Hello Everyone,

This will be my last newsletter for this term due to me being on Camp with the year 3 and 4’s next week. It’s been a jam packed term, with lots of investigative learning and exciting events for both students and parents.

Thank you particularly to our PFA who have provided multiple events and a subsequent boost to our F-3 reading program.

As you are probably already aware, Team Kids will not be operating their normal program due to a variety of issues including staff shortages and less than average bookings at this time. Parents/Carers of families already booked have been contacted by Team Kids and offered alternatives. Please go HERE if you require further information. A message from Team Kids further down.

For eveything else go to our calendar on the School Calendar for details about upcoming term dates, finish times and term holidays dates etc.

Chickens

A message from one of parents, Sheree Spiteri, who has undertaken the ongoing  task of organising our chicken roster:

Hi WPPS families,

Thank you all for generously giving your time over the year to help out with the chickens and the visiting lambs, it is very much appreciated. 

 The September holidays are just around the corner, so I thought I better start asking who will be around and able to help with the chicken over the two weeks. 

 Please see the below dates that require helpers, and if you could let me know which days you are free to help that would be fabulous. 

Warm regards, 

Sheree Spiteri T  61 401 694 525  |  E  shereespiteri85@gmail.com

Our Students

Students of the Week

Well done to all our recipients for actively displaying our school values. Students who are not in attendance to receive their certificate will be awarded at the next week's (term's) assembly.

Class Student

FA Anika S

FB Leo L

1A Tameem M

1B Kasper R

2A Talya M

2B Destiny C

3A Siobhan T

3B Lauren G

4A Alfie R

4B Oscar R and Owen F

5A Jonathan T

5B Scarlett M

6A Kaylee R

6B Henry C

Mathematics at WPPS

At Foundation level, students play with objects and draw pictures to develop links between their immediate environment, everyday language, and mathematical activity. Students classify and sort objects into sets and form simple correspondences between them. They decide when two sets are of equal size, or one is smaller or bigger than another. Students develop an understanding of the concepts of number and numeral, count, order, add, take away and share using small sets of objects. They create and continue simple patterns and compare common objects with respect to length, mass and capacity, and order events and compare their duration. Students make rough estimates and simple measurements with respect to informal units. They name, sort, and describe familiar everyday shapes and objects, and describe position and movement in their immediate environment. Students investigate situations requiring data collection and presentation in simple displays and recognise unpredictability and uncertainty in some events.

What does this look like in the classroom?

We do our best to integrate mathematics into all content areas, reinforcing what we are teaching during our maths block throughout the day. For example: day, date, seasons, counting days at school, birthday graphs, weather and temperature as well as mathematics related to our general studies topic.

We also use literature to introduce, teach, or reinforce maths concepts. Literature connects maths to real life. This gives meaning to “why” maths is important. Books build connections to maths and contribute to student’s understanding.

Likewise, hands-on maths is important because it helps students build conceptual understanding. Using manipulatives such as unifix blocks, dice, dominoes, cards, counters, and abacus all contribute to discussing, investigating, creating, and discovering mathematical understanding. We endeavour to make our program fun, engaging and provide open-ended activities to challenge our students and learn more about how they think, as well as allowing students to learn at various levels of difficulty, complexity, or independence.

Matching numerals and groups

The maths involved: counting, sorting, matching, and sequencing.

Cookie maths-subtraction

The maths involved: attributes of a circle, dice-subitising, take away cookies, counting, how many are left? write the problem, sharing the cookies, a half. (Differentiation- number of cookies and dice.)

One hundred days of school collections

The maths involved: arrays of ten, counting by tens to one hundred 

Hooptime

Hoop Time Newsletter Article by Isabel Z and Alice M

Every year our school participates in an event called Hoop Time. Sadly for the past two years we have been unable to do this due to Covid restrictions, but luckily we were able to make it this year on the 31st of August at Dandenong Stadium. Hoop Time is a basketball event where two year levels (5s and 6s or 3s and 4s) are split up into different teams to go and compete against other schools. There are three levels of teams; Rookies, Future Stars, and All Stars. Throughout the day there are 16 minute games scheduled, the top teams from each rank will play in a semi final and potentially a grand final. Everyone had a great time and played their best!

