It is always a pleasure to see these conversations taking place as it supports the connection between school and home. Progress reports provide information but during the conferences there is more information shared by teachers about student success and areas where students can work on to develop further. It is an opportunity for parents to share about home and to ask questions. I always remind parents about the importance of students continuing to read at home.

The Parent Survey is open. I strongly encourage parents to take 10 minutes to complete this. You will have received log in information in a school email. It is very helpful for us to have parent feedback so that we can see the areas that you think we are progressing well in and gives the opportunity for you to suggest areas where we need further growth.

There are some policy changes that we will put in place next year. One of these is the Digital Technology policy which requires one hour a day of non-digital time in secondary schools. We already easily have one hour of digital tech free time within our classrooms, meeting the policy requirements without making any adjustments.

The other is a change in the reporting format for end of semester reports. The Department of Education is setting up consistent reporting across schools. We will share more information about this next year.

Thank you to parents for your consideration of road safety outside the school. The Council has started work on the Sports Reserve next door to our school on Rivella Drive. This should be completed by September next year and will provide parking for drop off of students. We will put a gate in our fence so students can enter from the Sports Reserve. At the moment, the footpath on the school side of the road is blocked by a temporary fence which cannot be moved due to the building work. We have an increase in truck traffic due to the increase in the number of homes being built. Students are crossing to the other side of the road to travel down Rivella Drive. Thank you to parents for your careful driving and your help when students cross at the corner of Rivella Drive and Soldiers Road/Pinto Drive.

I want to thank all of our staff for their dedicated work so far this year. It is a different experience working in a new school, requiring a considered focus on academic curriculum and assessment documentation and implementation. Teachers enjoy this work as it is creative, however it does take time. I do greatly appreciate their collaborative work to create high quality Victorian Curriculum units and lessons. Next year we have Art and Technology electives in Year 9 and in the following year, we will have a broader choice of electives, preparing for VCE, including the Vocational Major.

Thank you to our Education Support staff as they work tirelessly to support students, parents and teachers. They are a vital part of the operations of the school. We could not run the school without them.

Enjoy the next two weeks and I wish all in our community a restful holiday break.

It is hard to believe that we are already in Week 8 of Term 3! The term has certainly gone by quickly, and our students are now in the midst of completing a range of assessments in preparation for the end of the term. Assessment is an important part of learning as it provides students with an opportunity to reflect on their progress, celebrate the areas where they are excelling and identify any gaps where they may need further support. We encourage all students to approach their assessments with a positive mindset and use the feedback they receive to continue growing as learners. 

On 17 August, Wulerrp Secondary College had the honour of attending Echoes of Country – Footsteps to Respect at Bunjil Place. Our Koorie students, along with some of our College Captains, joined students from other schools across the network to celebrate and learn more about First Nations peoples, cultures and histories. Students participated in a variety of activities throughout the day and had the opportunity to connect and socialise with students from other schools. It was wonderful to see our students engaging respectfully and enthusiastically throughout the experience. A special thank you to Jen O’Leary, who volunteered her time to accompany our students for the entire day. We greatly appreciate her support, and it was clear that the experience was a meaningful and worthwhile one for all involved.   

Year 7 Camp 

The Year 7 team is also busy preparing for the upcoming Year 7 three-day camp, which will take place from 26 October. 

A huge thank you to Mr Louis Nay Naung Oo and Mr Braydon Hillman for all the work they have been doing behind the scenes to organise the camp and ensure everything is coming together. We would also like to acknowledge our administration staff for their ongoing support with the organisation and preparation. 

For students attending camp, please continue to keep an eye on Compass and your emails for important information, updates and reminders as we get closer to the date. 

We would also like to extend a very big thank you in advance to all the staff who have volunteered to attend camp. School camps require a significant commitment from staff and the experience simply could not happen without their willingness to give their time to supervise and support our students. We are incredibly grateful for their contribution. 

Looking Ahead – Year 8 Electives and Year 9 

Our Year 8 students are beginning to look ahead to an exciting next step in their secondary schooling as they prepare to select their Year 9 electives for 2027. 

