How sad it was that we had to cancel our Christmas Family Break-Up on Monday night. This has happened two years in a row, but never before that. Let’s hope that the weather improves for next year! As mentioned in the letter sent home, presentations, raffle draws, etc. occurred today at the end of year assembly.
The staff and I would like to wish all of you a very happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year holiday season. May Santa bring something special for all the students and their families and may you all enjoy this wonderful time together.
From my perspective at this time of the year I cannot get the words from Sir Cliff Richard’s song out of my head: ‘We’re all going on a summer holiday, no more working for a week or two, fun and laughter on our summer holiday, ………
(I’m sure many of you are too young to remember this). Anyway, I am looking forward to time spent with my family as well.
Until next year,
Anne
Refurbishment
This week, safety fencing was installed around the old rooms that are to be removed. This should occur before Christmas so that we can finish the refurbishment of the kitchen and dining room towards the end of January, 2012.
Reports
Reports will be going home on Wednesday December 21. It is requested that students wait until they get home and that the reports are read with parents so that they can discuss and praise the progress that their children have made over the year. It is a great way of showing that you value their education and the efforts they have made to achieve success.
Whooping Cough on the Rise in 5 – 14 Year Olds
Whooping Cough is a highly infectious disease, spread by coughs and sneezes from an infected person, which causes a severe, persistent cough. It poses a significant risk to infants less than six months of age and can be deadly for young babies. The best chance of preventing the spread of whooping cough is through free immunisation for children at 2, 4 and 6 months and at their 4th birthday. If you have not had your children immunised please consider that this is the best way to protect them from whooping cough.
Commonwealth Bank
Many of our students are developing good money management skills by participating in the school banking programme which is run by the Commonwealth Bank. However, few know of the excellent service provided by the Bank, particularly when it comes to recognition of the work that School Banking co-ordinators do. Today the Manager of the Yarra Junction Commonwealth Bank, Ken Morecambe, visited our school to personally present Terrie and Tracey with Certificates of Attainment, a gesture of gratitude and recognition of their role in helping students develop these excellent habits. It recognises the competencies required and includes programme promotion and administration, application processing, cash handling, customer service, inventory management, use of the web-based school banking system, account reconciliation and dispute resolution. Who could possibly have realised how much is involved each week! If you would like your child/ren to participate in school banking next year, please come up and talk to Tracey or Terrie at the office.
Christmas Family Break-Up
We are all looking forward to our Christmas Family Break-Up next Monday December 19 from 5pm onwards. A free sausage sizzle is provided between 5 and 6pm, followed by fun Christmas activities such as the ‘Reindeer Relay’. Please come along and enjoy the evening with us.
Anne
Principal’s Report:
The Herald-Sun newspaper published two articles in Monday’s paper which are particularly relevant to school students. Below is a summary from these articles for you to consider:
Game Kids Going Crazy
Teenagers are becoming so obsessed with video games they are turning violent. And preschoolers (and primary school age children) are developing violent behaviour after being allowed to play M-rated video games. Psychologists report that more and more children are addicted to role-play computer games and the internet and that this ‘condition’ may soon be formally recognised as a mental health disorder. Concern was also expressed that many parents do not seem to take these ratings seriously.
Parents know that it is far more beneficial for children to be socialising with their peers, outside playing and exercising, or even sitting quietly reading. Please limit the time that your children play games and always make sure they are G or PG rated.
Posts Could Cost a Post
Facebook and Twitter posts are costing Victorians job opportunities. Many bosses screen employees through social networking sites and many turn down an applicant because of what they have seen online. The top turn-offs are negative comments about workplace (or school), discriminatory posts and posts containing confidential information.
Schools regularly become aware of Facebook and Twitter posts, particularly those made by students. It is imperative that, if they are on Facebook or Twitter, students do not disclose any personal information, do not speak negatively about themselves or others and, when making comments about themselves, friends or others, do not elaborate on the truth.
Sound Field Systems
Recently I applied for a grant to install Sound Field Systems throughout the school. These systems assist students with hearing impairments to participate more fully in all aspects of their schooling while at the same time improve conditions for all students as it helps them to focus on the teacher and block out any background noises (such as an air conditioner). It is particularly helpful for students with auditory processing difficulties. We are very excited that today our systems were installed. A permanent system is now in the 3/4 classroom and we also have four portable systems. Teachers will participate in training on December 15. This is quite a coup for Wessie and we are really looking forward to seeing the difference it will make in all students’ learning.
