Connected

What an action-packed fortnight at Wattle Grove, so much fun and excitement for our children, community and staff. Stay tuned as there is much more to come!

An Explosion of Colour!
Wow, wow, wow, what a fabulous day was had by all at our very first P&C Colour Run! I was so disappointed I was unable to attend but was kept up to date with amazing photos throughout the event, which just warmed my heart. The smiles on the children’s faces as they were showered with colour, engulfed by bubbles, and seeing staff being slimed was simply amazing.

Events like these just don’t happen and I would like to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of the P&C Colour Run Team, Katie, Nina and Nicky. Many hours of personal time went into planning and implementing this event and the whole school community is so appreciative.

A  huge  shout to our parent/carer volunteers on the day. Many hands were needed on the day to ensure all went smoothly, which it certainly did. Your time was greatly appreciated.

Thank you to the Defence Force at Holsworthy Barracks and our local Fire Station for helping set up the course with amazing obstacles and challenges. A huge thank you also goes to our many sponsors for supporting our event and helping us to raise valuable funds for the school.

Thank you to Mrs Valensise who worked closely with the P&C leading up to the event and supporting the organisation. I would also like to acknowledge the staff for their support, especially those who joined in the colour run and those who were lucky enough ( or maybe not lucky) to get slimed!

Finally, thank you to all our families for supporting this fundraising event from the entry fee to the sponsorship. We would not have reached our goal without your support, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

What an amazing school community we have!

Planning for our playground has commenced and we will keep you updated.

Welcoming our Grandparents/Grand friends to Wattle Grove
This coming Monday, 6 November, is Grandparents Day at Wattle Grove! This is one of my favourite days and I am looking forward to seeing many grandparents and grand friends. We have open classrooms followed by an assembly and morning tea.

9:30-9:50 – K-2 Open Classrooms

10:00-10:20 – 3-6 Open Classrooms

10:30 -11:15 – Whole School Assembly

11:20-11:45 – Picnic Morning Tea

Exciting Times Ahead – 2024 Kindergarten Orientation
We have just completed three successful Kindergarten Orientation and transition sessions. The children did an amazing job and enjoyed spending time in the Kindergarten classrooms. Thank you to the parents/carers for your support in attending the information sessions and allowing your child to participate in the transition sessions, Mrs Heather Boyes and staff for their organisation of the sessions and our newest students for their excitement and enthusiasm. 2024 is going to be awesome!

I had the opportunity to visit the groups last week, and it was lovely meeting all the children. I enjoyed getting to know them and hearing about what they are most looking forward to when they start 'big’ school.

If you have a child starting Kindergarten in 2024, could you please ensure your online enrolment application has been completed and submitted to the school and that all supporting documents have been received. This supports our school planning for 2024.

State Athletics Championships – So proud!
What an outstanding effort from our dedicated team of athletes at the NSW PSSA State Athletics Championships held at Homebush.

Congratulations to all our athletes who made it to this level -Amilia, Abby, Josh L, Noah,  James, Madiu, Josh and Ryder. These students did an amazing job displaying great sportsmanship, skill and grit!

Thank you to Mrs Bartram for her ongoing leadership of sport at Wattle Grove, creating many opportunities for our talented students!

Hats off to our teachers - Celebrating Teachers’ Week 2023

Last week we celebrated the bright future of teaching and acknowledged the amazing teachers at Wattle Grove Public School for their hard work and dedication. I am immensely proud of the commitment, skill and care demonstrated every day by our teachers who put students at the centre of every decision they make. I am grateful to work with such a dynamic and passionate group of teachers. I am sure you will join with me in congratulating and recognising our wonderful teachers!

Staffing News
Mr Red, one of our School Learning Support Offices (SLSOs), arrived at Wattle Grove in Term 2 with his guitar, music talents and passion for supporting students. He has touched the lives of many of our children since he arrived. It is with mixed emotions that I inform our community that Mr Red will be leaving Wattle Grove to take up a well-deserve position as a Student Support Officer at a High School in the Liverpool Area. I am disappointed to be losing Mr Red as a staff member but excited that he has this opportunity. Mr Red’s last day will be 16 November 2023.