Over the coming weeks, students will receive information about the range of subjects and elective opportunities available to them next year. Choosing electives is an exciting opportunity for students to explore areas of interest, develop new skills and begin thinking about the subjects they may enjoy as they progress through secondary school. 

We will be holding an Electives Assembly where students will receive further information about the subjects on offer, what each elective involves and the process for making their selections. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and consider which subjects best align with their interests, strengths and future aspirations. 

Harveen Khera

August Sports Report

Our students have continued to produce some outstanding performances in sport, with the school building a strong reputation across a range of net sports. Table Tennis, Badminton and other net-based sports continue to be a particular strength, with our students demonstrating skill, competitiveness and a strong desire to represent the school.

The Year 7 Boys and Girls Table Tennis teams both produced fantastic performances at the Division Championships, finishing as Division Champions and earning the opportunity to compete at the Regional Championships. This success was matched by our Year 8 Boys and Girls Table Tennis teams, who also claimed Division Championships and will now progress to the Regional level. Having all four Table Tennis teams advance is an incredible achievement and highlights the depth of talent we have across the school.

We also celebrated a significant milestone in our school's sporting history, with the Year 7 Boys Badminton team qualifying for the State Finals. This team will become Wulerrp Secondary College's first-ever team to compete at a State level. This is a fantastic achievement for the students involved and an exciting moment for our developing sporting program.

Alongside our competitive opportunities, our Year 8 students also participated in a Wheelchair Basketball incursion, providing them with an opportunity to experience basketball from a different perspective and develop their understanding of inclusion and accessibility in sport. Students were challenged to adapt their skills and strategies while gaining a greater appreciation for the experiences of athletes with disabilities.




  



Year 7 Table Tennis

Congratulations to our Year 7 students who proudly represented Wulurrp Secondary College in the recent Table Tennis competition!

A huge congratulations to both teams for making it through to the next round!  Both teams showed fantastic sportsmanship throughout the day, competing with respect and supporting one another.

There were some incredibly close matches, with our students demonstrating great composure, determination and resilience under pressure. They continued to encourage each other and represent Wulurrp with pride.

Well done to all of our Year 7 students involved — we are so proud of your efforts and wish both teams the very best for the next round!


  



                                                                               
Brodie McConnell
Health and PE Teacher/Sports Coordinator                                        Emily Sloothaak
Health and PE Teacher

Science Week was an exciting celebration of curiosity, creativity and discovery. Throughout the week, students participated in a range of hands-on experiments that allowed them to explore scientific concepts.

Students investigated different chemical reactions through the explosive Coke and Mentos experiment and an impressive elephant’s toothpaste demonstration. These activities encouraged students to observe changes closely and think about what causes reactions to occur.

Students also discovered how everyday materials can be transformed by making plastic from milk and creating their own slime. In the colourful magic milk experiment, students used markers, milk and dishwashing detergent to create beautiful swirling patterns while exploring how detergent interacts with the fat in milk.

Science Week provided students with opportunities to ask questions, make predictions and learn through experimentation. It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm as students worked together, shared their observations and discovered that science can be found in many of the everyday materials around us.


  
Claudia Jozwiak
Science Teacher/Leader

Lost and overdue books

We currently have 117 lost books and 138 overdue books. Please look around at home for these items and remind your students to return these library resources back to the library.

Libraries are an important resource that provides for the entire school community. When items are not returned, we are limiting opportunities for others.

Due to all these lost and overdue items, we have 65 reservations waiting in the queue. Please return these items so that more students can read the books.

Wheelers ePlatform is Now Available on Kindle Fire

The ePlatform Digital Libraries app is now available to download from the Amazon Appstore, giving Kindle Fire users direct access to their library’s eBooks and audiobooks through the app.

Students can sign in through their school or library as usual, then browse, borrow, read and listen using the familiar ePlatform experience—without needing to open ePlatform in a web browser.

