Term 1, Week 3 | 2026

Welcome to the 2026 school year! It has been a wonderful start to the year, and it has been a pleasure to see our students settle back into school routines so positively. We are excited about the year ahead and the strategic programs and supports we have in place to continue strengthening learning, wellbeing and inclusion across our school.

I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new families and students whether they are joining our wonderful school as part of our Year 5 OC cohort, Intensive Learning Support Classes or Kindergarten. We are so glad you are here!

New SSO | We warmly welcome Red, who has joined Wyong Public School as a permanent School Support Officer. We also welcome back Mrs Bailey, who will be supporting our Intensive Learning and Support classes. We are thrilled to have both staff members contributing to the important work of supporting our students.

Permanent Appointment | I would like to congratulate Mrs Peterson on her appointment as permanent Assistant Principal – Inclusion and Support. Mrs Peterson has been part of our school since mid-2024 and brings extensive school leadership experience, along with her prior role as a Behaviour Support Teacher with the NSW Department of Education. We are very fortunate to have her expertise supporting our students, staff and families.

Staffing Updates | We look forward to welcoming back Mrs Brewchney in Term 3, when she will be working in a Learning and Support role two days per week. Mrs Buckley will spend Term 1 as Assistant Principal – Engagement (Infants) before taking leave later in the year to start her family, and we wish her all the very best for this exciting time.

Parent Information Handbook | Our new online Parent Information Handbook is now available and is your go-to place for information about school events, class organisation, school policies and much more. The handbook will be updated twice each term (Week 1 and Week 6) to reflect what is happening across the school. We encourage families to access the handbook regularly.

Real Schools Partnership | We are excited to begin a new three-year partnership with Real Schools and Wyong High School. This partnership will support the development of a consistent restorative framework across our school community.

Restorative Practices 2.0 | focuses on building strong relationships, developing social responsibility and supporting students to reflect on their choices, repair harm when things go wrong, and learn positive ways to move forward. This approach benefits students, staff and families by creating a safe, respectful and connected learning environment.

School Costs | A reminder to families that Wyong Public School does not request school fees, and students are not required to supply their own learning materials. We pride ourselves on keeping costs low for families while still providing a rich range of extra-curricular experiences and opportunities.

Lost Property | Our new lost property bench is located under the map of Australia next to the canteen. Please check this area regularly and ensure all items of clothing are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Kindergarten Update | I am incredibly proud of our 47 amazing Kindergarten students. Best Start assessments have now been completed, and I have been so impressed by how ready our Kindergarten students have been for learning. Over the past two years, we have seen a wonderful improvement in student readiness, and this is a credit to our families, early learning settings and staff.

Behaviour Expectations | Wyong Public School will not tolerate threats or abuse from students, parents, carers, staff or community members. If you have a concern, our Parent Handbook outlines the appropriate steps to follow so issues can be addressed respectfully and effectively.

Communication Reminder | Families are reminded that staff may require 2–3 business days to respond to correspondence, including phone calls and emails. Schools are busy places, and staff are often engaged in professional responsibilities before and after school.

Breakfast Club & Wellbeing | Our Breakfast Club is up and running again. Students are welcome to fill their tummies once they arrive at school. We continue to check in with student emotions each day and maintain our “play first, eat second” approach during lunch time to support wellbeing and positive social interactions.

NAPLAN Information | NAPLAN will be taking place soon for students in Years 3 and 5. Families who would like more information about the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) can access the parent and carer brochure (available in a wide range of languages) at https://nap.edu.au/naplan/for-parents-carers

Thank you for your continued support as we begin another exciting year together at Wyong Public School.

Warm regards,

Mitchell Welham | Principal
Wyong Public School

Literacy & Numeracy News

From Mrs Marler and Mrs Bath

Assistant Principals, Curriculum & Instruction

Term 1 | Week 3

We are pleased to introduce our Assistant Principals Curriculum and Instruction (APCI) for 2026, Hannah Marler and Jenny Bath. The APCI role is focused on supporting high-quality teaching and learning across the school, working closely with teachers and students to strengthen learning outcomes.

