLeod will be Leading Teaching and Learning in grades 3-6. Ben Eretz will continue in the Mental Health in Primary Schools role.

---

Important Dates

---

Grants and Fundraising Update

August 2026

A group of parents and school staff are now meeting every few weeks to apply for potential grants and other funding sources. The current list of  priorities are: 

Playground upgrade 

The current playground is reaching end of life and is not well designed for the younger students (the previous dedicated playground for the ELC was removed in 2021 as part of the renovations).  Replacing the playground is a long term project which will require substantial funding, likely several hundred thousand dollars. This is our major fundraising goal; we are currently gathering quotes on the cost of replacing the playground equipment and looking for external grants that could support the upgrade. We are also looking at the potential of moveable  equipment or outdoor seating that can be purchased and used straight away. 

Reducing glare in the senior school classrooms 

The grade 3-6 classrooms (above the hall) have amazing natural light, but also experience significant problems with glare. This makes it very difficult to see the classroom screen unless you are sitting directly in front of the screen. We are looking for solutions like blinds or window film. We want to fix the problem before summer when the sunlight gets even stronger. This will be funded out of existing funds from past community fundraising. 

Interactive whiteboards 

The displays in our classrooms currently are not interactive, meaning the teacher must constantly move to the computer to change the content. Interactive whiteboards allow for much more active learning, with teachers and kids able to write, touch and move digital objects on the board. We have identified a potential charitable funder to support purchase of interactive whiteboards for our classrooms and have submitted an application. Fingers crossed!

Chromebooks

Digital devices are an important part of modern classroom learning. Currently each class has a mix of brands and models which can make access difficult, and classes don’t always have enough functioning devices for one per child. Our plan is to upgrade each classroom in turn with a new set of Chromebooks to ensure we keep up with technology. A classroom set of Chromebooks costs around $18,000 and ideally we would upgrade one class each year on a rolling basis. We are currently looking at funding options to achieve this goal. 

New soccer goals

The current goals are constantly breaking and are not fit for purpose (small and not robust enough). New bigger and stronger goals will cost around $600; some money has already been raised from the casual clothes day last term but there is a way to go. Money raised at the upcoming Spring Market on 4th September will go towards purchase of the new goals, so please bring along family and friends to help us reach our goal! 

Extra good news!

Thanks to the $300 we received from Grill'd Local Matters Jars, our school library has some new books as requested by kids including World Worst Week series, Minecraft books, and Helpful Unicorn series. Thanks to everyone who ate at Grill'd in May and put a token in our jar! 

And more… 

If you have grants or fundraising ideas, or want to join the group meeting to discuss grants, please contact the school by email at windsor.ps@education.vic.gov.au.  Currently the group is meeting every few weeks for an hour during a weekday. Most parent reps join online, but you can also attend in person at the school.

Finally:

Did you know  the school  covers the costs of any unused places at after school care? (The provider contract is for a minimum of 12 kids each day.) So, instead of  a playdate at home, worrying about screentime or if you need some extra help with kids, why not book in for a session? Contact Community OSH (https://www.commosh.edu.au/). After school care includes a healthy snack, outside play and indoor activities. The cost is $37.90 per student session but eligible families can apply for the Child Care Subsidy through Centrelink, which can reduce the out of pocket cost to as little as $5 depending on household income. 

WPS Breakfast Activities Club

A reminder that staff supervision in the morning does not begin until 8:45am. Students arriving before 8:45am without parent supervision are required to be booked into the WPS Breakfast Activities Club, which runs from 7:30am - 8:45am everyday. Students must be pre-booked to attend. The cost is $10.75 per session per child and includes breakfast and activities. 

Bookings can be made via the QR code:



or the following website: https://www.trybooking.com/CNWMT 

After School Care

Our After School provider is Community OSH, which runs from 3:30pm - 6:00pm. To book your child/ren visit www.commosh.edu.au 

School Uniform

Please ensure that your child is dressed in correct school uniform before they leave the house in the morning.
School uniform can be purchased at the office.

School Uniform Order Form

Lunch Orders

Lunch orders are available on Mondays and Fridays.
Please remember all orders must be placed online before 9:00am at beaverstail.com.au 

Lunch Order Menu

 

---

Prep - Year 2

Year 3/4

This term, our Year 3/4 class explored two writing genres. Inspired by The Sugarcane Kids and the Red-Bottomed Boat, students became reporters, writing news articles that captured key events and characters from the text. They practised engaging headlines, clear structure and quotes to bring their stories to life.

They also turned to poetry, using Chocolate City by Harry Laing, as a springboard to craft their own adapted poems. Studying its rhythm, imagery and playful language, students experimented with vivid word choices and figurative language to create their own imagined worlds — building their skills in rhyme, rhythm and descriptive writing along the way.


Chocolate City

Woke up one morning, it was so pretty

Found I was living in Chocolate city

Chocolate water and chocolate cats

Chocolate berries and chocolate bats

Chocolate houses and chocolate flats


Chocolate birds and chocolate doors

Chocolate people giving me looks

Chocolate rain and chocolate sun

Chocolate is so much fun

 
Never, never, never, never

Make me eat chocolate

Never again

---

On Wednesday 12th of August, 27 WPS students represented the school at the District Athletics Carnival at Duncan Mckinnon. It was a great day (with a little rain shower or two) where everyone tried their best in all the different track and field events and cheered each other on. Congratulations to Margot Dowman who has made it to Division with her 1st place effort in 12/13 girls shot put!

---

---

Spring Market Day

Not long to go until our Spring Market.
Please return any registration forms to the office as soon as possible to help with the planning.
Bring your family, invite your friends, and join us for a day of fun, creativity and community spirit.




Gday it’s Jessie from the P&F,

I hope you’re all getting ready for the upcoming spring market and have remembered to hand in your registration forms.

In case you missed it there has been a temporary pause to Dad's soccer while they figure out the best way to supervise everyone.

A reminder of P&F morning teas on Fridays opposing assembly in the staff room at drop-off time, the 21st should be cherry velvet muffins and peanut butter cookies.

There’s still hot chocolate available on Fridays at the food tech room.

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s book week costumes!

Until next time,

Jessie Townsend (mum of Maisie 3/4A)

Hot Chocolate Friday

Come and grab a warm hot chocolate with marshmallows at 3:30pm on Friday's, only $2 at the Food Tech window. Bring your own mug and receive an extra marshmallow!

 

---

PCYC Breakie Club available every Friday until the end of this term - Friday 18 September.

---