The Year 5s and 6s met up at the school ready for an exciting day of basketball. We were very lucky to actually have this day, because it was originally cancelled due to the lack of referees for the games, but then people stepped up to volunteer to be a ref so that the day could continue. The basketball tournament had roughly 6 schools (including our school) competing against each other. We were on the court for most of the day which was tiring but definitely worth it because our two all stars teams made it to the finals. 

All our teams from our school did spectacularly, especially our All Stars Girls team, Charlotte A, a member of the All Stars team said: “We did really well and worked together as a team and tried to get everyone included and we ended up winning the grand final and that was really exciting. I think our school did really well and it was incredibly amazing how both our all stars teams won the grand finals which shows how good our school works together.” It was not only the girls All Stars team that won the finals but the boys All Stars team too! 

Our school was really lucky to be able to do this event in 2022 and go out to interact with other students from the area. We are really grateful to be able to have done this and we thank the parents, teachers, and referees for volunteering their time to make this event happen for all the students who participated and we hope it will go ahead next year for all the other students in 2023.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen and Garden is always a highlight for the Year 3’s and 4’s and this week was no different. The team of Nikki and Carolina continue to inspire our students to do their very best in scenarios that are new for the students. This week, we harvested our thriving garden to make falafel burgers. Everything was made from scratch including the delicious burger buns!

Ned- “I really enjoyed using the wheelbarrow to take the mulch down to outside the office area this week. The garden is looking better and better. We made delicious mini falafel burgers in the kitchen this week, they were very tasty!” 

Lauren- “I really like how Nikki and Carolina include everyone and everyone has fun. I like planting and harvesting in the garden and cooking lots of delicious healthy food in the kitchen! It’s all so fun and I always look forward to Tuesdays.”

Violet- “I like how we have to try new foods in the kitchen, some of the foods I would never have tried before if it wasn’t for the program. It’s good to get some fresh air on Tuesdays when we are in the garden and not in the classroom!”

Falafel burger with lettuce and cucumber yoghurt dressing

Ingredients:

1 1⁄2 cups cooked chickpeas

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

1 large carrot

1⁄2 red onion

1⁄2 zucchini - grated

1⁄4 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems – finely chopped

1⁄4 cup parsley leaves and stems – rock and chop

silver beet leaves – rock and chop

6 tablespoons flour (or gluten-free flour)

2 teaspoons cumin

2 teaspoons coriander

1 teaspoon salt

1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons grapeseed or vegetable oil (for frying)

What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Drain and rinse the chickpeas and dab chickpeas with a paper towel to remove extra moisture.

3. Add sesame seeds and use a potato masher or fork to mash them in a bowl until smooth.

4. Grate the carrot, zucchini and red onion and add to bowl.
5. Chop parsley, silver beet and coriander very finely and add to mixture.
6. Use a tablespoon of mixture and shape into a flat patty.
7. Heat a frypan and add 1⁄4 cup of oil and cook over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

8. Transfer the patties to a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and baked through. Remove the patties from the oven and let them cool for at least 15 minutes to firm up.

Victorian State School Spectacular

 You may recall from last week's newsletter, in our Staff Profile featuring our Performing Arts teacher, Ms Sylwia Michalska, the Victorian State School Spectacular was mentioned ‘I am very excited about preparing our selected students for the Victorian State School Spectacular Concert, which will take place in John Cain Arena on the 10th September. It is a huge opportunity for our students to be involved in such a breathtaking performance, so well done to all students for their hard work and commitment.’

There have been two all day rehearsals this week that will culminate in two performances at the John Cain Arena on Saturday 10th September. Ms. Michalska has done a stellar job of preparing the 19 students attending. More information can be found HERE.

