Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Dear Parents/Carers

We have had a very busy term and it has been wonderful to have our students back in our classrooms all of Term 3. My visits to our classrooms throughout the weeks have indicated that an enormous amount of learning has happened throughout the term. I truly admire the resilience of our students as they have navigated the difficulties that COVID19 has impacted on our lives.

Our Year 6 students have been very resilient around the changes impacting on their final year of primary school with some of their traditional events being cancelled. We are working with the recent changes in guidelines to hold our Year 6 farewell and final assemblies to celebrate their time at Willoughby Public, thank you to our Year 6 parents for supporting your children throughout this time.

I would also like to acknowledge our teaching, support and admin staff for the huge effort and commitment to working with our students and parents at WPS throughout a challenging Term 3.

Student Leadership 2021

Our annual selection process for our 2021 School Captains and Sport House Captains has begun.  Year 5 students participated in a leadership program presented by our Year 5 teachers to set the scene and work through a collective understanding of leadership qualities, and communication skills. This process inspired sixty-three students to nominate and were presented with their student leader nominee badge at an assembly last week. Wearing their nominee badge allows everyone in our school to observe the students in action while in the playground and in classrooms leading up to our elections in Term 4. Photos below. 

Classroom visits

One of my favourite activities as a principal is to interact with our students as they engage in their learning. Stage One provided an opportunity to travel back into time to the era of the dinosaurs, I was impressed by the depth of knowledge and facts presented and the interesting way everyone presented their learning. Well done to everyone involved! Some photos of student work samples are included later in the newsletter. 

2-6R have finished off the term with a showcase of their classroom being invaded by aliens! Lots of creative ideas with artwork and sculpture combined with great learning in writing and reading.

In 6/5HR I took a step back in history viewing some amazing learning around the early settlement of Australia. The students explored different artefacts and the impact on a developing country. I was very impressed by the detail and research skills presented by the students.

Parent Survey

Thank you to the many families who completed the online survey over the past two weeks. We will spend time analysing the results to inform our future school plan. Feedback is always welcome - either phone the admin office or email via the school email account.

COVID 19 Update

It was very pleasing to have some of the restrictions for school activities lifted. I am especially pleased that we will be able to offer our new Kindergarten students a transition to school program as well as hold a Year 6 farewell for our outgoing Year 6 students. We will communicate details surrounding these events in Term 4, as more detailed information is released.

School Uniform

Term 4 signals the official start of wearing our summer uniform. We have the option of our new shorts for the girls with the polo shirt as well as the dress. It has been great to see our students becoming sun safe and wearing their hats when in the playground. Holiday time is a great time to check that all clothing items have first and last names and class for the easy return if left in the playground. All WPS teachers have commented on how our students are following our expectation of being responsible, looking after their own personal property. Well done WPS students!

SRC fundraising initiative

Congratulation to our Willoughby Public School SRC who co-ordinated our colour fundraising event on Monday. It was lovely to start the week in such a colourful way – many thanks to everyone for supporting such worthy charities.

Farewell Mrs Panetta

Today is Mrs Panetta’s last day at Willoughby PS prior to beginning her maternity leave in Term 4. We would like to wish her the very best and we look forward to hearing her baby news later in Term 4. Mrs Tong and Mrs McConnell will teach KPT throughout Term 4.

On behalf of everyone at Willoughby Public School I would like to wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday.

Jennifer Simmonds

Principal

* Survey closing soon *

We are currently reviewing all aspects of our school in order to set our direction for our next 4-year school plan. Feedback from Students, Staff and Parents/Carers forms an important part of this. 

We invite you to complete the online survey to provide us with your insights to the future learning in our school. The survey takes around 5 minutes to complete and is anonymous. Please click onto the link below or use the QR Code to access the survey. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WPS2020PQ​ 

Willoughby PS and Cromehurst SSP were successful in applying for a Club Grant of $20,827 for the integration program that operates between the two schools on a weekly basis. The grant also supports the IM Class at Willoughby with their Life Skills and Travel Training Programs.

Due to COVID much of this program is on hold but video links have been set up between the schools.

The school would like to thank Raffi (P & C Treasurer) for his assistance in assisting Willoughby staff in getting this application in.

Willoughby School extend our thanks to Chatswood RSL Club for their generous support of the 2020 Club Grant program.

The grant will be spent on transport between the two schools, a wheelchair  and sensory equipment/pathways. This grant money opens up many valued opportunities for our students to support others.

Margaret Leslie - Cromehurst Program Coordinator

Kindergarten classes showed off their amazing papier mâché creations this week.

They have been learning about primary and secondary colours and how different colours can make you feel.

A lot of work went into these and we think they look great!

