Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Dear Parents/Carers

Student Leadership 2023

Forty-nine Year 5 student leader nominees presented their first-round captain speeches to Stage 3 on Thursday 10 November. The standard was outstanding, all students should feel very proud of their effort. As a school, we are very lucky to have such inspiring and sincere students wanting to lead our school. Congratulations to – Daisy C, Scarlett, Antoinette, Daisy H, Meira, Stella, Aleine, Rose, Raphael, Tom, Joseph, Harvey, Connor, Harrison, William and Kai who will be presenting their speech to the Year 2 to Year 5 students on 23 November at 9:15 in the hall.

The sport house captains’ speeches and election will be held on Friday 25 November with their sport house team voting for the captain and vice-captain positions.

Regardless of the result we have a wonderful group of students to be our role models and leaders for 2023.

Road Safety 

We have had several pedestrian / car scares over the past week. Parents and grandparents please follow the pedestrian safety rules when crossing the road, especially if you choose not to use the designated crossings. Please don’t call your children across the road, Oakville Road and Keary Street are very busy at drop off and pick up times each day.

2023 Kinder Transition Program

Our 2023 Kindergarten students attended their first Transition Days this week. Thank you to Mrs Blake and our 2022 Kindergarten parents for hosting the lovely morning tea. Our Year 5 leaders’ nominees and our school captains were enthusiastic, friendly ambassadors for our school. The Year 5 students in particular were very kind buddies. It was an equally great morning for our new parents and carers sharing morning tea and hearing about our school.

Thank you to our Year 6 component of our Performance Band for showcasing our WPS Band program. We look forward to getting to know our new students and parents over the next 2 weeks, ensuring everyone is ready for Big School.

SRC Fundraiser

Thank you to our community for supporting our Crazy Hair and Silly Sock day. There was lots of colourful socks and hair in our playground. Thank you SRC for coordinating the fundraiser. I'm pleased to announce we raised $1189.45. Please see the photo gallery below.  

WPS Band Spectacular 

The highlight for the week was the WPS Band Spectacular – Around the World on Thursday evening. A huge thank you to our WPS students in our band program for your outstanding participation. It was fabulous to be performing again at the Chatswood Concourse venue.

Thank you to the band committee for our hard work and dedication, the Band conductors Mr Anthony Marsden, Mr David Brinsmead, Mr David Scarborough and Ms Cassie Parke. A huge thank you to Giulia Tesorieo for conducting the newly formed String Ensemble. Thank you to families support our outstanding band program. 

Kind regards

Jennifer Simmonds

Congratulations to our 10 WPS students who were selected as winners of the 2022 Willoughby Festive Flag Competition.

Each year, this competition provides a chance for students throughout the Willoughby City Council area to showcase their artistic talents and have their festive design turned into a flag.

Over 600 entries were received by the council and 40 of the best were chosen. These flags are now on display along Victoria Avenue from Chatswood Train Station to Chatswood Chase.

Mayor Tanya Taylor presented the flag winners with a certificate, a mini flag and a gift voucher in a ceremony at The Concourse on Wednesday evening.

Congratulations to Nhaysa C (6A), Emily E (6D), Sylvie L (6D), Samantha P (6L), Sierra F (6A), Lilly N (6M), Amaris N (6A), Lynn S (6L), Zoe R (6A), Yue Teng (3H).

Years 5 and 6 are currently studying different artists and their artwork.

They are creating, identifying and describing the properties of different forms.

The two artists showcased below are Modigliani and Chuck Close. 

Term 4 Borrowing 

Today was the last day of borrowing for all students. Please remind your students to return all books as soon as they have finished reading them. All books must be returned for the year by Week 8 (28 Nov - 1 Dec). 

If you receive an Overdue Notice from us, it is because we believe your child still has these books at home. If the books have become lost or accidentally damaged, you are able to pay for these online via the school website, in the same way that you pay for P&C fees etc. Just select ‘Other’ in the choices for payment, and note that it is for lost Library Books. Thanks so much for your promptness in assisting us  in finalising all outstanding loans for the year. 

What if I think we have returned it? 

We also check our shelves to make sure it has not been placed back on the shelves without scanning. If we find it, we let you know, or if the book is found at a later date (in the classroom, at after school care, down behind a book shelf at home etc) we will refund the money back to you. 

Wheelers E-Books  

Did you know that all students have access to e-books through our subscription to E-Platform. We have our own website HERE. Use the ‘Look Inside’ link to decide if the book is for you, then students use their normal school login to borrow. To read offline, download the free ePlatform app, find our Library, then sign in to access your account. See flyer in this newsletter for more information. This is a great option for reading whilst travelling, and reading during the Summer school holidays when our school Library is closed. 

Mrs de Silva 

Teacher Librarian 

The Year Six annual fete will be held on Thursday 8 December, 2022. It is the culmination of weeks of planning, designing, creating, marketing and advertising, and is always a fun day for all students K-6. 

Tokens (20 for $12.00) are used instead of cash to take part in games and activities and purchase from the White Elephant stall. We encourage all students to pre-purchase a strip of 20 tokens. These can be bought via the TryBooking link below.

https://www.trybooking.com/CEJFG

Pre-purchased tokens will be given out to students on fete day (Thursday 8 December) as their class heads to the fete. Two grades will attend the fete together at staggered times throughout the day to ensure that all students have access to the activities and games without it being too crowded or busy. 

The fete features a number of exciting stalls with games, challenges and activities created and run by Year 6 students. There will also be a White Elephant stall. Games, gifts and activities cost 1-2 tokens each.

There will be a $5 food pack containing a sausage sizzle, cupcake and drink (our famous fete spider) which can be pre-ordered via the Trybooking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CEJFG.

Year 6 use the fete as the major fundraiser for their graduation and gift to the school and appreciate your support. 

More information will be sent over coming weeks. 

You can now view and purchase the leader, sports, band and extra curricular group images and if you place your order before 25/11/2022 you will get a 20% early order discount. Just click on this link to order.  Please note the discount will be automatically applied at checkout.

Images can also be viewed by visiting www.advancedlife.com.au entering the code: Y3H VW9 FJ4 and clicking on “Group Photos”

Important

·  Sports and co-curricular group photos can only be purchased online, PLEASE DO NOT return payment to your school

·  Photos will be returned to your school for distribution by 15/12/2022.

Applications for student travel in 2023 opened from Monday 10 October 2022.

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2023 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

If a student's distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, we will send an expiry notification via email.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2023.

Travel from Term 1 2023

We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and has a valid ticket to travel; either a School Opal card or Child/Youth Opal card (within Greater Sydney) or a School Travel Pass (outside Greater Sydney), from the start of the school year.

Applications for 2023 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel open at the start of Term 4 2022, so parents/students canapply or update details early and be ready for the start of the new school year.

Students using School Opal cards are also reminded that they must tap on and tap off in line with the Student code of conduct and Opal terms of use.