Welcome to Week 4 Families and Caregivers,

What a wonderful assembly we had this morning with many connections to our community and celebration of students being KIND.

ONE CAN CHALLENGE

This year has surpassed all other years in our One Can Challenge food drive! We collected 3,124 cans of food which have been donated to charities in Wodonga. Two exceptional efforts need to be mentioned this year, one from Year 6 Class WI2 who collected 315 cans! And, once again, Jye Webb used his pocket money to donate 207 cans, a very kind-hearted and community-minded student. Thanks Jye!

Wodonga Primary School would like to thank all the families who got behind the drive and in particular, Ainsley Dycer for your coordination of the initiative.

No. 29 ~ October 28, 2019

Engage Learning * Expand Minds

WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL

Our school has been participating in the Wodonga City Council Walk Safely to School Campaign this month. Last Wednesday, the walk culminated in our courtyard with fresh fruit provided for all participants.

Students who walked on the day entered themselves in a competition to win a Wodonga City Council water bottle or hacky sack. The lucky 20 students received their prize at assembly this morning.

PEER MEDIATORS

We were very excited to introduce our Student Leaders at assembly this morning, as they have officially completed their training as peer-mentors.

Commencing today, our Student Leaders will be in the playground assisting other students in need. The Student Leaders have been given clear boundaries about their role and will work in conjunction with school leadership and yard duty teachers. They will be easily identified in their new Peer Mediator vests.

KIND Student of the Week

Congratulations to Lincoln Fouracre who was kind to others in the playground last week!

Our students are demonstrating a commitment to our KIND+ER values in our yard!

Thank you Lincoln.

CAR PARKING: Medical Centre (Beechworth Rd)

Families are again requested to observe the signage of the adjacent medical centre in regards to parking. The Central Medical Group’s carpark is on private property and the parking is for their patients only.

We understand drop-off and pick-up times can be hectic, but ask you to respect the medical centre’s right to provide safe and accessible customer parking for their patients – our school is bordered by four streets, with 2-minute bays provided for quick drop-off and pick-ups. Please plan ahead, and assist us to remain community-minded in regards to our neighbours.

An idea to consider: why not park a little further away and plan to meet your kids at any of the school crossing points!

2020 STUDENT PLACEMENT

Families have until this Friday (November 1st) to put in the request for 2020 student placement. This is only a process for concerned families. Please refer to the two previous newsletters for further details.

STUDENT WRITING

Below you will find a persuasive piece of writing that outlines the importance of looking after our environment. The text was written by a very proud Year 6 student, Jordan Thiel, who has met many learning goals this year. Thank you Jordan for caring for our school, and our environment!

Schools should take a stronger stand of decreasing rubbish!

Have you ever considered the environmental impact that dropping your rubbish on the ground is having? Schools should take a stronger stand of decreasing rubbish! Littering destroys the environment because people aren’t treating the schools with respect, as a result the schools look filthy.

Firstly, it’s destroying the environment because the rubbish blows somewhere else. When people throw plastic bags on the ground eventually the wind carries the bag to various areas of the environment in which animals call home. As an example, plastic bags end up in rivers, oceans and bushlands but we can’t stop these precious curious animals from eating the plastic thinking it’s an everyday snack.

Secondly, people aren’t treating our schools with respect when they should know better. When there's rubbish all over our school yards, the drainage gets blocked in which can lead to inconvenient flooding. Rubbish in the school yard just makes the place look filthy. We come to school every day to learn not to trash the place as if it’s your bedroom. Students need to demonstrate more respect for those that put a lot of effort into making the surroundings look clean. People need to demonstrate respect to their school and decreasing their rubbish is one way to show that. Research shows that students who look after their school and take pride in their environment achieve better results at school.

Thirdly, it makes the school look filthy for those that walk in and would expect better. Who enjoys going to a welcoming school only to see rubbish floating by your feet? If schools are littered with rubbish, are people really going to want to visit? Littering and leaving rubbish around is inconsiderate to visitors of our schools. It is vital that we keep schools clean for students, parents, teachers and other visitors in the community.

Next time when you are thinking of dumping your rubbish think twice about the consequences and instead put your rubbish in the bin. Think about the impact on the environment and the disrespect it shows to the school and the community. I don’t want to come to school with nothing but rubbish floating by my feet and wondering if going to this school is a good idea. Pick up your rubbish before one little thing becomes a bigger problem!

Have a great week!

Damian Duncan, Principal

ATTENTION BUS TRAVELLERS - 2020 BUS APPLICATIONS

In preparation for 2020 Bus Passes, could all bus applications be handed into the front office or directly to Jodi Morgan at Wodonga Senior Secondary College by October 31st?

Application forms can be found here: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/transport/Pages/schoolbus.aspx#link51

James Harris, Bus Coordinator

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

The Scholastic Book Fair has returned to Wodonga Primary School!

