Our School

Mission Statement (Our Purpose)
Weeden Heights Primary School empowers and supports students to achieve personal excellence and to become life long learners and global citizens who make a positive difference.

Vision Statement
Weeden Heights Primary School is a dynamic child centred, learning community committed to providing exemplary programs in a challenging, vibrant and safe environment.

Values
At Weeden Heights Primary School we value:

• Respect
• Personal Excellence
• Curiosity and Creativity
• Collaboration

For our school community this means that:

• Each student will be supported and encouraged to reach their full potential through a stimulating and challenging curriculum
• Everyone will be treated with respect
• Students are equipped to embrace their future with optimism, confidence and an ability to make informed choices
• There is a strong commitment to develop the social competencies, self esteem, resilience, leadership and life skills of every student
• Creative subject options are provided for all students from prep to year six through the specialist areas programs (Performing Arts, Visual Arts, STEAM, Physical Education and Language. The Kitchen/Garden program is offered from year 3).

Teaching and Learning Statement
At Weeden Heights we:

• Have high expectations for all learners
• Differentiate the curriculum to meet the needs individuals
• Care about students and understand the importance of student wellbeing
• Believe that all students can and will learn and grow in confidence and self-esteem as a result of becoming motivated, self-extending, independent, life-long learners
• Ensure students achieve mastery of the curriculum
• Develop higher order critical thinking skills through inquiry learning, and problem solving
• Work together effectively as part of a team.
• Provide skill development and learning opportunities within the framework of the Victorian Curriculum in the areas of: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Technology, Health, Physical and Social Education, Languages, The Arts and Information and Communications Technology. 

We are most fortunate that Weeden Heights Primary School enjoys extremely strong community support. Parental involvement in students’ education as well as in the maintenance of school facilities is a particular feature of the school. An active and supportive School Council works cohesively to help the school deliver quality learning opportunities for all students.

Principal
Kylie Campbell

Grade 5/6S
David Saville

Grade 5/6A
Aarti Arya

Grade 3/4C
Sarah Crookes

Grade 3/4L
Anne Lee

Grade 2W
Samantha Walls

Prep/1
Melinda Michalski

Visual Arts
Kate Phillips

Performing Arts
Kate Phillips

SAKG Kitchen & Garden
Solange Nancarrow

Physical Education
Kiera Knight

STEAM
Solange Nancarrow

Languages (French)
Delphine Todd

Extension & Enrichment/Tutoring
Keira Knight

Wellbeing
Solange Nancarrow supported by Marika Smith

It is a school council expectation that all students wear the approved school uniform as ratified by Weeden Heights Primary School Council and contained in the school’s Uniform Policy.

School-wide Expectations

• Hair to be tied back if below the shoulder
• No jewellery except for stud/sleeper earrings and a watch
• Year 6 students have their own signature school t-shirt and rugby jumper which is   selected each year by the Year 6 students and staff and approved by the Principal

What Are School Policies For?
A policy is an inclusive expression of desired outcome, rather than the old ‘school rules’ structure which only targeted pupils. At Weeden Heights PS, we create policies that apply to the entire school community in order to manage, inform and ensure a better environment for everyone involved.

How Are School Policies Made?
The Weeden Heights Education Sub-Committee (comprising of teachers and parents) compose all of the schools’ policies and review any existing ones on a cyclic basis (3 year rotation) or as required. The Sub Committee then consults with the staff and they provide feedback. The next step in the process is to consult with the school community.

The parents are notified through the school newsletter of current policies being reviewed and directed to this section of the website. As part of this process we also post new policies on this site for students, parents and community members to assess. You can click on the links at the bottom of this page to review when there are policies up for consideration. Please email any comments to the school at: weeden.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au

The Sub-Committee then reviews feedback and makes the necessary changes. The policies are then submitted to the School Council for recommendation and ratification.

In 2013, the Victorian Parliament held an inquiry into the ‘Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations’, resulting in the Betrayal of Trust Report. As a result, the Victorian Government has implemented the Child Safe Standards for organisations that work with children, including schools.

Children and students have the right to be safe and protected at all times, including at school. It is important that you feel confident that your child is safe and well in the care of their school.

Weeden Heights PS is committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where students are safe and feel safe.

Our Child Safety and Wellbeing policies, available in the policy section of the website, outline the measures and strategies we have in place to support, promote and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students:

• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy
• Child Safety Code of Conduct
• Child Safe Standards Risk Register
• Child safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedure Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy
• Bullying Prevention Policy
• Volunteers Policy
• Digital Learning Policy

As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at Weeden Heights Primary School we welcome and encourage your feedback.

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions, please contact the Principal at weeden.heights.ps@education.vic.gov.au

Primary School Privacy Information for parents and carers

During the ordinary course of your child’s attendance at our school, school staff will collect your child’s personal and health information when necessary to educate your child, or to support your child’s social and emotional wellbeing or health in the school context. Such information will also be collected when required to fulfil a legal obligation, including duty of care, anti-discrimination law and occupational health and safety law. If that information is not collected, the school may be unable to provide optimal education or support to your child, or fulfil those legal obligations.

For example, health information may be collected through the school nurse, primary welfare officer or wellbeing staff member. If your child is referred to a specific health service at school, such as a Student Support Services officer, the required consent will be obtained. Our school also collects information provided by parents and carers through the School Entrance Health Questionnaire (SEHQ) and the Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS) Transition Form.

Our school may use online tools, such as apps and other software, to effectively collect and manage information about your child for teaching and learning purposes, parent communication and engagement; student administration; and school management purposes. When our school uses these online tools, we take steps to ensure that your child’s information is secure. If you have any concerns about the use of these online tools, please contact us.
School staff will only share your child’s personal or health information with other staff who need to know to enable the school to educate or support your child, or fulfil a legal obligation.

When our students transfer to another Victorian government school, personal and health information about that student will be transferred to that next school. Transferring this information is in the best interests of our students and assists that next school to provide optimal education and support to students.

In some limited circumstances, information may be disclosed outside of the school (and outside of the Department of Education). The school will seek your consent for such disclosures unless the disclosure is allowed or mandated by law.

Our school values the privacy of every person. When collecting and managing personal and health information, all school staff must comply with Victorian privacy law. For more information about privacy including about how to access personal and health information held by the school about you or your child, see our school’s privacy policy:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Pages/schoolsprivacypolicy.aspx

Throughout this notice, ‘staff’ includes principals, teachers, Student Support Service officers, youth workers, social workers, nurses and any other allied health practitioners and all other staff at our school. This includes employees, agents and service providers (contractors) of the Department, whether paid or unpaid.