Positive Behaviour Engaging Learners (PBEL) is a system we have had in place at Willoughby for many years. 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.

One of the systems in place to support our PBEL program are the Caught You Being Good slips. These are handed out frequently to reinforce positive behaviour and to acknowledge students who are demonstrating our core values of Respect, Responsibility and Personal Best. 

Once received, students write their name and class on the back and then the Caught You Being Good slips are placed into a grade bucket, with a lucky draw taking place each week. Students who have their name pulled out of the bucket receive a canteen voucher and can choose from crackers, popcorn, fruit or a frozen juice cup. 

In the next newsletter we'll feature our Willoughby Way awards. 

If you have a 2021 school-ready child at home who will be starting Kindergarten next year, please commence the registration process by visiting our front office and filling out a registration form, or preferably completing the new Online Enrolment.

The Online Enrolment System is designed to provide flexibility for our parents to submit an enrolment application online and at the time that best suits you. The application can be accessed on all browsers and mobile devices including iOS and Android.

The online application process is currently restricted to:

• Enrolments into local schools only
• Children who are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or permanent residents
• Children who live in NSW.

We offer our support and encourage you to complete your application to enrol online. If, however, you do not feel comfortable completing an application online, a paper copy will be available for collection from the front office or can be downloaded from the Department’s going to a public school site

Further information about online enrolment can be found on the NSW Department of Education's website here.

Students had fun learning to program Lego NXT and EV3 robots.

A lot of problem solving took place, with a great deal of trial and error, persistence and resilience demonstrated as students worked through programming and robot build designs. 

Students were tasked with the creation of a line follower program for their robot, culminating in a robot dance-off.

A great way to finish the term. 

Book Week Dress-up

To celebrate the (new) Book Week this year, we’re having our annual Book Character dress-up day on Wednesday, October 21st.

Students and staff will show their love of reading by dressing up as their favourite book character for the day. We’re also asking students to bring a gold-coin donation for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.

Please check out our Library Events page, as well as the WPS Library Instagram page (@wps_library) for more information: https://www.librarywps.com/events

Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards

Every year this organisation organises Book of the Year Awards. Awards are usually given in Book Week in August, however in 2020 this announcement and the official Book Week has been moved to October 17-23, and the Awards also pushed back to this week too.

Both Short-Listed and Long-Listed/Notables are also great reference points for parents looking for newly released quality, award winning Australian titles for their children. 

2020 Short-list can be found at https://www.cbca.org.au/shortlist-2020 and the Notables at https://www.cbca.org.au/notables-2020 for the different age levels.

James Thorn & Debbie de Silva - Teacher Librarians 

Kiss & Go Volunteers

If you have half an hour to spare in the morning, please sign up here for Kiss & Go duty.  Our Kiss & Go helpers have made a real difference to the flow of traffic and safety of our school community. 

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040a4fabaa2daafa7-welcome  

Lost Property Angels

Huge thanks to our volunteers who have sorted through mountains of lost items, sending them to classes to be found again by their owner.  You have all been a great help to us all, and we thank you.

Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 restrictions of not allowing parent volunteers on school sites, the Lost Property Angels have not been able to get together and sort lost property.  WPS has come up with a new plan to ensure lost items find their way home, reinforcing the Willoughby Way of showing respect, being responsible and doing your personal best.  WPS staff and students now return labeled lost items directly to the students in their classroom.  This means there is no longer a huge pile of lost items to sort! 

If you are not able to find items, please contact your class rep who can put out an BOLO to fellow class parents via email.  Sometimes children accidently have someone else’s hat or jacket in their backpack.

Term 4 P&C meeting and AGM for 2019/20

Our final P&C meeting for 2020 will be on Wednesday 11 November, from 7pm.  In accordance with the current COVID-19 regulations it will be a zoom meeting.  We will send the link and password out closer to the date via Skoolbag.

At our AGM some executive positions, such as Event Coordinator, will become vacant.  If you would like to volunteer your time and become a member of the P&C Executive Committee please consider nominating for a position using this form.  We can accept nominations up until 3pm on 11/11/2020.  If you have a question about any position, please contact Jenni and Tanya at president@wpspandc.com.au

‘Your Community’ WPS P&C Advertising

The link to the new edition of ‘Your Community’ is below. 

https://www.emag.vigour.media/vigour-media/willoughby-your-community-june-20?pid=OTI92857&v=2.11

If you have a business you’d like to promote, please get in touch with our Advertising Coordinator, Simrita Virk at advertising@wpspandc.com.au.  

We hope you have a great Spring holiday, stay safe and we’ll see you in Term 4.

Jenni and Tanya

WPS P&C Co-Presidents

president@wpspandc.com.au

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.