October 25th, 2023
'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
| OCTOBER | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Friday 27th | Young Leaders - Selected students |
| Friday 27th | World Teachers Day |
| Monday 30th | Grandparents Day (All day) |
| NOVEMBER | 2023 |
| Wednesday 1st | Wandong Primary School Team Shirts 2024 - Last day for orders & payments - Grades 3 - 6 |
| Monday 6th | Curriculum Day - No Students – If your child requires care, please book in at https://theircare.com.au/ |
| Tuesday 7th | Melbourne Cup Holiday - No Students |
| Thursday 9th | Grade 6 Uniform 2024 - Final day for orders & payment - No late orders can be accepted |
| Wed 8th – Fri 10th | Grade 3/4 Camp |
| Mon 13th – Tues 14th | Grade 1/2 Camp |
| Friday 10th | Foundation 2024 Transition Day #1 - 9.10am - 10am |
| Wednesday 15th | Parent Event – Susan McLean – Cyber Cop, Keeping our Kids Safe Online. Please email or call the office to book in for this event |
| Friday 17th | Foundation Day Camp |
| Mon 20th – Wed 22nd | Grade 5/6 Surf Camp |
| Thursday 23rd | Professional Practice Day - No students required - If your child requires care, please book in at https://theircare.com.au/ |
| Friday 24th | Foundation 2024 Transition Day #2 - 9.10am - 10am |
| DECEMBER | 2023 |
| Friday 1st | Foundation 2024 Transition Day #3 - 9.10am - 10am |
| Monday 4th | Foundation 2024 Meet the Teacher |
| Mon 4th - Fri 8th | Gratitude Week |
| Tuesday 5th | Funfields End of Year Pool Party - Consent and Payment Due |
| Thursday 7th | Grade 6 Graduation - Consent and Payment due |
| Friday 8th | Foundation 2024 Transition Day #4 - 9.10am - 10am |
| Tuesday 12th | Whole School Transition Morning - 9am - 10am |
| Tuesday 12th | 2024 Foundation Transition Day - Teddy Bear Picnic at 9.15am |
| Thursday 14th | Grade 6 Graduation |
| Friday 15th | Pizza in the Park - 200 Nights of Reading 12.30pm - 1.30pm Selected students only |
| Monday 18th | School Fete 3.30pm - 7pm |
| Tuesday 19th | Funfields - End of Year Pool Party |
| Wednesday 20th | Last Day of term - 1.30pm dismissal |
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
PLEASE HELP OUR TEACHERS – 2024 Curriculum Payments?
Please help our teachers plan and purchase your child’s items for 2024! Did you know that most teachers will buy items for their classrooms and for their students out of their own savings? Please support our school and staff so we can continue to offer and supply the best possible programs and resources.
Parent Payments for 2024 were sent out last week, so please ensure that this payment is put at the top of the list to ensure the school is able to prepare early and purchase the required resources and equipment for the coming year. Please note that this should be prioritised over all optional items like camp.
Staff News
This week we farewell Mrs Cole! We miss you already and we can’t wait to meet your ‘Mini Cole’ in the weeks to come. There is most definitely something in the water at Wandong! We are excited to announce that Mrs Barat will be welcoming her first family addition next year and from all the Wandong family we say, congratulations!
We would like to congratulate a number of new staff to our teaching positions in 2024 – Caitlin Brideson, Rima Fahd, Olivia Aquilina, Kirsten Burchfield, Eliza Galea, Jade Guy, Chloe Gerada, Zoe Hall and Laura Ryan. We also welcome Matilda Smith, Maddie Curtis, Paige Donoghue, Kunie Yoshimoto, Jemma Galea, Katie Dinesan, and Lisa Neelands to our Education Support Integration team.
On a sad note, I would like to announce that some of our valued staff members are leaving us at the end of the year to pursue new challenges. Emma Brancatisano and Rebecca Barat are heading off to other schools to share their knowledge and expertise. Ryan Cumberland is also heading off into another field to spread his wings and we wish him every success as he transitions over the next week. I feel truly blessed and grateful at Wandong to have had the privilege to work with such outstanding teachers, who consistently work tirelessly for our students and given above and beyond to our school. We all wish them every success in their new adventures!
Intentions to Leave
Term Four is always dominated with planning for the following year – grade and staff selection, budgets, enrolments and more. We have asked this before, and families have been very good in letting us know, but if any other families are intending to leave our school community in 2024 because of relocation or other reasons, could you please advise us as soon as possible. A phone call to the office, or an email to the school or my email account asap would be most appreciated.
REMINDERS
CURRICULUM DAY (ASSESSMENT & REPORTING) – MONDAY 6TH NOVEMBER
MELBOURNE CUP PUBLIC HOLIDAY — TUESDAY 7th NOVEMBER
Tuesday the 7th of November is Melbourne Cup Day, this is a PUBLIC HOLIDAY. The school will be closed on this day. The Monday prior to this is generally a very quiet day at school, with many of our families opting to use this as a long weekend. As a staff we have allocated the day for our mandated requirements around Assessment and Reporting.
