Hello Everyone,

Thank you to everyone who helped make this term the vital and dynamic festival of learning it has been.

The PFA  events, the volunteers, the School Council, our friends at Cameron Close and Papilio and a host of other people have been instrumental in creating a safe place to enable our students to flourish.

An integral contributor to this environment has been Charlotte Mabey whom we farewell at the end of this term as Charlotte and her family ascend the thermals to begin a new chapter in the UK. Thank you Charlotte - you have gone beyond in every way in your contributions to our school culture and you and your family will be missed.

Some notes in preparation for Term 2, 2024.

• Monday 15th of April: Student Free Curriculum Day

• Tuesday 16th of April: Students return to school 

• Friday 26th of April: Uniform Shop open from 8.30 - 9.15am

For all other dates please check the WPPS school calendar which includes dates for school camps.

Each year level website will be updated with information specific to that year level on the Term 2 Curriculum Day.

Year level websites

Foundation     Year 1     Year 2     Year 3     Year 4     Year 5     Year 6     Specialists

Our Students

Make March Purple for Epilepsy
One of WPPS's Alumni and 2023 School Captain, Zoe B, is continuing her incredible work raising awareness of epilepsy by promoting the Make March Purple month-long campaign across Australia. Please watch her short video below, and if you can, help support her and the 250,000 Australians living with epilepsy by completing a merchandise order form or spreading the word.

2024 Make March Purple for Epilepsy - Merchandise Orders

2024 Make March Purple for Epilepsy - Promotion Video by Zoe B

Student Achievements
I was recently sent some information about two 2023 Year 6 former students of ours who are now attending Ashwood High. 

Ray Lau and Raynard Li were selected to join Ashwood High’s highly competitive 2024 Select Entry – Accelerated Curriculum and Enrichment (ACE) Program. Ray and Raynard will continue in the same class until the commencement of VCE, with the possibility of pursuing university-level subjects - Well done Ray and Raynard!

For more information please go HERE

Year 4 Mathematics
This week in Maths we explored extending our place value understanding to include decimal places, tenths and hundredths.  To do this we used our height measurements to solve problems. We each worked out how much further we had to grow to equal the tallest man in the world (2.51m) and then worked out which two students from the class we could join together to equal this height!  We then practised placing decimal numbers on a number line by placing all our class heights in order from 1.00m to 2.00m.

26/03 the 3/4 District Gala Day.
A message from our Health and Physical Education Teacher, Mr Stephen Roberts

The purpose of this day is to expose students to a sport that they may not be familiar with and give them the opportunity to engage with the broader school community through competitive sports.

Whilst there, students competed in one of four team sports.

• Hotshots (modified Tennis)

• Newcombe Ball (modified Volleyball)

• Rounders

• European handball

As their PE teacher I was particularly proud of the consistent level of effort, resilience and sportsmanship that was shown throughout the day by all the students involved.

Special mentions to the hotshot players who came 3rd overall for the day and the Newcombe ball team who came first in their competition!

Thank you to the classroom teachers, assistants and volunteers who make days like this possible.

House Points
Throughout the term, our four houses (Acacia, Bluegum, Lomandra & Waratah) have been collecting points based on displaying our school norms, demonstrating academic excellence or participating in house competitions such as our House Easter Egg Race.

All the House Points have been collected. The winning house for term one is…

Assembly
No Assembly Wk 9 - Friday 29th March - Good Friday - Holiday

Next assembly Wk 1 - Friday 19th of April at 9.15am

Uniform Shop
Wk 2 Term 2 Friday 26th of April 8.30 - 9.15am

Our Staff
Our series on our staff proved so popular last year, I have requests for it to return as our parents have different teachers this year.  We also have different people around the school assisting in different capacities. One of these people you may have seen around is Max Campitelli:

Hello Wattle Park community!

My name is Max Campitelli and I’m currently a third-year primary education student studying at Deakin University.

I was very excited when I learnt I’d be completing my 10-day placement here as this is an area that I am quite familiar with as I grew up in the Surrey Hills area and spent many afternoons and weekends playing at Wattle Park when I was younger. I come from a big family of teachers so it came as no surprise to my parents that this was the path I wanted to follow after I graduated High School in 2020.

I’ve been working with my mentor teacher Amy Easterbrook and 1B and have been welcomed so warmly by the teachers and students here. Although I have only been here for one week, I can already see how amazing of a community WPPS is with its strong relationships between staff, parents and students. I look forward to completing my final week and wish everyone a Happy Easter and Holidays!

