Wentworthville Public School QUALITY TEACHING TO MAXIMISE STUDENT LEARNING

Term 2 Week 4 2020 Newsletter

70 - 100 Fullagar Rd WENTWORTHVILLE NSW 2145 Australia Phone: 02 9631 8529 Fax: 02 9896 3079

Website: www.wentwthvil-p.schools.nsw.gov.au Email: wentwthvil-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au Student Portal: http://portal.det.nsw.edu.au

WPS FULL RETURN – ALL FAMILIES

Commencing Monday May 25

We are all back Monday May 25 and so very much looking forward to seeing your

children and operating in our ‘new normal’!

Please carefully read School Organisation and Departure Logistics on the next two pages.

From the Principal – Denise Lockrey

WPS FULL RETURN –ALL FAMILIES

School Organisation and Departure Logistics

Commencing Monday May 25

• We operate in challenging and changing times during COVID 19. We would appreciate your continued patience and

support as we safely manage people on site. Please work with us! ☺

• All families need to follow the arrival / departure process, wait on cross on ground and await teacher support in

having your child come to you for departure from school grounds. Your child’s class has a designated gate – we will

have families at the one gate. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR PICK UP SIGN (see message below)

• If you need to contact the office we would appreciate you calling on 9631 8529 or emailing the school regarding

your enquiry. The office staff will be most happy to manage your inquiry or direct you to the appropriate staff

member for assistance.

• There are 4 pickup times to ensure smooth departure for over 700 students! Please check the roster below carefully.

1) 2.30 -2.45 pm pick up time – Kindergarten

2) 2.45-2.55pm pick up time – Year 1 and Year 2

3) 2.55pm pick up time – Years 5 and 6 and Support Unit students

4) 3pm pick up time - Year 3 and Year 4

Every Day Every Day Every Day Every Day Every Day Year Group

Kindergarten Year Group

Year 1 Year Group

Year 2 Year Group

Years 3 and 4 Support Unit

Year Group Years 5 and 6 ALL = Gate 10

Gate & Departure time

Gate & Departure time

Gate & Departure time

Gate & Departure time

Gate & Departure time

Morning Arrival / Drop off -parent choice =

Gate 1 or 9 –students go directly to classroom

Morning Arrival / Drop off -parent choice =

Gate 1 or 9 –students go directly to classroom

Morning Arrival / Drop off -parent choice =

Gate 1 or 9 –students go directly to classroom

Morning Arrival / Drop off -parent choice =

Gate 1 or 9 –students go directly to classroom

Morning Arrival / Drop off -parent choice =

Gate 1 or 9 –students go directly to classroom

Gate 1 2.30-2.45pm

Gate 1 2.45-2.55pm

Gate 1 2.45-2.55pm

Gate 1 3pm

Gate 10 (Monash Street)2.55pm

Classes KG,KA,KC

to be picked up from Gate 1

Classes 1D,1R,1K

to be picked up from Gate 1

Classes 2H,2M,2C

to be picked up from Gate 1

Classes 3K,3S,3/4W, 4L

to be picked up from Gate 1

Classes 5/6G, 5/6W, 5/6N

to be picked up from Gate 10

Gate 9 2.30-2.45pm

Gate 9 2.45-2.55pm

Gate 9 2.45-2.55pm

Gate 9 3pm

Gate 10 (Monash Street)2.55pm

Classes KL,KU,KD

to be picked up from Gate 9

Classes 1P,1S,1A

to be picked up from Gate 9

Classes 2L, 2A,

to be picked up from Gate 9

Classes 3M, 4O,4G and

Support Unit to be picked up

from Gate 9

Classes 5/6B, 5/6R

to be picked up from Gate 10

Gate 1 –Blue X on ground –Please wait on blue cross and move forward once family in front have progressed

Gate 9 –White X on ground –Please wait on white cross and move forward once family in front have

progressed

Gate 10 –Dismissal will be supervised by executive staff

Please Remember!

• Prepare a sign and bring every day for pick up - show sign as you wait, so we can call your child on the

microphone and keep the pick up process flowing. A4 Sign (Line 1 – Class, Line 2 -First name / Last name –bold

/ font 32, Line 3–Gate no.)

