September 4th, 2024

'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

SEPTEMBER 2024
Wednesday 4th Foundation Water Safety Program - Consent due
Thursday 5th Pizza Day
Thursday 5th Scholastic Book Club - Issue 6 - Orders Close
Friday 6th Grade 5/6 Interschool Sport - Term 3 Tournament
Friday 6th Billie G's Cookie Dough pick up from AUSLAN room
Monday 9th - Friday 13th Foundation Water Safety Program
Tuesday 10th Community Connections Yoga Free Event for our School Community 9am -10am
Wednesday 11th CERES - 5/6 Incursion - Session 2
Thursday 12th R U OK? Day
Friday 13th Working Bee - FA, 1/2G, 5/6E 2.30pm- 3.30pm Parents welcome
Thursday 19th Dance Club and Choir - Selected students only - Consent/Payment due
Friday 20th FOOTY COLOURS DAY - Wear your footy colours today, all codes allowed, AFL, NRL, Soccer, Local leagues
Friday 20th Last Day Term 3
Saturday 21st World Gratitude Day
OCTOBER 2024
Monday 7th First Day Term 4
Sunday 20th Dance Club and Choir - 8:00 AM - Selected students only
NOVEMBER 2024
Friday 1st Foundation Day Camp - Consent and payment due today
Friday 1st Grade 1/2 Camp - Consent and payment due today
Friday 1st Grade 3/4 Camp - Consent and payment due today
Friday 1st Grade 5/6 Camp - Consent and payment due today
Monday 4th Curriculum Day - No Students โ€“ If your child requires care, please book in at https://theircare.com.au/
Friday 8th Foundation transition #1
Friday 8th Working Bee - FC, 1/2W & 5/6B 2.30pm- 3.30pm Parents welcome
Friday 15th Foundation transition #2
Monday 18th Foundation 2025 Information Session - Webex 5pm - 6pm
Monday 18th - Wednesday 20th Grade 3/4 Camp - Log Cabin Camp
Friday 22nd Foundation Day Camp
Monday 25th -Tuesday 26th Grade 1/2 Camp - Overnight Camp "Camp Weekaway"
Friday 29th Foundation transition #3
Wednesday 27th - Friday 29th Grade 5/6 Camp - The Ranch
DECEMBER 2024
Monday 2nd Professional Practice Day (Student Free) - If your child requires care, please book in at https://theircare.com.au/
Monday 2nd Foundation 2025 Meet the Teacher BBQ - 5pm - 6pm
Tuesday 3rd Whole School Colour Run Day @ L B Davern
Friday 6th Foundation Transition #4
Friday 6th Funfields - End of Year Pool Party - Consent and payment due today
Friday 6th Working Bee - 1/2L, 3/4G & 3/4B 2.30pm- 3.30pm Parents welcome
Tuesday 10th State Wide Transition Day
Tuesday 10th Foundation 2025 Teddy Bear's Picnic
Thursday 19th Funfields - End of Year Pool Party
Friday 20th Last Day Term 4

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

IMPORTANT REMINDER – Dates โ€“ Staying Organised

It is becoming extremely problematic for our hard-working administration team and our teachers with an increasing number of families calling to say that they have missed the deadline for different activities.

Please ensure that you are staying ahead with all our upcoming events. At the top of every newsletter are our confirmed dates and we always try to ensure these events are given as much notice as possible. Often teams are sending multiple reminders and are still getting late requests to attend events after the closing date. When events close on Compass, teams have completed their risk assessments, organisation and payments for all oncosts.

It is imperative that all consents and payments are made prior to the closing date, as staff are unable to accept these after closing. Once the event has closed, all required risk assessments are completed, travel and venue costs are paid, and final numbers are confirmed.

IMPORTANT โ€“ Before School

Children should not enter the school grounds prior to 8.30am. We have a growing trend of students arriving earlier and earlier. Please ensure that your child is not arriving at school prior to 8.30am.

Curriculum Contributions โ€“

IMPORTANT (Chocolate โ€“ optional activities vs Vegetables โ€“ essential items)

Thank you to those families who prioritised this from last weekโ€™s plea. Please contact the office if you are unable to work out how to action this payment on Compass. We can also take payment over the phone or at our front desk. We continue to be incredibly grateful to those families who are investing into our school, our facilities and our programs through cash donations.

THANK YOU! We have some of our families also contributing to our tax-deductible Facilities and Building Fund, as well as our Library and Technology Fund. These donations have allowed us to move away from a BYOD โ€“ Bring Your Own Device program, which requires families to purchase a device for their children to bring to school. We continue to work alongside families to ensure our Parent Payments are paid as priority and that where possible, voluntary contributions are made to support our vision around the educational value of providing an ICT rich learning program.

Next term our 2025 Parent Payments will go live on Compass and I urge our families to speak to our lovely office staff about finalising 2024 payments.

FINAL REMINDER – GRADE PLACEMENT FOR 2025

At this stage, we have not assigned teachers to grade levels for next year and, in fact; still need to select a few teachers to fill those roles. There are no guarantees that teachers currently teaching at certain grade levels will be teaching there next year, as leadership needs to take into consideration a range of factors including the differing experience of our teaching staff and teacher preferences before this allocation is completed.

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The school always sets out to create classes that have:

  • A balance of academic levels (children at, above and below the level)
  • A balanced social and behavioural mix (children who will get on well together with as little interruption as possible)

As you can imagine the process of grade placement is extremely tricky and time consuming. What is in the best interests of the school and all our children and families is paramount.

