March 5th, 2025
'The Puggle Post'
OUR SCHOOL VISION:
"Wandong Primary School...Making a difference by developing confident, independent and resilient learners who strive for personal excellence."
What's on What's Due
| MARCH | 2025 |
| Wednesday 5th | Scholastic Book Club is open for orders |
| Wednesday 5th | Foundation students start full time |
| Thursday 6th | Photo retake/catchup day - Absentee, Leadership & Grade 6 photos |
| Thursday 6th | Icy Pole Thursdays Term 1 - $1 |
| Thursday 6th | Division Swimming Championships - Selected Students only |
| Monday 10th | Labour Day Holiday - Student Free |
| Tuesday 11th | Curriculum Day - (Student Free) - If your child requires care, please book in at https://theircare.com.au/ |
| Thursday 13th | Icy Pole Thursdays Term 1 - $1 |
| Friday 14th | Wakakirri Expression of Interest - Consent/Payment due - Further information on date to follow |
| Monday 17th | Touring Wandong - 6:00pm - 2026 Students |
| Monday 17th - 23rd | Cultural Diversity Week |
| Thursday 20th | PAFA AGM - Commences 9:15am - All welcome! |
| Thursday 20th | Regional Swimming Championships - Selected Students only |
| Thursday 20th | Icy Pole Thursdays Term 1 - $1 |
| Thursday 20th | Picture Products Plates available |
| Friday 21st | Scholastic Book Club orders close today |
| Friday 21st | Sushi orders close today at 3:30pm |
| Friday 21st | Grade 5/6 Reptile Encounters Incursion - Consent/Payment due |
| Friday 21st | 1/2 Incursion - Wildlife Xposure - Consent/Payment due |
| Friday 21st | Cultural/Harmony Day Dress-up Students can wear cultural attire or orange to represent Harmony Day |
| Monday 24th | Out of uniform - Easter Donation |
| Tuesday 25th | Sushi Day |
| Tuesday 25th | Touring Wandong - 10:00am - 2026 Students |
| Thursday 27th | Grade 5/6 Reptile Encounters Incursion |
| Thursday 27th | Icy Pole Thursdays Term 1 - $1 |
| Friday 28th | Grade 1/2 Incursion - Wildlife Xposure |
| Friday 28th | Working Bee - 1/2N, 3/4F & 5/6H 2:30pm - 3:30pm |
| APRIL | 2025 |
| Thursday 3rd | Icy Pole Thursdays Term 1 - $1 |
| Friday 4th | SRC Easter Bonnet (Gold coin to Good Friday Appeal) and WELLBEING WALK DAY |
| Friday 4th | Last day Term 1 |
| Tuesday 22nd | Curriculum Day - If your child requires care, please book in at https://theircare.com.au/ |
| Wednesday 23rd | First day Term 2 |
| Friday 25th | ANZAC DAY HOLIDAY |
| MAY | 2025 |
| Friday 2nd | Picture Products due today |
| Thursday 8th | Mother's Day Stall |
| Monday 12th - Friday 16th | Education Week |
| Friday 23rd | Working Bee - 1/2A, 3/4C & 5/6T 2:30pm - 3:30pm |
| June | 2025 |
| Monday 9th | Kings Birthday Holiday |
| Friday 27th | Working Bee - 1/2C, 3/4G & 5/6C 2:30pm -3:30pm |
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
REMINDER – LABOUR DAY — PUBLIC HOLIDAY – TERM 1 CURRICULUM DAY
Monday 10th March is the Labour Day Public Holiday. The school will be closed for the day. Tuesday 11th March, our staff will be taking a deep dive into the new Mathematics Curriculum. Please book in with TheirCare if you require care for your child on this day. For those not registered yet, the childcare rebate is up to 95%.
Traffic Safety and Respectful Behaviour
We often receive complaints regarding unsafe parking in the Church carpark. The school obviously has no jurisdiction over road traffic safety, but we urge our families to be aware that there are little people before and after school that could be seriously injured. Please find attached again, a basic map for parking respectfully in the Church carpark.
It is also important to note that there are little ears around the school and upholding respectful and polite behaviour is expected. We are all role models for our children, not only our own, but those in our broader community.
We have also had reports of children not wearing bike helmets when riding to school and riding recklessly in and between cars. If your child is riding independently to school, please ensure that they are always wearing a correctly fitted helmet and riding safely.
Please, if you have concerns regarding traffic safety or illegal parking around the school, it is important that you contact the police.
