Keeping Our Students Safe

I’m sure you were as surprised and concerned as I was to hear about the incident that occurred last Friday afternoon at a nearby school. According to reports, a stranger managed to enter through a school gate and attempted to coerce a student towards their vehicle. Thankfully, the child sought help from others, but it was undoubtedly a distressing incident in a school setting.

At Warrigal Road State School, we take student safety seriously. Most of our gates are locked from 9:15am and reopened at 2:45pm. More recently, we have moved to closing all school gates from 9:15am. The hall gates remain closed but are not locked during the school day. This allows parents and other authorised visitors to access the school grounds via the hall gates between 9:15am and 2:45pm by opening and then securely closing the gate behind them.

On Monday morning, I spoke to our Prep to Year 2 students at assembly about the importance of stranger safety. I encourage you to continue these conversations at home and to reinforce your expectations around school pick-up and drop-off routines.

I also spoke more generally about safety at school. I’m sure you’ve seen members of our leadership team regularly visible around the school grounds. You may also notice us checking our phones from time to time. This is because we have an effective internal communication system that instantly alerts all members of the leadership team to any concerning situation. Our staff are also vigilant and quick to notify the office if they observe anything out of the ordinary. We pride ourselves on being proactive and responsive.

At 3pm we also have staff at every main pickup area (Warrigal Road, The Hall, Daw Road and Demigre Street) the staff remain at the gates until 3:30pm. At 3:30pm all uncollected students are to report to the school office so we can contact parents.

I want to reassure you that we have strong systems in place to respond to any issue that may arise. Please know that we are deeply aware that you entrust us with your most precious gift each day—your child—and we are committed to upholding that trust through our continued focus on safety and care.

Laying the Foundations for Literacy Success at Warrigal Road SS

At Warrigal Road State School, we are proud to be leading the way in evidence-based literacy instruction. Our commitment to the Science of Reading and the updated Version 9 (V9) of the Australian Curriculum: English ensures that every student builds strong foundations in reading, phonics, and spelling—key building blocks for future success.

As part of this journey, we have invested in every teacher by providing professional development in Sounds-Write, an evidence-based phonics program supported by SPELD. This high-impact training equips our teachers with the knowledge and tools to explicitly teach the relationships between sounds and letters, an essential step in learning to read and write fluently.

Currently, our teachers are showcasing the impact of this work in their classrooms, and the results are impressive. Students are more confident, engaged, and capable in their reading and spelling. Members of the leadership team are actively observing lessons to witness firsthand the excellence in teaching and student progress across the school.

We believe that these core literacy skills are major building blocks for excelling in English, and we're excited to see the growth our students are making each day.

Our School Supervisor Mr Hugh Goodfellow has heard of our work in this area and joined us on our walkthroughs on Tuesday. We strive to ensure every student at Warrigal Road SS has the skills and confidence to thrive. 
#excellingWRSS

Prep 2026 Enrolments Now Open!

Do you have a child starting Prep in 2026? Or know a family who does? Now is the time to submit your enrolment application for in catchment/sibling families or register for one of our upcoming Open Days at Warrigal Road State School.

Starting school is a big milestone, and we’re here to make that journey as smooth and exciting as possible. Our Open Days provide a great opportunity for families to:

• Explore our classrooms and learning spaces

• Meet our friendly Prep teachers and leadership team

• Learn more about our programs and what to expect in Prep

• Ask questions and get to know our school community

Open Day Dates and booking information are available on our school website.

To be eligible for Prep in 2026, children must be born between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021.

We encourage all families to enrol early to assist with planning and ensure a smooth transition for your child.

We can’t wait to welcome the next generation of learners to Warrigal Road SS!
#StartingStrongWRSS