Dear Parents and Carers,

We couldn’t have wished for better weather for our House Cross Country at Cooper’s Reserve on Thursday.

It was wonderful to see our Year 3 to Year 6 students participate and compete in a supportive and encouraging environment. Cross country is certainly not everyone’s favourite sporting event so it was gratifying to see all students giving it a go- even one student with a broken arm and another with a broken finger!

We are not sure yet as to who is the eventual House winner but I’m sure an announcement will be made at assembly on Monday. Special thanks to our Physical Education teacher; Mr Nic Lindsay for all of his organisation and the staff who acted as marshals. The morning ran very smoothly.

This week was busy before and after school with the purchasing of gifts for Mother’s and Special Person’s Day. A huge thank you to organisers Sally Waller (parent of Hayley Year 4 and Lexi Year 1) and Sarah Reutersward (parent of Oscar Year 3 and Kasper Foundation) and their band of many helpers. From all accounts all gifts were sold out! A remarkable effort.

Education Week celebrations will take place from May 24th to 28th. The theme for the week is ‘Building Connections’. We will have an Open Day on Saturday 29^th May from 9:00a.m. – 11:00a.m. The purpose of Open Day is two-fold. It is an opportunity for prospective families, especially those looking to commence school in 2022 to view the school and also for current families to visit the school and meet their child’s teacher for an informal chat and visit to the classroom.

Mr Davey our Visual Arts teacher has been busy putting together permanent displays of student tiles created by last year’s Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students. The Year 3 and 4 tiles are decorating part of the level 3 building and the Year 5 &6 tiles the stairwell in the two storey building. If you get the chance pop by to have a look. How talented are our students and Mr Davey!

We are looking forward to our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Gardener commencing next week. The Year 3 and 4 teachers have done their very best to conduct weeding and planting sessions but it will be great to have a gardener specifically for the program again.

Next week the Year 3 and 5 students will be participating in NAPLAN assessments. Wattle Park Primary School has been randomly selected to complete the NAPLAN tasks on-line. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for and students are not expected to do so. You can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is just one part of their school program, and by reminding them on the day to simply do their best. ACARA does not recommend excessive preparation for NAPLAN or the use of services by coaching providers. Further information regarding NAPLAN on-line information for parents can be found here-

https://nap.edu.au/docs/default-source/resources/naplan-online-information-brochure-for-parents-and-carers.pdf

The Premiers' Reading Challenge has begun for 2021.

Students should now have a copy of their login details. Please encourage them to follow this up with their classroom teacher if they do not have it or have lost it. The link to the Challenge site is: https://vprc.eduweb.vic.gov.au/home

The Challenge ends on September 17.

Every four years schools participate in a School Review - which is the evaluate and diagnose part of the review cycle (see image below). 

Review cycle

We have been working for the last six months putting together the documentation for the Review. We have spent time looking at the data and identifying our achievements based on our Strategic goals set in 2016. This process involves a careful review of all data with an open attitude towards reflection and what has and has not been achieved. 

A special thanks to our Leadership and Curriculum Teams for their input and to Assistant Principal, Mr Steve Donohue in particular who has assisted in putting together the main report.

We will be working through a comprehensive program of review with a panel consisting of:

• An appointed external Reviewer
• Senior Education Improvement Officer (from Regional Office)
• Two Challenge Partners (principals from other schools)
• School Council President
• Leadership Team
• Student Team

Our Validation Day is May 20th and we will spend time observing classrooms, asking questions about the enablers and barriers to achieving our goals in the last four years. 

This day will also prepare us for the Fieldwork Day on May 31^st. This will be a time for the panel to speak to students and staff about the school and to ask questions to gain more insight into the school's work towards achieving the strategic goals.

The Final Day is on June 10th, this will involve the Reviewer presenting her report and the panel working on the development of the new Strategic Plan which will set out our work for the next four years.

So with NAPLAN, School Review and the usual demands of a school week everyone on staff certainly looks forward to the weekend to recharge their batteries.

Enjoy your weekend too!

Warm Regards



Gayle

1. URGENT - Parent Contributions

2021 Parent Contributions now overdue.  Final Parent Contributions were due on the 14^th March 2021.

Wattle Park Primary School purchases, and has paid for, every student’s stationery requirements for 2021. 2021 Parent Contributions are reduced due to the school’s ability to buy in bulk and save GST costs, passing on the saving to our students.

At the moment nearly 25% of families have not paid their Parent Contributions and the school is now out of pocket. Family statements will be sent home early next week and your prompt attention would be greatly appreciated.

For a confidential discussion about accessing any of the above options these services, please contact Ms Gayle Cope, Principal, on 9808 2165 or gayle.cope@education.vic.gov.au

2. Financial Support for Families

School Council understands that some families may experience financial difficulty and offer a range of support that may assist:

• CSEF Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund - Families with current Health Care cards - See school office - Applications by 25^th June 2021
• WPPS Second Hand Uniform Shop
• State School’s Relief responds to School Principal requests for assistance for students. Eg school uniform/shoes
• Individual Payment Plans

Payment Methods

• EFTPOS
• BPay – contact the school office for your individual reference number
• Cash/Cheque

3. Open Day 2021

4.Running Club