Intention to apply for Year 7 placement in a selective high school in 2025 (Repeated)
Selective high schools cater for academically gifted students with high potential who may otherwise be without sufficient classmates at their own academic standard. Selective high schools help these students to learn by grouping them with students of similar ability, and by using specialised teaching methods.

If you would like to have your Year 5 child considered for Year 7 selective high school entry in 2025, you need to apply on the internet using a valid email address (not the student’s email address).

The Selective High School Placement Test will be held on 9 May 2024.

Applications opened on 9 October 2023 and close on 20 November 2023. You must apply before the closing date.

You must submit only ONE application for each student.

More information has been posted on our Audiri APP. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

2024 Planning (Repeated)
It is that time of year again where the school must start planning for next year. It is extremely important we have accurate information about enrolment numbers for 2024, as these impact on staffing levels and the general organisation of the classes we will have. Can I please ask that anyone who knows that their children won’t be at Wattle Grove next year or families, who have a child to start kindergarten in 2024, please contact the school office with your details. If new people move into your street, please encourage them to contact us here at school if they have primary school aged children.

2024 School Plans (Repeated)
The school structure and the formation of classes at Wattle Grove Public School is governed by the Department of Education staffing formula. A school structure that best meets the needs of students and teachers will be designed by staff and ratified by the Principal. Students will be allocated to classes by the teaching and executive staff, with the assistance of the Learning Support Team.

If you feel there is information of educational reasoning that should be considered when planning for 2024 classes, you are welcome to put this in writing to Miss Cameron by Friday 17 November. Requests for particular teachers will not be considered and is highly discouraged. The classroom teachers who have in-depth knowledge of your children’s abilities and school behaviours are experienced professionals in making these decisions. We appreciate that you trust our professional judgement considering the multitude of factors that influence the placement of 500 students.

Have a great fortnight!

Miss Nicole Cameron
Principal

This week I have been out at both recess and lunch times, reinforcing our focus with the students of being respectful to peers and adults. I have seen many fine examples of students engaging in a friendly and respectful manner with friends and teachers and am looking forward to giving out many PBL tokens this term.  

What a wonderful day we had last Friday at our first ever Colour Run. The atmosphere was electric and the children’s smiles said it all. Thank you to our wonderful P&C with special mention to the Colour Run organisers- Nicky, Katie and Nina who worked many, many hours behind the scenes to ensure the day was a success. I was adamant I wasn't going to get any colour on me but the energy was contagious and I too got caught up in the fun. I also want to acknowledge our class teachers who promoted the event and got out there with 100% participation. The kids love it when their teachers get involved and the slime was a crowd favourite. The teachers who were slimed deserve a medal- better them than me!

External Providers- Supporting your Child
As a school, we support where possible, external providers such as Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists and Psychologists coming on site to provide a service to your child if this cannot be accommodated outside school hours due to parents’ work commitments. However, I would like to communicate that teachers are extremely busy, particularly at this time of year, and asking them to complete checklists, surveys, questionnaires with only short notice, will not always be possible.  I please ask the providers that work with your child to go through the school email address where we will forward the message on to the class teacher. This is also so we can track students as part of the Learning Support Team.  We have an amazing staff who go above and beyond and want to assist you to support your child, but I kindly ask that you are mindful of allowing teachers enough time to get to these requests.

Presentation Day Assemblies
A reminder that the annual Presentation Day assemblies are in the process of being organised. This year we are combining Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 in one assembly. All parents are invited to the Presentation Day assemblies to celebrate the successes and accomplishments of our students. However, for students in Stage 1, 2 and 3, we will also mail letters home to parents of students who will be receiving an award to help parents in organising time off work. We ask that this information is not shared with your child to keep an element of surprise on the day. Kindergarten parents will not receive an invitation, as all students will receive their graduation certificate and will perform a song on the day.