Food Parcels
Wesburn Primary School is supporting a drive by River Valley Church to prepare food parcels for families that may need a little extra at Christmas. I am asking our families if they could please donate tinned vegetables. I will put a box in the foyer so that the tins can be placed in it and will keep you posted on the amount that we get. Thanks in advance for these donations.
Anne
Bunnings Barbecue
What a wonderful day we had at Bunnings Bayswater last Saturday. The most enjoyable aspect of the day for me was the relaxing conversations shared with parents and staff while cooking and serving sausages. Would you believe that we sold 76 kg of sausages, 20 kgs of onions, 46 loaves of bread and about 170 soft drinks! We have never had so many willing volunteers before, and I thank all of them for giving up their time to help raise money for the school. At the end of the day we made a profit of $1,965.00 which will be used to support a variety of programmes at Wesburn.
Swimming
Please look out for the note coming home with last minute reminders about the swimming programme which starts next Monday. All payments must be finalised by Friday November 18.
The Good Guys, Bayswater
Recently we signed up for the Bayswater Bucks Programme which is offered by The Good Guys Bayswater for schools or community organisations. It gives us the opportunity to earn rewards through purchases made by members of our school community (such as parents and staff). Each time a member makes a purchase over $25 they earn rewards for the school. The reward vouchers need to be handed into the school (just like we did with the Coles and Woolworths dockets). As these accumulate we become entitled to use them to ‘purchase’ goods that we can use for raffles or other fundraising, e.g. a major raffle for our Autumn Fair next year. So, if you need to buy something at the Good Guys, please remember to collect the reward voucher and send it along to school.
Ben’s Shed
Eleven grade 5 and 6 students attended the Christmas Break-Up and Presentation Ceremony at Ben’s Shed today. These students were all fortunate to participate in what is a wonderful programme where they learn woodworking skills, make a number of wooden items, and form great relationships with the men of the Shed. Today we all enjoyed a sausage sizzle and drinks and celebrated the end of the year with our friends.
Anne
Filming of Independent Reading
Several Teaching and Learning Coaches attended our school to film classes during their Independent Reading sessions yesterday. Feedback from them is that they were ‘blown away’ with all the teaching and learning that occurred. They filmed students independently reading ‘just right’ and other books, teachers conferring with individual students about their focus in reading and the progress they are making, students reading to the teacher, children discussing the text, and much more. Congratulations must go to all the students and teachers who participated and were prepared to be filmed in order to support other teachers in developing their teaching of reading. What stars!
Playground Undersurfacing
In spite of the hot weather on Monday some of our Prep parents and grandparents came up after school to help teachers turn over and rake the undersurfacing around the playground equipment. Many thanks to Nicki, Ruby and Grace, Kerri, Will and Isla, Kath and Dominic who came along. It was great to share a cool drink and chat after the work was completed.
Prep Transition
Notices went home on Monday with details of our Prep Transition programme for term 4. If you are aware of any students who will be attending Wesburn next year but who have not yet enrolled, please mention to them to do so as soon as possible so that their children can participate in this programme.
Student Insurance
Occasionally parents enquire about insurance for their children should an accident occur at school. The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development does not cover students for this and recommend, should you want cover, that you use one of the private providers. The details of one of these is provided below:
JLT: www.studentpa.com.au
Telephone: 02 88241600
Of course, this is not the only company that does student insurance and we recommend that you investigate the best option for you should you want to purchase this.
Bunnings Barbecue
If you have not already, but feel that you can spare an hour or so on Saturday, please ring the school to let us know when you might be available to help with the Bunnings Barbecue. A list of times will be sent home tomorrow to all the people who graciously volunteered.
Anne
Melbourne Cup Day
While most of us were enjoying the Melbourne Cup Day holiday yesterday, some wonderful members of our school community spent time mowing, whipper snippering, sweeping and blowing our school grounds to ensure that they maintained a lovely environment in which our students can learn and play. Mrs Walsh’s family, Megan and Ben all came up yesterday to maintain the grounds, especially while the grass is growing so quickly at the moment. Mrs Nippers and Mrs Walsh also went out on Monday with students from the upper school and weeded the entire rose garden along Wylie Street. Thank you to all of these people for taking such pride in our school.
