Hello Everyone,

Finally we seem to be having the type of weather which allows the students to go outside at snack and lunchtimes - no one likes to be inside all day!

As the school year races to a close, please keep up to date with the changes to our normal timetable which are a consequence of our 9 day intensive swimming program beginning on Tues 6th December.

Thank you!

Thank you to Laura Adamson who donated a new mattress to our first aid room after spending some time tidying it up and being somewhat surprised at the state of the one we had.

Thank you also to Ben Beard and Patrick, Micheal Hunt, Brad Cahill, Richard Looker and Elise, Dan Hanson and Max and Ella  and Adam Walker and Ethan and Jack who made a coordinated attack on the mulch donated by Paul Summerbell and turned this;

Into this:

Our Students

Swimming

A message from our PE Teacher, Nic Lindsay;

I have been getting a few emails about the swimming program so this is an email to clarify details for all parents

Dates: 6th to the 16th of December (Year 6 not attending on the 7th and 13th. This will be reflected in the cost for your program)

Time: The time below are the time that these year levels will be in the pool swimming

9:20am               Foundation

10:05-10:50am   Years 3 & 5

10:50-11:35am   Years 1 & 2

11:30-12:20pm   Years 4 & 6

If you are walking  with your child's class (or catching a bus for the Year 1 and Foundation students) you will need to arrive at school 20 min prior to the start of the swimming lessons. 

Cost: TBC (As soon as this is confirmed an event will be put on compass to allow for payment)

Spectators: Spectators are allowed to come and watch their children complete there lesson

Walking Helpers: If you are able to walk with your children's class to swimming please keep an eye on your email as your children's teacher will be in contact asking for helpers soon.

Hopefully this clears up any questions people might have and please let me know if you have any other questions.

Nicholas Lindsay

Assembly

Due to swimming beginning on Tues 6th of December, we need to make some changes to Assembly times: 

Wk 8      Friday 25.11

              9.15 - 9.35       F- Yr 3 Assembly 
              2.35 - 3.00       Yr 4-6 Assembly

Student of the week 

Wk 9     Friday 2.12  

              9.15am      Whole school Assembly

Wk 10   Friday 9.12 

             2.35pm       Whole School Assembly

Wk 11   Friday 16. 12

             No Assembly

Wk 12   Mon 19.12 

             2.35pm       Final Whole School Assembly - No Students of the Week

Running Club - 8am every Thursday morning

Running Club began this week and was a raging success. Thank you to Ben Bear, James McGinnes and Rachel Crilly who possess unrivalled training and running abilities and made it all happen. 

Session Outline

• 8am arrival @ top oval
• Group warm up /activities
• Course running - along school boundary, 3 groups including adult supervision
• Group warm down

Running Club is open to students of all ages and abilities. 

Any students that arrive late are to wait at the top oval for collection.

Final session for the year on Thursday, 15th December.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

Please note program changes due to the commencement of the swimming program:

Year 3

- Tuesday the 22nd of November final practical Kitchen session for the year 

- Tuesday the 29th of November will be the final Kitchen session for the year. It will be a theory lesson 

Year 4

- Monday the 28th of November will be a theory lesson

- Monday the 5th of December will be the final Kitchen session for the year and it will be a practical lesson

Carols

Yes! Weather dependent, we will have carols this year. Each year level will perform a Christmas Carol and you are invited to join us, out in the open on the grass outside the gym.

Wed 14.12 5.30 - 6.30pm

STATE HOOP TIME FINALS

On Tuesday 22nd of November, the Year Five and Six All-Star Girls team competed in the state basketball finals at Dandenong Stadium with many other schools. Our first game was at 9:50am and we played against Malvern Primary. We played pretty well but we lost. Then we had a break and chatted with the teacher about the game and what we could improve on.

We ended up coming 5th and playing 5 basketball games and ended up winning only one. After all the games were done, all the teams had a big parade and then met Rebecca Cole (Australian professional basketballer) and we got to ask some questions. And for participating we got a free T-shirt and basketball!

There were 375 schools overall that entered girls' teams in this competition and we were one of the final 20 girls' teams in the state. We had some great supporters, including all of our parents, and Matt who helped do the subs. At the very end, we got a team photo and individual photos were taken.

Hoop Time was a great experience!

By Tiana Beatie and Tillie Van West

Our Staff

Continuing getting to know our staff at WPPS, we introduce our Kitchen Specialist: Carolina Trantino:

Hi Wattle Park Community,

I have been at Wattle Park since January 2017 employed as the Kitchen specialist for the SAKG program. After many years of working in the corporate industry I decided to pursue and work in an industry I felt passionate and daydreamed of. The day after leaving my corporate job I rang the Stephanie Alexander Foundation and offered to come in three days a week on a volunteer basis. I was offered a role two weeks later as an educator and program facilitator training Kitchen Specialists nationally. The ‘heart and soul’ of this program are the children which makes my role at Wattle Park so rewarding.  I love seeing the transformation in these students in so many areas of their development after completing the two-year program.

