Dear Parents and Carers
As we come to the end of another great term, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful and supportive parents, carers and friends who have continued to work with us to provide opportunities and support for our students. I would also like to thank and acknowledge our teaching and administrative staff for their hard work this term. The students of Wattle Grove are blessed to have such a wonderful team behind them as they travel their educational journey through such different times. Despite the many challenges COVID-19 has presented, we have all continued to work together as a school community to provide the children with rich opportunities in all areas.
I hope you all have a fabulous holiday with family and friends. Stay safe and we will see you back for Term 4! Students return for Term 4 on Monday 12 October 2020.
Awards
Presenting students with their Principal awards is one of the highlights of my week. Congratulations to all the students on receiving their Principal Award this fortnight!
Well done to our Super Kids for the month of September! Your demonstration of great behaviour and application to your work has paid off!
Congratulations!
At the Week 9 assembly the students who placed for their stage in the public speaking competition received their certificates, and the winner also received a trophy. Congratulations to everyone and best wishes to Jayda as she will be competing at the network level early next term.
Congratulations also goes to Charlee (Stage 2) and Jayda (Stage 3) for successfully competing at the district level of the Multicultural Speaking Competition against 13 other students. They will now compete at the regional level. I wish them the all the best!
A huge thank you to Mrs Batram for her leadership in providing these public speaking opportunities for our children. Public speaking is a lifelong skill, that is so important in many aspects of our lives and future careers!
Please enjoy the photos further on in this newsletter.
Pirate Day
This week we all enjoyed a day of pirate fun, and what a fantastic day it was! The Year 6 students did an amazing job planning this event which involved designing and creating pirate themed activities for the students and planning the timetable for the day. Over the day, the children solved puzzles, responded to a writing stimulus, played skill-based games and completed an obstacle course. Getting into the spirit of the day, many students put on their boots, coat, bandanna and pirate hats! A lot of time and effort went into the students’ costumes, making this day special for them. Thank you to all our families for their support in dressing up and donating to the Year 6 fundraising efforts. We raised $900. I would like to acknowledge Mrs Dodd, Mrs Robinson, Mrs Richter and Mr Wilson for their leadership and support of this event!
Selective High School 2022
Applications for Year 7 entry to a selective high school are now completed and submitted online. A new online application site is under construction. Information about changes to the application process for entry in 2022 will be updated in coming weeks. The link to the form will be available from 6 October 2020 until 9 November 2020 for entry in 2022. More information is available on the department’s website.
COVID-19 Guidelines
Thank you for your continued support with drop offs and pick-ups. It is important that as soon as the children are dropped off and picked up that you leave the school grounds. Teachers have been asked not to meet with parents under the cola of an afternoon, but alternatively make an appointment to discuss necessary matters via the phone. If a face-to-face meeting is necessary, this can be arranged. If you have any concerns or questions please contact the office.
Students displaying any flu-like symptoms need to be tested and are unable to return to school until documentation of the negative result is received. If students are displaying any symptoms at school, they will need to be picked up from school and be tested.
It is anticipated that the Department of Education’s COVID-19 Guidelines will be updated early next term, with information relating to end of year events and celebrations. Changes will be communicated through the SkoolBag App.
Cancellation of Fees
The school is working through a process of ensuring all monies paid for cancelled 2020 activities are credited to your school account. Those families who would prefer a refund (as opposed to a 2021 credit) or who will no longer have a child at Wattle Grove in 2021 will be able to access a refund by the end of the year. We are awaiting Term 4 COVID-19 Guidelines around scheduled activities, so we can be sure this process is accurate. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the office.
Kindergarten 2021 (Repeated Information)
We are now taking Kindergarten enrolments for 2021. Please apply online at:
www.wattlegrov-p.schools.nsw.edu.au or visit the school’s updated website.
Orientation and transition sessions for our 2021 Kindergarten children and families will look different from previous years due to the current COVID-19 situation. Our priority is to work within the NSW Department of Education and NSW Health guidelines, whilst providing a supportive transition for our Kindergarten students.
A survey has been sent out to families who have a student enrolled for Kindergarten in 2021, asking for information relating to your child. This survey will provide an opportunity for you to share additional requirements that you feel your child may need before starting school. All information will remain confidential. If you have not received the link for this survey, please call the office, and they will be able to assist you.
Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) Focus The focus behaviour for Weeks 9 and 10 this term is:
*Be a learner – Explore, try new things and make good choices.
Wattle Wanderer
Year One have been learning how to plan and compose persuasive texts. As part of their learning, each of the Year One classes wrote a class letter to persuade me to approve the purchase of a class pet. Whilst the classes had convincing ideas, we came across the problem of who would look after the pet during the holidays and pay for any pet bills! I visited the classes to talk about their fabulous ideas and discuss an alternative. Each class was given a toy pet, as it would not need looking after in the holidays and accumulate any bills!
Today we said goodbye to our wonderful Senior Administration Manager, Mrs Kerry Dawson who has served in public education for 25 years and is on the road towards her retirement. We are lucky enough though, to have her come back and work every Friday until the end of the year. She started at Moorebank Public School in 1998. Mrs Dawson is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, children and grandchildren. The staff here at Wattle Grove will certainly miss Mrs Dawson's calm demeanor, her efficiency and outstanding organisation skills, but most importantly her generosity and kindness. She has always been there to lend a hand and make everyone feel welcome. Mrs Leanne Whiting will relieve in Mrs Dawson's role Monday-Thursday.
Nicole Cameron
Principal
