Willunga Primary School Newsletter

It has been so exciting seeing the children interact with our new natural play space (or free range play as we like to call it!).  This is a very different type of environment for them to be in and not one that we usually associate with school.  So why did we consider it important to have a natural play space at school?

Many of our play spaces are set up with a clear learning intention, swing here, climb there, build this.  Many of our toys and playgrounds follow this rule, so where is the space for problem solving, collaboration and creativity? In our nature play space of course!  This natural space has been set up based on ideas children had for how they would like to interact in the space.  Nothing within the space has a clear guideline or expectation and hence, children need to work it out for themselves!

It has been incredible watching them negotiate this space.  They spent the first few days wandering through it without interacting with it!  By week 2 this had changed completely as they started to manipulate the space to suit their ideas.  We have seen much witches brewing, cement making and stick stacking in the last few days!

And during all of this busy movement and making comes HUGE opportunities for LEARNING.  Communicating ideas to a friend as to how to get a stick to stand in a space (apparently mixing a mud slurry to 'cement' it in helps), or as to what 'ingredients' are needed next in the potion pot (mulch = chocolate) there are so many opportunities to collaborate, communicate and problem solve together, all while learning some incredible scientific principles along the way!

Within the free range space all students will find a sense of mastery at a level they are comfortable with. They are challenged by the uncertainty and unpredictability of natural elements, therefore have to make decisions and judgements. This means they are experiencing graduated risk, again at a level they are comfortable with. Consider what this will do for their confidence!

How can you help them extend this learning at home?

- Cooking with them - what melts, what dissolves, how do you bind a mix together, what can return to its original form, what cannot.....

- Take a walk around your yard or streets collecting different natural items. Use these to create a picture or mobile.  What patterns can you find, how many points on a leaf / petal / pine cone?

- Unstructured play time - off of the screens and into the yard.  And if they are not eager to do that... just add water!

Alison Colbeck

Principal 

This Friday, 14th February is a Student Free Day. 

OSHC is available.

Bookings can be made direct to OSHC or call to book on 0438 761 656.

• 13th February - Assembly
• 14th February - STUDENT FREE DAY (OSHC available)
• 18th February - Governing Council 6:30pm (new members), 7pm start
• 24th February - Interschool swim trials
• 25th February - Special Lunch
• 28th February - Schools Clean Up Day 

Willunga Primary has a strong tradition of participating in various sporting competitions organised by School Sport SA. As well as this, individuals trial for a place in the Onkapringa South District Teams or are selected at carnivlas. There have also been many who have gone on to represent the state! Term 1 provides three opportunities for our students born between 2007 and 2010.

INTERSCHOOL SWIMMING TRIALS

Monday February 24 at Marion Outdoor Swim Centre

Students have nominated in one or more events in their age group: freestyle, backstroke, breast-stroke and butterfly. Winners of events will be selected for the District team competing in March.

Family members are always welcome to support us on the day!

INTERSCHOOL TRACK & FIELD

Tuesday March 24 at Tatachilla College

Over the next few weeks students will be learning, practising and 'trialling' for selection in the school team during PE lessons. If necessary we will run a final selection process of a shortlist. Field events: high jump, long jump, shotput & discus. Track events: 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m.

Any family members who would like to support the team for selection, training or supporting on the day can leave their information at the Front Office.

INTERSCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY

Thursday April 2 at Noarlunga Downs Primary School 

Later in the term students will be asked to nominate for this event. Students in the 10 year old age group (2010) run 2km, while the other age groups run 3km.

Again, any family members who would like to be involved in selection, training and support on the day can leave their details at the Front Office.

The following sports have selection information and nominating details available online.  A list of all interstate teams including the nomination process is available on the website. For specific sport selection information see the sport page.

As more selection information is available this will be posted on the website and advertised on the Facebook and Instagram pages.

Welcome to Willunga Primary all our new families and welcome back to all our established families!   

For those who are new to the school, I am the Pastoral Support Worker at the school, as well as working as an SSO.   I have a Cert IV in Youth Work, which is a requirement of my role and am also a qualified Disaster and Recovery Chaplain.  Our role is described as ‘An Ambulance on the way to Hospital’. Mostly students can be helped at our site but at other times, we need to refer to other agencies. My role at the school involves a number of things within the school, as well as outside of the school with local churches and community groups.  Through this link, I have been able to gain financial support for some families along with organising meals for those who are struggling for a variety of reasons.  If you feel that you or someone else may need a helping hand, come in and have a chat and we will certainly help where we can. I also have a number of resources on a variety of topics. I am at the school from Monday-Thursday and you can leave a message at the Front Office, catch me in the yard, see me at parent morning tea or in the room between Mrs Rumball’s & Mrs Bulger’s class. 

Aim to be a 2% er! One of my husband’s work mates coined this phrase and it’s a good one to remember.  It means doing those little things that only the ‘2%’  would see. Years ago when my husband was planning an overnight hiking trip with his brother, he said, "I love an icy cold can of coke when I’ve finished a day’s hike." So after the first day of hiking his brother asked him to go back as he’d left something by the icy stream (this was Tasmania) and there, sitting in the stream was a can of coke! His brother had remembered the conversation, packed a can of coke and then planned to hide it for him. This was being a 2%er!  During the holidays, I was the Recovery Centre at Lobethal a couple of times in my role as a Chaplain.  It was amazing to see all the services come and work together to help those in need, but also seeing some  2%ers in action.  Ikea brought in lounge chairs and nice cushions for people who were waiting; some locals brought in some art work for the walls and others brought in fresh flowers to put in vases every day.   These items definitely weren’t essential to the operation, but it made an empty hall so much more inviting and comforting to people who were already very distressed.

Parent Morning Tea is on every Tuesday!

Come to the OSHC room after dropping off your children for a coffee and a chat.  This is a great time for parents to connect and get to know each other.

SCHOOL CARD:  Applications for those who believe they are eligible for the School Card Scheme are available at the Finance Office or can be completed online www.sa.gov.au . 

SCHOOL FEES:  Thank you to all families who have completed payment of School Fees for 2020.  There is a variety of payment methods available; Cash or Cheque; Eftpos (Visa/Mastercard) or Savings, Direct Deposit or via the QKR APP.

Upcoming Excursions:

·         Year R-2 Swimming – 10th March 2020 – 13th March 2020

·         Year 5/6/7 Aquatics – 10th March 2020 – 13th March 2020

Dear Families,

Mrs Bradley has been busy helping our class sew pouches for the injured wildlife in the recent bushfires. We have all finished a pouch and letter which are now ready to post to where they are needed. We are just waiting for WIRES to inform us where to send them.

Thank you Mrs Bradley

Regards, Julie Giffen 

 Here is your Willinga Primary School team for 2020.

Leadership

Stay Connected to the Classroom with SeesawSeesaw is a simple way for teachers and students to record and share what's happening in the classroom.

 Seesaw gives students a place to document their learning, be creative and learn how to use technology.

 Each student gets their own journal and will add things to it, like photos, videos, drawings, or notes.

When there are new Seesaw posts, families can be notified via app notification, email or SMS.

Parents are only notified about their own child’s work, and all data is safe and secure.

Invitation to join is via a QR code that teachers have given to each new student. Students details roll over from their previous class, so connect to view their latest work.