Principal’s Newsletter 10th November 2017Dear Parents and Carers,I hope everybody enjoyed a very relaxing long weekend that included the Melbourne Cup Day holiday. Staff members were busy report writing on
Monday and were able to do this from home. It’s a hectic time of year with many events happening across the school campuses. The plans for 2018 are well under way with the Learning Centre Information Nights scheduled later on in November so please come along.
The prep transition playgroup commences on November 20th for four weeks. This is a great orientation opportunity for new parents and their children and enables staff (teachers and allied health) to familiarize themselves with the students and to provide support to the parents. Amy Byrne is organising this as well as a series of visits for kindergarten teachers who are keen to build a stronger network with the school.
The Transition Program for students in years 9 and 10 who will be going to Cayleys Road in 2018 is progressing very successfully and it’s been great to see so many parents visit the campus. Staff are always available to discuss any concerns you may have with the
move. The Cayleys Road team have been shortlisted for the Principal’s Association for Special Schools award for ‘PASS Outstanding Team’ which will be decided at a glittering event at Etihad Stadium tonight. Roisin Dalton and Nicole Geehman have also been shortlisted. We’re very proud of them all.
The intensive swimming program for the main campus has finished and thank you to all the parents who come along to assist with this program. Although the lessons are group lessons the large number of additional people in the water made more 1:1 possible and certainly helped with skill acquisition. A huge thank to the staff involved in organising this mammoth program.
Last week we had students from years 8 and 9 on camp in Echuca and I was delighted to receive this feedback from Darby ‘The year 8 and 9 students have had a great time here at Billabong Ranch in Echuca. The activities that we have done are orienteering, bush first aid, animal nursery, low ropes, pedal boats, mini golf, horse riding, river cruise, beach volleyball and archery’. This week we have had a group of students complete the Blackwood Super Ride – a great achievement for the students and the staff. Next week we have students in years 11 and 12 heading to Queensland and Tasmania for a week. A big thank you to the staff who are supporting them. It will be a great adventure.
Marie Hayes, Principal
Wellbeing Well done to the Student Leadership group who, together with Werribee secondary students, completed a fantastic year’s work. The group celebrated the end of the program this week in Café 11. The SRC have
also been busy this term supporting a very successful Bandanna Day and Halloween dress up. It was great to see so many bandannas worn by staff and students across the school and was great fun to see the Halloween dress ups. As part of the work the school has done over the past 18 months on the RESP (Refugee Education Support Program) there was a final presentation given at Suzanne Cory High School by Joan Kurtis last week. This summarised the main outcomes of the program, which included increased student engagement, family events, shortlisted for CMY nomination, Wyndham Fashion Parade, Basketball skills development, opportunities for student voice, increased sense of belonging and positive and supportive partnerships. Future focus is on sustainability of the project and support for families and students involved.
As part of the Respectful Relationships program we are planning our next Community of Practice. We will again have 10 partners schools attend a session at Warringa Park Main Campus. The focus of this second session will be on the RRRR (Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships) curriculum. We will be rolling out the curriculum across our school from next year.
Catriona Toland, Assistant Principal - Wellbeing
Warringa Winners! On Thursday last week Little Veggie Patch Garden company delivered a brand new
raised Garden Bed to our school. This was the school prize Warringa Park students
won for our 10 entries to the National Water Conservation Week Poster Prize in September, the theme being awareness of pollution in the habitat in and around
Werribee River. Here Connor from Group 1, one of our successful artists, poses with
Ruth in front of the garden bed.
Specialist News
In Specialists this week our Art students have been busy creating our garden
for the Visual Arts exhibition using upcycled materials. In Music and Performing Arts Gavin and Brian organized our school’s contribution
to the ‘Count us In’ national song live stream in Australian schools, last Thursday at 12.30pm. The
song our students in a Groups 6, 20 and 42 sung
was ‘Shine Together’.
Swimming finished off in great style last week
with the Early Years Swimming Program and
fun on the slides and dragon last Friday. Have
a great weekend, from the Specialist Team
Andrew, Ruth, Kacey, Emilia, Brian, Oren,
Gavin, Fiona, Melody and Rachael.