Presentation Day dates to lock in your calendar:

Monday 4 December

9:30am: K-2 (inclusive of Kindergarten graduation)

Tuesday 5 December

9:30am: Stage 3

12:00pm: Stage 2

Curriculum Reform- Our Teachers are Ready!
This year our professional learning has centred around building the expertise of teachers in the new Mathematics Syllabus. This week, Mrs Cook took the staff on a journey around this new document- what stays the same for our learners and what changes. Great dialogue was had around the components of the new syllabus and how it was evidence informed to enable students to develop essential numeracy skills and fluency, while nurturing the ability to think logically, critically and creatively. 

Infants and Primary Assemblies

Our last Primary assembly will be in Week 6 of this term and for Infants it will be in Week 7. Merit awards being traded for Principal awards can be carried over into next year. For Year 6 students, this can be extended up until Week 8.

ICAS – Spelling Results
The ICAS Spelling Bee results arrived last week. Of the 12 students who participated, we were awarded with 8 participation certificates, 1 Merit, 2 Credit and 1 Distinction.

Special mention to the students below who achieved a Merit, Credit or Distinction and will be awarded with their certificates at the next assembly.

Merit- Noah- 4 Crimson

Credit- Amelia- 4 Crimson

Credit- Mikayla – 5 Lilac

Distinction- Ajisth-5 Lilac

ICAS - Mathematics Results
This is always a popular assessment with 27 students participating. 27 students participated with 3 Merit, 8 Credit and 2 Distinction being awarded. These will be presented at the next assembly. Special mention to the following students.

Merit- Nalika- 3 Gold

Merit- Cristian – 3 Canary

Merit- Ammon – 6 Flamingo

Credit- Emily- 3 Gold

Credit- Alex- 3 Canary

Credit- Reeva- 4 Berry

Credit- Jais- 3 Amber

Credit- Mikayla- 5 Lilac

Credit- Audrey- 6 Pink

Credit- Felix- 6 Magenta

Distinction- Leo – 2 Lime

Distinction- Evaan – 6 Pink

ICAS- Writing Results
10 students completed the ICAS writing and we were awarded with 4 Participation certificates, 2 Merit, 3 Credit and 1 Distinction. Special mention to the following students:

Merit- Ajisth- 5 Lilac

Credit- Emily- 3 Gold

Credit- Chloe-4 Scarlet

Credit- Amelia- 4 Crimson

Distinction- Reeva- 4 Berry

Every Day Matters
Consistent attendance improves student outcomes, increases career options, and helps students build relationships and confidence.

Did you know?

95% attendance
Students are expected to have above a 95% school attendance rate, because days missed is years lost. That’s why making sure your child comes to school every single day (unless genuinely sick) is so important.

Have a great fortnight everyone, 

Mrs Vicky Valensise
Deputy Principal

On Thursday 2 November, our Year 2-6 Indigenous students visited the Georges River Environmental Education Centre. Students were welcomed to country, then Mr Hall drew the story of his trip to work using symbols. He explained his trip and students described his journey by interpreting the symbols he had drawn.  We moved on to view a large range of animals native to this environment. Students had the opportunity to sketch these animals and symbols onto a boomerang which they kept as a souvenir.   Students then had the opportunity to touch lizards and a snake as well as get up close to fish, frogs, turtles and insects.  We went outside where Mr Hall explained the aerodynamics of boomerangs and students then practiced their throwing techniques using a three-armed foam frisbee. Mr Hall even pretended to be a moving target for our would-be hunters.We finished our trip with a quick morning tea before returning to school.  All students are to be congratulated for their beautiful behaviour, probing questions, insightful remarks and respectful manner in which they engaged with these aspects of Indigenous culture.

Mrs Robinson

Thank you to those families who have returned their notes indicating changes to location. I have started to work on resources to capture Wattle Grove memories, for the children leaving, so they can take them to their new posting locations.

Our Remembrance Day service will be on Friday the 10 November at 12:45pm. Invitations will be sent home with families this week. We would love for you to attend.