Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Term 4 - Week 8 - Friday 6 December 2019

SCHOOL VISION STATEMENT

At Willoughby Public School we empower students to demonstrate creativity, collaboration, curiosity and persistence to become successful life-long learners. Students will be challenged in productive and innovative learning environments promoting inclusivity, resilience, respect and confidence.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2019

CHANGE OF DATES - YEAR 5 & 6 SURF EDUCATION

Stage 3 students will be involved in two full day sessions of Swim and Surf Education at Collaroy Beach. 

Year 5 will now attend on Thursday 12 December and Friday 13 December.

Year 6 will attend on Wednesday 11 December and Monday 16 December.

2020 - RETURN TO SCHOOL DATES

  • STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAY TUESDAY 28  JANUARY  2020 - No students at school
  • STUDENTS YEARS 1-6 RETURN ON WEDNESDAY 29 JANUARY 2020
  • BEST START INTERVIEWS FOR KINDERGARTEN   -  29, 30 & 31 January & 3 February
  • KINDERGARTEN WILL COMMENCE ON TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY


The school has five school development days per year and we ask parents/carers to make alternative arrangements for their children. These days are invaluable for whole school planning and Professional Learning and they usually occur on the first day of Terms 1, 2 and 3 and on the last two days in Term 4.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents and carers

Presentation Days

We are looking forward to our annual Presentation Days next week held at Willoughby Girls HS in their hall to acknowledge our students achievement throughout 2019. Stage 3 Tuesday 10 December at 9:00am and Stage 2 10:45am and Stage 1 from 2:00pm. The Kindergarten 2019 celebration assembly Thursday 12 December at 9:15 in our school hall. We look forward to seeing you at our assemblies. Thank you to our DP’s, AP’s and teachers for co-ordinating this special event.

Thank you and farewell

At the end of every year we have the opportunity to thank and farewell members of our school teaching community. I would like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication provided over the years to the Willoughby PS school community by these wonderful teachers:

Mrs Raynor – secured a Learning and Support teacher position at Mowbray PS, Ms Galluzzo has a teaching position at Forestville PS, Miss Sommers has a teaching position at Wentworth Point PS, Mrs Chadwick has been appointed  to Mowbray PS, Miss Fitzgibbon is relocating back to the Newcastle area, Mrs Townley is relocating with her family to the far north coast of NSW, Miss Schrieber is taking up a wonderful opportunity through the Department of Education International Teacher Exchange program and will spend the next 12 months in Canada and Mrs Kliffen is taking 12 months leave to pursue further study. I’m sure you will join with me in wishing this wonderful group of teachers the very best as they take up their new positions in 2020.

Year 6 Fete Day

Congratulations Year 6! An outstanding job today! Our school was buzzing with excitement, your organisation and creativity with the stall was fabulous. I had great fun taking lots of photos. A huge thank you to the Year 6 students as well as their wonderful teachers – Mrs Dixon/ Mrs Raynor, Ms Galluzzo, Ms Denton, Mrs Rist and Mrs Leslie.

Building Update

I’m sure you are as excited as I am to see the scaffold removed from our new building revealing the external colourful walls, the safety fencing in place around the outdoor area on the top floor. We have started with the building team to put together the class movement plan ready for the start of Term 1 2020. Our teachers have worked very hard throughout 2019 with our professional learning to be ready for our new learning spaces and I’m very happy to report that I have more teachers wanting to work in the new spaces than spaces available. Professional learning will continue throughout 2020 and beyond. We are all learning together! On Thursday 12 December after school our teachers will have a tour of our new building – we are looking forward to this preview of our new office, hall, library and classrooms. I’m sure there will be lots of photos taken.

Attendance

Regular attendance at school is essential for children to achieve their educational best, increasing career and life options. I would like to remind you that the Education Act (1990) requires parents to ensure that children of compulsory school age attend school each day it is open for instruction. Class rolls are marked every morning and parents are required to sign their child/children in at the school office if they are late and out if they are leaving early. Thank you for your ongoing support with this issue.

Planning for 2020

 If you are planning on leaving Willoughby PS at the end of 2019 from Kindergarten to Year 5 please let the office know in writing – addressed to the principal. This information helps with class organisation and planning for 2020.

