Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers

Our Willoughby students and teachers have settled into a good routine with everyone navigating around the many obstacles across the playground. The building works continue and we saw the installation of our new school sign above the Oakville Rd main entry on Friday. Thank you to our kindergarten parents for your support in encouraging independence and responsibility from day 1. As we approach the mid point of Term 1 you will notice the children starting to show signs of fatigue – early bedtimes help with this as well as limiting afternoon activities.

On Wednesday afternoon and evening we welcomed our Early Stage 1 and Stage 3 parents to our annual information evenings for 2020.The format of the meetings had a slight change this year to bring the stage groups together for the meetings. It provides an opportunity to meet the whole team and understand the structure of supervision. We will host an open evening in Term 2 after we have moved into our new learning spaces. I’m looking forward to Stage 1 and Stage 2 meetings in Week 5.

Thank you to Miss Limbert, Miss Cho, Miss Stanley and Mr Talbot for organising our annual swimming carnival at Macquarie University Aquatic Centre on Tuesday 18 February. Thank you to our Years 2-6 teachers and parents for your help on the day with time keeping, marshalling students efficiently into their races and crowd control. Our 2020 sport house leaders very successfully led their house groups with cheering and supporting swimmers. I was very impressed with the way our students managed the changed conditions we encountered by not having access to the hill to view the races. I must admit I enjoyed the fans and air conditioned room as a place out of the sun during the day. Please see a few action shots from the carnival attached. The full gallery of swimming carnival photos will be playing on the screen at the front office this coming week.

Library 2020

During Term 1, the library will be open most mornings between 8.35am and 9.00am, for reading, returning books and borrowing. 

We will also be open for a short time 3.00-3.15pm, for students accompanied by a parent, for returning and borrowing.  

Each week, each class will come to the Library for a lesson, so ask your child which day is their Library Day and remind them to bring their books for return or renewal. It is helpful to have a library bag and a consistent and specific location at home for library books. Loans are for 2 weeks – Y1-Y6 may borrow up to 3 books. Kindergarten can initially only take 1 book for Term 1, but may take 2 books in later Terms.   

WPS LIbrary Website 

WPS Library has its own website and Instagram account, packed with interesting and useful information about the library and new books, old books and everything to do with reading.  

Site: www.librarywps.com/ 

Instagram: @wps_library  

Scholastic Book Club  

We oversee the Scholastic Book Club program which rolls out twice each term. For the first issue in 2020, everyone will receive a paper copy of the Scholastic Catalogue. Orders will only be processed by Scholastic’s on-line LOOP order system. A week or so after the Issue closes, orders will be sent in bulk to the school. 

https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent.aspx 

NSW Premiers Reading Challenge 

We also oversee the Premiers Reading Challenge which begins in March 2020. K-2 will have their Reading Records completed by Staff, as they read to the classes during the year. Year 3-6 students will need to complete their own records, the Teacher Librarians will guide them through the process and remind them each week to update their Record. At the completion of the Challenge in August, students who have read the required number of books are issued with a Certificate. Further details to help you help your student are available from the Library or the PRC website. 

https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html 

Volunteers 

We will always welcome any parent or relative who is interested in helping out in the library. Most of the year there is always book covering either with contact or plastic to be done – this is a task you can do at home, or here in the library. We are in special need of help for the Book Fair in Term 3 – setting up and breaking down and manning the donations desk is always a huge task. If you are able to help, please come and see us, or email Mr Thorn with your contact details (james.thorn1@det.nsw.edu.au)  

James Thorn

Debbie de Silva

Teacher Librarians

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.

Please check emails (and possibly the Junk email folder) for the Term 1 invoice and Permission notes that were emailed out on Friday.

If you did not receive the email, please contact our front office on (02) 9958 1355 to check we have the correct email contact for you.

Please ensure permission notes are signed and returned by Friday 28 February. 

CHOIR UPDATE 

Willoughby’s Year 2 Choir and Senior Choir (Years 3-6) and Ukelele Group will be recommencing in Week 5. 

• Year 2 Choir, open to Year 2 students, will rehearse on Friday mornings at 8.15am in Mrs Lyon’s music room in demountable city. 

• Senior Choir, open to Year 3-6 students, will rehearse on Friday mornings 8.15am in Mrs Mills’ music room in demountable city. 

• Ukelele Group will rehearse on Wednesday mornings at 8.15am in Mrs Mills’ room.

Primary Proms 2020 

The choir team are very excited to announce that Willoughby PS has been accepted into the 2020 Art’s Unit’s Primary Proms. The concert is a DoE showcase of music making by public schools from across NSW and features more than 300 students from Years 3 & 4. Students perform an exciting concert of two part songs in the historic Sydney Town Hall. Willoughby PS will be participating in the DAINTREE concert on 25th August. Interested students will be bringing home notes this week.

Tunefully, Mrs Lyons, Mrs Firth and Mrs Mills

2020 Family Fun Day

The WPS P&C Family Fun Day is on this Saturday, 29 February 2020 from 3.30 – 7.30 on the lower oval at Willoughby Park. Tickets can be purchased here.  https://www.trybooking.com/BHVDK

Ticket prices are:

·        children $20, which includes a sausage sandwich and unlimited fun

·        under 3 years free

·        adults $10 

It will be great fun, with music, inflatables, games, awesome sideshow alley activities and dancing.  We’ll have food trucks, sweet treats and our WPS P&C BBQ.  Come along, it’s a great way to start our school year, catching up with old friends and making new ones. 

Please bring along refillable drink bottles to fill at our hydration station.  If you would like to drink something other than h2o, please bring that along.  No glassware please.  An adult must accompany all children.

If you can spare an hour to help out please volunteer here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0544a5a82da3fb6-wpspc2

Please help us to keep waste to a minimum by taking your rubbish with you, or recycling in the bins provided.  We promote and support the use of sustainable packaging and recycling of cans, paper and glass at all times.

P&C Meeting

Our next P&C meeting is at 7pm on Wednesday 4 March - we’d love to see you there.

Events in 2020

Don’t forget to put these important dates in your diary so you don’t miss them:

Saturday 29 February - Family Fun Day at Willoughby Park 3:30 – 7:30

Wednesday 4 March - P&C Meeting 7pm in the Library

Thursday 7 May - Mothers Day Stall

Wednesday 27 May - P&C Meeting 7pm

Wednesday 3 June - Dads night out for State of Origin Game 1

Saturday 27 June Parents Party – more details to come soon

Wednesday 19 August - P&C Meeting 7pm

Thursday 3 September - Fathers Day Stall

Sunday 6 September – Willoughby Public School Fair

Friday 30 October – Chicks for a Cause

Wednesday 11 November - P&C Meeting and AGM from 7pm

Friday 30 November – A Starry Night outdoor movie

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday at Family Fun Day!

Jenni and Tanya

WPS P&C Co-Presidents

President@wpspandc.com.au

Chess Club is on Tuesdays (years 1-3) & Wednesdays (years 4-6) 7:45am - 8:45am.

Benefits:

- Kids learn Chess under professional Sydney School of Chess tutors

- It’s an opportunity to expand your kids creative and strategic minds'

- Kids love it and it’s fun, plus it’s another game they can play together!

Over 100 kids participating each year. There are also opportunities to enter inter-school competitions throughout the year.

Register here:

http://www.wpspandc.com.au/chess/chess-registration/

See you at the boards!

Chess Club