225 Warrigal Road, Burwood Principal: Ms Gayle Cope Tel: 9808 2165 Fax: 9888 7239 Email: wattle.park.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.wattleparkps.vic.edu.au

DIARY DATES

August

5th–9th Mobile Dentist

5th– 11th Chinese Students Visiting

7th Foundation Education Experience/ Excursion-

Chesterfield Farm

8th Yr 5 Education Experience/ Incursion- Science

9th Yr 1 Education Experience/ Excursion- Ceres

14th Yr 5/6 Camp Parent Info Night 6pm

16th Yr 4 Education Experience/ Incursion- Science

16th Whole School Photograph

19th Book Week Author visit—whole school

19th Yr 3/4 Camp Parent Info Night 6pm

22nd School Disco – see inside flyer

27th Father’s/ Special Person’s day stall during the day

28th Father’s/ Special Person’s day stall

28th Yr 5/6 Night of the Notables 6-7pm

29th Yr 6 Excursion to NGV & MWF

September

4th-6th Yr 3/4 Camp Phillip Island

11th Whole School Production Dress Rehearsal

12th Whole School Production Tech Rehearsal

12th Whole School Production (6.30pm)

16th-20th Yr 5/6 Camp Coonawarra

20th Last day of Term (2.30pm Finish)

Casual Clothes Day, Gold Coin Donation

Curriculum Days (student free days)

Monday 4th November

Second Hand Uniform Shop will be open this term on the following dates at 3.30pm for 30 minutes

Monday 12th August and Monday 2nd September

Newsletter No. 12 2 August 2019

Dear Parents,

Today was Principal’s Day an initiative by the Victorian Prin-

cipals Association (VPA) over 18 years ago, to recognize the

work performed by the Principal Class in Victorian Govern-

ment Schools. Steve Donohue and I received many, many

handmade cards from the students, a special morning tea (no,

banquet) from the staff and a scrumptious apple and cinna-

mon cake made by a parent as a centre piece!

Steve and I feel very privileged to have been given the oppor-

tunity to lead a wonderful school and are thankful every day

to have the support of the parent community and exceptional

staff.

Our physical education teacher Mr Nick Lindsay organised a

house athletics carnival on Wednesday at Haegenur’s reserve

along with Box Hill North Primary School. Although it was

the coldest morning of the year, the clouds cleared and it was

a sunny, warm day! Just perfect for all of the track and field

events.

It was wonderful to see all students participate, no matter

their ability or skill level. Everyone had a go and contributed

points to their house. Thank you to the parents who popped in

during the day to support all students in their endeavours.

At last week’s assembly I mentioned that we were in urgent

need of home stays for the six Chinese students who are visit-

ing on Monday. We have been inundated with offers, so now

have places for all students. Thank you to the many families

who offered; Adamson, Beaton, Christensen, Court, Fraser,

Quarrell, Sharma, Subedi, Yap and Zhu. Preference was giv-

en to the families who had students in either Years 5 or 6 as

all of the Chinese students are Year 6 students excepting Jin-

lin who is a Year 5 student.

Parent Teacher interviews were held this week for teachers to share each students’ learning goals for the second half of

the year and to address the June reports distributed at the end of last term. If you were unable to meet with your child’s

class teacher this week, it is imperative that you make an alternative time to ensure you are informed about your child’s

learning and achievements.

Wattle Park Primary is a member of a group of FISO schools that consist of Camelot Rise, Doncaster, Mitcham, Parkhill

and Roberts McCubbin Primary Schools. Each term we try to organise an event with our respective staffs to share an

area of expertise. This has been scheduled for Tuesday 13th August after school, where teachers will travel to one of the

above schools for the purpose of improving their teaching practise. Mrs Ainslie Peszynski and Ms Philippa Statkus will

be showcasing our school’s writing program with particular attention to how students can enhance their writing by

choosing particular words.

