Hello Everyone!

Teaching and Learning - around the school this week

As we look toward this Friday, I can’t help but reflect on the fact that this is the first time we have completed a full term of onsite learning and teaching in over two years. This hasn’t occurred by luck, or good fortune, but by the sheer commitment and hard work of each of you, our students and our staff. Well done to all involved!

Teaching - Our Staff

Continuing with getting to know our staff at Wattle Park Primary School I’d like to introduce you to Nikki Browne. Nikki  is our Stephanie Alexander Gardener who works with our year 3 and 4 classes to plant, grow and harvest food to cook as part of our Kitchen Garden program. Nikki works with us on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

“Hi Everyone,

I’ve been working with the Stephanie Alexander Garden Program since 2012. My passion and philosophy for this program has always been high but l must say, the students here have inspired me even further. Their dedication and willingness to learn is a joy every day and together, we have created something our whole community can be proud of.

Nikki

Nikki is a force of nature herself in the garden and its abundance and vitality is a testament to her knowledge and commitment. We are lucky to have her with us.

Learning - Our Students

As part of the above mentioned program there is a theory part of each of these practical lessons that examines the science relating to the growth occurring in the garden. The above pictures are diagrams drawn in different lessons. One lesson had the learning intention of understanding how pollination works and the other was a reflection on a meal, prepared in the kitchen by the students, utilising this experience to enhance descriptive language in literacy. 

Gardens

Thank you to Mark Boer who deftly removed the diseased fig tree on the left hand side of the entry to the school office area. To be replaced with something…

Over the holidays we are having the four garden beds near Team Kids (Before and After School Care) tended to. We have employed a gardener who has a Working with Childrens Check. Saskia from Team kids has been informed. When this job is completed the beds will be weeded, mulched and the remaining plants tidied up. This is being done with a view to replanting with low maintenance natives emblematic of our school name.

COVID 19

Rapid antigen testing

The Victorian Government has announced it is extending the rapid antigen test (RAT) screening program for the first 4 weeks of Term 2.

Schools  will receive their RAT allocation for the first 2 weeks of Term 2 by Friday 8 April 2022. RATs will also be made available for any School Vacation Programs that operate at your school, for any families that need a top-up for the school holiday period.  The screening recommendations will remain the same next term for students and staff:

• Mainstream schools – recommended to test at home twice a week

More information about the management of COVID 19 at WPPS can be found HERE.

Website Calendar

You will find our calendar on the front page of our website HERE. All term dates, holidays and end of term finishing times and start dates for students are included for the year. There is also a link from each of our year levels sites to this calendar. If there is something you feel needs to go on, please email our office wattle.park.ps@education.vic.gov.au and provide time, location and a description of the event.

EVENTS

Friday, 1st April The Foundation BBQ

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this a great success measured by what a fun time every who attended was having! Thank you to Anthony from the PFA and Lincoln, Duncan and Kate R who slaved over the BBQ. Thank you also to Monica from Wattle Park Cakes who supplied us with bread for free and to Paul from  Ashbuton Meats who supplied us with sausages at a heavily discounted price. 

Monday, 4th April  Easter Raffle Draw

Thank you to Emily Beard of our PFA who braved the terrors ‘live’ TV broadcasting to coordinate and draw the prizes for our Easter Lucky Tickets Draw. We made over $2000! This money will go toward projects agreed upon injunction with the School Representative Council (SRC). It wasn’t really TV… it was Zoom - but still lots of fun for everyone concerned.

Monday, 25th April ANZAC Day Dawn Service

Wattle Park has traditionally had a dawn service on ANZAC Day. We have a fire pit for reflection, listen to the ABC broadcast of the ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance and have a cup or tea or coffee and an ANZAC biscuit to wrap up by 7.30am. Normally it occurs after school has already started term 2 but this time it is different:

Mon 25th April 6-7.30am Dawn Service at WPPS

Tues 25th April Curriculum Day  - Student free day

Wed 27th April Students return for term 2

These details are on our calendar on our website HERE

26th-29th April Year 6-7 Transition to Secondary Schooling 2023

A message from our Year 67 transition coordinator and Year 6B teacher (Mon and Tues), Cynthia Tuck:

Year 6 to Year 7 Placement Information Packs for Schools and Parents/Carers (for 2023 school year) will be available for download from the Department of Education and Training website. More information to follow in the coming weeks.

We would encourage families of Year 5 and 6 students to book in for school tours to prospective schools. Open Day experiences are also available and can be booked via school websites. Tours and Open Days are a great way to experience the school culture and understand what opportunities the school can provide to your child in the coming years. 

For any information about the transition process, please direct these to 

Cynthia Tuck (6B classroom teacher and Year 6-7 transition coordinator) Cynthia.tuck@education.vic.gov.au or at school 9808-2165 (Monday and Tuesday).

WPPS Parent & Carer Survey 2022

We'd like to learn more about you and your child's experiences at Wattle Park Primary School. The results of this survey will be used to inform our decision-making. The survey will remain open until Friday 29th April. The link is on our website HERE.

Have a great holiday everyone!

Steve Donohue

Principal

Wattle Park Primary School

Thank you everyone for a great term supporting our fundraisers! We were able to donate to Lismore South Primary School, and raised over $2000 in our Easter lucky ticket draw. Congratulations to the winners! 

  


Some exciting events for the family coming up next term:

- Barefoot Bowls - Saturday 30th April, 3-6pm, Bennettswood Bowls Club, Burwood. 

- Mothers & Special Persons Afternoon Tea - Sunday 15th May, 3-5pm, Wattle Park Chalet, Burwood. 

To book: We will have the bookings open shortly for both events. We will advise via your Class Reps - stay tuned for updates.

As well we have:

- Mothers & Special Persons Stall - for the kids to choose from a terrific selection of gifts, Thurs 5th May & Fri 6th May

- Bunnings BBQ, Box Hill, 29th May

How can I help?

If you would like to get involved in supporting these events or would like to help organise, please contact Anthony Hall, PFA President, on pfawattleparkps@gmail.com

Enjoy your school holidays!

From the PFA

The Victorian Government has announced it is extending the rapid antigen test (RAT) screening program for the first 4 weeks of Term 2 as COVID Safe settings continue.


3. Message from Canteen
1). Canteen is always looking for volunteers to help.....12pm - 1.30pm on Friday.  Please register via            https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/827030846186224028/false?popup=true#/invitation

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/bpUzddO

 

Please see our office staff to purchase hats and bags.

Hats are $15.00

New bags can also be purchased from the office for $55.00