Jennifer Simmonds

SUSTAINABILITY AT WILLOUGHBY PUBLIC SCHOOL

           

Students at Willoughby are getting more and more interested at how they can create a more sustainable place for their peers. The SRC team are working towards introducing recycling bins to indoor and outdoor areas.

 

We have started a Friday rubbish collection around the playground at the end of the day to make sure there is no litter lying around on the weekends. 

In 5G students came up with the idea to BYO keep cup in order to save one plastic cup from being bought.  We believe that it is little steps like this that will make big changes.

YEAR 2 CHOIR

            

Thank you to the Year 2 Choir for all your fabulous singing for 2019. Our last rehearsal morning will be week 8 Friday, December the 6th in the Bristol. Enjoy your Christmas holidays and we will see you 2020!

Mrs Lyons, Ms Sommers & Mrs Mills

   

UKE GROUP

               

Thank you to our senior students and their wonderful  Ukulele playing  for 2019. Enjoy your Christmas holidays and all the best for 2020.

Mrs Lyons & Mrs Mills.

LIBRARY INFORMATION

           

With the school year nearly at a close all our borrowing for the year has finished. Could you please send all Library books back to school now. We need all your books back so we can pack them for the move.

If you do receive a Library Reminder Notice it is because we think you still have books out on loan. If you cannot find these books you have the choice to buy replacement copies for us, or send in the money so that we can buy replacements. If you think you have already returned the books, please let us know so we can check the shelves for you.

Borrowing will recommence in 2020 with the opening of our brand new Library!!

Many thanks,

Mrs Debbie de Silva and Mr James Thorn

Teacher Librarians

SCHOOL OPAL CARD

SCHOOL OPAL CARD


Download

ETHICS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

           

Could you be an ethics teacher for WPS? We are seeking volunteers so that ethics classes are available for all families who have requested them. Ethics teachers receive full training by Primary Ethics, the not-for-profit organisation approved to design curriculum and training for the ethics program. Training consists of a two day workshop and short online modules. Lesson materials are provided. Suitable volunteers have an interest in children’s education and development of critical thinking skills and must be available Wednesday morning each week to teach a half hour class. A small amount of weekly preparation (such as reading through lesson materials) is also required. In ethics classes, children learn how to think logically, disagree respectfully and support their arguments with evidence, rather than act according to blind habit or peer pressure.  Children discuss topic such as: -imagining how others feel -how do we treat living things? -what is laziness? -how do we disagree in a respectful way? -fairness   If you are looking for an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to our school, please visit www.primaryethics.com.au or  contact Melissa Budic at willoughbypsethics@gmail.com for more information.

SPORTS NEWS

2019 has been a successful year on the track, field and court. Some notable achievements include:

Regional & State Representatives:

Dom B – PSSA Sydney North Rep Soccer

James A – PSSA Sydney North Rep Cricket (team came second running up to CIS); Zone & Regional Athletics (Zone Senior Champion) (Record Breaker)

Erin B – Zone, Regional & State Athletics

Kyan S – Zone & Regional Athletics (Record Breaker); Zone Cross Country

Jesse D – Zone & Regional Athletics

Saskia B – Zone & Regional Cross Country; Zone Athletics (Record Breaker)

Aqua F – Zone Cross Country; Zone, Regional & State Athletics (Record Breaker); NSNA Rep Netball

Netball Metro Cup:

Pictured above are the three WPS Metro Cup teams who represented Willoughby Public School this year.  Teams 1 & 2 took part on the initial round robin day, with Team 1 progressing to the finals at Homebush. Team 3, a combo of teams 1 & 2 plus extras, finishing as semi-finalists.

A special thank you to our teachers and parents who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes supporting these, and many other sporting opportunities for our students. 

Well done to all our sports representatives this year. Thank you for your hard work, training, commitment and perseverance.

NUT & PEANUT ALLERGY (ANAPHYLAXIS)

At Willoughby Public School we have a number of students with a

LIFE THREATENING NUT / PEANUT ALLERGY.

 

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

 

Even a small trace of nut, peanut or nut/peanut product may trigger a severe allergic reaction called Anaphylaxis, which attacks the immune system leading potentially to death within minutes.

