Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Term 2, Week 6 - Friday 3 June2022

OUR SCHOOL VISION

At Willoughby Public School we aim to cultivate socially-aware learners who are critical and creative thinkers, within a safe, respectful and responsible learning community.

Stage 1 Disco

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear Parents/Carers 

P&C Meeting 

It was great to see the group of parents in the hall and connecting via zoom last Wednesday evening. Our P&C provides a great platform for communication between the school and community. It provides a chance to catch up on the learning programs in the school as well as events. We are looking forward to our first Stage 1 disco this evening. Thank you to the small group of enthusiastic parents working behind the scene to make this exciting event happen, thank you also to the parent volunteers helping out as well. 

Kindergarten enrolments for 2023 

Book in for a school tour on Tuesday or Thursday morning to have a look at the wonderful facilities we have at Willoughby PS. We are currently accepting enrolments for 2023, download an enrolment form from the website, then contact the school admin office to complete the enrolment process. 

Kaboom Percussion Show 

Our students had a very entertaining day on Tuesday. The Kaboom Percussion Show had everyone tapping and clapping as they watched the show. A great way to incorporate music and percussion in an entertaining way. Overwhelming positive feedback for the show for our students. 

Kindy Teddy Bear's Picnic excursion

Excited Kindergarten students headed to the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre in Week 5 for a day of environmental learning - and a surprise picnic with their teddy bears. Thank you to the Kindy Team and parent volunteers for making this day so special for our youngest students. There were many happy faces arriving back at school that day.

SRC Mufti Day 

Our SRC have nominated June 15 for our SRC Mufti Day supporting Tumbulgum PS. Please bring a gold coin to support our buddy school on the far North Coast as they rebuild from the flood devastation earlier in the year. 

Boys Vocal Group 

Five boys accompanied by Miss Wiber attended the Department of Education Creative and Performing Arts Boys Vocal Group Program. The students were able to work on their vocal techniques while learning from other experienced musicians. It was a good opportunity for students to speak to and work with people from other schools who share a common interest in music and singing. Thank you students and Miss Wiber for being great ambassadors for our school. Pictures, a short video clip and more information can be found later on in the newsletter. 

Kind regards,

Jennifer Simmonds

Teddy Bears Picnic - Kindergarten excursion

2022 Waste Audit - School Sustainability Team

During the week some of our Waste Warriors took part in our second waste audit.  This was a follow up to the waste audit we did last year, and we were hopeful that we would see a reduction in the quantities of waste we produce. Since the last audit we have new sustainability measures in place: every classroom has an organic food waste bin, we have 3 new recycling stations around the school, and we recently introduced Waste-Free Wednesdays.  

Currently, at Willoughby we fill one 1,100 litre bin each day with waste that goes to landfill. Today, three days’ worth of rubbish (3 of the 1,100 litre bins) was sorted into categories, with the help of the reps from A Prince Consulting. The rubbish was then weighed.  We were pleased that there was less rubbish compared to the audit last year, but over 3 days the school produced more than 60kg of food waste!  

There were considerably less disposable coffee cups but there was a lot of rubbish that should have been put into the yellow recycling bins! At the start of the audit we had three 1,100 litre bins to sort through but at the end when we had placed all the recyclables into the correct bins, the remaining rubbish filled 2 bins! That’s 1,100 litres of waste we saved from going to landfill. 

Hopefully the results of this audit will make everyone stop and ask themselves “is this the right bin?” before they reach for the nearest bin! 

Nhaysa 6A and Giselle 6M 

2022 Waste Audit

Waste-free Wednesdays

Stage 3 & 2-6R Biennale excursion

Stage 3 classes and 2-6R were fortunate to enjoy a day exploring the amazing artworks at the Sydney Biennale. The Biennale often challenges the definition of what we believe Art is, and this year was no different. 

Artworks with an environmental and sustainable flavour provided a lot to talk about and have inspired our students to create their own artworks - see below. 

Thanks to teachers, support staff and parent volunteers for your help in providing this experience for our students.

Biennale excursion gallery

Artworks inspired by Biennale excurion

Stage 3 visited the Biennale of Sydney at Barangaroo and Pier 2 as part of our art appreciation studies. The theme of the Biennale is sustainability with a focus on rivers, wetlands, fresh and saltwater ecosystems. Year 6 have created artworks inspired by the artists - see gallery below.

