Hello Everyone,

Not long to go now!

This is the last newsletter for the year.

It has been a productive and dynamic year for all of us at Wattle Park. Our Community has sprung back to life with our vital and dynamic PFA members creating the types of effervescent social engagement, that both connects a community whilst simultaneously creating opportunities for our students - a much appreciated dichotomy.

It is always risky thanking specific people by name for fear of missing someone out but l must make paricular mention of our Assistant Principal, Ms, Emma Tan. Emma has flawlessly entered a role that requires you to build the plane at the same time you are expected to fly it. Emma has done this with a degree of organisation, attention to detail and calmness that makes me think l am the ‘etch-a-sketch’ to her Sistine Chapel.    

Thank you, yes, you, for your support. It has been appreciated.

Assembly

Wk 12   Mon 19.12 

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

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

A message from our SAKGP coordinators, Ms Woodhouse and Ms Easterbrook:

Dear Parents, Guardians and Chicken Lovers, 

We would like to pass on our sincerest thanks to everyone who has volunteered their time to look after our chickens this year.  We really appreciate the community effort that has kept our girls happy and healthy.  

While the students are on school holidays, the chickens do stay at school, so our feathered friends will require volunteer carers for this time. As the weather becomes warmer, it will be vital to give them adequate water and food and protect them from pests by locking them in their pen in the afternoon.

If you can volunteer any time over the holidays, it would be greatly appreciated.  We will be using the SignUp app to organise a roster.  You can access the ‘Holiday Chicken Care’ SignUp HERE.

Our SignUp is structured so that you are responsible for the chickens for the full day, but this only requires one visit in the morning (at or before 9am) and one visit in the afternoon (between 3pm-5pm).  Please feel free to volunteer for as many days as you like.

Further information on how to care for the chickens can be found HERE.

Thank you!

Monica Woodhouse and Amy Easterbrook

SAKGP Co-ordinators

Thank you!

Thank you to Cameron Rennie for the donation of Bulla yogurt ice creams for 2023 Carols which will be handed out on Monday.

Our Students

Whole Day Bike Ride By Charlotte and Alice 6B

On Wednesday the 30th of November all the Year six students gathered together to go on a Bike ride to Markham reserve. During the weeks beforehand all year sixes participated in 4 sessions of bicycle education. We learnt about bike safety, behaviours on the ride and how to signal so when we left on our whole day bike ride we were prepared.

At the start of the day all the students gathered to complete the whole day bike ride and set off on the ride, using the skills that we had learned. We went past Wattle Park kinder then through Deakin University along the Gardiner’s Creek Trail ending up at Markham Reserve near Holmesglen Tafe.

After arriving at the park a few students left on an extra bike that was 13 km long. It took them 45mins and when they arrived back at the park they joined everyone in time for the barbecue. We were allowed to play in the playground while some students chose to go on an extra bike ride. We all explored the playground and had a break as we waited for the barbecue. We were allowed as many sausages as we wanted and they provided us with water and popcorn/fruit. By the end we were all exhausted but proud of how much we had improved. 

In the sessions leading up to the bike ride we learnt how to signal using our hands, how far away from the gutter and parked cars we should be and also how to command the lane. During the lessons we learnt all the road rules for roundabouts and intersections. A task we had to complete before getting on our bikes was the ‘ABCD’ bike check, it stands for; Air, Brakes, Chain, Drop. Before practising on the roads we spent a lot of time going around cones on the basketball courts to learn basic rules and tips.

Bike Ed was a really fun activity and is extremely important to learn because not many people know the road rules for bikes but luckily our school offers the opportunity for us to learn in a fun way. Overall this was a rewarding experience that taught us lots of knowledge that we will utilise in the future. 

Graduation

Last night we had our Year 6 Graduation. This is really three events in one. A dinner provided by the Year 5 parents, a Graduation Ceremony created by the Year 6 teachers with technical support provided by the Melbourne Recital Centre’s tech and lighting crew (yes, really...) and thirdly, a disco for the students that runs for about 45 minutes, after which parents/guardians take their children home. 

It was a wildly successful night due to many factors including the exacting organisation of our Year 6 teachers ably assisted in choreography direction by Ms Kelly from Year 2. Here are some highlights:

Running Club

Concluded this week on Thursday after a limited 5 week season. And, as, often with limited seasons, it has left the people who participated with an enthusiasm to continue.

