Dear Parents and Carers,

The purpose of last Monday’s assembly was to present the Year 6 students with their leadership badges.  It was such a delight to see the Year 6 parents in attendance to pin the badges on their children as well as having their photos taken together.

Mr Will Fowles, local member for Burwood was present also and spoke to the students about what it is to be a leader. Will was most impressed that all of the Year 6 students had the opportunity to be a leader and not just a special few. The Year 5 teachers try very hard to match the students with their particular passions and interests. Sought after roles have certainly changed over the years with ICT, Ambassadors, Performing Arts and Visual Arts being very popular.

All Year 6 students are responsible for setting the tone for the year and being positive mentors to younger students.  They have already had a number of sessions as buddies with the new Foundation students and are very caring and supportive. The Year 6/Foundation buddy program for some, last long after the students have left primary school.

I do appreciate all parents who followed the Education Department’s guidelines by wearing masks inside the gymnasium. Masks must be worn at all times when inside. This does not apply in the school playground, unless social distancing is not able to be practised.

It has been terrific moving around the school this week, seeing how positively our students have reconnected with their teachers and peers and how they have engaged with their learning. The tone in classrooms and the playground is very positive and our students are to be commended on their endeavours.

Lunchtime can be particularly long for some students, particularly on hot days. Please be aware that we do have a ‘hot day’ policy that stipulates when the temperature is excessive, usually 34.5C. The students retreat to their air conditioned classroom supervised by a teacher. We are particularly fortunate that the school grounds have many spectacular trees that provide large swathes of shade. Students who have attended other schools are very appreciative of the grass and trees at Wattle Park Primary, there are not many inner suburban schools blessed with space, large trees and natural grass.

Thank you to the Year 6 teachers; Mr Feather and Ms Statkus for organising the Year 5 and Year 6 Virtual Interrelate Parent Information session last week. The session was most informative and reassuring. Interrelate is an organisation supported by the government, education departments and health departments in providing relationship education in schools. Interrelate have been teaching sexuality and relationship education to young people and their parents for over 90 years and have a reputation for non-discriminatory and open teaching on sensitive issues.

Interrelate sessions for Year 5 and Year 6 students will commence on Friday 5^th March.

Also Happy Chinese New Year- hope the Year of the Ox is way better than the Year of the Rat!

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

 

Warm Regards


Gayle

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Please see the latest Notices!

1. CSEF
2. School Saving Bonus reminder
3. Australian School Dental


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 video. System 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:

• completing the School Saving Bonus enquiry form
• calling 1800 338 663, between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm on weekdays.

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.

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Hello everyone the School Operations Guide states QR code check ins are required to be used by all parents who enter any school building. QR codes available at the entry of all buildings.
Permitted
Camps and overnight stays
Incursions and excursions
Interschool sport 
School Tours as of term 3
Assembly - parents must wear masks (QR sign in)

Parents onsite
Mask must be worn indoors
Do not need to sign in if remain outside the school buildings
Must sign in at the office if entering any school building and observe density limits of one person per 4 square metres

Information that might assist you talking to your child about COVID-19 is available. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or contact the school if you have any concerns.

Young children with persistent mild symptoms

Younger children (pre-school up to Grade 2) may have prolonged post-viral symptoms such as a runny nose or cough and may return to school following a negative COVID-19 test even if they are not completely free of symptoms. They will need a medical certificate from their GP to confirm they are otherwise well or have recovered from their acute illness.

Any worsening of symptoms will require review and repeat COVID-19 testing, if considered appropriate by the doctor.

Students with a negative COVID-19 test whose symptoms have completely resolved do not need a medical certificate to return to the school.

For further information for schools and to distribute to families see: Managing illness in schools and early childhood services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you are concerned about your wellbeing or that of your child, please contact the school so we can talk with you about how we can best assist. Other sources of support include:

Parent Line 13 22 89

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

The Department’s COVID-19 helpline is also available on weekdays from 8.30am to 5pm on 1800 338 663.

If you know a family who speak a language or languages other than English and you know they would like further information, interpreting services are available by phoning 131 450 first. For families with a child with a disability, the Association for Children with a Disability (ACD) has additional information.

And, finally, a reminder that if you, your child, or a family member develops symptoms of COVID-19 you should get tested at a COVID-19 testing facility and stay home.

Each family should regularly check the list of public exposure sites in Victoria (where a person with COVID-19 has attended), and if anyone in the family has attended a site at the times listed, follow the instructions given.

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It’s that time of year, 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 it's important to have sun protection from now until May.

 

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