We have some brilliant borrowing numbers so far this year. Well done to the readers! Please continue to model reading at home, join the local public library and support your students reading. It doesn't matter what they read as all reading counts, so just keep scheduling time to read at home and encouraging students to pick up a book.

Book Week

In the library this week, we have celebrated Book Week and Australian School Library Day. Students have added their favourite book to the bookshelf and have been practicing some mindful colouring. Best Borrower library bags were handed out to the top 20 borrowers. Congratulations to those students for being such brilliant supporters of their school library!

    






Sarah Barrett
Library Manager

Wear It Purple Day

On Friday, 28 August, Wulerrp Secondary College recognised Wear It Purple Day, a day that promotes a school community where every young person feels safe, supported, respected and valued.

Wear It Purple Day began in Australia in 2010 in response to concerns about the bullying and mental health challenges experienced by LGBTQIA+ young people. Today, it provides an opportunity for schools and communities to come together and reinforce an important message: everyone deserves to feel that they belong.

At Wulerrp, our focus is on creating a positive environment where students can be themselves, treat others with respect and know that there are trusted adults available to support them when they need it.

Students were encouraged to show their support by adding a touch of purple to their school uniform, whether that was purple socks, shoelaces, ribbons, hair accessories or another small purple item. Students could also choose to take part in a range of optional lunchtime activities such as purple nail polish, glitter and face paint.

The day was a great opportunity to have conversations about kindness, respect, acceptance and looking out for one another. These values are important not just on Wear It Purple Day, but throughout the whole school year.

Thank you to our students and staff who helped make the day a positive celebration of belonging and inclusion at Wulerrp.

Wellbeing Focus: The Power of Belonging

Following on from our Wear It Purple Day celebrations, our wellbeing focus this month is belonging.

Feeling like we belong is an important part of wellbeing. For young people, having positive connections with friends, classmates, teachers and other trusted adults can make a big difference to how they feel about themselves and their experience at school.

Belonging doesn't necessarily mean having a large group of friends or fitting in with everyone. Sometimes it can be as simple as having one person who notices you, listens to you or makes you feel welcome.

This month, we encourage our students to think about the small things they can do to help others feel included:

• Say hello to someone you don't usually talk to.
• Invite someone to join your group or activity.
• Notice when someone is sitting alone and check in with them.
• Be yourself and allow others to be themselves.
• Choose kindness, even when it isn't always the easiest option.

A simple smile, a conversation or an invitation to join in can make a bigger difference than we realise.

Remember, creating a sense of belonging is something we can all contribute to and it starts with the small things we do every day.

Our next event will be R U Ok day on Thursday 10^th September stay tuned to hear about the exciting activities we have planned.

Shannon Pook
Wellbeing Leader

From the Victorian Parents Council

Coming Up: #VPCLive "All About AI" Series
We warmly welcome our next presenter, Matt Esterman, who will be our guest for a five-part #VPCLive Webinar Series, "All About AI".
The series explores how AI is influencing students, schools, learning and wellbeing, and how families and communities can continue to help young people navigate this complex world.
This is a series for everyone — whether you have not yet seen what AI can do, you are a seasoned user of the technology, or you are somewhere in between. No specialist knowledge is needed. We look forward to helping you build your awareness and understanding of what AI is and how we can respond to its effects.  Watch the short introduction video.


All About AI Series 2026 - Matthew Esterman
Remember to sign up for our final event this term.

Term 3, 2026
#VPCLive Event - Ep90 The State of AI: What Every Family Should Know Right Now
  Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 19:30PM


Term 4, 2026
#VPCLive Event - Ep91 Real or Fake? Deepfakes and what is real in the age of AI?
  Thursday 15 October 2026, at 19:30PM


#VPCLive Event Ep92 - Therapy, Companionship and AI: The Conversation Every Family Needs
  Thursday 29 October 2026, at 19:30PM

#VPCLive Event Ep93 - Protecting Your Privacy and Identity in the Age of AI
  Wednesday 4 November 2026, at 19:30PM

#VPCLive Event Ep95 - AI Masterclass: Learn to Use It Yourself
  Thursday 12 November 2026, at 19:30PM