Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s been a busy but different week at school with the Year 3 and Year 5 students participating in on-line NAPLAN assessments.

This year the on-line process has been smoother than in 2019 although there have been slight but resolvable issues. A huge thank you to Assistant Principal Mr Steve Donohue, Mr Richard Abell and Ms Amy Easterbrook who have managed the implementation of the assessments at the coal face.

By all accounts, NAPLAN is proposed to be on-line for all schools in 2022.

Next Thursday the school is involved in the School Review process, hence leadership staff and classroom teachers’ programs will be interrupted to accommodate the requirements of the review. Our School Council President, Mr Angus Mackinnon is required to be part of the process also. The school is so fortunate to have supportive and committed School Council members who are active contributors to our school. That is certainly not the case in all schools.

Mr James Feather, one of our Year 6 classroom teachers is a participant in the Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists Initiative. It is by invitation only to be part of this program and Wattle Park Primary School was chosen because of its passion and focus to improving students’ mathematics learning. Unfortunately this means that Mr Feather is out of the classroom for 0.5 of his week at school. However the aim of the initiative is to improve all teachers’ mathematics teaching with Mr Feather being the mentor with specialist knowledge and skills.

Conversations around mathematics teaching and learning have certainly ensued along with a mathematics’ activity for staff each week at staff meetings. On Tuesday afternoon’s I take a Maths Olympiad class for Year 5 & 6 students and two Year 4 students. I am staggered at their ability to problem solve what at first seem simple problems but are actually quite challenging. I have included some problems we attempted and solved this week.

Our Foundation teachers; Ms Emma Tan and Mrs Robyn Heeps are off to visit Kindergartens on Monday. Enrolments are steadily coming in for 2022. Ms Tan and Mrs Heeps are such impressive early years’ educators, in my many years in the educations system I have not encountered better teachers. The patience and encouragement they show towards their students as they learn is extraordinary.

The school is celebrating Education Week by having our traditional Open Day on Saturday 29th May from 9:00-11:00a.m. Open Day was traditionally set aside as a day that prospective families to the school can view the site and meet the teachers. However it is also a day for current families to pop by and see their child’s classroom and chat with their teacher informally. A Devonshire Tea is served in the staffroom by community members as a special treat.

It’s interschool sports day for the Year 6 students against Our Lady of Good Council where students compete in T-ball, netball and AFL football. Hope the rain holds off!

Enjoy the weekend and don’t forget to have an attempt at the mathematics’ questions.

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