IMPORTANT – Foundation 2026
In 2026 we again need to reduce our Foundation intake, so we are asking that all current families submit their enrolment application form for siblings asap. We are not able to guarantee a position at Wandong after the enrolment closing date if we are not your closest school. Thank you in advance for making this a priority this coming week.
TheirCare (Outside of School Hours Care)
Please be aware that if your child is not registered with TheirCare they will be unable to access the program in an emergency. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you register your child/ren with TheirCare in case you may need it one day. This is particularly relevant following our fire scare on Monday afternoon when families were held up due to road closures etc. Children are not able to be cared for in the office administration area.
A Broken Record – Why does attendance matter?
I know we sound like a broken record at times on this topic… At Wandong we know we have all the best systems in place to ensure children are making learning gains… high teacher effectiveness, evidence-based programs, strong intervention and extension… but this is of little value if children are not at school… we can’t bring children to school every day and on time. We rely on our families to make this a priority. Some key take points from a recent research article I read:
- student absence reduces even the best teacher’s ability to provide learning opportunities
- absenteeism in kindergarten was associated with negative first grade outcomes such as greater absenteeism in subsequent years and lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge
- absentee rates were observed as early as kindergarten, and students who eventually dropped out of high school missed significantly more days of school in first grade than their peers who graduated from high school
- effects of lost school days build up one absence at a time on individual students.
Reporting Changes, Semester One, 2025
We are always listening to community feedback and want to create a reporting process which works well for both the school and families. It has been a number of years since we have made changes to our reports, and we feel that we can make some adjustments to better meet the needs of you – our current families.
Please see attached information about the proposed reporting changes.
Mathematics Reporting
It may feel like some time away, but we wish to keep you informed about some upcoming changes to student reports. All Department of Education schools are required to transition to the new Mathematics Curriculum version 2.0 this year.
This new curriculum has necessitated changes to student reporting. Previously, we reported student progress across three areas of Mathematics:
- Measurement and Geometry
- Number and Algebra
- Statistics and Probability
Reports used to look like this:
The new Mathematics curriculum is now structured into six interconnected strands:
- Number (F – 6)
- Algebra (F – 6)
- Measurement (F – 6)
- Space (F – 6)
- Statistics (F – 6)
- Probability (Year 3 – Year 6 only)
Your child’s report will include a single, aggregated score for Mathematics that will look like this.
Because this will be our first time reporting against the Mathematics 2.0 standards, student reports will not show a progression dotted line in Semester 1. Student progress will be shown as normal, in Semester 2.
As a school we are well placed to make this transition, having prepared for the upcoming changes to the curriculum and reporting throughout 2024.
NATIONAL YOUNG LEADERS’ DAY
Our student leadership group headed off to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday for our annual leadership experience. They are an incredible team and it was wonderful to see each of them participate in a range of activities and to hear the stories and leadership wisdom of four of our prominent Australians – some similar and some very diverse stories. This year’s speakers included Australia’s most successful Olympian, Emma McKeon, screenwriter and author Thomas Duncan-Watt, ex-AFL player Majak Daw the first Sudanese-Australian to play senior AFL football and actress Catherine Laga’aia. For more information, please go to https://www.halogen.org.au.
Fundraising
Wandong has come such a long way in the past five to six years, and we are now reaping the incredible rewards of all the hard work that has been poured into teaching, learning, and our community. Our students’ learning outcomes are soaring above state averages, and our wellbeing model is being spruiked as best practice, not just within our network but far beyond. The investment we’ve made in human resources is significant and goes above and beyond what you would typically find in both private and government schools. Wandong has earned a well-deserved reputation for its innovative teaching approaches, and we’re now seeing visitors from universities and schools across the state eager to learn from what we’ve built together.
Over the years, I’ve fought tirelessly alongside our dedicated team with various government bodies, councils, and the VSBA (Victorian Schools Building Authority), sending countless emails year after year, advocating for much-needed improvements to our facilities.
But today, we’re about to embark on something truly exciting, the ‘turning of the first sod’ for our $10.1 million capital works building project.
We also kicked off this year with our brand-new playground, and it’s already been a big hit with our students. They’re having so much fun exploring the new climbing structures and seeing the active play is so heartwarming. It’s been amazing to see their faces light up as they enjoy these new play opportunities and create lasting memories with their friends.
