Hello Everyone!

Teaching and Learning

Maths at WPPS 

Our Year 6B teacher Mr James Feather, as mentioned in a previous newsletter, is training to be a Primary Mathematics and Science Specialist (PMSS). This is an initiative from the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) program that upskills primary teachers in government schools to become mathematics or science education specialists. We acquired a grant for this program and James spends Monday and Tuesday of each week either studying or working with classes to improve mathematics outcomes for our students. This week James worked with both of our Yr 6 classes:

Year 6 Maths

Decimals

This term in Year 6, we have been doing a lot of work in understanding decimal numbers as well as adding and subtracting decimals. We have completed different worded problems, games and much more. We have also been doing decimal activities such as The Decimal Mystery about solving decimal problems, and converting between fractions, decimals and percentages.

Time

Now we are up to time, it's what we use everyday! This term we have worked on calculating elapsed time. We went into the gymnasium to participate in some fun activities on time to challenge our learning. Below are some photos from our unit on time.

Thanks for reading.
Trent Zheng and Suliman Ayobi (Year 6B)

Sporting Achievements

On Tuesday, 14th of June we had various students compete in the Regional Cross country. Just so we all know how this works it goes like this: 

House Cross Country (held at each individual Primary School)  > District > Division >  Regionals > State > Nationals … (Olympics?!)

Boys 9/10 yo

Lachie C

James C

12/13 yo girls 

Charlotte A

Tiana B

Boys 12/13 yo boys

Henry C qualified - which means Henry will go through to the State Finals, which are on the first week back in Term 3 - well done Henry!

Our Staff

As we continue to get to know our staff at WPPS I’d like to introduce our Performing and Visual Arts teacher, Sarah Nolan.

It’s been a joy to work with the students at WPPS these past two terms. My passion has always been art and I’ve really enjoyed working with classes to produce work that takes more than one day which is usually my role as a Classroom Replacement teacher. Thank you to WPPS for the opportunity I’ve had in both Visual and Performing Arts this semester and l look forward to working with various classes again as a CRT next term.

National Boys Choir auditions

We have been lucky enough to have had Sarah Nolan as our Performing Arts teacher for the last two terms as Sylwia Michalska has been on leave. Sylwia will return in term 3. As part of the PA program we were contacted by Andrew Bainbridge from the Australian Boys Choir to ask if we would like our Year 1 and 2 boys to audition.  On Tuesday the 14th of June all of the boys individually auditioned by being asked to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and a series of notes to check their ability to be in tune. As a result, a small group of boys were chosen to proceed to the next level of auditions in Ringwood. The parent/guardian of any student who was successful has since been notified with a letter to ask if they would be interested in going further with this process. Well done to all of our Year 1 and 2 boys for participating and good luck to those who choose to move forward in this endeavour.

SCARECROW and SRC Representatives
Congratulations to the following students who received their badges this week:

Events

Term 2 Reports

Although we have been fraught by staff absences due to COVID 19 we are still endeavouring to have school reports handed out to students late next week. They will also be available online by 4pm on the day we give them to students.

2023 Enrolments

2023 school planning has commenced. We are having quite a few families who are asking to enrol from outside our zone due to various factors - all of which are inherently a very positive reflection on WPPS!  So, if you have a child/children due to commence school in 2023 please complete a school enrolment and forward to the school office along with a copy of their Birth Certificate & Vaccination Certificate ASAP. A  2023 School Enrolment form is available on the WPPS website or the school office.

Hello Chickens!

Our lovely feathered ladies  require your help! 

We are still looking for someone to coordinate the roster for feeding the chickens over the upcoming holidays and the weekends thereafter. We already have 7 families who are ready to help. We just need someone to coordinate the roster. Aisha Grey has been a delight in this role and will continue to do this until the beginning of the holidays. Ms Easterbrook already has a spreadsheet ready to go. Please contact her on amy.easterbrook@education.vic.gov.au if  you can assist. 

COVID 19

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. 

COMPASS PAY - 2022 Parent Voluntary Contribution Reminder

Wattle Park Primary School provides all students with free instruction to fulfil the standard Victorian Curriculum.  All contributions are voluntary. However, the ongoing support of our school families ensures that our school can offer the best possible education and support for our students.

Wattle Park Primary's School Council makes every effort to keep the cost of items and activities to a minimum for all parents by purchasing in bulk, all student learning requisites, keeping items exempt from GST.

Wattle Park Primary School offers a wide range of subjects and special curriculum experiences for our students across all year levels and provides all necessary student subscriptions and supplies.

Thank you to those who have paid their voluntary contributions so far.

Building & Library Funds are Tax Deductible and can be included in this current Financial Year if payment is received before 30/6/2022.

For those of you who haven’t paid, we really encourage you to do so if possible as the school has purchased all student requisites for 2022 in good faith.

Be on the lookout for a Compass alert.

Details on how to use this can be found HERE as a list of instructions or HERE as an instructional video.

Events

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

Have a great weekend everyone!

Steve Donohue

Principal

Along with the student enrolment form, you must also send:

• A copy of your child’s birth certificate/passport
• Your child's immunisation history
• Any visas (if applicable)

Once received, you will receive a confirmation email at our earliest convenience.

If you know of other families yet to enrol, please encourage them to do so.

If you have any questions relating to the enrolment process, please email or call the office (9808 2165).


We look forward to seeing you in 2023.

Kind regards,

Steve Donohue
Principal

WPPS Trivia Night!

WHEN: Sat 30th July @ 7pm
WHERE: WPPS gym
HOW MUCH: $30 pp
BYO: drinks, nibbles, friends and a fun attitude!
And there's a theme! 'Christmas in July!'
* No high heel shoes - sorry - ruins the gym floor!

The second hand uniform shop is open this Monday 20^th June -8:30am – 9:00am

Located in the school gym.

Donations of second hand uniforms can be made anytime by placing them in the second hand uniform box near the office.

We are in desperate need of sizes 10 and larger but all unifrom donations are welcome.

Location of donation box near the office.

2. 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 if you require assistance.

If you have missed the opportunity to contribute to our Parent Contributions, it's not too late! You will receive information via COMPASS next week. 

3. Canteen News

1. 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 a confirmation email?
• Please supervise if your child/ren are ordering lunch

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

4. Second Hand Uniform Shop - Gymnasium

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

5. School Council Dates for 2022

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