• Parents / carers are not to proceed past the crosses on the ground and proceed further into school grounds- i.e.

no parents to wait under the COLA.

• Please line up along the external fences of the school if there are no spaces inside on the crosses inside Gate 1,

Gate 9 and Gate 10 (Years 5 and 6 parents only) - keeping social distance whilst you wait for your turn.

Preparing for the concrete arrival and managing the concrete pour at H Block (our new hall area near

Yandina)!

Due to COVID-19, NSW State planning have enabled the

construction industry to extend some hours. The building

works at WPS will extend hours on a Saturday and some

Sundays will also be used to enable work to progress.

Thanks for your understanding – it is a short term loss for a

long term gain and hopefully the sounds of silence will reign

for our neighbours sooner rather than later!

Denise Lockrey

Principal

Library News -Week 4 Term 2 2020

Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic there will be NO borrowing from the school

library. It is important that students continue to read so we have put in place

some options for your child/ren to read and listen to quality literature.

Visit Story Box library – Listen to actors and authors

reading some of our favourite stories. Username; wenty Password; wenty

Online encyclopaedia, eBook collection and educational games. Username; wentyPassword; wenty

eBooks can be read on this secure website or alternatively you can download the app see attached

instructions.

Join the local library to access an extensive range of eBooks and

audio books. Students will need help from an

adult to join.

How to join Sign up for a 30-day trial.

If you are already a library member you can access the eLibrary collection.

Visit Storyline Online. Storyline online is a

collection of well-known stories read by celebrated

actors.

Visit the Oliver Library Website. Access from the student portal

Listen to stories read by Ms Hall, Mrs Lockrey and WPS

teachers.

https://www.getepic.com/

Sign up for a free trial or enter Ms Hall’s class with code below.

Add this

webmix

We’re really excited to have BOOK CLUB running this Term, but it will

look a little different! It will be a virtual catalogue rather than the

printed catalogues you’re used to receiving.

To order from this issue go to:

Scholastic.com.au/Book-Club/virtual-catalogue-1/

Place your order on LOOP as normal and orders need to be in by:

18/05/2020

We will receive your order here to our school like normal. Once your order arrives, we

will contact you to arrange for collection:

Book orders will be given to students when then attend school for their one day a week

or alternatively a time to pick up your order will be organised.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact:

Melinda Hall- melinda.hall@det.nsw.edu.au

OSHC AT HOMEPowered by OSHClub

Introducing OSHC at Home powered by OSHClub! We are so excited to be able to share our free, new OSHC at Home program with your school community. Whether you’re an OSHClub regular or you’ve never attended our service, we know that spending more time at home now than ever before may mean you’re looking for fun and innovative activities for your child. Well, we’ve got you covered.

If you’re working (and schooling) from home or are after ideas for things to do on the weekend, our OSHC at Home program will give you the tools to keep your little one entertained in these challenging times.

What is OSHC at Home? OSHC at Home powered by OSHClub is a weekly plan filled to the brim with a range of awesome, engaging activities especially for school-aged children. From STEM and cooking activity sheets, to seeing some familiar faces taking you through meditation or art and craft video activities in your own home – you’ll have plenty to choose from. Many of these activities come from our wonderful educators, so when you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you and bring the OSHC fun home.

How do I sign up? Signing up for OSHC at home is easy – and FREE! Simply click the link below to subscribe and your OSHC at Home planner will be delivered to your inbox each week. We’ve also attached a sample planner for you to check out and see if OSHC at Home is for you.

What are you waiting for? Join the OSHC at Home fun today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Provided as a part of our school’s Parenting Ideas membership parentingideas.com.au

INSIGHTS

Successful close quarter living

The current physical distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be with us for some time. This cocooned existenceis a test of parental patience, children’s willingness to cooperate and a family’s ability to pull together.

So, if you’re about to enter the family cocoon, or even if you’ve been living in close family quarters for some time, the followingtips will help ensure your children not only survive each other, but emerge from the cocoon with a strong sense of camaraderie,a greater appreciation for their siblings and knowledge that they belong to a rock solid family who can pull together in a crisis.

