WPPS Newsletter 6th June 2025

#203


Principal's Report 6th June 2025

Hello Everyone,

Now is the time to enrol a preppy for next year!

2026 Foundation/Prep Enrolments

There are two ways.

Online enrolment
2. Submit an enrolment application for Foundation (Prep) by Friday 25 July 2025.
You will be notified of the outcome of your application between Mon 28 Jul - Fri 8 Aug 2025.
3. Accept the offer by Friday 22 August 2025.


Hard copy enrolment
Simply fill in a paper enrolment form available at our office or download HERE and email to: wattle.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au

School Tours
School tours occur most Fridays at 10am and take approximately 45 minutes . 

Tours can be booked by calling the school office on 98082165 or you can book online HERE

Further details regarding enrolment can be found on our school website HERE 

Uniform Shop Fri 13.6  
8.30 - 10am Second Hand Uniform Shop open in the gym!

SEEN the Film
Tue, 24 Jun 2025 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM AEST. Doors at 6:30pm  - WPPS library

Be part of an inspiring and thought-provoking evening as we screen SEEN: The Film, a powerful documentary exploring the long-term impact of childhood trauma and the journey of healing to create stronger, healthier families.

Tickets can be purchased HERE

Our Students

2025.06.02 Yr 5/6  Historical and Contemporary Migration Incursion

On Monday, our school was fortunate enough to welcome Naomi Chua from Embrace Sanctuary, who spoke with some of our students. As part of their migration unit this term, our Year 5/6 students have been exploring historical and contemporary migration stories. Naomi did a brilliant job of helping students make connections between the stories they have studied and the ongoing work of her organisation today. 

We also had the privilege of hearing from Firooza Amiri, a refugee from Afghanistan and a member of the Afghanistan national women’s cricket team. The students were hanging off every word as Firooza shared her personal journey, bringing the migrant experience to life and inspiring them to think about how they can help welcome others like her to our country. 

Thank you to Naomi and Firooza for sharing your time and stories with us!


We learnt about refugees and Naomi Chua introduced Firooza Amiri, a refugee herself and Firooza told us about her life of being a refugee. Firooza used to live in Afghanistan and loved to play cricket, but women were not allowed to play any sports in Afghanistan. Women were only allowed to take care of children, do housework and stay inside. One day, people were going to check Firooza's house for any illegal equipment so she had to burn her cricket bat. Then, she moved to Australia! She mainly chose to migrate to Australia because of the MCG! The MCG was the main thing keeping her dream of playing cricket alive. 
- Kite

I learnt and reflected on how lucky I am to live in this country that lets me play sports or do things that I love. I also learnt that it's so important that we welcome refugees because if I was a refugee and I came to Australia I wouldn't know anyone or what they're saying. So it's really important that we welcome the refugees.
- Heidi

I learnt how lucky we are to live in peace in this beautiful country where you can learn anything you want as well as live without any wars or disasters.
- Edison

I learned quite a lot. I learned that not many people have the same privileges as me, such as studying, walking alone on the streets, having a safe place to live and good opportunities.
- Lily











Deakin Uni & Wattle Park Primary School Counselling Opportunity
Wattle Park Primary School continues its valued partnership with Deakin University’s Counselling Unit to offer student counsellors the opportunity to work with students from Wattle Park Primary School. 

The purpose of this engagement is to provide short-term counselling to support students in achieving physical, social, emotional, academic, and psychological wellbeing.

Prior to undertaking placement, students have completed core subjects required to equip them with sufficient counselling skills and the ability to apply these to a range of clients as required.

Counselling support is only effective when those taking part are willing participants. 

If you wish for your child/ren to participate in the Deakin University Counselling Opportunity, please email the school office at wattle.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au.

WPPS will select which students participate in the program based upon the parameters of the counselling provided and the needs of the specific child. As you will understand, medical privacy is of the utmost importance, and as such the basis upon which students are chosen will only be discussed with relevant parties.

Students of the Week!

Term 2 Week 7
ClassStudent  
FACressida BFBEdwin R
12AGary Y12BIndi S
12CTemperance HS  
3AIndie A3BEden Z
4AFelix N4BMarley S
5ASophie R5BTalya M
6ACarter C6BSteven S


Mathematics Champion
A round of applause for: 

Isabella J (1/2C)

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

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. 

ICAS
We are delighted to inform you thatwe will be participating in the world-renowned ICAScompetition againthis 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 orderthinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing, Spelling and Digital Technologies. We encourage you to consider entering your child (Year 4-6 only) into ICAS this year.    

Learn more about ICAShere. 

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

  1. Read aboutICAS subjects and priceshere.
  1. Read the terms and conditions here.
  1. Go toParent Portal to purchase testshere.
  1. Enter our school’s access code – IOQ829 
  1. 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 yourrecords. 

ICAS Test Dates, Results and Certificates 

WritingDigital TechEnglishSpelling BeeScienceMathematics
Mon 4th Aug9.15 amMon 4th Aug2.30 pmMon 11th Aug9.15 amMon 18th Aug9.15 amMon 18th Aug12.30 pmMon 25th Aug 2.30 pm


We will
notify youwhenyour child’s ICAS results are ready. You will have until Monday 28th July to make an order. 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. 

