Hello Everyone!

Teaching and Learning - around the school this week

District Cross Country

On Wednesday 25th May, the students who finished in the top 10 for their age group in our WPPS Cross Country competed in the District Cross Country at Ruffey Lake Park. Everyone put in a fantastic effort, with 20 students qualifying for Division Cross Country to be held on Monday 30th June. 

A special mention to our place-getters: James C (1st in 9/10yo boys race); Lachlan C (3rd in 9/10yo boys race); Patrick B (2nd in 11yo boys race); Henry Curlewis (1st in 12/13yo boys race) and Tiana B (2nd in 12/13yo girls race). 

Congratulations and best wishes to all of the students as they progress to the next round. 

A big thank you to Mr. Nic Lindsay, our Physical Education teacher, for his organisation of the day. Also, many thanks to all the staff and parent volunteers who helped out in so many different ways. It is through the cooperation of our parents and teachers that we give our students the most amazing extracurricular opportunities at WPPS. 

Open Day (Saturday 28th May)

On Saturday the 28th of May, we will be holding our annual opening morning for the community. This is an opportunity for prospective parents and 2023 Foundation parents to get to know the school, running from 9:00 – 11:00am. I would like to acknowledge the attendance of teachers on Saturday morning. It is a measure of good will that teachers give up their Saturday morning to promote our school. 

Premier’s’ Reading Challenge

A reminder that the ‘2022 Premier’s Reading Challenge’ opened on March 15th. The Challenge encourages children to read a number of books over the year and to log their reading efforts online. This year’s Challenge ends 2nd September, 2022. All successful participants will receive a certificate at assembly later in the year. Parents/carers, please speak to your child’s teacher if you need your child’s login details.

Teacher Professional Practice Day - Friday 10th June

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, WPPS has scheduled the common Professional Practice Day for teachers on Friday 10th June. Please note that this will be a student-free day and therefore students will not attend school this day. To assist families, TeamKids will operate. Please contact TeamKids directly to make bookings. Tel: 1300 035 000 

PFA - Thank you

At the end of Term 1 and the beginning of this term the PFA has been incredibly busy creating amazing experiences for our students and raising valuable funds. So far this year the PFA has facilitated:

• ANZAC Day community dawn service
• Foundation Welcome BBQ
• Hot Cross Buns Fundraiser for Lismore PS 
• Barefoot Bowls Social Afternoon 
• Lucky Tickets Easter hamper 
• Mother’s Day and Special Persons stall
• Mother’s Day and Special Persons Afternoon High Tea 
• with a Bunnings BBQ and Working Bee to come 

I would like to in particular thank Emily Beard (parent of Anna, Heidi and Patrick B) and Rosie Kirn (parent of Ned H) for coordinating many of these events. I would like to highlight, in particular, the recent Afternoon High Tea that was held at the Wattle Park Chalet last Saturday. By all accounts the event was a sell out and an enjoyable and memorable day for all. 

It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to be running these activities again and seeing our community come together. Our school community is very fortunate to have such an energetic, dedicated and talented group of people working to make our school a better place and to build a strong, vibrant community. Thank you to everyone who offered their time to these events. The children and the staff really appreciate your involvement. 

Working Bee

On Sunday 5th of June from 11-1pm,  we have scheduled a mammoth Working Bee at WPPS to do the things listed below HERE. 

If you see something on the list you’d like to take care of prior to this date,  please email steven.donohue@education.vic.gov.au or emma.tan@education.vic.gov.au Please email all other inquiries to either Email Michael Hunt or Emily Beard at: pfawattleparkps@gmail.com.

COVID 19

The spread of COVID still remains as something we must continue to be vigilant about at our school. 

Students and staff who are household contacts of a COVID case are not required to quarantine. They may return to school as long as they undertake rapid antigen tests 5 times during their 7-day period. They are required to notify the school that they are household contact. Students aged 8 years and above who are household contacts are required to wear face masks when indoors at school unless they have a valid exemption. 

COVID positive results must be reported to school by phone or written notification and remain in 7-day isolation. 

