Hello Everyone,

As you know, the safety of our students is our first priority.

Snap Send Solve
Dangerous driving, like doing U-turns in front of our school on Banksia St, continues to make students unsafe. I am incredulous! Particularly in light of recent events which have highlighted how dangerous they can be. You may not be aware of this facility provided by Whitehorse City Council:

SNAP SEND SOLVE

Basically, it means you can take a picture of dangerous drivers, and if enough of us do it, then action will be taken by the council, which may include the police charging drivers.

So go for it people!

Safety Barrier - Warrigal Rd Gate
The bus stop was removed and as a result has created direct access via our side gate onto Warrigal Rd. This gate is only opened for a brief period to let children in and out, before and after school.

However, this is no substitute for an actual barrier to the road. 

I have contacted Whitehorse City Council requesting a barrier be reinstated.

I have also contacted the Member for North Eastern Region, Richard Welch MP, whom on our behalf:

• wrote to the Education Minister, Ben Caroll
• wrote to the Minister for Roads and Safety, Melissa Horne
• mentioned us in Parliament:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=882936104010119&rdid=Occy3qgXIDM9B2Wy

If none of this works, l think we just get one of those big water filled hwy barriers and plonk it here ourselves! 

2025 Canteen Survey
Thanks to everyone who answered our survey asking ‘Which days would you like the canteen open?

There were 23 responses, and overwhelmingly our community wants to keep the canteen. 

Of the three options:

Mon & Fri

Wed & Fri

Thur & Fri

There was an even spread, so that leaves us with the idea that we might just try out one of the options to see how we go. If there's a change to the days, it will not be until next year.

Student Voice

Students of the Week
Congratulations to those students who were noted this week for displaying one for more of our school values: Respect, Encourage, Value, Care, Challenge and Responsibility.

Class	Student
FA	Leo M	FB	Jenion Z
1A	Meiyi C	1B	All of 1B
2A	Big Day Out	2B	Big Day Out
3A	Felix N	3B	Lachlan S
4A	Bella S	4B	Billy W
5A	Zen S	5B	Dotty M
6A	Ammar A	6B	Ethan W

Mathletics Champion

A round of applause for: 

Mihika S 3A

who has excelled in Mathletics this week through consistent participation and impressive performance. Well done Mihika!

ECO MVP

Congratulations to:

Destiny D 3B

How to win….

It’s simple

 - Continue to bring your nude food lunches

 - Pick up rubbish around the classroom and school

 - Turn off lights and powerpoints that don’t need to be on

 - Turn off leaking taps

 - Dispose of rubbish appropriately.

Each week, a Scarecrow teacher or leader will visit one classroom (at random). They will select one student for the ECO MVP, and their photo will be taken for Assembly. The student will receive an amazing eco straw and bag.

House Points

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

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.  Reintroducing Ms Downes:

I have been part of our school family for so long that it could be said that I am part of the furniture. In fact I am pretty sure that the only person who has been here longer than myself is Ms Antonino, our wonderful 3A on Mondays teacher. 

When I first arrived for my first day at WPPS all the way back in the last century I was very pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a beaming and welcoming Annmaria as we actually went to university together and shared the same majors. Since that day I have made many lifelong friends through our great school and have so many happy and fulfilling memories that have enriched my life both professionally and personally.

Wattle Park was school number four for me. My first year of teaching was at Thorpdale Primary in potato country, followed by Epping and Merrilands. During those early years I mainly taught in the Year 5/6 area and my first grade at WPPS was a 5/6 composite. After a few years I made the move down to Prep (as it was called in those days) which was a huge change from the upper school kids, but one that I loved (after the initial shock).

In December of 1998 I began a new phase of my life when my husband Rick and I welcomed our first little ray of sunshine, Allie, followed two years later with the arrival of Emily. I spent a number of years away from teaching and raising our family which I adored. During this time I sat on committees for our local kindergarten and primary school and volunteered 2-3 days a week for the literacy program when my kids were young.

Our former Principal, Nick Farley (I have seen four Wattle Park Principals so far), finally convinced me to return to teaching when my youngest was in Grade 1. I took over from Julie Gledhill who was about to go on Family Leave in the role of part time Phys Ed teacher. I have had a lifelong love affair with sport so this job seemed absolutely perfect for me. I have played many sports competitively over the years including basketball, netball, equestrian and squash and I still drag this, shall we say mature, body around the tennis court. My other passions include reading, travel, eating out with friends and of course the beach – my happy place.

This year I am  enjoying teaching 2A.

Mel Downes.

Notices
Interestingly, this came to my inbox the other day:

This e-mail is from the producers of the ABC TV show HARD QUIZ KIDS.

We had so much fun last series, we’re making more episodes of HARD QUIZ KIDS!

Applications are now open. We’re looking for kids who’ll be in Year 5, 6 or 7 in 2025 who are an expert on a special topic.

Kids will need to fill out the application with their parent/guardian here: 

hardquizkidsauditions.com.au

Choose your topic, apply now and get ready to play, HARD!

Have a great weekend.

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School

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Planning has began for 2025 classes. To help us in this process, if your child/children will not be returning to Wattle Park Primary School next year, please complete the Exit Form and sent it back to school as soon as possible.
Thank you.

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