THE S T A T E S of REGULATION
This year at Warringa Park School the Occupational Therapy team have rolled out a school wide self-‐regulation program. The Zones of Regulation is a program designed to help students control their emotions and behaviours. Here at Warringa Park School we have re-‐named the program to ‘The States of Regulation’. The program has been designed so that it can be used by anyone who is spending time with the child. The program focuses on identifying our emotions, how to move between states of alertness and self-‐regulation. We have been teaching students to self-‐regulate using a range of sensory and calming strategies that are appropriate to the individual student. The Red State is used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness and intense emotions. A person may be elated or experiencing anger, rage, explosive behaviour, devastation, or terror when in the Red Zone. The Yellow State is also used to describe a heightened state of alertness and elevated emotions, however one has more control when they are in the Yellow Zone. A person may be experiencing stress, frustration, anxiety, excitement, silliness, the wiggles, or nervousness when in the Yellow Zone. The Green State is used to describe a calm state of alertness. A person may be described as happy, focused, content, or ready to learn when in the Green Zone. This is the zone where optimal learning occurs. The Blue State is used to describe low states of alertness and down feelings such as when one feels sad, tired, sick, or bored. For more information on how to continue this at home contact the Occupational Therapy team (Lisa Black or Nikki Roche). Website: www.zonesofregulation.com
Attention all carers
Carers Victoria, a not-for-profit organisation representing and supporting carers across the state, is conducting research to better understand what happens in care relationships when something goes wrong.
The research, in the form of a brief on-line survey, also aims to gather information about how carers prefer to receive information so it can improve delivery and better educate and support victims.
If you are an older carer, or if you care for an older person, or a family member or friend assists you, Carers Victoria encourages you to participate.
If you can help, please go to this site to find the survey: https://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/services-information/support-services/attention-all-carers-help-us-help-you
The survey closes on 23 November 2017. All information provided will be treated in confidence.
Wyndham Disability Support Network
Want to Get Your Learners Permit? KSL’s Learner Permit Program has been designed to assist people with a
disability to gain their learner’s permit.
This group program is based on a 10 week model but can be altered to suit the needs of participants as required.
The program covers all aspects of the learners permit Road to Solo Driving book:
The licensing journey Learning to drive The challenges of driving Managing risk The 10 steps to getting your
license Rules and responsibilities
Plus assistance to book your test!
Activities are interesting, fun and practical!
Where: 53a Kookaburra Ave Werribee
When: Thursdays from 3pm-4.45pm (commencing 19th October) Cost: free with current health care card.
*This is a group program. If you require specialsed or one to one assistance please discuss when enquiring. **Eligibility criteria to be discussed upon expression of interest. *** Spaces are limited.
For further information or expressions of interest please call Laura Lyons 9974 9671
Karingal Inc. (Vic) Limited Liability Reg. Assoc. A0038261E ARBN 158 375 903 | ABN 97 468 305 401 TOID 5553
Wyndham Park, Werribee City Centre
Enter via Wedge St Piazza
wyndham.vic.gov.au/picnicinthepark
Come and see what we’ve got planned for the
redevelopment of Wyndham Park. Share your ideas and
chat to the project team.
LIVE MUSIC & GAMES
PARK PLANS
FREE SAUSAGE SIZZLE
A FREE WYNDHAM CITY EVENT
ParkPicnicin theParkPicnicPicnicin the
FRIDAY 17 NOVEMBER11AM - 2PM AT WYNDHAM PARK
Save the date.
Year 12 Graduation. CRC and VCAL.
Wednesday 13th December, 2017.
Grand Star Receptions.
499 Grieve Pde, Altona North.
$51 per head. 3 course meal.
Soft drinks available.
Neat Semi Formal Dress.
Warringa UpdatesDates for the diary:
Term 4: 9th October to 22nd December 201713 Nov: School Council meets24 Nov: Volunteers Afternoon Tea7Dec: Christmas Stall @ main campus8 Dec: Year 10 Formal12 Dec: School Council meets13 Dec: Year 12 Graduation19 Dec: Arts Festival22 Dec: Early dismissal at 1pm
Parent Tours 2017:These are the dates for school tours from 9:30-11am:
Early Years16th November
VCAL Social Enterprise
CoffeeOur partnership company
WithOneBean
Whole Beans 250g@ $ 12.00 Medium ground 250g@ $12.00
Dark ground 250g@ $ 12.00Orders via email
Ethical social Environmental
Specialty coffeeFrom Timor-Leste.
Variety Children’s Christmas Party Registration Process for
Warringa Park SchoolThe Variety Children’s Christmas Party will be held on Friday 8 December at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The event is for children 0-13 years old with special needs and siblings under 13 years are more than welcome to attend. Carer must be able to attend with their child and transport their child to this event.
When: Friday 8 December 10.00am-1.30pmWhere: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
Registration: All registrations are made via Warringa Park School. Please contact Therese Bourke via [email protected] if you would like to attend this event with your child before 17th November.