Hello Everyone,

Thank you to you, yes, you, because if you are reading this then it’s extremely likely you have, in some big, small, or in some capacity in between, assisted in the herculean event that is our School Production.

A multitude of rehearsals have taken place over the last 8 weeks which have required a large degree of flexibility from students, teachers and parents and guardians.

Information about this performance, ‘Wattle Park’s Got Talent’, can be found on each year level’s website or just click on this link:

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1115516

There is no limit to the number of tickets to purchase so please purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Our Students

Assembly 9.15am on Friday 

Students of the week
Well done to all our recipients for actively displaying our school values. Students who are not in attendance to receive their certificate will be awarded at next week's assembly.

Nudie Foodie Award 
Congratulations to Jakob R from 2A for winning the Nudie Foodie Award. 

How to win….

It’s simple - students are asked to bring in their Nude Food Lunches. 

Each week a Scarecrow teacher or leader will visit one classroom (at random). They will select one student with delicious, healthy Nude Food.

Their photo will be taken for Assembly and they will receive an amazing  DIY ECO Herb Head Planting Kit.

Mathletics Champion
Congratulations to Adin G from 1B who won this week for his excellent performance and regular participation in Mathletics this week. 

House Points
The House Points have been collected for this week.  The winning house decorates the trophy with their colours and have it displayed in the foyer of the school. 

Regional Athletics
On Thursday, 19th October, four WPPS students took part in the Regional Athletics held at Tom Kelly Athletics Track. These students were asked to attend because of their prior achievements in the Divisional Athletics held last week.  Congratulations to:

Nicholas A competing in U12/13 Shot Put

James B competing in U11 Shot Put

James competing in U11 boys 1500m

Betty B competing in U10 girls Hurdles

International Competitions and Assessment for Schools (ICAS)

In term three, nineteen students across Years 4 to 6 took part in at least one ICAS test. Students could sit up to six subjects including Digital Technologies, Writing, English, Spelling Bee, Science and Mathematics with students pushed to their academic limit, as well as higher-order thinking and problem solving abilities.

Our students earned:

• 2 High Distinction
• 7 Distinction
• 24 Credits 
• 5 Merits

Well done to the following students who were awarded a certificate for achieving particular milestones.

ICAS English

Distinction

For achieving a score in the top 11% of participants. Congratulations:

Credit

For achieving a score in the top 35% of participants. Congratulations:

Merit

For achieving a score in the top 45% of participants. Congratulations:

Participation

Congratulations:

ICAS Writing

Credit

For achieving a score in the top 35% of participants. Congratulations:

Participation

Congratulations:

ICAS Spelling Bee

Distinction

For achieving a score in the top 11% of participants. Congratulations:

Credit

For achieving a score in the top 35% of participants. Congratulations:

Participation

Congratulations:

ICAS Mathematics

High Distinction

For achieving a score in the top 1% of participants. Congratulations:

Distinction

For achieving a score in the top 11% of participants. Congratulations:

Credit

For achieving a score in the top 35% of participants. Congratulations:

Participation

Congratulations:

ICAS Science

Distinction

For achieving a score in the top 11% of participants. Congratulations:

Credit

For achieving a score in the top 35% of participants. Congratulations:

Merit

For achieving a score in the top 45% of participants. Congratulations:

Participation

Congratulations:

ICAS Digital Technology

High Distinction

For achieving a score in the top 1% of participants. Congratulations:

Credit

For achieving a score in the top 35% of participants. Congratulations:

Merit

For achieving a score in the top 45% of participants. Congratulations:

The 903 bus is not stopping outside WPPS anymore

This is of concern given that up to 20 of our students use it every week. Below is a copy of the letter sent by the School Council and myself to our School Community.

Hi School Community,

We found out this week that the 903 bus route from Mentone to Altona is being re-routed, and will no longer service a large stretch of Warrigal Road (from Elgar Road to Burwood Hwy/Toorak Road). This affects a number of you that use this service - on both sides of Warrigal Road and in both directions.

Instead, the 903 will be re-routed to service Deakin University. 

This change will be happening from this Sunday 15th October. Please check alternate arrangements.

What we can do as a school

As a school we are writing formally to the relevant ministers and local MPs. 

