Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Dear Parents/Carers 

WPS has been buzzing over the past two weeks with our students moving into their 2023 class groups. All students working together to establish their class expectations, making new friends, getting to know their new teachers. I love the friendly positive vibe within our school from Kindergarten to Year 6. Our 2023 Kindergarten students have settled well and have lots of support from their transition buddy helping them navigate the playground during the break times. 

A big shout out to our students who have joined our band and new strings program. It brings great joy to hear live music each morning as I walk into school. 

Thank you for attending your child’s Meet the Teacher evening this week, an outstanding response! We hope your questions were answered and you had time to connect with our teachers as well as other families in your child’s class. Our enthusiastic teachers were grateful for the high number of parents and carers at each session and are looking forward to a great year of learning. 

Unfortunately, since the start of the school year we have had inconsistent pedestrian crossing supervisors for High Street, Keary Street and Oakville Road. We ask that parents be extra vigilant driving on the streets as well as ensuring everyone crosses the road at the correct place. The crossing supervisor positions are being advertised and new supervisor are being trained. 

Together we can keep everyone safe. 

Kind regards 

Jennifer Simmonds 

Principal 

Current research into effective student wellbeing promotes the implementation of positive behaviour programs. Willoughby Public School follows the Positive Behaviour Engaging Learners (PBEL) program across the whole school.

The philosophy of this program aims to improve outcomes for all students by creating sustainable school-wide, classroom and individual systems of support that acknowledge the link between positive behaviour and enhanced learning environments.  

PBEL provides students and staff at Willoughby with a positive and proactive system for defining, teaching and supporting appropriate student behaviours.

Our expectation at WPS is that all students are Safe, Respectful, Responsible Learners.

In order to reinforce positive behaviours, students are rewarded regularly and acknowledged through the school merit systems in class and at assemblies. Our reward system reinforces positive behaviour from students with mini-merits, certificates and badges for being a Safe , Respectful, Responsible Learner.

Students who display inappropriate behaviour are given time to discuss this behaviour and reflect on their choices and actions. A clear flowchart exists to enable students to understand the appropriate consequences of their behaviour.  

PBEL increases student engagement and learning by increasing ‘on-task’ behaviours and decreasing distractions in the learning environment. The result is a positive school environment in which student academic and social outcomes are improved through increased teaching time and consistent expectations of behaviour.  

Our PBEL program is complemented by the UR Strong program. Parent resources from the UR Strong program can be found later on in the newsletter.

In March, students in Years 3 & 5 will be sitting NAPLAN online. 

NAPLAN is a national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake.

NAPLAN assesses the literacy and numeracy skills that students are learning through the school curriculum and allows parents/carers to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time.

NAPLAN also provides schools, education authorities and governments with information about how education programs are working and whether young Australians are achieving important educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy. 

A Public Demonstration Site has been set up so families can see the types of questions students in each year group who sit the tests get asked. 

Public Demonstration Site: https://nap.edu.au/naplan/public-demonstration-site

An information flyer for parents/carers has been attached, below. 

What a great start to 2023 with the first major sport event, the annual swimming carnival, going off without a hitch. It was fantastic to be able to conduct the carnival without COVID restrictions on a beautiful sunny day in the first week of school.

Thank you to the many parents that came to spectate on the day. It was lovely to hear and see the encouragement given by all that attended.

Thank you to our amazing teachers for your assistance in running the carnival and the support and encouragement you always give to our students at Willoughby Public School.

This year we will be able to award students ribbons and trophies for champions at our weekly assembly instead of our end of year presentation day. Over the previous two years that was not possible due to COVID restriction. All students being acknowledged will receive their awards on Monday 20 Feb, Week 5. 

Attached below is the list of students that will receive ribbons and champions trophies. Students in yellow have qualified for the Zone Swimming Carnival.

Rules for Zone Qualification: (qualifying times are in yellow on the results list)

-          All students that came first in their event immediately qualify

-          Students coming 2nd and 3rd for freestyle 50m events must meet the qualifying time

-          Students coming 2nd in all events, other than freestyle, must meet the qualifying times

Notes for the Zone Swimming Carnival will go out to parents electronically. Please, check your email for these notes in the coming days. The Zone Swimming Carnival will be held at the Lane Cove Aquatic and Leisure Centre – Wednesday 8 March. Students will need to be at school by 8am to have rolls marked and board buses by 8.15am. Students will arrive back at school by 2.45pm. Travel too and from the event will be by bus. Parents can come to spectate but must remain in the stands with your child.

Looking forward to a great day at Zone!

Simon Hutchison (Swimming Carnival Coordinator)

Our wonderful library program is in full swing and borrowing has commenced. 

More information about Library, including opening days and times, will be included in the next newsletter. 

Remember that students need to bring a library bag to protect the books they borrow each library day.