17th May 2017

OUR SCHOOL VISION: Encouraging all members of the school community to work together

to create a positive and motivating environment, allowing all students to maximise their educational

opportunities in an ever changing world.

‘The Puggle Post’

“We make a

difference.”

www.wandongps.vic.edu.au

Reminders

Thursday 18th May - WPS Walk-a-thon (Students may come dressed as a themed character) Friday 19th May - Walk Safely to School Day

Tuesday 23rd May - 2018 School Tour (9:30 to 10:30am)

Foundation G: Ivy Dawson (Consistently helping out her classmates and being supportive)

Foundation J: Charlie Mulder (Being a fantastic role model during our launch of ’Read to Self’)

Foundation K: Riley Mendola (Consistently being a polite and appreciative member of his class)

Foundation V: Alejandro Araneda (Always trying his best in Writing)

1/2C: Hunter Jackson (Having a positive attitude to his work and putting in his best effort)

1/2G: Daisy Cugley (Showing more confidence in her ability to make 2-digit numbers)

1/2H: Rory Marks (Persisting with his writing and coming up with a very creative piece)

1/2M: Isaac Mellado (Showing a sound understanding of expanding numbers)

1/2N: Karisma Tarrant (Trying super hard in her Maths lesson and doing well to understand and use number lines)

1/2P: Ivan Tan (Showing concern and caring about everyone)

1/2S: Imogen Dawson (Working hard to achieve her goals in Writing by exploring the use of synonyms)

3/4J: Zenith Pongrac (Continually pushing himself to learn new things)

3/4M: Lacey Fogliaro (Being kind, caring and cooperative)

3/4R: Olivia White (Being a beautiful person and showing great manners at school)

5/6M: Wyatt Mundy (Displaying an outstanding effort in developing his persuasive writing piece)

5/6H: Lucas Bartolo (Persisting to achieve his goals)

5/6R: Georgia Thomson (Completing everything and presenting her work to an excellent standard)

5/6W: Tyler Hayek (Trying his best in all learning areas)

Congratulations to our ‘Students of the Week’

A Message from the Principal Team Dear Families,

On Monday, our staff were involved in our second curriculum day for the year. As a staff we looked at the re-designed report

template that will be used later this term for student mid-year reports. The Curriculum and Reporting team have worked on

developing a new layout that includes all of the requirements of the Department of Education and Training for reporting student

progress from 2017 onwards.

The following will be included in our 2017 template:

1. Achievement Scale: The “A-E” scale will be replaced with the following chart that tracks students progress over the past

12 months. More information to follow soon.

2. Effort Scale: The following scale will be used.

3. A general overview of the content taught will be provided for all subject area.

4. Individual “I can …….” statements will be allocated to each student based on their progress through the development

of learning stages. (For example: “I can count forwards and backwards by tens to 100”). These will explicitly show what

each student has achieved over the six month period.

5. A personal comment from the teacher will outlines attitude to learning, a general overview of progress and the next

steps in the learning cycle. Please note: teachers will not repeat what is in the “I can…..” statements, but instead

elaborate as needed.

6. Teachers will report against the Victorian Curriculum for all curriculum subjects

On Monday, once staff were familiar with the layout, they began placing each individual student on the continuum of learning for

each subject area. Each student was highlighted against the “I can…” statements for each curriculum area - a massive task that

was started but certainly not yet finished. Staff will continue to do this over the coming weeks.

As a staff, we believe our new format will be more parent and student friendly. This layout will then work seamlessly when staff

are using “I can …” statements for success criteria within the classroom and when setting individual student goals.

A special thank you to Anthony Calleja who dropped off a “surprise” delicious lasagne for us to add to our spread for staff lunch.

A very successful day all round!

Schools are allocated four curriculum days per school year. A reminder to all families that our next curriculum day is a month

away, on Tuesday 13th June - the day after the long weekend. Please note this in your diaries or calendars.

Student leadership sport: Well done to Arkell House who organised kickball games for the F-2 student on

Wednesday and the 3-6 students on Thursday. The oval was a hive of activity. This week Lightwood House

are organising GAGA in the hall.

Walkathon tomorrow: Ready…. Set…. Go – tomorrow we walk and walk and walk. Don’t forget to come dressed up for our fun

walkathon day. Foundation to Grade two will start at 9:15 and grades 3-6 will be straight after recess at 11:30. Looking forward

to a fun day.

SRC Fundraising: Yesterday I met with the SRC to finalise their fundraising activities for this term. The first SRC activity for this

term will be a combined PJ/Dress Up Day and Movie Night. This will occur on Friday 2nd June with more details to follow soon.