Coles & Woolworths Promotions
As both of these promotions are now finished I thought you might like to know the final points totals Wessie collected, thanks to families and their friends and relations:
• Coles: 9,003 (Sports equipment will be purchased)
• Woolworths: 16,257 (The Woolworths points have already enabled us to purchase 90 books which will be used in the library and the classroom libraries)
2012 Autumn Fair
Planning has once again commenced for our annual Autumn Fair. In 2012 it will be held on Saturday March 3. A letter will be sent home today explaining in more detail and asking if anyone has any great ideas to improve on the 2011 fair or is able to help in the planning and organising process. Please look out for this.
Playground Undersurfacing
Next Monday, at 3.30pm, we have invited as many Prep parents as possible to help us turn the undersurfacing over and rake it back in the essential areas around the playground equipment. This is a job that we do regularly (grade 6 parents helped us last time). Tea, coffee, soft drink and biscuits will be provided. I’m looking forward to seeing as many helpers as possible so that we can finish this job quickly.
Captain’s Table
An invitation will be sent home to randomly selected parents inviting them to attend an afternoon tea next Wednesday November 9. Although we are very proud of the results of our Parent Opinion Survey we should always be striving to improve. I would like to discuss the survey and seek ideas and opinions on how we can further improve the education experience at Wesburn Primary School for all students and their families.
Anne
Sunscreen & SunSmart Policy
We are a SunSmart School, are registered with SunSmart, and therefore have a SunSmart Policy which is regularly reviewed. To ensure that we comply with current recommendations, and to ensure the safety of staff and students with respect to exposure to the sun, we are currently addressing these within our existing policy. One aspect that needs to be raised is that parents should be ensuring that their children have sunscreen applied at home (before coming to school). It is also recommended that each child has their own sunscreen kept in their school bags that they can re-apply throughout the day (e.g. before going out at morning recess and lunchtime). The school is unable to do this as some of our students are allergic to certain sunscreens and parents are best placed to be able to purchase the right products for their children. We also insist that all staff and students wear appropriate hats while outside in the yard.
When the draft of our new policy is completed I will send a copy home to each family asking for feedback.
Wesburn Art Gallery
Miss Taylor, our wonderfully creative art teacher, is in the middle of developing our own Wesburn Art Gallery which will be located in the main building and incorporates the foyer and hall area. Although not nearly completed, it is already a delight to look at the outstanding artwork created by our own students. Over the next few weeks further displays will be created. Please watch this space for information of our ‘Grand Opening’.
Visit from the Minister for Education, The Honorable Martin Dixon
The Minister for Education is visiting Wesburn Primary School to discuss school facilities with Leigh Dobson, School Council President, and myself on Friday November 4. There has been much communication over the past year with our local member, Brad Battin, who has passed on our needs to the Minister. We expect this to be a very fruitful meeting and will share details of our discussions in the following newsletter.
Melbourne Cup Weekend
Although I would really love to have a long weekend, unfortunately Monday is not a public holiday and the school will be open as normal. Best of luck with your picks in Cup Sweeps on Tuesday!
Anne
New Learning Centre
Grades 3 – 6 teachers, aides and students are now happily and productively ensconced in our new learning centre. Work is not quite completed on the building and surrounds but this can continue to happen without much disruption to classes. Students are doing a fabulous job of keeping off the verandahs and new grass so that they become fully established. Mrs Ward, Miss Williams, Mrs Woodland, Mrs Nippers, Ms Parsons spent around 130 hours at school over the holidays to ensure that everything was ready for a smooth start to the new term. This is greatly appreciated.
NAPLAN
Grades 3 and 5 student NAPLAN (National Assessment Programme - Literacy and Numeracy) reports are now available for parents. As per the letter sent home yesterday, please contact the school to make an appointment with your child’s teacher to collect the report and discuss further academic progress that has been made since the assessment at the very beginning of term 2.
