Parent Information Evening
Earlier in the term we had a fantastic Prep Information evening led by our current Prep team. It was lovely to see so many new and familiar faces in the audience and it has been great hosting numerous school tours as well as receiving plenty of new enrolments for prep in 2024.
The evening was so informative that we are going to be running the same evening again for those prospective families who may have missed it. The next 2024 Prep information evening will be held on the 31st of May at 6.00pm. Please share our flyer (attached) with anyone within our school zone who may be looking for a prep placement in 2024.
Enrolments for 2024
Thank you to all the families who have already enrolled their child in prep at WNPS for 2024. There are some changes to the process this year so please see our website for further details and contact the general office for enrolment forms or if you have any questions. Our Prep Transition program will commence in Term 3 and continue through until the end of the year. We expect to have finalised our Prep teaching team by the end of Term 2.
Mother’s/Special Person Day
I hope all our mums and special persons had a fantastic day on Sunday. I can’t thank our parent volunteers enough for all their efforts in organising and administering our Mothers’ and Special Persons’ Day stall.
Bike Shed
I have been at the bike shed most mornings and afternoons and I am so pleased to report that I have seen significant improvements in our bike parking, walking bikes through the school yard and taking care of our own and others’ property. It’s also been lovely to meet parents and carers in the school yard. If you see me out there, please feel free to introduce yourselves and have a chat.
COVID/Unwell
COVID seems to have crept back within our community once again with several staff and students already affected. We remind families to monitor students for any COVID symptoms, practise good hand hygiene, wear masks if needed and undertake RATs if symptoms are evident. In addition to COVID, we are seeing many colds and bugs and remind families that if students are unwell then rest at home is the best cure.
As many of you will be aware, there are significant challenges in engaging CRTs when staff are absent. Relief teaching agencies are regularly notifying us up to a week in advance that there are no relief teachers available for the upcoming weeks. We are very appreciative to our local CRTs as well as our school tutors for their flexibility in covering classes when staff have been absent.
Staff Car Park
As you are aware, there are limited car spaces onsite for staff parking. We gently remind families that the staff carpark is not for student drop offs/pick ups nor for parent parking. We also kindly ask families to use the pedestrian gate next to the staff car park to enter the school rather than crossing through the car park before or after school. Thank you for your understanding.
School Yard/Litter/Toilets
We have some niggling and persistent issues arising with litter in the school yard, students playing in the bathrooms and lost property accumulating at a fast rate. We kindly ask families to consider ‘nude food’ options in lunch boxes, clearly labelling all clothing items and reminding children that playing in the bathrooms is not in the best interest of hygiene. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Canteen Closure on Monday 22nd May
We regret to advise families that due to unforeseen issues; the canteen will be closed next Monday 22nd May. Please note that the canteen is not open on Tuesdays. Apologies for any inconvenience. If you have already placed an order for Monday before it was closed, these orders will be held over to the following Monday (29th May).
Guide Dog in Training
There is a black Labrador puppy that is training to be a guide dog. This puppy is allowed on the school site. Unfortunately when the puppy has his coat on, students can look from afar but are not allowed to pat the puppy.
Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead.
Richard Buckingham—Principal
Headlice
The school has had a number of Headlice reports over the last two days. This is a reminder for all families to check their child/ren’s head and if found, please treat accordingly. Report from yesterday were from the Foundation and the Year 1 and 2 area and last Monday from the Year 6 area.
Sibling Photo Day
On Thursday 25th May, sibling photos will take place in the Gym. Any student who was absent on the whole school photo day back in March will also have the opportunity to have their individual photo taken.
There will be a number of group photos taken on this day as well—Sports Captains, Sports Leaders, Junior School Council and eLearning Leaders. The Year 6 students will also have their Graduation photo taken.
Assembly Roster Term 2 |
Week 4 - Friday 19th May - 2:50pm— Whole School Assembly |
Week 5 - Friday 26th May - 2:50pm— Junior Assembly |
Week 6 - Friday 2nd June - 2:50pm—Senior Assembly |
Week 7 - Friday 9th June - 2:50pm— Student Free Report Writing Day |
Week 8 - Friday 16th June - 2:50pm—Junior Assembly |
Week 9 - Friday 23rd June - 2:00pm—Whole School Assembly - End of Term |
Staff Curriculum Days
Friday 9th June - Monday 7th August - Monday 6th November
SCHOOL CAMP DATES
Year 6 - Monday 6th June to Wednesday 7th June
Year 3 - Monday 14th to Tuesday 15th August
Year 4 - Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th August
Year 5 - Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th October
Students of the Week 11th May
JSC Hobsons Bay City Council Meeting
Hello Williamstown North Primary School, we are Charlie, Zoe and Sam from 5H and 5NP. We are the representatives chosen from Year 5 and we are very excited to share about our experience at the Hobsons Bay City Council chambers. We went to a meeting on Wednesday the 10th May at the Hobsons Bay Council Chambers in Altona.
