We have been delighted with how well our students have settled back into school routines and engaged with their learning. The adjustment from months at home is a significant one, however the students deserve to be acknowledged for their positivity, resilience and commitment.

It has also been wonderful to see the students reconnect with their friends; the months of WebEx lessons, Zoom calls etc have made us all appreciate face to face connections and interactions. The interactions with students have been particularly powerful, given that masks are largely absent and we are able to see their facial expressions and appreciate their smiles.

However there are going to be bumps along the way and yesterday was one of those days! Please be assured that staff are interacting daily with their students and keeping a close eye on their health and wellbeing. Any sign that students are not quite themselves is communicated to the leadership team and we will follow up with parents to gain a bigger picture of potential concerns.  

Thank-you to all parents for your support of the staggered arrival and departure arrangements. These are in place to minimise the number of people gathering around entry and exit points. Your cooperation in departing the school as soon as you have collected your child is greatly appreciated.

We all have our fingers crossed that restrictions will continue to be eased as COVID numbers reduce. From a school perspective, we continue to be guided by the DET and DHHS and will keep you updated on the implications of any new guidelines as they are communicated to us.

A significant frustration for all schools has been the impact of COVID restrictions on our Kindergarten to Foundation Transition Program (as well as the Year 6 to Year 7 transition activities). We are working extremely hard and being as creative as possible in meeting the needs of our 2021 Foundation students and families.

If you haven’t been to our school website to view the Foundation Information Video, it is worth a look. Ms Emma Tan and some of our current Foundation students are the stars. They are sensational!  https://youtu.be/Nk431Z0ggfM

I have included a photo of our specialist teaching team who cooked 700 sausages last Thursday in celebration of Friday’s ‘Thank You Day.’ The students were so excited and appreciative of the food and ‘zooper dooper.’ It was actually like a carnival day with a buzz around the school on a perfect spring day.

A reminder that school is operating on Monday and all students are expected to be at school. The staff overwhelmingly agreed to forgo the scheduled Curriculum Day as they felt the students needed the routine of school.

Enjoy the weekend and see you all on Monday.

Warm regards

Gayle

Thanks everyone who purchased a veggie box!

 Delivery will be Tues 23rd June - 3-4pm at Banksia St park (across from the Banksia St gate school entrance, next to Foodrinkery cafe).

If you have a child who is commencing school for the first time next year, enrolments for Foundation 2021 are being accepted now.  You are welcome to download a Student Enrolment Form and accompanying documents and forward them to wattle.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au. For further info click on link.

Along with the student enrolment form, you must also send:

• A copy of your child’s birth certificate/passport
• Your child's immunisation history
• Any visas (if applicable)

Please return all forms to our Business Manager, Mrs Helen Dalzotto,  titled 'ENROLMENT FORM for 2021' to our email address: wattle.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au for processing.

You will receive a confirmation email at our earliest convenience.

If you have any questions relating to the enrolment process, please email or call the office (9808 2165) at any time.

To see a video of our school, click here https://www.wattleparkps.vic.edu.au/page/80/Enrolment

We look forward to seeing you in 2021.

Kind regards,
Ms Gayle Cope
Principal