waratah west public school – moving forward together...page 4 issue 1 – term 2 – week 7...

Friday, 12 June 2020 Leonora Parade, Waratah West, 2298 T 4968 1765 F 4960 1706 E [email protected] https://waratahwst-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/

Principal’s Message

Dear families,

The first weeks back to face to face teaching have been full of laughter, explicit teaching and lots of new and revised learning. Students and teachers were all exhausted by the long weekend however loved being together again!

We welcome three new families to Waratah West Public School. Our school continues to grow and enrolments are increasing each week.

Semester One Reports

Teachers are currently writing Semester One student reports. Due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, our usual report format will be modified to take into account the time students were learning from home. Reports will be distributed on Friday 3rd July.

Parent Teacher Interviews

In Week 2 of Term 3 (Monday 27th July – Friday 31st July) parents and carers have an opportunity to discuss their child’s learning, goals and achievements during Semester 1. Each student’s areas of learning which need to be developed for the rest of the year will be identified and discussed. Due to COVID-19 conferences will be conducted over the phone. Students will receive a note explaining how to book a conference time.

Beginning School in 2021

Registrations are now open for children commencing Kindergarten in 2021. Children who will be five years old by the 31st July 2021, are eligible to start kindergarten in that year. If your child is starting school in 2021 please pick up your

Kindergarten Enrolment Pack from the office now. Alternatively you can download an enrolment form at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/enrolment

Please encourage neighbours and friends with school aged children for 2021 (turning 5 before July 31 2021), within the WWPS zone, to visit the school for enrolment and transition details.

All children who will be commencing Kindergarten at Waratah West Public School in 2021 are invited to attend our Transition to School program, which will take place every Friday morning 9am-11am from Friday 31st July. Children will participate in a play based morning session with our Instructional Leader and Kinder teacher, Emma McCabe. Transition to School aims to develop positive attitudes to coming to school, enabling children to feel comfortable and familiar in the school environment. It is a valuable opportunity to initiate genuine partnerships between school and families. A brochure with additional information is available from the school office.

Working From Home Parent Survey

We are asking parents to complete a short survey to evaluate communication, teaching and learning during COVID-19. We appreciate your clear feedback relating to areas that students needed additional support during the pandemic. Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey that will be sent home soon.

Waratah West Public School – Moving Forward Together

Friday, 12 June 2020 Issue 1 – Term 2 – Week 7

School Photographs

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will be a delay in the taking of our school photos. We have booked MSP Photography for Term 3 Week 8.

Awabakal Education Centre Visit

Although NAIDOC Week has been postponed nationally, we are hoping to be able to proceed with our planned visit to the Awabakal Education Centre on Thursday 2nd July.

Students will walk through Awabakal Nature Reserve focusing on the change in this area over time including Aboriginal history and the influence of European settlement including sand and coal mining. We will examine practices and traditions of the Awabakal people, particularly food, water, shelter and plants the Awabakal people use. The day concludes with a classroom activity where students look at examples of tools and weapons used by Aboriginal people.

Activities:

Walk through Awabakal Nature Reserve from Ocean St to Awabakal EEC

Ocean views and Awabakal country at Dudley Bluff

Use of ochre and resources

Gunyah building

Awabakal dreaming story

Paper coolamon making

Class discussion and close look at examples of Aboriginal tools and weapons

A permission note will be sent home next week. The cost of the excursion will be partially subsidised by the school, with a charge of $5 per student.

Indigenous Artists Wanted

The University of Newcastle is seeking an Indigenous artist to develop artwork that will be a visual representation of the University’s commitment to Indigenous Education. Please see the attached flyer for further information.

Student Attendance

All students should be at school unless:

They have a medical certificate which states that they are unable to return to school due to an ongoing medical condition.

They are currently unwell.

Students who have a medical certificate to stay at home will be supported to learn from home in line with regular procedures if they are able to.

