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

November 11th Foundation Education/Incursion Billy Carts 11th Yr 5 Education Experience/Incursion Crack IT 12th Yr 6 Education Experience/Incursion A2B Whitehorse Council 13th Step Up Session 2 - Foundation 2020 15th Yr 3 Education Experience/Excursion- Melbourne Museum 15th Yr 5 Education Experience/Incursion The Maths Show 15th Yr 1 Education Experience/Incursion Professor Bunsen 19th Yr 5 Education Experience/Excursion– Dumpling 20th Step Up Session 3 - Foundation 2020 22nd Yr 4 Education Experience/ Incursion– Hands-On Science 27th Step Up Session 4 - Foundation 2020 28th Foundation Education Experience/Excursion– LEGOLAND 28th Yr 3 Education Experience/Incursion- Heat and Energy 29th Yr 4 Education Experience/ Excursion– Melbourne Museum December 2nd Transition Morning Group 1 - Foundation 2020 3rd Transition Morning Group 2 - Foundation 2020

4th Transition Morning Group 3 - Foundation 2020

4th Yr 6 Whole Day Bike Ride

5th-10th Swimming for whole school

9th Yr 2 Pizza Night Session 1 (6-7.30pm)

10th State Wide Orientation Day

10th Yr 2 Pizza Night Session 2 (12-1.30pm)

Yr 2 Pizza Night Session3 (6-7.30pm)

12th-19th Swimming for whole school

11th Yr 6 Education Experience/Excursion- Funfields

11th Yr 4 Education Experience/ Incursion- STEAM

11th Carols Night (Whole school 6.30-7.30pm)

11th No Swimming

11th Yr 4 Education Experience/ STEAM Incursion

11th Yr 1 Cameron Close Christmas Party

16th Yr 6 Graduation

19th Farewell Assembly 2.30pm

20th Last Day of Term

1.30pm Finish, Casual Clothes

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

18th Nov and 9th Dec

Newsletter No. 18 8th November 2019

Dear Parents,

It’s that time of the year where students, especially Year 6’s, are aware that the end of the school year is drawing nigh. However we do have six weeks of learn-ing in place that includes our intensive swimming pro-gram.

This morning I have visited Year 5 and 6 classes to in-form all students of the correct school uniform. On Wednesday our Foundation students for 2020 visited for the first time. Year 5 students are an important part of the transition days. However some students could not participate in a selected group because they were not wearing the correct school uniform. Black shorts are part of the sports uniform and should only be worn on physical education days or when representing the school in sporting events.

Primary schools don’t generally have detention classes rather we focus on positive behaviours and positively reinforce those students who are ambassadors of school values. However secondary schools are very, very different in their approach. All schools must have a uniform policy and there are variations of consequenc-es if students don’t comply. In all of our local secondary schools; state government and independent, detention is certainly a common consequence.

It would be appreciated if parents were to reinforce the school’s ‘Dress Code Policy’

https://www.wattleparkps.vic.edu.au/uploaded_files/media/student_dress_code_policy__finalised_18.6.2019.pdf

It was wonderful to see our new ‘batch’ of Foundation students arrive for their transition day on Wednes-day. The children were all so very excited and I only spotted one lot of tears. Congratulations to teachers Ms Tan, Mrs Heeps and Ms D’Mello who were so warm and welcoming. There was a sense of calm and order while the students were under their care. Our local kindergartens and child care centres are to be com-mended also, as generally the children do come well prepared for school.

Ashton Scholastic Book Club has been part of the school for many years and is well supported by the com-munity. For every purchase that is made, the school receives points that equate to book purchases for our school library. Book Club is organised by parent volunteers who give up their time each term to place orders and balance payments. Rebecca Brough (Emily 2A and Ben 4B) and her team members Anita Power (Mae 3B and Edie FC) and Bella Van Delden ( Elodie 1B, Lucia 2B and Gabriella 4A) have handed over the reins to Jil-lian Hole (Kimberley FC) and a new team of parent volunteers who I have yet to meet.

I’d like to sincerely thank Rebecca and her team for the amount of time and effort they have given to the school as well as the buzz they have created amongst the students when book orders arrive! I often see heads buried in Book Club catalogues as students choose what book they would like to purchase ahead of negotiations with parents.

Please include the date Wednesday 13th November, 7:30p.m. in your diary for the inaugural PFA meeting with new President, Anthony Hall. It would be wonderful to see some new and familiar parents attend the night. It is not an event where parents will come away with a ‘job’ but rather an invitation for parents to meet others and share ideas.

Over the next two weeks, teachers are spending their meeting times formulating 2020 classes. It is quite an arduous and comprehensive task made more difficult this year as we have a number of new students to wel-come in years 1 -6. Assistant Principal, Steve Donohue and I allocate at least two days to go through every class combination and every student’s friendship list ensuring they have one friend.

There is a high level of excitement around the school today- Year 2 sleepover night! All of the year 2 stu-dents did an absolutely amazing job carrying their belongings up the stairs to the Year 5 and 6 classrooms. It is such great practice for when they attend their first camp next year to Arrabri Lodge, Warburton.

I’m not sure how much sleep will occur but I can assure you there will be many stories to tell! Unfortunately due to adverse weather forecasts we have scheduled activities in the gymnasium rather than a walk around Jells Park. We can’t complain about the weather though, rain is like the new gold and we are so very fortu-nate to not be experiencing drought like other parts of our country.

Our thoughts are with them.

Warm Regards

Gayle

Message from Parents and Friends Association Meeting 7.30pm, Wednesday 13th November 2019, Staff Room Hello everyone, I’m pleased to be taking on the position of President of the Parents and Friends Association (PFA) this year. It’s an exciting opportunity to continue the great work done by Tash Sinclair and the vast team of volunteers who run events throughout the year. It’s also an opportunity to look at new ideas that can fund projects around the school, and enhance the community feel that we are lucky to share at Wattle Park Primary School.

What does the PFA do?

We look after any number of events including the movie night, bake stall, parent and carer stalls, photographs, school fete and many others. We’re always on the lookout for people who can assist with organizing an event, or helping out on the day.

How can you get involved?

On behalf of the PFA, we’d love you to be involved in activities over the coming year. Even if you have never been involved, please come along and share your ideas. Everyone is welcome to be on the PFA, or to be involved in our events.

Our first PFA meeting will be on Wednesday 13th November at 7.30pm. This will be in the staff room, located in the office. Nibblies and drinks will be provided.

If you’d like to attend, please email me: Anthony@harkmedia.com.au, or call me on 0409 806 478.

I really look forward to seeing you there!

Regards,

Anthony Hall President, Parents and Friends Association

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

There is a Dept policy of ‘No Hats No Play’. Hats must be worn between the months of September and April. 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.

FIRST AID ROOM ROSTER 2019

In order to keep our First Aid Room clean and tidy, we require volunteers to assist with this

task. We need approximately 40 families on our roster to ensure that every family only

needs to do this once per year. It is not time consuming and requires approximately 15

minutes of your time on a FRIDAY.

The duties include:

Changing the sheets, pillow cases and re-making the bed with clean linen (all provided

in the first aid room).

Washing and returning the clean linen for the following Friday.

Checking that the area is clean and tidy.

Wiping over the cupboards, bench tops and the sink.

Tidying the spare clothes cupboard if needed.

We're using SignUp.com (the leading online SignUp and reminder tool) to organize our up-

coming SignUps.

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: http://signup.com/go/wGNyieA

2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.

3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on Sig-

nUp.com.

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use

your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Thank you in anticipation.

Jo Holland

First Aid Co-ordinator

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 ___________________________________________

Community Notices