When I first arrived at Wandong in 2019, the condition of our sporting facilities and play spaces, especially our oval, received a great deal of feedback, sadly none of it positive. However, with an enormous THANK YOU to our community and PAFA for their unwavering dedication to fundraising and for sticking with us through thick and thin, we’ve been able to transform the tiered area in front of the flagpole into a beautiful space for passive play and assemblies. We’ve also completely overhauled the oval, turning it into a sporting space that can accommodate a variety of team sports. This project included essential drainage upgrades and the addition of rock seating along the bank. Thanks to the extraordinary effort of our fundraising efforts over the past two years, combined with significant savings from the school’s budget, WE DID IT!
But… this is not the end! We’ve also designed an exciting new basketball court area above the oval, which will be completed once the capital works are finished and Little Land is demolished. We do need to stay the course and continue to save all our pennies, so we can again achieve a great outcome for our students. Our fundraising efforts are far from over, and with the continued commitment of our community, we know we can achieve awesome upgrades to our facilities. Let’s keep saving, keep working, and complete worthwhile projects together.
Our SRC Vision
This year, our Student Representative Council (SRC) are excited to take on the project of rebuilding our Chicken Coop. All their fundraising efforts will go towards purchasing this Grand Barn and with the help of our Buildings and Grounds Maintenance worker, Tom, we hope to complete this project by the end of the year. Let’s go SRC!
SEW
SEW in 1/2N
Students in 1/2N have been settling into the term well, building confidence in their routines and classroom expectations. They are developing strong relationships with their peers and teachers, fostering a sense of belonging and security. Through social-emotional learning, students are learning to express their feelings, work collaboratively, and show kindness and respect towards others. As they continue to grow in independence, they are demonstrating resilience and a positive attitude towards learning. With ongoing support and encouragement, they are building the foundations for a successful and enjoyable school year.
Well done superstars!
PAFA
AGM Meeting – 20th March – Commences 9:15am – All welcome!
2025 Plate Fundraiser
After several requests from the school community, we’ve got Picture Products involved in our fundraising this year. It is completely optional. We will have templates available from the school office from March 20th. It’s a great school holiday project!
SUSHI DAY
Sushi Day is Tuesday March 25th, orders close Friday 21st at 3:30pm.
Sushi handrolls $4.50
Teriyaki Chicken GF DF EF
Chicken cooked in teriyaki marinade, cucumber
Crispy Chicken DF EF
Crumbed pan-fried chicken, cucumber, lettuce
Tuna GF DF
Cooked tuna, cucumber, mayonnaise
Avocado V VG GF DF EF
Fresh avocado slices
California DF
Cooked seafood, cucumber, mayonnaise
Rice Paper Rolls $4.50
Vegetable V VG GF DF EF
Carrot, shredded red/white cabbage, fried tofu, mint,
vermicelli rice noodles, sweet chilli sauce
Chicken GF DF EF
Carrot, shredded red/white cabbage, cooked marinated
chicken, mint, vermicelli rice noodles, sweet chilli sauce
Juice Box $1.50
Apple or Orange
ZOOPER DOOPER DAYS
Zooper Doopers will be sold every THURSDAY. Money will now be collected in classrooms at the start of the day. Icy poles will be delivered to classrooms at lunch eating time. Please note limit of 2 per student, correct money appreciated.
OFFICE NOTICES
Office Hours : - 8:30am until 3:55pm
Picking Up Children – Please help our admin team!
In exceptional circumstances and emergencies, at times children need to be collected from school early. Please help our wonderful administration team by ensuring that this is not done during the break times of 11:00-11:30am and 1:45-2:30pm. When children are outside playing with their friends, they do not hear the announcements and it is difficult to have a staff member unlock classrooms to collect bags and belongings. Please help support our classroom programs by waiting until 3:30pm to collect children. The admin area is growing quite hectic in the afternoons with families collecting children early. Thank you in advance for your support and understanding.
IMPORTANT: – Mobile Phone/Watch/Device Policy
In 2020, DET introduced strict restrictions on the use of any device with access to a cellular system, with or without a physical connection to a network. Where students bring a device of this type to school, it MUST be placed in secure storage at the office.
IMPORTANT: – Student Information
It is very important we have up-to-date information for all students. Please check Compass and update current home & email address, phone numbers & medical details.
Reminder: –
Hats must be worn throughout Term one & Term four outside. If they don’t have a hat, they can only play in a shaded area.
**Kids can get messy, please be organised & keep an extra set of clothes in your child’s bag for emergencies.
OFFICE NOTICES
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
SOCIAL MEDIA AGE LIMITS SURVEY
UNIFORM
IMPORTANT
**Please remember to put your child’s full name on their uniform. Please don’t use initials, as this makes it harder for us to find the owner.
If you order a bag, the order can be placed in your child’s or siblings’ tub for convenience. If not, you will need to supply a bag or make arrangements to collect your order.