We hopped off the bus and said hello and good luck to the other JSC representatives from other schools. We went into the Hobsons Bay Council building and looked at many pictures of past and present councillors and mayors. We met Counsellor Cr Jonathan Mardsen who was filling in for Mayor Antoinette (Toni) Briffa, we took our seats and Cr Jonathan Mardsen told us about his job as a counsellor and how the meeting would work. After the explanation, one representative from each school read out an issue that they thought could be improved around Hobsons Bay.
Next, one representative from each school (Zoe 5H) read a concern or issue that each school had written down with all of the other JSC representatives from your school. We wrote about why we wanted more input to memorial statues and poppy walls to represent the ANZAC’s who helped save the land and about other famous people that helped the community in Victoria.
Next, some other councillors told us about how and why cats should be kept inside to limit the amount of native Australian animals that get killed or injured. The councillor members instructed us that all cats must be microchipped for the safety of native animals and in case they get lost. Hobsons Bay City Council encourages microchipping and helps keep track of the population of cats.
After the meeting we had finished the meeting. We had a few snacks and went back to our school on the bus. It really was an incredible experience that we were able to take part of. It’s a memory that will stay with us!
This article was written by Charlie, Zoe and Sam.
State Lawn Bowls Event:
On Thursday 4th May, thirteen students from Williamstown North Primary School competed in the State Lawn Bowls Event in Sunbury. Schools from all over Victoria were present on the day (some travelling up to four hours!).
Our students thoroughly enjoyed playing at the venue which had fantastic playing surfaces and facilities. Overall, Williamstown North PS finished third in their group stage! It is an absolutely remarkable achievement to reach this level of competition and we congratulate and thank all students for their input on the day.
A big thank you to all Parents/Carers for their support including those who offered transportation for the students. An excellent and memorable day was certainly experienced by all!
District Cross Country Event:
On Tuesday 9th May, twenty four students from Williamstown North Primary School participated in the District Cross Country Event in Yarraville. It was a rather wet and muddy day out at McIvor Reserve, though students enjoyed the challenge competing against other schools.
All races were super competitive, where everyone performed terrifically. Overall, Williamstown North finished in fourth position which was a fantastic result! All students who finished in the top ten of their individual races have progressed through to the Divisional Event (details have been passed on to those Parents/Carers).
Well done to all students involved and of course thank you to our amazingly supportive Parents/Carers for coming down on the day!
Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge
The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is now open and Williamstown North is excited to be participating.
The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is not a competition; but a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 8 September 2023.
Children from Prep to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers. Children from Year 3 to Year 10 are challenged to read 15 books.
All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.
The PRC online application offers a range of exciting features including:
· access to a library catalogue (including book images and blurbs)
· a modern user-friendly interface
· rewarding students with badges as challenge milestones are achieved
· the option for students to mark books as a favourite, give them a star rating or complete a book review
All students have been given a unique username and passcode. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher if you require another copy of your child’s login details.
To log on to the Premier’s reading challenge:
· Click on this URL: https://vprc.eduweb.vic.gov.au/home
· Click on the VRPC login.
· Fill out your child’s log in details
· Log any books that your child reads.
To read the Premier’s letter to parents, view the booklist and for more information about the Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge, visit: https://www.vic.gov.au/premiers-reading-challenge
ASTHMA
Winter Is Coming
Are you ready for the change in weather?
It’s cooling down across the country. Here’s our top tips for being asthma ready as the temperatures drop:
· Take your preventer every day, even when well.
· Wear a scarf around your mouth and nose when outside in the cold. This can help humidify and warm the air you are breathing and reduce symptoms.
· Staying up-to-date with your flu shot and COVID boosters can help support your immune system.
· Have an asthma review with your doctor and update your Asthma Action Plan.
If you need help or support managing your asthma, contact an Asthma Educator with Asthma Australia.
Lost Dogs Home
I have recently become aware that the Lost Dog’s Home is in desperate need of a few supplies for the upcoming winter months.
As you may well be aware, the Lost Dogs’ Home is an institution for those beautiful animals that need a little extra love in their lives. They care for thousands of lost, abandoned or fostered animals yearly and reunite over 90% of our beloved pets back to families when they are lost.
A the moment, there is a need for old blankets and towels to keep all animals warm and dry at the facility. I thought it may be nice to give a shout out to the school community for help in this matter.
I will be collecting old towels and blankets in the Art room for the next week or so in the hope of lending a hand to those who care so much for all our fluffy friends at the Lost Dogs Home.
Thanking you in advance, Sincerely Julie Papazisis