We are proud to offer ICASand look forward to some fantastic results later in the year. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office if you have any questions or send me an email at james.feather@education.vic.gov.au.

Kind regards, 

James Feather - Learning Specialist

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 Carolina Trantino who is our Chef for our ‘Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program’ on Mondays and Tuesdays for Years 3 and 4.

Hi Wattle Park Community,

I have been at Wattle Park since January 2017 employed as the Kitchen specialist for the SAKG program. After many years of working in the corporate industry I decided to pursue and work in an industry I felt passionate and daydreamed of. 

The day after leaving my corporate job I rang the Stephanie Alexander Foundation and offered to come in three days a week on a volunteer basis. I was offered a role two weeks later as an educator and program facilitator training Kitchen Specialists nationally. The ‘heart and soul’ of this program are the children which makes my role at Wattle Park so rewarding.  I love seeing the transformation in these students in so many areas of their development after completing the two-year program.

I love that I can share and pass on my knowledge of growing food, to prepare it and cook healthy food, to share the values of ethics and sustainability in the hope that it has planted a seed for their future years. Parents believe me when I say that these kids love to help, wash up and are amazing with their knife skills. They also love trying new food!

This program relies on the assistance of volunteers and throughout the years I have really valued the kindness, care, gratitude, support, and friendship from the volunteers. This has made me feel like I belong to a community and as the saying goes; ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, this is the community spirit I have felt with your support in teaching your child.  

So thank you to all the volunteers who have been there giving up their time to be part of this great program.

Most weekends I head out to my 2-acre farm and hobby vineyard that grows Sangiovese grapes which were planted by parents and adult children as a family heirloom along with heirloom fig and olive trees and of course a vegetable and native garden. This keeps me connected to what I feel most passionate about with having the knowledge to grow my own organic food and the impressionable years of my childhood that I was taught these skills by my parents and grandparents. 

In my spare time I play the piano, percussion, and love going to hear live bands and concerts, theatre, live shows, galleries and movies. I also barrack for Carlton and attend every game and never lose hope that we will win another flag in my lifetime.

I am looking forward to meeting new members of the community in the kitchen next year and welcoming back the seasoned ones from previous years.

Bon Appetit!

Carolina Trantino

Have a great weekend everyone.

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School



Help Us Make Magic at the School Fete!



WPPS Notice 6th June 2025

Please scroll through to see all of our latest notices!



1. CSEF
2. School Saving Bonus reminder
3. Australian School Dental
4. Chess Club
5. Digimaker

1.Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund (CSEF) helps eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.
If you have a valid means-tested concession card, or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. Means-tested concession cards must be valid on the first day of Term 1, 2025 (Tuesday 28 January 2025) or Term 2, 2025 (Tuesday 22 April 2025).
A student aged 16 years and over who is considered a mature minor and holds a valid concession card is also eligible to apply.
Eligible families will receive a payment of $154 per year for primary school students. The funds will be paid directly to the school to be used towards camps, sports and excursion costs for the benefit of your child.
If you applied for CSEF through our school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year, unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.
If you would like to apply for the first time, please contact the school office on 9808 2165 and ask for an application form. Please return completed application forms to the school office as soon as possible.
Thank you,

Steve Donohue
Principal

2.  School Saving Bonus reminder and allocation to  school activities 

The Victorian Government is delivering the School Saving Bonus (SSB) – a one-off support of $400 for eligible government school students from Prep to Year 12 in 2025.
The SSB can be used for uniforms and textbooks until Monday 30 June 2025.
Any funds remaining after 30 June 2025, including online voucher amounts that have not been redeemed, will become a credit to use on school activities. However, the credit will not be available on your family account at our school until late July.
To use any remaining SSB funds to cover the cost of school activities in July, please refer to the SSB online system and allocate the funds to school activities before 30 June 2025.
To learn more about the SSB online system, download the step-by-step System guide for parents and carers (DOCX, 945KB) or watch this School Saving Bonus videoSystem guide translations are also available in 14 languages.
The Department of Education’s SSB contact centre will remain available until 30 June 2025. The contact centre can be reached by:After this date, please contact our administration team for any SSB related questions.
Thank you,


Steve Donohue
Principal

3. Australian School Dental


Dear Parents/Guardians,
Australian Dental Health will be visiting Wattle Park Primary School!
ADH will be providing free dental check-ups and treatment for eligible students. Regular dental check-ups are essential for keeping your child’s teeth healthy—preventing cavities, spotting issues early, and encouraging good habits.
This service is provided at no cost to eligible families through Medicare’s Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). If you have neither, Australian Dental Health will still provide a free check-up for your child.
It only takes a few minutes! All form submissions will be conducted online only. There will be  no paper forms or in-person submissions.
Deadline for Online forms: Jul 1, 2025 11:59 PM.
Any forms received after this time will only be accommodated if time permits.
Don’t miss the chance to keep your child’s smile healthy! 
If you have any questions, please reach out to ADH at info@adhv.com.au or 03 93239607.

4. Chess Club

5. Digimaker



TeamKids News - 6th June 2025

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