 

This reaction can happen by taste, touch and sometimes can be airborne. All of these students have access to an adrenaline injection in the form of an Epipen, which can save lives. Photo posters are displayed in the classrooms, canteen, staffroom, playground bags and sick bay for easy identification of these children.

 

Willoughby PS works with parents/carers to support students in developing an awareness of their allergies and what foods to avoid. Students are encouraged not to share food and to always check with a parent/adult/teacher if unsure at any time.

 

HOW CAN YOU HELP TO KEEP WPS STUDENTS SAFE?

 

Please help us by not including peanut or any nut products in your child’s lunchbox. This includes peanut butter and Nutella.

 

Please avoid products with any nuts/peanuts listed as an ingredient.

 

Explain about nut/peanut allergy to your child and encourage the ‘no food sharing’ rule.

 

Please consider what you are sending for birthday treats to share with the class, checking there are no nut products included.

 

The school canteen does not serve products containing nuts.

 

It is only with the continued support of all parents and staff that we can effectively maintain a safe school environment for these children.

 

Thank you for your understanding. We know you will want to support the school and these children.

WE ARE AWARE

Download

WPS UNIFORM SHOP

WPS Uniform Shop News & Opening Hours 2019/20

           


 

The new ‘unisex’ short sleeve polo school shirt is in production and will be available for sale in Week 1 of Term 1, 2020. The new girls’ grey shorts will also be available from this date and can only be worn with the new polo shirt.

 

The sale of new items will be based on the depletion of current stock of the same/similar size and style. Please note there is a transition period of up to 3 years for all new uniform items.

 

Your friendly uniform shop will have a new home in 2020, and in preparation for the move, we have needed to ‘run down’ some of our stock. Please be patient and kind to our shop volunteers during this time.

 

School bags are due back in stock week commencing Monday 18 November. The best way to purchase a school bag is ‘online’ and we will arrange to deliver it to a class or let you know when you can collect it.

 

Please be aware of the shortened opening hours for the last week of term, and extended opening hours/days for Week 1, 2020.

 

We’d like to thank all our wonderful volunteers and committee members, past, present and future.

 

Term 4, 2019 Shop Hours

 

*CLOSED* Week 10, Wednesday 18 December 2019 (last day of school)

 

2019/20 Online Ordering will be available during the summer holidays, HOWEVER orders will not be available for collection until Tuesday 28 January 2020, this includes any orders made after 9am on Friday 13 December 2019 (order deadline).

 

Back to School, 2020 Shop Hours

Tuesday 28 January – Pupil Free Day – 10.30am till 12.30pm (including Dr Shoe from 11.30am)

Wednesday 29 January – Students return – open 8.30 till 9.30am

Thursday 30 January – 8.30 till 9.30am

Friday 31 January – 8.30 till 9.30am

 

Normal Shop hours resume, Week 2, Term 1, 2020 on Wednesdays and Fridays, 8.30 till 9.30am.

           

WEEK

DAY/DATE

OPENING HOURS

SHOP

ONLINE DELIVERIES

DR SHOE

2019 – Term 4

Weeks 6 - 9

Wednesday

8.30 – 9.30am

X

Weeks 6 - 9

Friday

8.30 – 9.30am

X

Week 10

Wednesday (18/12, last day)

CLOSED

X

X

X

           

WEEK

DAY/DATE

OPENING HOURS

SHOP

ONLINE DELIVERIES

DR SHOE

2020 – Term 1

Week 1

Pupil-free day

Tuesday 28/1

10.30am – 12.30pm

from 11.30am

Week 1

Students return

Wednesday 29 Thursday 30 Friday 31

8.30 – 9.30am

X

Week 2*

Wednesday 5/2

8.30 – 9.30am

X

Week 2*

Friday 7/2

8.30 – 9.30am

X


COMMUNITY NOTICES

MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMS


Download

UNIFORM LIST

Download

How to install the SkoolBag App

Download

FLEXISCHOOLS HEALTHY CANTEEN MENU

Download

HOW TO APPLY FOR SCHOOL OPAL CARD

Download

FLEXISCHOOLS APP

Download

Parent Guide to NSW Syllabuses

Download

Class Map 2019 Willoughby PS

Download