Get kids on board

Start your period inside the family cocoon by getting everyone on board. Give kids a voice in how they’d like their social isolationtime to flow. Listen to their fears and worries. Empathise with any concerns about missing regular activities and contact withfriends but point to the positives of having more free time than normal. Consider providing kids with family organisation roles –the music girl, games guy, food planner and so on – and swapping these regularly to maintain interest. At Parenting Ideas, webelieve that it’s reasonable to expect kids to help at home and there are many resources at our website that help with this.

Establish structure

Many kids struggle with anxiety when routines break down, so ensure that you have a regular structure that brings predictabilityto each day. Parents and kids need their own routines starting with get up times, work times and in the event of at homelearning, times for schoolwork. Break the day into di�erent time zones that mirror their school days. A regular structure willmake the days more workable, feel shorter and be more manageable. It’s important to keep daily foundation behaviours in placesuch as waking up at the same time, dressing for school and preparing for class as they trigger your child’s readiness forlearning. Similarly, relaxing your routine on the weekend gives everyone a break from the structure of the school and workingweek. A regular family meeting provides an ideal way to give kids some input into their own routines and also a say in howfamily-life looks in the cocoon. If formal meeting are not for you, then ask for opinions and gain feedback in moreconversational ways.

Set up activity zones

The Nordic countries with their long, dark winters lead the way in successful close quarter living. One of their major strategies forsuccess is the establishment of living zones within homes and apartments. These zones di�er from the usual sleeping, cookingand communal living areas that you may be used to. They incorporate areas for individual activities including learning, playing,chilling out and exercise. With consistence use children soon associate a specific activity with a particular zone makingconcentration and focus a great deal easier. Avoid having multiple activities in one space as this may lead to conflict, whilediluting the impact of this whole zoning strategy.

Provided as a part of our school’s Parenting Ideas membership parentingideas.com.au

Get moving, grooving and having fun

Maintaining children’s healthy exercise levels when organised sports and informal group play are prohibited is a major challengefor parents. Some organisation and creativity will help. Establish mini movement breaks during each day involving dancing,shooting hoops and exercise to movement. Remember that any activity that gets kids arms and legs moving is beneficial to theirphysical and mental health. Amp up the fun factor by incorporating music, dancing to online videos and playing simple indoorgames.

Instil good mental health habits

As the old saying goes ‘prevention is better than a cure’, which is pertinent if your child is prone to anxiety and depression. Withroutine preventative measures such as playing and talking face to face with friends on hold, consider introducing regularmindfulness and breathing into your daily routine. At Parenting Ideas we recommend the resources at smilingminds.com.au asthey cater for mindfulness for all groups and at any level. Schedule times for kids to digitally connect with friends so that theydon’t experience the e�ects of isolation.

Know when to steer clear

It’s hard for family members who are used to doing things on their own to suddenly be thrust together in each other’s companyfor extended periods of time. Many family holidays end in sibling squabbles because family members aren’t used to spending somuch time together in the same space. Encourage kids to spend some time alone each day so they can relax, reflect and drawon their own emotional resources. Time alone is an under-rated contributor to a child’s resilience and mental health.

And know when to come together

While time alone is important it’s also essential for your family to come together to connect, to have fun and to enjoy eachother’s company. Work out your regular family rituals and make these non-negotiable. Evening meals, family discussions and atleast one weekly movie or entertainment activity give children and parents the opportunity to come together on a regular basis.

This time spent with your family inside the cocoon at first may be di�icult, as it requires changes of habit and behaviour fromeveryone. There are many positives to close quarter living brought about by COVID-19. Families now get a chance to connectwith each in real time and bond with each other in deep, meaningful ways.

Parents also get the chance to establish the positive behavioural and mental health habits in their children that has so o�en beenmade di�icult by the insanely busy lifestyle that we’ve all been living for some time now.

The roller coaster has stopped. It’s now time adjust to a slower pace and have the types of conversations and pleasurable timeswith kids that have meaning, have impact and leave lasting memories.

Michael GroseMichael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s anaward-winning speaker and the author of 12 books for parents including Spoonfed Generation, andthe bestselling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It. Michael is a formerteacher with 15 years experience, and has 30 years experience in parenting education. He also holds aMaster of Educational Studies from Monash University specialising in parenting education.