What is the APCI role?
The Assistant Principal Curriculum and Instruction role focuses on improving teaching practice to support student learning. APCIs work alongside teachers to strengthen classroom instruction using evidence-based strategies.

What will the APCIs be working on this year?
Throughout the year, the APCI focus will include:

  • Strengthening literacy and numeracy teaching
  • Supporting consistent, high-quality classroom practice
  • Using student data to inform teaching and targeted support
  • Working with students in classrooms and small group settings
  • Strengthening teachers’ understanding of new NSW Curriculum across the key learning areas:  PDHPE, Creative Arts, Human Society in Its Environment and Science and Technology.

Will the APCIs teach my child’s class?
APCIs are not classroom teachers however, they frequently visit classrooms and co-teach with   classroom teachers. This year Mrs. Bath is excited to visit K-2 and Intensive Learning Classes K6M and K6B, while Mrs. Marler is eager to work with teachers and students in 3-6 classrooms, including K6P.

How do the APCIs support our Wyong PS community?

Each edition of the Newsletter includes a Literacy and Numeracy News section. There you’ll find the latest updates and highlights from our APCIs about the exciting learning that’s happening right across our school. Keep an eye out for ways that you can get involved and support your child’s learning at home.

TERM 1 WEEK 3 LITERACY AND NUMERACY highlights:

  • ES1 – Best Start Kindergarten Assessments took place in the first weeks of school for our Kindergarten students. Our ES1 teachers are so excited to plan teaching and learning activities that build on the knowledge and skills that our Kindy students started school with. We just can’t wait to watch their progress as they learn each day at school!
  • Spelling Assessments - Classes are currently completing the Components of Spelling Test in all classrooms from Year 1 to Year 6. This test provides important information about our students’ strengths and areas to develop further in spelling. This is our second year of putting this evidence-based spelling initiative into action and we just can’t wait to celebrate the successes as we track student growth!

OC Newsletter

iCentre Newsletter

We’re excited to announce that our school has partnered with Real Schools for a three-year journey to enhance the great work already happening in your community by focusing on building a restorative school culture. This partnership will involve professional learning and classroom support for staff, as well as parent sessions and regular updates through articles and videos to keep you informed and involved. Using the RP2.0 framework developed by Adam Voigt, we aim to strengthen relationships among staff, students, and parents, support your child’s social-emotional growth and learning, and help them take responsibility for their actions to become caring, responsible citizens. We look forward to working together with you throughout this exciting process.

Before & After School Care

We operate Wesley Out of School Hours Care (Wesley OOSH) at Wyong and are committed to providing high-quality care for children.

Wesley Parent Portal

Wesley Parent Handbook

OOSH News (with Wesley Mission)
Schools as Community Centre (SaCC) Information

Central Coast Schools as Community Centres

Wyong SaCC Programs & Registration

Central Coast Schools as Community Centres are dedicated to the continued support of our families.

Follow our Facebook page for updates and interactive sessions ​for you & your little ones.

www.facebook.com/CCSaCCs​

SaCC Timetable
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SACC Programs
SACC Programs
Picture Book here
Picture Book here
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The impact of missing school

Information on School Refusal

How do I check my child/ren's attendance?

Parents can check their child’s attendance in the Sentral Parent Portal app by following these steps:

1. Log in

  • Open the Sentral for Parents app on your phone or tablet.
  • Sign in with your registered email and password. (If you haven’t registered yet, you’ll need to use the access key provided by your child’s school to set up your account.)

2. Select the Student

  • From the home screen, choose your child’s profile.
  • If you have multiple children linked, you can switch between them.

3. Access Attendance

  • Look for the Attendance or Daily Attendance option in the menu.
  • Tap on it to view your child’s records.

4. Review Records

  • You’ll see a breakdown of absences, lateness, partial absences, and full-day attendance.
  • Many schools colour-code the entries (e.g., green for present, yellow for late, red for absent).
  • Some schools also allow you to submit explanations for absences directly in the app.

5. Notifications

  • If your school has enabled push notifications, you may also get alerts when your child is marked absent or late.
  • You can usually send an absence note via the app straight to the school.
How do I notify the school of an absence?

1. Open the App & Log In

  • Open the Sentral for Parents app.
  • Sign in with your registered details.