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

Cold and Flu

School classrooms are often referred to as ‘small petri dishes’ when it comes to the spreads of colds and viruses. Although we have commercial grade air purifiers in each classroom and we endeavour to keep as high a level of hygiene as possible in our school, the best way to reduce the spread of a virus to students and teachers is for the virus not to come into the classroom in the first place. If your child is unwell, or displaying any cold or flu symptoms, please do not send them to school. 

Thank you for your assistance in keeping our school community safe. 

Early Arrivals 

Just a reminder to all families that our school grounds are not supervised before 8.45am. We are having students arrive earlier and earlier and it is a concern that they are unsupervised. Please ensure that your child does not come to school prior to 8.45am to ensure their safety. We ask that you please utilise our Before and After School Care service through TeamKids if required.

Events

Please check the calendar on the school website regularly to keep up to date with what’s happening across the school.

Go HERE for event details on our website’s calendar.

Have a lovely weekend!

Emma Tan

Acting Assistant Principal 

Thank you to the families who have contributed towards the 2022 Parent Contributions.

Please remember that donations to the WPPS Building and Library Funds are Tax Deductable.

 If you have missed the opportunity to contribute to 2022 Parent Contributions, it’s not too late.

Student Curriculum Contributions $300 providing all student classroom and curriculum supplies

Library Fund (Tax Deductable) providing library and IT resources

Building Fund (Tax Deductable)  providing classroom/buildings upgrades

Ground Maintenance providing regular lawn and grounds maintenance

Financial assistance

Current Health Care Card holders are able to apply for CSEF – Camps Sport & Excursion Funds - $125 per student

Please note applications close on the 24^th JUNE 2022

 Please don’t hesitate to contact the office is you require assistance.

What a fun afternoon at the Chalet! A big thank you to all of the attendees who made our first Wattle Park Afternoon Tea last Saturday such a success! Guests enjoyed treats, bubbles, tea/coffee, door prizes, lucky tickets and visited stallholders including Shereen Jewellery, Diana Ceramic (who also donated a major prize), and Stacey K Candles (who donated a door prize and additional bonus prize!

The silent trivia was hotly contested, with it coming down to the wire between two tables! Congrats to Anwyn's table for being the Afternoon Tea Trivia Queens.

A massive thank you to Prem, Farrah and Kyo at Provincial Events (Wattle Park Chalet) for hosting the event and making it so special, and to the event team including Dani (our prize gatherer extraordinaire), Hayley (Queen cardmaker & greeter), Su San (who made the gorgeous flowers on the tables), Kate and Kristy for your support promoting the event and on the day. 

And a special thank you to our sponsors - please support them as they have supported us!

We look forward to seeing you all again next year!

Thank you,

Rosie on behalf of the event team 

1. Financial Assistance - CSEF


2. 2022 Parent Contributions

Thank you to the families who have contributed towards the 2022 Parent Contributions.

Please remember that donations to the WPPS Building and Library Funds are Tax Deductable.

If you have missed the opportunity to contribute to 2022 Parent Contributions, it’s not too late.

Student Curriculum Contributions $300 providing all student classroom and curriculum supplies

Library Fund (Tax Deductable) providing library and IT resources

Building Fund (Tax Deductable)  providing classroom/buildings upgrades

Ground Maintenance providing regular lawn and grounds maintenance

Financial assistance

Current Health Care Card holders are able to apply for CSEF – Camps Sport & Excursion Funds - $125 per student

Please note applications close on the 24^th JUNE 2022

Please don’t hesitate to contact the office is you require assistance.

3. Note from our Canteen Manager

Thank you to parents who are using the Flexi School app for ordering lunch orders.
Please be mindful of the following when ordering:

• Date - please check you have ordered for the correct date
• Have you received confirmation email?
• Please supervise if your child/ren are ordering lunch

• Monday, 20th June, Items for sale range between $2-$5

5. 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

Tuesday, 21st June, 7pm
Tuesday, 26th July, 7pm
Tuesday, 23rd August, 7pm
Tuesday, 18th October, 7pm
Tuesday, 13th December, 7pm

Parents, out of courtesy to our neighbours please do not park across their driveways in Banksia Street, when dropping off or picking up your children. whitehorse Traffic Officers will be patrolling during these times.

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

The dental van will be visiting school on the week from Tuesday, 8th August. Form to be returned to the classroom teacher, no later than 3rd June. Spare forms can be collected outside the Office.