Grades 3 – 6 Orienteering
Orienteering, an annual event on our sport and physical education calendar, is on again this Friday. Students needed to have returned their signed notices and money by 3.15pm today to be able to attend. Orienteering is a great activity; apart from being a part of the sport and physical education domain it also encompasses many aspects of mathematics, such as spatial awareness, map reading, etc. Students can compete as individuals or with a partner, so no need to feel that they are doing it alone. Last year one of our grade 6 boys won his event and achieved an outstanding time. Enjoy the day everyone.
Transition
Our whole school weekly transition programme commences shortly. If you are aware of any students (in particular Prep students) who will be enrolling at Wesburn but have not done so yet, please encourage them to do so as soon as possible so that they can participate in the transition process.
Swimming
The swimming programme commences on November 21. All families need to ensure that they have paid their child/ren’s swimming costs to the school by Wednesday, November 16.
Anne
We’re on the Move!
I am delighted to tell you that we are moving into our new building on Friday (the last day of term 3)! Although there is still some work to be finalised, especially spreading topsoil, sowing grass seed and cleaning up around the building, students in grades 3 – 6 will commence term 4 in their new classrooms. This has been a long time coming but we are really pleased with the appearance and quality of the building. Early next term we will host an afternoon tea so that all members of the school can have a look around.
School Performance
Please remember that the whole school will be travelling by bus to the Warburton theatre tomorrow for our full rehearsal. We are not able to let students go without a signed permission form, so please ensure that these are returned by 9am Thursday morning.
Letter Received
Can you imagine my pleasure, upon opening the mail the other day, to find the following letter:
Dear Mrs Stenhouse
I think my father, Keith Allan, would have been one of the early students at Wesburn primary. Born in 1920, he used to boast to his four children that he learnt everything he knew at Wesburn University!
Like most males of that generation, Dad left school as early as possible and went to work on the timber mills in the area with his father. However, three of his four children studied at university so I am sure that he understood the importance of education.
I have three children of my own now, but as they are no longer school age I thought I would donate my Coles vouchers to Dad’s old school as I’m sure they will come in handy.
With best wishes to all at my Dad’s alma mater!
Kerith Cummins
Wesburn Primary School has such a rich history within the Upper Yarra area. Many, many families have attended our school over the past 107 years and have fond memories of their time here.
Finally, enjoy the two week break and come back refreshed for the last term of 2011.
Anne
Buildings
At this stage we believe handover of the new building will occur on September 19. That means that we will be moving grades 3/4, 4/5 and 6 in during that week (hopefully on the 20th). I hope to also have been able to have the two portables removed and the kitchen and dining rooms upgraded by the end of the September school holidays.
Walker Learning Approach to the Developmental Curriculum
As promoted, last Thursday we were delighted to host Shona Bass as a guest speaker from Early Life Foundations. Shona spoke about the importance of:
- Understanding where a child is developmentally
- Happiness, healthiness and success
- Having a social conscience
- Expressing feelings
- Sensory time (e.g. doing dishes, gardening, sand play, etc.) for every child every day
- Routine, predictability and consistency for children
- School readiness
- The need to educate children to be intrinsically motivated, not extrinsically.
- Natural consequences
People who attended found Shona’s presentation very interesting and were able to relate it to their own families.
Compliments
Recently our upper school teachers and students had a visit from Teaching and Learning Coaches and teachers from Upper Yarra Secondary College. They came to observe the Independent Reading Programme that is run from Prep – 6. After their visit we received an email:
Hi Jude,
Thank you so much for having us secondary teachers invade your space last Friday, and for your extra time spent chatting with us. It was extremely valuable for us, very timely for our teachers and rich with resources, information and modelling. Thanks and appreciation to Jacinda and the students as well.
Wesburn Primary School is recognised as a leader in many of our programmes. We are very proud to be so well-regarded and for other schools to send staff to learn how to implement these programmes within their own classes/schools.
Five Ways to … Raise a Child Who Loves to Read
- Read to them often from a young age. You’ll help develop their vocabularies and a love of reading.
- Fill your home with books. Have book shelves in your child’s bedroom.
- Set a good example. Let them see you reading books, newspapers and magazines often.
- Join your local library and make regular visits with your child to borrow books.
- Pay attention to your child’s changing interests and let this be reflected in what you read to them.
(Extract from the Herald Sun, Wednesday, August 17, 2011)
Anne