Thank you to Ben Beard, James McGinnes and Rachel Crilly who have led the often chilly warmups and subsequent tracking around our local environment. We hope to see you all again back doing the same thing next year.

Our Staff

Continuing our series on getting to know our staff at WPPS, today we feature our effervescent and award winning Canteen Convenor, Charlotte Stilve:

Hello Wattle Park families!

My name is Charlotte and I have been operating the canteen since May last year and I love my job! The students, staff and families I've met have all been so lovely and welcoming and there is a real sense of community.

Here are some fun facts about me: 

My family love sport and my weekends are usually busy watching my daughters play cricket or football (depending on the season) or going to see the Geelong Cats play.

I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes which has seen me accumulate close to 100 cookbooks!

I also support Assistance Dogs Australia and was a puppy educator which was a lot of fun. I got to take our puppy (Hera) everywhere I went like the movies, MCG and restaurants.  I hope to take on another puppy one day.

I can't wait to see all your smiling faces next year.

Charlotte Stilve

Notices

School Calendar

Please check the calendar on our website HERE so you are up to date with all things happening next year. Most importantly all students begin back at WPPS on Mon 30th of January 2023.

Uniform Shop

Also, if you happen to have any WPPS uniforms that you no longer require please think about donating them to our Uniform Shop by giving them a wash and leaving them at our office. 

Have a safe and restful Christmas. 

Steve Donohue

Principal

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2023 is just around the corner and Wattle Park Primary School is looking forward to another great year of teaching and learning in 2023 and would like to take the opportunity to advise you of the 2023 voluntary financial contributions.

Schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard Victorian curriculum and we assure you all contributions are voluntary. Nevertheless, the ongoing support of our families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students. 

Thank you for all your support, whether that’s through Parent Payment Contribution, fundraising or volunteering your time. This has made a huge difference to our school and the programs we can offer.

Within our school, your support in 2022 allowed us to:

•           Offer a wide range of subjects and special curriculum experiences for our students across all year levels and provide all necessary student subscriptions and supplies

•           Upgrade and purchase of additional IT devices for students

•           Replace 2 playground edgings & sleeper wall, new chicken area, sand pit edging

•           New soccer nets

Wattle Park Primary School is a great school, achieving excellent results both academically and socially. 

Wattle Park Primary School’s School Council makes every effort to keep the cost of items and activities to a minimum and affordable for all parents by purchasing all Student Learning requisites in bulk & GST free.

WPPS School Council would like to advise you of the parent payment arrangements for 2023 will remain the same as 2022. 

$300 Essential Student Learning Items (purchased by the school for all students GST free)

-  Classroom & curriculum supplies, student stationery pack, Numeracy, Literacy and Science materials, Educational Research Projects, Digital Learning- Mathletics subscription, Classroom Resources, Kitchen/Garden Program, LOTE (Chinese), Language Perfect subscription, Performing and Visual Arts consumables.

$175 Library Fund  - Tax Deductible

-           Maintains the school library and resources also the students IT needs

$150 Building Fund - Tax Deductible

-           Maintaining school buildings and extras added to the new building

$100 Grounds

-           Regular lawn maintenance, playground soft-fall, gardens

All extra-curriculum items & activities will be provided on a user-pay basis: excursions/incursions, camps, swimming

Please find attached Victorian Education Department’s 2023 Parent Payments Policy

Payment is not required until after school commences in 2023 when all families will receive more information and notification via CompassPay

Thank you again for your support and a very successful 2022

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Please scroll through to see all of our latest notices!


1. PSW New Deliver Option
2. Second Hand Uniform Shop



1. PSW New Deliver Option
From 15th February, parents are able to order PSW school uniforms online and have the order delivered to the school office. Deliveries will be weekly for parent collection. This will save parents from actually having to go to the PSW shop if you  know what you want and sizes.

Above is a screen shot of how the screen would look like. 

The parent needs to choose the “Click and Collect” Option, the drop down box will appear and they choose for their item to be delivered to Wattle Park Primary School.

2. Second Hand Uniform Shop
A call out for more second hand uniforms for WPPS 2nd hand uniform shop for 2023.

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Support our local business!!!

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