I love that I can share and pass on my knowledge of growing food, to prepare it and cook healthy food, to share the values of ethics and sustainability in the hope that it has planted a seed for their future years. Parents believe me when I say that these kids love to help, wash up and are amazing with their knife skills. They also love trying new food!

This program relies on the assistance of volunteers and throughout the years I have really valued the kindness, care, gratitude, support, and friendship from the volunteers. This has made me feel like I belong to a community and as the saying goes; ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, this is the community spirit I have felt with your support in teaching your child.  So thank you to all the volunteers who have been there giving up their time to be part of this great program.

Most weekends I head out to my 2-acre farm and hobby vineyard that grows Sangiovese grapes which were planted by parents and adult children as a family heirloom along with heirloom fig and olive trees and of course a vegetable and native garden. This keeps me connected to what I feel most passionate about with having the knowledge to grow my own organic food and the impressionable years of my childhood that I was taught these skills by my parents and grandparents. 

In my spare time I play the piano, percussion, and love going to hear live bands and concerts, theatre, live shows, galleries and movies. I also barrack for Carlton and attend every game and never lose hope that we will win another flag in my lifetime.

I am looking forward to meeting new members of the community in the kitchen next year and welcoming back the seasoned ones from previous years.

Bon Appetit!

Carolina Trantino

Notices

Chicken Pox

A case of Chicken Pox has been reported in Year 5

Just for your information and to be aware that there is a case of confirmed Chicken Pox, also known as Varicella, at our school. Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection. It causes well defined small red spots which blister and can be both incredibly itchy and uncomfortable.

The symptoms of chickenpox can include:

low-grade fever, general discomfort, illness or lack of wellbeing (malaise), intensely itchy skin rash – appears as small blisters surrounded by irregularly-shaped patches of inflamed skin. The blisters first form on the body and later on the head and limbs. Ulcers may develop in certain areas

 For chickenpox, the time from infection to the appearance of the rash (incubation period) is around 14 to 16 days. A few days before the appearance of the rash, the person may feel feverish and have a sore throat and headache. The skin may be marked for some months after the rash has cleared.

Any student with a case of Chicken Pox is to remain at home until all the blisters have dried up, possibly 5 days after the eruption.

See your doctor if you suspect you or your child has Chicken Pox.

COVID 19 

If you require RATs please make a request to the school office. HERE is information from the Victorian Government about ‘Managing illness in schools and ECEC - information for parents and carers’ . HERE is information regarding facemasks.

A summary below:

The Victorian Government has announced the end of the Pandemic Declaration and associated Pandemic Orders. The following settings, based on advice from the Department of Health, will apply from 11.59pm Wednesday 12 October 2022.

It is strongly recommended that students:

• who test positive to COVID-19 stay home and isolate for 5 days

• should not attend school after 5 days if still symptomatic

• who are symptomatic but have not tested positive should not attend school

• advise the school of the COVID-19 positive test result

• students who wish to wear a face mask should be supported to do so, and schools should continue to make face masks available for staff, students and visitors.

Where students become symptomatic at school they should:

• be collected by their parents/carers

• undergo testing for COVID-19

• Parents and carers will therefore be asked to continue to report positive student COVID-19 cases using the VicED COVID Tool.

Hats on from September!

This term all students must wear a WPPS school uniform hat when outside. This is part of our Sunsmart Policy to protect our students against UV radiation and the ravages of cancer - ugh! More information can be found on our website HERE. 

School Calendar

Please refer to the calendar on the School Calendar to find details about Term 4 dates, finish times and term holidays dates etc.

One more thing!

We are padlocking shut the gate to Warrigal Road after 9.15am every morning. It opens again around 3pm. We are doing this because we have a student who has a penchant for running out of the class and out of the school grounds. There are processes in place to ameliorate this issue but the safety issues are abundantly evident. Thanks for your understanding on this one.

Have a great weekend.

Steve Donohue

Principal

 

It’s that time of year - September, when all students are required to have on a hat for outside play.  Children will be required to play in the shade if no hat is worn, and being a Sun Smart School its important to have sun protection from now till May.

2. School Council Dates for 2022

Tuesday, 13th December, 7pm

3. Car Parking, Banksia Street

Parents, out of courtesy to our neighbours please do not park across their driveways in Banksia Street, when dropping off or picking up your children. Whitehorse Traffic Officers will be patrolling during these times.

City of Whitehorse has partnered with Boroondara Youth and Restoring Resilience to host a free parent/carer self-care webinar.

This webinar is for anyone in a parent or caring role who is interested in improving their self-care routine!

Date: Wednesday 7 December 2022

Time: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Location: Online, via Microsoft Teams

To register or for more information visit Self-care in parenting | City of Boroondara