Dear Parents and Carers,

In previous years parents have been able to attend to view all the students dressed up in character, listen to presentations and ask questions. Unfortunately due to Department of Education Operation guidelines we were unable to have parents attend due to the social distancing requirements. However the show must go on and it did!

We renamed the occasion the ‘Day of the Notables’ and students from all levels were scheduled to be the audience. The Year 5 & 6 students’ presentations were phenomenal! I was so very, very proud of their efforts and at the same time certainly increased my knowledge of notable Australian inventions. Will D Year 6 researched the origin of the ‘ute’, Charlotte B and Eloise I Year 6 & 5 investigated the origins of the refrigerator by James Harrison and Jade M Year 5 impersonated Elizabeth Kenny, a bush nurse who developed a new approach to treating polio. Congratulations to the students, parents and teachers for ensuring that the students were given the opportunity to produce a body of work around a notable Australian of their choice. It was a most successful event.

Mr Nic Lindsay our Physical Education teacher has just emailed through the results of the Division Cross-Country results yesterday. How well they did! An excellent effort by all of the competitors; Lachlan C, Lucia V-D, Mae P, Riley E, Henry C, Tom P, Ayman R, Samara S, Tiana B, Charlotte B, Scarlett M, James T, Eva L, Olivia T and Catherine W. Henry C, Tom P, Samara S, Eva L, Olivia T and Catherine W have successfully qualified for the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Finals next term.

I must admit that the staff, myself included are very pleased that we are commencing a holiday break at the end of today. It has once again been a disruptive term with students, parents and teachers having to adapt and be flexible with their learning and teaching approaches. Perhaps that is the way of the future? I do often read the words of the skills displayed in our foyer area of futurist John Mahaffie and reflect on how relevant they are, more so now: Love of Learning, Skill at Learning, Self-Knowledge, People Sense, Communication, Worldliness, Comfort with Complexity, Goal Setting and Open Minds. Not sure I’m comfortable with complexity yet!

Earlier this week, Mr Barrie Dege informed me that he has been the successful applicant for a teaching position in Queensland, beginning term 3. So it is farewell to Barrie today! I was definitely taken by surprise however people are now re-evaluating their lifestyle and making alternate choices. Mr Barrie Dege has been at Wattle Park Primary School for 2 and ½ years teaching in Year 1 and this year in Year 6. Barrie has made valuable contributions to the school as a classroom teacher with expertise in curriculum particularly Mathematics, Information Technology and Mandarin language. Barrie will certainly be missed. We wish Barrie and his wife Fion all the very best for the future. Staff and students will have many fond memories of Barrie’s time here.

As one door closes another opens and with that I would like to announce the return of Ms Catherine Churchward to the school! Catherine has spent the last two years teaching in Japan and was expected to return at the beginning of term 3. So Catherine will be taking over the role as Year 6 teacher with Mr James Feather and Ms Philippa Statkus. The students Catherine previously taught are now in Year 5, 4, 3 and 2. I’m sure they will all be very excited to reacquaint themselves with Catherine.

This week there were a number of celebrations to conclude integrated units. On Monday in Foundation it was a dress up ‘Fairy Tales’ day and Year One dress up’ Olden Day’s day. The students were so excited and it was a delight to see them confident and comfortable to dress up as another character in time. A number of photos are attached to this week newsletter. They are sure to brighten up your day.

A reminder that Monday 12^th July is a Curriculum Day and students are not required at school. Assistant Principal Mr Steve Donohue will be taking Long Service Leave for the first week of term 3. Hopefully Steve will be able to squeeze in some local travel!

Thank you everyone for supporting the reopening of our canteen. Today we have 180 orders! Students and staff certainly gave it the thumbs up on Monday, so well done to our new canteen manager Charlotte Stilve!

Have a restful holiday everyone and looking forward to seeing you all on Tuesday 13^th July.

Warm Regards


Gayle

After the twists and turns of 2021 we are pleased to announce our School Fete will go ahead this year on the 27th November from 3pm – 9pm. With your support, we can make this a fantastic event!

We need a team to make this happen!

We'd love your help, and have a number of behind the scenes roles on the Fete Committee. You will receive support from a friendly team of parents and helpers, and access to information from previous fetes.

• Treasurer - Are you good with numbers/do bookkeeping or accounting? We are seeking someone who can manage the finances prior to the day, as well as on the day.

• Marketing and sponsorship - Assist with reaching out to sponsors and arranging for funds to support our fete.

• Raffle and silent action - Coordinate raffle and silent auction items across the school. 

• Logistics - If you are an organised person who would like to coordinate logistics on the day - for example how things are to be set up, where they are to be set up, timing of events etc. - then this is the role for you!

• Food and Beverage Coordinator - Coordinate the food stall and bar area. 

• Stall Coordinator - Assist with the logistics across all stalls

• Student Art Coordinator - Assist with the coordination of the student art section

• Student Stalls Coordinator - Work with the students to set up their stalls and assist with coordination

You can also assist with:

• Donations! We need plants, jam jars, pots, potting mix, seeds, items for the raffle and silent auctions. These can be left at the school office.

• Making crafts / donating items for our craft stall – please contact the office who will advise Rosie (2A Mum)  if you would like to make items for the stall or be one of the helpers. Think of crafts with unicorns, rainbows, Minecraft, Pokemon, Among Us, jewellery - or anything else that would catch your child's eye!

• Closer to the fete:
  • Provide home made jams and preserves for our stall
  • Provide books & used toys (Tip: If you wouldn't buy it, please don't donate it!

• Once you get in contact, we will invite you to a meeting for the Fete Committee and have regular meetings (not too long!)

• Then we'll support you in what to do next, and who to contact.

For more information: https://www.wppsfete.com.au/ or https://www.facebook.com/wppsfete. 

Thanks for helping make this a success!

1. Open Day 2021
Please note the NEW date : 9-11am Saturday, July 17th

2. Jars Wanted   

Families are kindly asked to donate any used spare jars.

The Year Three and Four children are preserving fruits and vegetables at the moment for the kitchen and also the fete.

We require jam sized jars and smaller.

They need to be clean and label free.

Leave them near the office in the container labelled ‘USED JARS’.

Thank you

3. Casual Colth Day Fund Raising

A big Thank You to you all for the Causal Clothes Day, Gold Coin donation. $341.95 has been collected and will be donated to State School Relief.

4. Year 1 Incursion - Now and Then

5. Volunteers needed for First Aid Room

We operate a first aid room at Wattle Park Primary school. In order to keep our First Aid Room clean and tidy, we require parent volunteers to assist us each Friday. We'd love 40 families to help - so you only have to help once a year!

For only around 15 minutes we appreciate you checking the area, changing the sheets, and returned washed sheets the following Monday. 

How to assist

• Click on the link below, choose the date you can assist, and sign up.
• You will not require an account or to keep a password. 
• If you would prefer not to use your email address, please email the school and your details can be entered manually to include you on the roster. 
• To assist with tidying the First Aid room please sign up here: https://signup.com/go/EGoQKqo