Max Campitelli

ICAS
We are delighted to inform you that  we will be participating in the world-renowned ICAS competition this year across Years 4 – 6.  

What is ICAS?  
ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) is an online academic competition that is designed to assess students’ higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling and Digital Technologies.  

Each assessment celebrates students’ accomplishments by providing opportunities for recognition and development. Every student who participates will receive a printed certificate and an online results report. Top performers will be eligible for medals.  

We encourage you to consider entering your child (Year 4-6 only) into ICAS this year.   

Learn more about ICAS here.

How to participate in ICAS  
If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please:  

1. Read about ICAS subjects and prices here.
2. Read the terms and conditions here.
3. Go to Parent Portal to purchase tests here.
4. Enter our school’s access code –  IOQ829  
5. Enter your child’s details, select the tests you would like to purchase, then proceed to payment.   

Please note that the ICAS tests shown for selection are at the school’s discretion.   

After payment is made via the Parent Payment System, you will receive an order confirmation email. Please keep this for your records.  

ICAS Results and Certificates 
We will notify you of the date(s) that we run ICAS at the school and when your child’s ICAS results are ready. You will have until Monday 29th July to make an order, and your child will be sitting the test/s in August. Once we have received your child’s ICAS certificate, we will send it home with your child. The back of the certificate shows ICAS results and the login details, “TAP ID and Pin”, that you and your child need to enter on the Results Portal.  

Canteen
Our Canteen operates on Mondays and Fridays for lunch only.  

Ordering - Full Menu
To place an order, download the free Flexischools App from the App Store or Google Play. Once you have downloaded the app you will order and pay online. 

Orders must be placed by 4pm the day before the order is required.

Monday orders  by 4pm Sunday

Friday orders     by 4pm Thursday

Last Chance Ordering - Reduced Menu

If the normal daily service cut off has been missed.  Items such as pies, nuggets, sausage rolls, popcorn and drinks will be available as part of this service with a cut off time of 8.30am the day of canteen.

Please be aware Flexischools does not automatically change the class of your child to their 2024 class. Please ensure you update this information when you next order.

Canteen - Volunteering
Do you have some time to spare? An hour and a half on a Friday would be great!

Our canteen would not be able to run without the wonderful support of the volunteer Parents and Grandparents in our school. We would love to have you volunteer for us, whether you are an experienced hand or an eager learner. Please see below to sign up.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1. Click this link to go to our invitation page on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/login/entry/827030846186224028
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on SignUp.com)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots - SignUp.com will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!

Volunteers course
If you’d like to volunteer in 2024, please obtain a Working with Children’s Check and complete our Volunteers course.

Have a safe and happy break everyone. Hopefully I’ll be waving to you from the north facing deck of our new building when l see you next!

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School

1. CSEF
Welcome, all new families to Wattle Park Primary School for 2024.

If you are the holder of a Govt Concession Card or Health Care Card, you are eligible for Government assistance called CSEF, (Camps, Sports, Excursions Fund).

This payment of $150 is for any school activity including camps.

Please fill out the form HERE along with a copy of your concession card, and hand into the office.

This procedure should also be followed for eligible existing families, for 2024 payment.

If you have  any enquiries, please contact the office on 9808 2165.

2. Student Update Information
All year level students now should have already received an email requesting parents to check over contact details for their child.

It is imperative we have the latest contact information, along with emergency contact details.

Please print off the sheets with any changes to be clearly marked, and return to the office for amendment.

Thank you for taking time to read through contact information.

3. Volunteer Needed for the First Aid Room
Much appriciated if any one can help us clean the sheets in First Aid Room. Your help can make the First Aid room a more safer and cleaner enviroments.We have had no one since mid last term. Please sign up HERE.

 

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.

6. Late Students
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 a

DEAKIN IS HOSTING A FAMILY SCIENCE GAMES NIGHT AND

YOU’RE INVITED

Join us for an exciting night of science-themed games and activities with family and friends that are designed to be both educational and entertaining. The event will feature many exciting science activities such as VR experience, card games, board games, bingo with something to cater for all ages.

The event will be supervised by Deakin Staff, students and volunteers so that all members of the community can come and enjoy their night and make memorable memories with family and friends.

WHEN

The event will be held on the 3^rd April 2024 from 6:30pm to 8pm.

WHERE

Deakin University Burwood Campus at Building M in the foyer. Signs will be displayed on the night to direct people to the correct building from the parking lots.

HOW

Registration is FREE but spaces are limited so don't miss out. The link for registration will be in next weeks email.

Look forward to seeing you there and create another successful Family Science Games Night at Deakin University.

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