Hello Everyone,

Thank you to everyone who assisted with costumes, managed childrens’ nerves and turned up and enjoyed the magical event that was ‘Wattle Park’s got Talent’ show!

If appreciation was a needle l’d be looking like an echidna when l mention Ms Michalska, our Performing Arts teacher who spent countless lunchtimes in rehearsal.  A stella event for our students and a marvellous moment of joy for our school community.

A few random pictures of the students before they went on:

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.

Mathletics Champion
Congratulations to Angelie H from 2A who won this week for his excellent performance and regular participation in Mathletics this week. 

Nudie Foodie Award
Congratulations to Charlie Gilbert from 4A 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.

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. 

Running Club
Wattle Park Running Club welcomes Bendigo Bank as a sponsor. 

We would like to acknowledge and thank Bendigo Bank for their generous support of the program and supporting kids being active. The generously donated funds have been used to provide students who participate in running club with a running club t-shirt.  

Wattle Park running club is open to students of all ages and abilities. Parents are welcome to join in too. The sessions and groups are tailored accordingly. Walking is totally fine. Sessions are held every Thursday morning during term, commencing at 8am - meeting at top oval. Students who participate also earn points for their school house.

Thanks again to Bendigo Bank for their support.

Looking forward to seeing you and/or your kids on Thursday mornings.  

Heaps of fun, success is just turning up. 

Our Staff
Hello,

My name is Jo. I work in the office and have for quite a few years now.

I work with Joy.

People get us confused as our names are very similar, but I am Jo with the dark hair and glasses.

I work part time from Monday to Wednesday.

Please feel free to come and ask me, Jo, any questions and hopefully I will be able to answer them.

Notices

Petition - REINSTATE the 903 bus along Warrigal Rd

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

The following is an excerpt from the introduction to the petition being organised in response to the above situation.

I fully support this petition.

We believe that there has been no transparency, community engagement, communication, or consultation undertaken by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) with early learning or primary schools regarding such a significant change that will directly impact local families and child safety. This decision appears to have been made without any apparent consideration for the local and surrounding communities along this route, including preschool (early learning), primary school students, high school students and elderly residents in the area.

We ask that you sign this petition in support of the reinstatement of this crucial segment of the 903 bus route, prioritising the safe passage of children, families carers & seniors in our local community, who also rely on the public transport network & are entitled to be consulted.

Thank you

HERE is the petition to sign

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.

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 both the student’s classroom teacher and me steven.donohue@education.vic.gov.au by Friday 3rd of November.

The WPPS ‘Class Formation Policy’ is on our school website.

Have great weekend everyone

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School

Our much-loved mango fundraiser is back for 2023 

Using Bowen Special Mangoes (more commonly known as Kensington Pride), they are packed in a single layer tray, with approximately 4.5kg of mangoes.  The number of mangoes per tray depends on the size of the fruit, and may vary from large to small to give the same weight. Cost: Only $28 a box - a bargain! As we get closer to Christmas they often get up to $35-$40. (Note below tray information from supplier). 

Bookings open now until 31st October. Delivery time to be confirmed 4th to 6th December?? - the last few weeks of school in December. #BOOKNOW 

1. Wattle Park's Got Talent DVD Order


2. A Message from Principal

Dear parents and carers,

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to cause distress for staff, students, families and carers, especially those who have family and friends in the region. 

Our school is a rich and diverse community and acknowledging that it is vital that our students, staff and families all feel safe and included in everything we do.

I want to assure you that the department is monitoring the situation from a school security perspective.

While we want to maintain an open and welcoming environment, we are also being vigilant in terms of safety, ensuring all our procedures, like visitors signing in and out, are being followed. 

If your child is impacted and/or distressed by the current conflict, you may find some aspects of this resource helpful:

• Helping my children after trauma: A guide for parents.

Support is also available through external services including:

• headspace: 1800 650 890
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800
• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636.

Please feel free to get in contact me if you would like to discuss this further.

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School

3. More Raffle Tickets are Available at the Office

4. 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.

5. School Beanies

6. 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.

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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. Uniform Price Increase