This term I have had a number of conversations with parents about the on-line game Fortnite. Fortunately as a parent I

did not have to deal with this particular game and the intrusion it has on childrens’ lives. However I certainly had to

intervene and moderate the content of what my sons played and their screen times. There was many a family battle and

at times I did revert to pulling out electrical plugs from the wall! Technology is a wonderful tool however screens can be

addictive and the quality of lives can be severely impacted.

My role as an educator is not a parenting one. That is for you. I can indeed relate to the challenges of parenting, it is an

overwhelming difficult and relentless task. However it also brings great joy like no other.

However for me the on-line game Fortnite is one I would not be advocating for primary school students. Minecraft, ab-

solutely yes! Minecraft is available on our school devices and when it is relevant to the curriculum we teach, and it is

incorporated as a learning task.

If you have the chance, pop down to our Foundation classes next week. All but one of the chickens have hatched so we

now have nine very yellow and fluffy chicks! The students are so very excited and they now know lots about the life

cycle of a chicken!

Enjoy the weekend!

Warm Regards

Gayle

URGENT!!! ATTENTION!!! VOLUNTEERS DESPERATLY NEEDED AS THE CANTEEN WILL NO LONGER OPERATE EVERY WEEK AND WILL CLOSE RANDOMLY WITHOUT ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS

WPPS Canteen Volunteer Form Terms 3 & 4, 2019

Our canteen would not be able to run without the wonderful support of parents, grandparents and friends of our school. We are calling for volunteers, whether you are an experienced hand or an eager learner. The canteen operates on Mondays and Fridays each week of term and you will be scheduled for 2 shifts of 2½ hours each, for the term. OR any amount of time you can help including 1/2 hr to 1hr blocks. There is always a canteen co-ordinator present to oversee the smooth running of the day. If you would like to help more, please indicate this, as extra shifts are available. The canteen relies on volunteers to operate successfully; so please give this due consideration. School Council requires all volunteers to have:

Current WWC (Working with Children Check) Signed acknowledgement of the WPPS ‘Child Safety Code of Conduct Form’ (available at the office or on the school website)

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Thank you for volunteering for Canteen

If you are a returning volunteer and your details are unchanged, just fill in the top line!

Name: __________________________________ Child/ren’s Class: ____________ Mobile Phone Number: __________________ Email Address: _______________________________________ Preferred Day: Monday Friday

Preferred Shift: 10am – 12.30pm (Monday & Friday)

11am – 1.30pm (Monday & Friday) 12pm – 2.30pm (Monday & Friday)

9am – 11.30am (Friday only) Any other information ___________________________________________

New Canteen Menu

STUDENT ABSENCES AND COMPASS

Dept regulation requires all families to inform the school of their child’s absence. Please use the Compass portal to record their absence, before 9am. Without your prior notification of any absence, via Compass preferably, or a phone call to the office, you will receive a “please explain” phone call from the office. Automated emails are sent out at 9.30am to all families with absent children. Telephone calls will be made from 10.30 onwards.

If you cannot log into Compass please contact the office for a password reset.

HATS – Remember September, Put away in May

There is a Dept policy of ‘No Hats No Play’. Hats must be worn between the months of September and April and put away from May to August. Hats must be worn whilst children are outside. If no hat is brought to school, children will be required to play in shaded areas. The school is unable to provide spare hats.

CASH/CHEQUES TO THE OFFICE

Please ensure any money brought to the school office is in a clearly named envelope: Child’s Name, Class, Pay-ment description.

SCHOOL HOURS 9am to 3.30pm

Parents of late attendees must sign into the office and collect an authorised late slip before children can go to class.

If you wish to collect your child early from school, parents/guardians must obtain an authorised early leave slip from the office, before collecting your child from class.

VOLUNTEERS FOR 2019

● All new volunteers must sign a new Child Safe Code of conduct for 2019 – see the office

● The Working With Children Certificate must also be sighted by the office – before any volunteering can be undertaken at the school – Dept requirement.

Community Notices