Next week, the library will have books and other goodies from Scholastic available for purchase. This could be a great opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done, while supporting our school library.

The Book Fair will be open from Monday November 4th – Friday November 8th. Opening hours are 8:30–9:00am and 3:15-4:00pm.

Students will be given the opportunity this week during their library sessions, to have a ‘sneak peek’ of the books and fill-out a Wish List to take home.

We thank you for your continuing support.

Wendy & Emily, Library

WACKY INSTRUMENTS EXTRAVAGANZA - NEW DATES!

We are fortunate to have found a new date for the Wacky Instruments incursion. The new dates are November 26th, 27th and 28th (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday).

Students do not need to pay or consent a second time. All students who have not already paid and consented should do so at the office as soon as possible.

Wodonga Primary School will be hosting a musical genius and inventor by the name of Jon Madin, who will be running workshops with students in Years 4, 5 and 6 and concerts for F, 1, 2 and 3.

Jon Madin is a one-of-a-kind inventor and musician who will arrive at Wodonga Primary with a trailer full to the brim with custom-made, awesome and wacky instruments for students to play and admire. He will also be working with Year 6 students on building some new marimbas which the school will be able to play and use for years to come.

Jon will run concerts at the end of two of the days where students in Years 4 and 5 will perform musical arrangements they have learnt, to students in Years F, 1, 2 and 3. Parents are welcome to watch these performances.

Aaron Silver, Music Coordinator

SPORT

STATE ATHLETICS: WPS would like to congratulate the five Year 5 students who participated at the State Athletics Championships last Thursday.

Jaya Campbell finished 5th in her heat of the 11 Years Girls Hurdles

Jay Vilaisarn finished 4th in the 11 Years Boys 100m final

The 11 Year Boys Relay team qualified 2nd for the final, but unfortunately dropped the baton, finishing in 8th position.

KANGA CRICKET: All Year 6 students will be participating in the Kanga Cricket Carnival on Wednesday 6th November. The majority of students are playing in the Kanga 6 competition. After holding trials for any interested students, 18 students were selected to participate in the Kanga 8s competition. Both of these Events are now available on Compass for parents/carers to consent and pay. Thank you very much for your assistance with this. HOT SHOTS TENNIS: Forty Year 6 students will be participating in the local Hot Shots tournament on Friday 8th November. This event is now available on Compass for parents/carers to provide consent for their child to attend. YEARS 4/5/6 WATER SAFETY: This is a reminder to parents/carers that our Year 4/5/6 Water Safety Program is now available on Compass and requires consent and payment. If you require any assistance with this process please don’t hesitate to contact Faye in the school office. Where students have available CSEF credit, this has been applied; consent is still required.

Blake Maxworthy, PE Coordinator

REMINDERS Stay in touch with Events / Activities – using Compass as your information base

Event / Activity Event Date Who Information on Compass Consent / Payment Due Date

Bonegilla Experience Oct 30 Year 5 Consent & payment required $18.00 28/10

School Disco Nov 1 Whole School Gold coin entry (see flyer attached)

Scholastic Book Fair Nov 4-8 Whole School Come and visit the library N/A

Kanga Cricket 6s Nov 6 Year 6 Consent & payment required, $7.00 04/11

Kanga Cricket 8s Nov 6 Year 6 Consent & payment required, $7.00 04/11

Discovery Excursion Nov 6 Year 2 Consent & payment required, $7.50 01/11

ANZ Tennis Hotshots Nov 8 Year 6 Consent required 06/11

CSU Animal Habitats Nov 8 BR2 / BR4 Consent & payment required, $7.50 06/11

Water Safety Nov 8 HU3 / HO1 Consent & payment required, $23.50 05/11

Water Safety Nov 8,11,12 HU4 / HO3 Consent & payment required, $23.50 05/11

Water Safety Nov 8,11,12 HU5 / HO4 Consent & payment required, $23.50 05/11

Water Safety Nov 8,11,12 HO5 / WI4 Consent & payment required, $23.50 05/11

Water Safety Nov 13-15 HU1 / WI1 / some WI5 Consent & payment required, $23.50 05/11

Water Safety Nov 13-15 HU2 / WI2 / some WI5 Consent & payment required, $23.50 05/11

Water Safety Nov 13-15 HO2 / WI3 / some WI5 Consent & payment required, $23.50 05/11

CSU Animal Habitats Nov 15 BR5 / BR7 Consent & payment required $7.50 13/11

CSU Animal Habitats Nov 22 BR1 / BR6 Consent & payment required $7.50 20/11

Wodonga Cup Nov 29 Whole School Public Holiday – NO Club 37

Last Day Term 4 Dec 20 Whole School Early finish, 2pm