Here they are at yesterday's rehearsal. 

Kids Disco

On Thursday night this week, thanks to the PFA, we had our junior and senior school discos. A whirling carnival of bass thumping delight, led by ’bop till you drop’ entertainment. All the students had a fabulous time. A huge thank you to Emily Beard and Alisha Jackson who not only created, administered and organised this event, they were there till the bitter end last night, cleaning up the PAC and ensuring we were ready to go today. Thank you!

Our Staff

Continuing with our series of getting to know our staff here at Wattle Park Primary we introduce Sam Kwong:

Hello Wattle Park!

Since 2013, after moving to Australia, I started teaching at Wattle Park. In the last five years, I had my two children and I must say, it certainly has been great to come back after having a year of leave! I come from a secondary school teaching background (Economics, History, Geography), and have transitioned into primary school teaching whilst working in London. I have also taught in Hong Kong and Canada.

I am currently looking forward to seeing the Year Three classes set up their mock market stalls where they will produce, “sell” and persuade others to buy their products! I am so impressed by their enthusiasm and effort. I feel not only proud, but am grateful to be surrounded by students who are so caring and supportive of each other. I must say Wattle Park students are the best!

Thank you

You may have noticed the luscious piles of mulch we are being graced with of late. These are courtesy of one of our Dads, Paul Summerbell, who runs ‘Cutting Edge’ tree services and is donating this to us for free.  Thank you Paul!

Speaking of the garden, if you have a spare dwarf orange and/or lemon tree you’d like to donate, please let me know. I have plans to plant a hedge of them outside the art room windows.

Notices

Team Kids

Dear Wattle Park Primary Families ,

Due to staff shortages across the childcare industry, TeamKids been forced to reduce the number of holiday programs provided this Spring and so will be closing the Wattle Park TeamKids program for the upcoming Spring Holidays.

We apologise for the late nature of this notification, and the inconvenience that may be caused by the closure of the program.

The following TeamKids Programs are a suggestion of nearby locations that you may wish to consider to book care if you require: 

Balwyn TeamKids (this is where Saskia and Stephanie will be working over the upcoming Vacation care period)

Hartwell TeamKids

To make your bookings at one of the above locations please follow the below steps: 

• Log into your account  
• Click on ‘Update Account Details’  
• Click on the ‘Add Additional Service’ tab  
• Pick the new venue you would like to add and enter payment details.  
• Save the Changes. 

Alternatively, our friendly Customer Service Team can be contacted on 1300 035 000 and can answer any questions you may have.  

Once again, we apologise for the inconvenience caused. 

Warm Regards,

TeamKids HQ

Face masks

Current advice from the Victorian Government recommends face masks are worn in indoor settings (except for close contacts, who must wear a mask indoors unless an exception applies). Students who are close contacts and want to attend should still take 5 RATs over 7 days and wear a face mask whilst indoors if they are aged 8 years or over. A letter provided by the Department of Education and Training has been sent out this week via COMPASS to explain DET’s current position. 

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 HERE on the WPPS website or the school office.

Two more things!

Remember September, hats must be worn outside during play.  If students do not have hats they are required to play in shade.

We are padlocking shut the gate to Warrigal Road after 9.15am every morning. It opens again around 3pm. We are doing this because we have a student who has a penchant for running out of the class and out of the school grounds. There are processes in place to ameliorate this issue but the safety issues are abundantly evident. Thanks for your understanding on this one.

Have a great weekend.

Steve Donohue

Principal

 

It’s that time of year - September, when all students are required to have on a hat for outside play.  Children will be required to play in the shade if no hat is worn, and being a Sun Smart School its important to have sun protection from now till May.
New hats are available from the office $15.

2. School Council Dates for 2022

Tuesday, 18th October, 7pm
Tuesday, 13th December, 7pm

3. Car Parking, Banksia Street

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