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Process:

  • Children will be asked by their teachers to nominate children they would like to be with in 2025. During the process the teachers will ensure that every child is with at least one of these preferences.
  • Classroom teachers will rank children according to ability and highlight behavioural/social concerns along with any relevant information they have gathered throughout the year. All this information will then be used to develop the 2025 classes.
  • Specialists will check the lists for any anomalies and then the leadership team will then confirm grade placements.
  • In the last weeks of term, children and their new teacher will visit their 2025 classroom. The children and new teacher will complete an activity in this session notifying parents of their new grade.

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Parent Considerations:

  • Obviously, the classroom teacher has the most information regarding individual children. As a first port of call, please speak to your childโ€™s classroom teacher if you wish to discuss anything about your childโ€™s placement.
  • Occasionally, we may not be aware of special circumstances that need to be considered during the class selection process. Such special circumstances might include, but are not limited to; health, emotional or learning matters, peer or sibling relationships or changes in the home situation. Selecting a particular teacher does not fit within the realm of special circumstances. If parents want to provide extra personal information to be considered in the process you will need to email the school office. Letters should be addressed to โ€œThe Principalโ€ and reach the office no later than Friday September 20th. Please note this is not about requesting or selecting your childโ€™s teacher for next year. Please note that letters received after this date will NOT be accepted.
  • This will exclude the friends the children will want to be with which has already been gathered by the teacher.

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Finally, if you believe you have special circumstances, please make the request in writing EVEN if it has been made before โ€“ as much as we would like to think so, we canโ€™t remember everything from years gone by! We do appreciate your trust in our professionalism in these regards. Once our grades are finalised there is no negotiation and no changes will be made unless there has been an error in our process. Changes, after we have finalised the complex task of allocating classes, is incredibly difficult. It is a complex process with many changing scenarios, and when a request is made after the fact, it requires more than one combination of students to be moved to accommodate it. This then creates a chess game of up to seven other moves. The hard truth about accommodating all requests is that helping one, comes often at the expense of someone elseโ€™s child.

Curriculum Design

Each term, we organise for our teams to be released together to plan the following termโ€™s learning for our students. Each team works with one of our Learning Specialists and together they all ensure engaging and rigorous learning is planned across the cohort. Our teams have a wide continuum of achievement in any one grade level and using our Essential Learnings, our teams develop personalised learning for each of our students. This week, our teams have or will be working together on one of these days to plan for the term ahead.

Whole School Assembly โ€“ 9am Friday 20th September

On the last day of term, we will be having a whole school assembly to celebrate the long tenure of Robyn Beer who retired from her teaching career a few short weeks ago. Please join with us as we honour Mrs Beer and her impact on many students over the years at Wandong.

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Right to Disconnect

On Monday 26 August 2024, an amendment to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023 came into effect. The legislation makes explicit that all employees have the right to refuse contact from their employer or a third party (such as a student or a parent) outside of their normal working hours. This means an employee can refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact that occurs outside their normal working hours.

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The Department of Education (DoE) is currently finalising communication advice for us, and this will be shared with you once known.

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INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Please notify the school immediately if your child contracts any infectious diseases. This allows us to inform the school community promptly and families to take appropriate measures. You can refer to the Exclusion Periods Table for guidance on the minimum period of exclusion from primary schools and children’s services, as outlined in the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019, Schedule 7.

https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table

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PLEASE NOTE: We have had a report of Hand, Foot and Mouth in the school. Symptoms usually start three to seven days after becoming infected, and can last from seven to 10 days. If your child has HFMD, they may feel tired, have a fever, and have a rash. Depending on which virus your child has, the skin rash can look like:

  • Small, oval, white blisters on the palms, soles of the feet, as well as in the mouth. Your child may have a sore mouth and throat, leading to poor appetite or risk of dehydration (drinking and eating can be painful because of the mouth blisters).
  • A red skin rash with a brown scale on it. The rash appears on the outer arms, hands, legs, feet, around the mouth and upper buttocks. The trunk is usually relatively clear. Sometimes there are blisters present, but they are not usually in the mouth and your child can eat and drink as usual.

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WELLBEING

SEW in 5/6 F- Inclusivity

In Grade 5/6, we have been exploring the concept of inclusivity. We started by exploring what inclusivity looks like in our classroom, school, yard and beyond. We discussed similarities and differences between individuals and groups based on factors such as gender, age, ability, language, culture and religion.

We then looked within and thought about what makes us different and unique from our friends, family and people in our class. We discussed how these differences may be something that is obvious, whilst others may be more hidden and unknown. Additionally, we discussed if our peers should be excluded from activities just because of their differences.

Students then went on to decorate a puzzle piece with a drawing of themselves and something that represents them (family, background, hobbies, where you or your parents were born, music choice, home upbringing, holiday celebrations, etc). We combined all the puzzle pieces of our 5/6 class, showing that no matter our differences or similarities, that we all fit together and support one another to be our best selves.

PAFA

Next Meeting: September 11th, 2024 @ 9.15am

OFFICE NOTICES

Office Hours :- 8:30am until 3:55pm

Picking Up Children โ€“ 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 โ€“ 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 โ€“ 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.

Wet Weather

We would like to request parents/guardians of students to pack a set of spare uniform items in their childโ€™s bag, including a waterproof bag. We have limited spare uniform at the office. If your child has recently needed to borrow items from our sick bay, please wash and return them to the office as soon as possible.

Thanks Administration Team

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 – CANTEENย  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.ย 

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.

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Select Student and then next.

Select Sittingโ€”Select next date ifย  current date is cut off for uniform or select date given for orderingย  e.g. Pizza Day.

Select sitting e.g. Uniform, Team shirt, Pizza Day etc.

Select next.

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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

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 771ย  Your Service coordinator will be available during sessions times.ย  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

MUSIC

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!

Students may choose from the following 

Please find below, the conditions of our program and Enrolment form.

Please read carefully to ensure your childโ€™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 termโ€™s fees.

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