2. Go to the Absence Section

  • From the home screen, select your child’s profile.
  • Look for Absences, Attendance, or sometimes Notifications (the exact wording depends on your school’s setup).

3. View Unexplained Absences

  • You’ll see a list of absences marked as “Unexplained”.
  • Tap on the absence you want to explain.

4. Add Explanation

  • Enter the reason for your child’s absence (e.g., “illness”, “family reasons”).
  • You may also need to select whether it was a full day or partial absence.
  • Some schools allow attachments (e.g., medical certificates).

5. Submit

  • Tap Submit (or Send) to forward the explanation to the school.
  • The absence will then change from Unexplained to Explained once processed.

Extra Notes

  • If you can’t see the option to submit explanations, your school may only accept absence notes through phone/email.
  • You can usually also lodge future absences (e.g., family holiday) if the school has allowed this in Sentral.
How do I apply for approved leave?

1. Collect the Leave Form

  • Parents/carers need to request a leave application form from the front office.
  • This is often called an Application for Extended Leave – Travel/Exemption form.

2. Provide Supporting Information

  • The form must be accompanied by relevant details, such as:

    • Travel itinerary (if going overseas/interstate).
    • Reason for leave (e.g., family event, cultural reasons).
    • Dates the student will be absent.
  • Supporting documents (e.g., flight details, invitation letters) should be attached.

3. Submit to School

  • Return the completed form and attachments to the school office before the leave begins.
  • The school staff will record the application and pass it on to the Principal.

4. Principal’s Approval

  • The Principal must review and sign the leave application.
  • Only the Principal (not classroom teachers or admin staff) can authorise student leave.

5. Notification

  • Once approved, the office will notify parents/carers.
  • The leave is then entered into Sentral as an “Explained Leave” with the Principal’s authorisation.

Key Point:
Short absences (1–2 days) can usually be explained directly through the Sentral Parent App.

Extended leave (5+ days, especially for travel) requires the formal leave application process outlined above.

What is the Got It! Program
Meet the Team

Mental Health Kids Hub (Tuggerah, Central Coast)

The right support early makes the biggest difference.

Find the care your child needs to help them be the best they can be.

What We Offer

  • Access support for children (0-12 years) without the need for a diagnosis or referral.
  • Timely advice and support that best suit your family’s needs.
  • A friendly, safe place for everyone.

How We Help

  • Provide a timely initial triage process that facilitates access and referral to services
  • We build a therapeutic partnership with the whole family unit to ensure that both children and their families are supported during their engagement with the Kids Hub
  • Provide family support and education when other services are not available
  • Provide current or up to date evidence-based treatment and therapies over the short term when other services are not available
  • Care navigation and supported transition to connect your child to the right services during their time with or after their discharge from the Kids Hub
  • Our team consists of several specialist services including mental health, allied health, care navigation, peer work and Aboriginal health

Do I need to come in for appointments? After an initial assessment at the Kids Hub, the team can meet with you at a location that suits you. This includes your school, home or in the community.

Who Can Refer? The Central Coast Kids Hub is a self referral service. You can self refer via phone or by walking into our friendly hub at Tuggerah.

Eligibility | Any child aged 12 or under who is experiencing

mild-moderate mental health or behavioural health challenges can be referred to the Hub.

Exclusion criteria:

  • Child is already engaged with an alternate provider
  • Child has access to a package of care that addresses the presenting concern (including NDIS)
  • Childs needs are not mild-moderate in nature
  • Child is not a resident of the Central Coast

Important Contacts for Families

Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511
Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800
Parent Line – 1300 130 052
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Emergency Accommodation – 1800 152 152
Police (non Emergency) – 13 14 44
Child Protection Helpline – 13 21 11
Domestic Violence Helpline – 1800 656 463
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support – 13 YARN
Family Relationships Advice Line – 1800 050 321
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) Helpline – 1300 726 306

Where there is immediate risk of harm to self or others, call 000 or present to the Emergency Department.

Behaviour Support & Management Plan

Learn about our approach to supporting positive behaviour at Wyong Public School.

School Information Handbook

Find key details about our school, policies, and procedures.

Previous Newsletters

Catch up on past school news and updates.