Art inspired by Biennale

Stage 3 Boys Vocal Program

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, a group of Stage 3 students participated in the Boys Vocal Program at Trackdown Studios in Moore Park. Connor (5C), Harvey (5C), Noah (5S), Sean (6W) and Archer (6L) worked with experienced musicians and producers to sing and record a song over the three days.

The 85 students from different NSW schools harmonised on the song "Winning Streak" by Glen Hansard led by choral director Stuart Davies. Arlo Sim (The Voice) helped them with vocal techniques. They also got to watch some of the recording process from the mixing booth where many famous feature film soundtracks have been made. 

Short video: 20220602_041005000_iOS.MOV 

 Fleur Wiber - Music Teacher

Stage 3 Boys Vocal Program

LIBRARY NEWS

Library Book Care 

Thank you for helping your child to remember their Library Bag each week to borrow, and for organising a safe place for them to store their Library books whilst at home – it is making a big difference in keeping our Library books in good shape to lend out each week. Keeping books away from very young siblings, pets, pens and pencils and food and drinks so that they are returned to the Library in the same condition that they were borrowed is also so appreciated. Wet and soiled books can rarely be saved, and we find once a book becomes significantly marked, children do not want to borrow it in that condition. Great habits and good care for items loaned out means we have our fabulous books for so much longer. 

Parents are Welcome! 

How lovely it has been to see parents pop in to the Library at different times with questions, comments or queries at drop=off time, or just to have a look around our lovely space! We are open every morning except Tuesdays, from 8.35-8.55am. Students are welcome into the space to return books, borrow and read or draw. 

Watch this space! 

Fingers crossed and all things going well we are hoping to finally welcome back our much-loved Book Fair next term and Book Week Dress Up day! Plans are in the works and we will let you know details as the time draws closer! 

Mrs Debbie de Silva 

Teacher Librarian 

Stage 1 Student Disco

Accessing the new WPS Digital Library

School photos - online orders open now

URSTRONG

Dear Parents/Carers

URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy has improved the social climate in schools around the world, connecting over a million kids, parents, and teachers with a common language of friendship.

You are invited to attend an online Language of Friendship workshop on Thursday 23 June at 6pm. From the comfort of your home, Tyson Greenwood (Director of URSTRONG Schools) will teach you and your children skills + language to foster healthy, feel-good friendships.

Registration Required: CLICK HERE to register

We believe that empowering our students with these skills will create a culture of kindness at our school and we hope you can attend.

 

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS – THE UNIFORM SHOP

The Uniform Shop is looking for new volunteers to join the team. If you are free and willing to help on any Wednesday or Friday, 8:30-9:30, please contact Slavka on 0434 622 866.

Being part of the Uniform Shop is a great way to be involved in the WPS community and join a lovely group of committed, supportive volunteers 😊

 

Flexischools - canteen order app

Download

Parent Guide to NSW Syllabuses

Download

Put safety ahead of convenience. Always.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Parent resources and courses

MiniMos

KEY DETAILS

  • The 2km run is an event for the whole family. Children can race on their own or with an accompanying adult. Entry is $40. An accompanying adult costs $25.
  • The 5km run is open to all participants over eight years of age and costs $60.
  • The 10km run is open to all participants over ten years of age and costs $70
  • Enter as an individual, a parent/child combined team or a LEGEND team of three or more.
  • Pre-purchase wristbands for the fair can be purchased in advance when you register for the race or at Race Pack Pick Up on Saturday, June 18.

More details on the event, safety protocols and registration can be found at www.mini-mos.com.au.

Should you have any questions regarding the event or the Schools Challenge, please contact event@mini-mos.com

 

UNSW Gifted Student holiday programs

How to install the SkoolBag App

Download

HOW TO APPLY FOR SCHOOL OPAL CARD

Download

Always was, always will be

Willoughby Public School stands on Cammeraygal land.

We acknowledge the traditional owners and recognise their continuing connection to land, sky, waters and culture.

Just as we learn and play here at Willoughby Public School today, we know that for many tens thousands of years, Aboriginal families learned and played on the very ground our school now stands on.

We value the way the traditional owners looked after and cared for this land, and we hope to continue to care for and respect this land, so that it is here for generations to come.

We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

FOLLOW WPS SCHOOL INSTAGRAM