We have also been in touch with local schools, daycare centres and Cameron Close to ensure they are aware.

What can you do?

Most importantly, please check the new route on ptv.vic.gov.au. If you have any difficulties, please contact them directly via 1800 800 007 (Choose "Option 1").

You may also like to contact any of the following:

Paul Hamer, MP for Box Hill - paul.hamer@parliament.vic.gov.au

John Pesutto, MP for Hawthorn (the other side of Warrigal Road) - john.pesutto@parliament.vic.gov.au

Gabrielle Williams, Public Transport Minister - gabrielle.williams@parliament.vic.gov.au

Ben Carroll, Deputy Premier (fmr Transport Minister) - ben.carroll@parliament.vic.gov.au

Lizzie Blandthorn, Minister for Children - lizzie.blandthorn@parliament.vic.gov.au

Ingrid Stitt, Minister for Ageing (if you have family around the area who may be affected) - ingrid.stitt@parliament.vic.gov.au

We appreciate the concern this may cause and we will continue to campaign for a viable service.

Kind regards,
Steve Donohue, School Principal WPPS
Naomi Hanson, School Council President

Hats on in September!

With our emergence from the winter gloom into the glorious springtime sunshine comes the need to be aware of the damage rays can do. As per our Sunsmart Policy WPPS states the following:

From 1 September to 30 April, all students must wear a sun protective hat that shades the face, neck and ears for all outdoor activities. 

“Hats on in September, off in May”

Students who are not wearing appropriate protective clothing or a hat may be asked to play in the shade or in a suitable area protected from the sun.

Notices

Digital Reports

A reminder from our newsletter (2023.06.23)

Currently, we issue reports at the end of Semester 1 (term 1 and 2)  and Semester 2 (term 3 and 4).

We also publish them on Compass as digital documents by 4pm on the day they go home.

As agreed upon at School Council on Tuesday this week, and as an environmentally responsible school, this Semester 1 report will be the last time we provide all students with a hard copy report.

In acknowledgement of the preference for a hard copy report, we will still provide paper reports to those parents/guardians who request them. All you will need to do is email your classroom teacher to let them know this is what you would like.

For further information regarding how to access your child/rens reports (from as far back as Semester 2017) please go HERE. 

Student reflections will continue to come home as a hard copy in an envelope.

2024 Class Formation Policy

Teachers will soon begin sorting out 2024 classes.

Students are placed  in classes based on a variety of factors including:

• medical requirements
• legal obligations (intervention/court orders etc) 
• safety concerns
• academic needs and
• student generated friendship preferences

If you feel your child has specific educational needs in relation to class placement, please communicate this via email to steven.donohue@education.vic.gov.au by Friday 3rd of November.

WPPS has a ‘Class Formation Policy’ on our school website.

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School

1. Second Hand Uniform Shop Volunteer
Volunteers are desperately needed to help out our amazing Second Hand Uniform Shop Manager Kelly Baird.  If you can spare some time to help out, please contact the office on 9808 2165. 

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

2. School Beanies

3. Remember September to May - No Hat No Play

 

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.
New hats are available from the office $15.

All late students MUST report to office before heading to class, to receive a late slip.  Otherwise, your child will be reported as absent and parents will receive an sms notification that their child in an unexplained absence.

If you have a child starting primary school in 2024, it’s time to enrol. Even though the dead line for enrolling your child has passed, late enrolments will be accepted

If you are enrolling the sibling of a student at our school for Foundation in 2024, and both children will be attending our school at the same time, your child is prioritised for a place at our school as per the department’s Placement Policy.

For more information, please read about when and how to enrol your child in Foundation at vic.gov.au/enrolling-foundation-prep.

If you are seeking to enrol your child into Foundation next year, please contact our school office on 9808 2165  to request an enrolment form or visit our website https://www.wattleparkps.vic.edu.au/page/80/Enrolment to download a Word Version – 2024 Enrolments.

6. First Aid Room Volunteer
In order to keep our First Aid Room clean and tidy, we require volunteers to assist with this task. We need approximately 40 families on our roster to ensure that every family only needs to do this once per year. It is not time consuming and requires approximately 15 minutes of your time on a FRIDAY.
https://signup.com/go/MvZZbFq

7. 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.

8. Uniform Price Increase