World Teachers’ Day 2023 IS NEXT WEEK
This Friday, the world celebrates teachers. Wandong is blessed with the best teachers in the world (I’m not biased eitherJ) so please find a way to cherish your child’s teacher. We have a strong culture of gratitude and I know that every note, email, card, token gift, kind word does not go unnoticed. In fact, it is often shared far and wide in our staffroom. Our teachers arrive early, leave late, miss personal functions to attend school events and constantly put in well and above for our wonderful kids. Please show them you care in your own small way
SAVE THE DATE! COMING TO WANDONG! SPECIAL PARENT EVENT
Susan McLean – CYBER COP, KEEPING OUR KIDS SAFE ONLINE
BOOK IN NOW WITH THE OFFICE – PLACES LIMITED
Please ensure you have called or emailed the office to book in for this special event.
WELLBEING
SEW in 5/6E – Making Small Talk
Part of the focus for Grade 5/6 students in Term 4 is preparing them for the transition to Grade 6/Year 7. Grade 5 students will now become leaders of the school and also need to understand that a core group of their friends may be moving on to high school next year. Grade 6 students will be transitioning to a whole new environment where they may be unsure of their place, friendships, etc.
With this in mind, students in 5/6E had a focus on ‘making small talk’ – how to initiate conversations with acquaintances, or even people we don’t know. They discussed the difference between a friend and an acquaintance and the difficulties that can occur when suddenly ‘thrown’ into a situation where they need to find something to talk about (or else sit in awkward silence!)
Students reflected on a variety of questions, exploring whether these would be suitable questions to ask an acquaintance. They were also able to explain the difference between open and closed questions and how an open question can facilitate conversations better.
A MESSAGE FROM THE SRC
Our SRC are partnering with volunteer organisation ‘Lids4Kids,’ to help rescue plastic bottle lids from landfill and recycle them to protect our environment for future generations to come. Lids4Kids partner with many other recycling plastic manufacturers to re-purpose lids into any sustainable recycled plastic projects to benefit the communities in which they were collected.
To be part of this wonderful initiative, please bring CLEAN milk, water or soft drink lids to school and place them in your classroom collection point. Alternatively, you can bring them to the Auslan room or 5/6W.
NOTICES
Office Hours
Please note that the school office hours are 8:30am until 4:15pm.
Picking Up Children – Please help our admin team!
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 addresses, phone numbers & medical details.
Reminder:
Hats must be worn throughout Term Four outside. If your child has taken their hat home, please make sure it’s brought back to school.
Uniform Orders
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.
Select Place Order at bottom of screen.
Select Student.
Select Date. (Will have to select next date if current date is cut off)
Select sitting e.g. Uniform
Click on item you require e.g Short Sleeve Polo.
Select how many you want and then select the size.
Add to cart.
Repeat for other items e.g. Bomber Jacket.
View Cart
Proceed to Checkout or create another order.
PAFA
Next Meeting: October 17th 2023 @ 9.15am
Primary discussion will be around fete and planning for 2024. If you’d like to help out please do come down! Everyone is welcome. We will be in the staffroom.
OUR SCHOOL FETE IS COMING!!!
- Volunteer your time to PAFA prior or on the day with setup and running of the event
- Help your classroom teacher run a stand
- Donate milo tins or some spooky stuff for the haunted tunnel
Need more info? Get in contact!
Steph 0408 039 935 or stephanie.domino@education.vic.gov.au
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC INFORMATION
Wandong Primary is pleased to offer instrumental lessons for students from Foundation to grade 6.
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.
Please find below, the conditions of our program and Enrolment form.
| Fee Description 2023 | Term 1 (10 Weeks) | Term 2 (10 weeks) | Term 3 (10 weeks) | Term 4 (10 weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Lessons | $390 | $390 | $390 | $390 |
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.
AFTER SCHOOL CARE
About the program
TheirCare provides adventurous and stimulating Before & After School Care Programs in a safe environment for all children. During sessions children develop life skills, friendships, confidence and creativity through play.
Wandong Primary School has partnered with TheirCare to provide this service to your school which includes quality care, booking flexibility, amazing programming for your children and commitment to deliver on our promise to your school community.
| Operation Times | Fees* | Out of Pocket | Average^ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before School Care | 6:30am - 8:45am | $21.00 | $3.15 - $21.00 | $4.83 |
| After School Care | 3:30pm - 6:30pm | $23.00 | $3.45 - $23.00 | $5.29 |
| Pupil Free Day | 6:30am - 6.30pm | $103.00 | $15.45 - $103.00 | $23.69 |
| Holiday Program | 6:30am - 6.30pm | $103.00 | $15.45 - $103.00 | $23.69 |
| Late Booking Cancellation Fee | Within 48 hours | $5.00 | ||
| Cancellation Fee | Same Day | Full Fee | See BSC/ASC |
Service Phone Number: 0497 877 771 Your Service coordinator will be available during sessions times. TheirCare support is available during office hours if required on 1300 072 410
How to Enrol
Visit Theircare website: www.theircare.com.au and click on ‘Book Now’ in the top right hand corner to register your child’s details
*Standard fees excluding incursions/excursion costs
^Based on ABS published average family income for the suburb the school is located
WANDONG PRIMARY SCHOOL FETE SPONSORS 2023
