Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers

Happy World Teachers' Day We celebrated World Teachers’ Day on Wednesday 28 October with a morning tea for our teachers. Our parents and families acknowledged the wonderful job our teachers do every day of the week on Friday 30 October. Please read the link below from Robyn Evans – President of NSW Primary Principals Association encapsulates the impact of 2020 and the role our teachers have had in supporting student learning. World_Teachers_Day_2020_NSWPPA_SchoolzIne_30_October.pdf

Willoughby Festive Flag Competition

Willoughby Public School students entered the annual Festive Flag Competition and I am very happy to acknowledge 15 students who will have their artwork on the flags that will be displayed throughout December and January in Chatswood.

Congratulations to the following students: Lucy H (KO), Ayari K (4/3R), Thomas W (4V), Julianne L (5F), Alison L (6L), Keira B (6L), Mia W (6L), Evie P (KK), Alessa A (6/5R), Eden M (6/5R), Matthew N (2Z), Maya K (KM), Thakeia A (3T), Lucas H (KK), Chloe M (2B).

 

Kindergarten Transition for 2021

We were very excited this week to welcome our first group of 2021 Kindergarten students to Willoughby PS. Our Transition program will continue Monday and Thursday and concluding on Thursday 19 November. Mrs Davidson, Mr Michaeil, Mrs Taylor (P&C) and I presented via Zoom on Monday evening to our 2021 parents. We provided an overview of our school, wellbeing, tips for starting school and our P&C. The information shared will be available to our Kindergarten families on our 2021 Kindergarten Transition website. We currently have 140 students enrolled for 2021. It is not too late to enrol if you have a school age child at home.

 

Emergency Evacuation

I would like to acknowledge and commend our WPS students, teachers, and Admin staff for the smooth exit out of our buildings as the emergency evacuation was announced on Tuesday 27 October, initially to our mini oval and then under instruction from the police to Willoughby Park. Once we were all out and on our min-oval the police officers on site took command of the evacuation with the whole aim of keeping our students and staff safe.

Thank you to our parent community for responding appropriately, we hope the ongoing schoolbag messages kept you informed throughout the day – especially knowing everyone was safe. We had approximately 2000 students and staff at Willoughby Park. Mrs Sharon Sands – Director Educational Leadership was also present to support both schools, especially the Year 12 students impacted with the disruption to their HSC exams.

We have evaluated the process to keep improving our WHS procedures. At the end of the day everyone was safe, a little hungry and sunburnt. I am happy that this (hopefully a once in a lifetime) experience was managed well. I would also like to thank the wonderful support of the police throughout the day.

Jennifer Simmonds

Principal

One of the many wonderful benefits our students have with our school renovations is that it is so easy for them to access our amazing new Library.

We are located straight off our beautiful new green and leafy play area (Area 1) at the Keary St end of the school which has created a more seamless entry and exit for students to visit us as they arrive at school in the morning, or at lunchtime. Your children are loving our new space! As we are back open again in the mornings and lunchtimes, many students are opting to come in daily to borrow and return books, which has dramatically increased not only the amount they are reading but also has meant that they are reading quite widely too. There are even a few students borrowing in the morning, reading things during their reading time in class, then returning and borrowing again at lunchtime so they have new material to read overnight!

There is no limit to the amount of books students can borrow each week – just the amount of books they can have out at any one time!

Students have 2 weeks to read the books before they are due back. Overdue books can be renewed if your child doesn’t finish reading the book during that time. As a Library, we have never been busier, and we couldn’t be happier!

Borrowing will continue until the end of Wk 6 this term. We would then like all books returned to the Library by the end of Wk 8 (first week of December), so that we can stocktake and prepare the Library for the new school year. It’s easy to get a step ahead in this process with your children, by making sure that any books you still have at home from the holidays or from last term are returned now.

James Thorn & Debbie de Silva - Teacher Librarians 

This term the SRC will be fundraising to support the amazing work of Stewart House, and help update mobile walking frames at Royal North Shore Hospital. 

Each year 1,700 public school children in need come to Stewart House from many parts of NSW and the ACT. During their stay, children are provided with optometric, dental and medical treatment as well as emotional support. This is balanced with health and educational programs and out of school activities to boost their self-esteem and to promote a healthier lifestyle.

The SRC is also helping Royal North Shore Hospital to update their mobility walkers - many without adequate brakes. 

The funds raised will be shared between these two organisations. 

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

You're invited to our P&C Annual General Meeting + Term 4 P&C Meeting + Mini School tour on Wednesday 11 November at 7:00pm.

The meetings will be held on-site in our new WPS hall (with Zoom access also available).

** Prior registration for on-site attendance is essential and numbers are limited to ensure COVID compliance. Strictly no children, thank you.**

Registration Link: 

https://www.trybooking.com/BMRKG

Timings:

7pm - Hybrid AGM (using Zoom & in person in hall)

8pm (or earlier) - Hybrid Term 4 Meeting

9pm (or earlier) - Mini School Tours

Zoom details will be sent via SkoolBag prior to the event.

Jenni and Tanya

WPS P&C Co-Presidents

president@wpspandc.com.au

Our final edition for 2020 is out now: https://www.emag.vigour.media/vigour-media/willoughby-your-community-term-4?pid=MTI122017&v=1.1

WPS P&C Team