These regular procedures are different to what was offered during the learning from home period. If you require work to be provided to your child whilst they are at home due to an underlying health condition, you should contact the school for assistance.

If your child is unwell, do not send them to school. If they are unwell at school you or your nominated emergency contact will need to collect them immediately. Please make sure your contact details are up to date.

If you need any support to get your child back to school, please contact class teachers or Ms Moroney.

SCHOOL HOURS

Supervision from: 8:30am

School starts: 9:00am

School finishes: 3:00pm

Hunter Water

Hunter Water has launched a new education

resource to support Aboriginal Education. To read ‘Where's Our Water?’ and find out more about the project, visit the Hunter Water website https://www.hunterwater.com.au/schools


Happy Announcement!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO Mrs Jessica and Mr

Heath McGovern, who are expecting a baby girl later in the year. What wonderful parents they will be to a very lucky little baby. Further fantastic news is that Mrs Katie Huckle will return to teach Silver Class while Mrs McGovern is on maternity leave.

Nicola Moroney, Principal.

Principals Award

Assembly Awards

LEARNING Class Award Superstar

AQUA Sienna, Phoebe, Beaudean

Alatini, Callum

TANGERINE Destiny, Jake Zade

Manaia, Jaxen

SILVER Mahe, Lucas, Isabella Price

Hamish, Karlarnie

PURPLE Teddy, Nikayla, Harry

Chloe, Savannah

ELI ADDISON CALLUM NECOH TEDDY

CARMEL MACKENZIE

MYAH TIARNA AYDEN MAHE

JAYDEN KARLARNIE

DARIUS NOAH

BEAUDEAN DESTINY JULIAN SIENNA ARCHER

Chloe Destiny Jaxen

Manaia Darius

Jon Jade

Addison Jayden


CALENDAR

TERM 2

WEEK 10

Thursday, 2nd July Dudley Awabakal Excursion

Friday, 3rd July Semester One Reports Distributed

TERM 3

WEEK 1

Monday, 20th July Staff Development Day

WEEK 2

27th – 31st July Parent Teacher Interviews

WEEK 3

31st August Kindergarten Transition Commences

31st August – 4th Sept School Dentist Visit

WEEK 8

Thursday, 10th September School Photos

2020 Student Requirements

Bookpacks are available for all students to use in

their classroom. The bookpacks include a selection of exercise books and stationary items for all students.

The cost of the pack for Kindergarten students is $15 and for Years 1 to 6 $25. We will no longer request a School Contribution of $35 per year. Please see Mrs Bunny in the office regarding payment.

Headlice

Headlice are present in the hair of some students

within the school.

Please check your child’s hair for nits/lice tonight using the methods recommended in information from NSW Health which can be found by clicking the following link.

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/headlice/Pages/treatment.aspx .


Lwanyonyi Village, Uganda, Africa

Nester Sekyanzi, 9 years old

Nester’s parents were very young when he was born and were unable to take care of him. So, he was taken to live with his Grandmother. Nester’s Grandmother is very busy as she not only cares for him but also 6 other grandchildren. To earn money Nester’s Grandmother makes bricks out of mud, that she digs from the ground, and sells the bricks to others in the village. Waratah West Public School has sponsored Nester to go to school where he will get a good education. The school is called The Chain Foundation or Martin Nkoyoyo Inclusive School and it takes

Nester over an hour to walk there every morning. This school is special because students who are blind or visually impaired also learn at this school. Also, some students who do not have family to care for them, live at the school. Nester wears a school uniform to school, and, like Waratah West, he has a sports uniform as well. He eats 2 meals a day at school which is normally porridge for breakfast and then posho and beans for lunch. Nester is very grateful to the students and teachers of Waratah West Public School for helping him to go to school. He loves to learn and is working very hard so he can one day go to High School.

waratah west public school – moving forward together...page 4 issue 1 – term 2 – week 7...

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