COMPASS – CANTEEN UNIFORM ORDERING
When ordering uniforms through Compass, use Canteen. See below for how to order
Going paperless will reduce waste & conserve our natural resources.
Please Note:
Select the following day as your order date if the current date is closed, even if it’s a weekend!
Log into the Compass App.
Select more at bottom of screen.
Click on the Canteen button.
COMPASS CANTEEN ORDERING
Log into the Compass App.
On home screen select Canteen or select the more button and then Canteen.
Click on the Canteen button.
Select Get started.
Select Student and then next.
Select Sitting—Select next date if current date is cut off for uniform or select date given for ordering e.g. Pizza Day.
Select sitting e.g. Uniform, Team shirt, Pizza Day etc.
Select next.
Click on item you require e.g. Bomber Jacket, pizza etc.
Add item.
Repeat for other items e.g. Short sleeve polo, drink.
Proceed to review order.
Select Customise when ordering Uniform or Team shirt.
Select Sizes.
Select Add to order button.
Note: If ordering Team shirt put Number in Special instructions.
Select Add order.
Add another order or select Confirm and Pay and follow the steps for payment.
CHURCH CARPARK MAP
AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Social, enjoyable & fun experiences for children
Develop creativity, life skills & confidence through play
Qualified, caring & engaged staff
Exciting & thoughtfully develop programs
Healthy & Yummy food provided each day
Bookings now open!
| Monday - Friday Hours of Operation | Fees before Child Care Subsidy* | Out-of-pocket fees after Child Care Subsidy** | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before School Care (BSC) | 6:30 AM to 8:45 AM | $24.10 | $2.41 |
| After School Care (ASC) | 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM | $26.40 | $2.64 |
| Pupil Free Day | 6.30 AM to 6.30 PM | $118.20 | $11.82 |
| Holiday Program*** | 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM | $112.79 | $11.28 |
*Standard fee costs before Child Care Subsidy/ **Standard fee costs after maximum Child Care Subsidy / *** Standard fee costs excluding incursions/excursions
Cancellation Fees
(No Child Care Subsidy applied to Cancellation Fees)
BSC/ASC within 48 hours of session start time: $5.00
Holiday Program within 5 days of session start time: $10.00
Same day cancellation fee is out-of-pocket session fee.
Late Booking Fees
(Child Care Subsidy is applied to Late Booking Fees)
BSC/ASC within 48 hours of session start time: $5.00
Holiday Program: book less than 5 days from the session start time fee is $10.00
Late Pick-up Fees
(Child Care Subsidy does not apply to Late Pickup Fees)
$1 per minute after service close time
To register visit theircare.com.au
TheirCare support team is available between 6.30am – 9am weekdays (Eastern Standard Time) on 1300 072 410 or info@theircare.com.au
MUSIC
Thank you for your interest in the Instrumental Music Program at Wandong
Primary School.
Our program provides students with the opportunity to develop musicianship
skills, build confidence and collaborate with others to deliver performances.
Above all, we aim to foster peoples love of music, have fun and stay creative!
Students may choose from the following
Please find below, the conditions of our program and Enrolment form.
Please read carefully to ensure your child’s maximum involvement and development.
In order to continue and develop their skills, students are encouraged to
show evidence of regular practice. Below is a recommended guide for weekly
practice times:
Beginners: 15-20 minutes, 3 days a week
After one year: 30 minutes, 4 days a week
After two years: 40 minutes, 5-6 days a week
Payment Terms & Withdrawal from the Instrumental Music Program
1. An invoice will be sent at the beginning of each term and is to be paid,
in full, via Direct Deposit.
2. Fees must be paid by the due date. Failure to do so will result in lessons
being stooped until payment has been made.
3. Unless notified, the instrumental teacher assumes all students in the
program will automatically continue lessons each term. A verbal or written
notification to the instrumental teacher is required to withdraw students
from the program. Notice needs to be received 2 weeks prior to the end
of the term, to avoid incurring the next term’s fees.
SCHOOL TOURS
For the information of Grade 6 families
This year Broadford Secondary College invites families to book a tour of our school to see our facilities, learn about our programs and have an opportunity to ask any questions you might have about the move from primary to secondary school for your child.
These tours will replace our annual Open Night and every family will receive an information pack on arrival.
Please book your preferred tour date, only 1 ticket is required per family.
We look forward to welcoming you into our school.
All enquires can be made to the General Office 035784 1200 or email broadford.sc@education.vic.gov.au
https://www.trybooking.com/CZGYV