Also this term the SRC will assist in organising Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea which will be held on Friday 23rd June from

10:30am-11:15am. All classes will prepare a little plate of goodies which will be eaten by parents and friends who would like

to join us on the day. Students will eat their own play lunch. Parents and friends are encouraged to bring a gold coin donation,

with all money raised being donated to the Anti Cancer Council.

WANDONG PRIMARY SCHOOL IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

Wallan & Kilmore Community Bank® branches

Abbreviation Effort Definition

Exc Excellent Works above and beyond the school’s expectations and displays

enthusiasm in all aspects of learning.

VG Very Good Works with enthusiasm all aspects of learning, on most occasions.

Con Consistent Completes all learning expectations, but does not display much

effort.

Imp Needs

Improvement

Shows limited effort and doesn’t complete work to the school’s

expectations.

English, Mathematics & Specialist Subject

Certificate Winners

Mathematics Award - Jaxson Watson (Applying his knowledge of addition

and subtraction and persisting through some very tricky thinking)

English Award - William Burns (Working hard to discover new antonyms)

Performer of the Week - Dakota Patrick

WANDONG PRIMARY SCHOOL

SUPER READER’S CLUB:

Congratulations on 50 nights reading:

Blake Irons, Tayana Marstaeller, Jazmyn Watson, Byron Wright, Levi Tolevski, Riley Fenech, William Burns, Alexis Connolly,

Cody Faralla, Zachary Green, Lily Jones, Mackenzie Macdonald, Isaac Mellado,

Noah Mifsud, Abby Miller, Jakob Minnitt, Bridie Mundy, Charlotte Peake, Ayla McGrath,

Tayla Moran, Zac Nunn, Indianna Brundell, Mia, Charlotte Green and Awenita McBean.

Congratulations on 100 nights reading:

Abby Miller.

Parent’s & Friends Association

Chocolate Drive Fundraiser

Chocolates will be sent home in the last week of term two to sell over the holidays.

All families who do not return this form will be allocated a box of chocolates to sell.

Opt out form: Please fill in if applicable to your family.

I (print)……………………………………..……………………………… (Parent name)

DO NOT WISH to receive a box of chocolates to sell this year.

Eldest child’s names …………………......... Eldest child’s grade …......……….. Parent’s signature : ………………...……………

This Thursday 18th May, Wandong Primary School Parents &

Friends Association is hosting a Walk-a-thon. All proceeds will

help PAFA to fund resources and equipment for the school.

Students are able come dressed as a

themed character of their choice.

Students will receive a Zooper-Dooper, a bottle of water

and a certificate on completion.

Please note that pledge forms need to be kept by parents

until after the Walk-a-thon has occurred and then both

the form and payment should be returned to the school

by Wednesday 24th May.

A Message from the Principal Team (continued….) Walk Safely to School Day: This Friday 19th May is Walk Safely to School day. This day is about considering our transport habits

and trying to incorporate more walking as part of a healthy, active way to get around. Although walking all the way to school isn’t

realistic for many of us, it’s quite easy to figure out how you can build a walk into you family’s daily routine. Kiss and Drop will still

operate on this day, however it will be from in front of the Wandong Fire Station. One staff member will be at the drop zone and

one will watch the students cross Kooralinga Drive. Then students will then cross Affleck Street at the crossing. All students will

receive a sticker when they arrive at their classroom.

Block Update: All families will soon receive information regarding the next stage of works on the block – this will add onto the

initial information provided in last week’s newsletter. I will keep the community updated as more information comes to hand.

I am attending a meeting on the 22nd May with DET representatives so should know more after that date.

Have a great week. Rhonda Cole

PAFA MOTHER’S DAY RAFFLE WINNER

Congratulations to Brianna Dalton-MacCrea

on winning the PAFA Mother’s Day Raffle.

WOW! … WHAT’S ON & WHAT’S DUE @WANDONG MAY

Thursday 18th WPS Walk-a-thon (Students may come dressed as a themed character) School Council Training (President training 3:30 - 6:00pm) School Council Training (General Governance 6:30-9:00pm)

Friday 19th Walk Safely to School Day - Kiss & Drop zone in front of CFA

Tuesday 23rd 2018 School Tour (9:30 to 10:30am)

Friday 26th Round 4 WPS Team Shirt orders close today (students in Grades 3-6 only)

Monday 29th Foundation Flying Bookworm permission and payment due today

JUNE

Friday 2nd SRC PJ/Dress Up Day & Movie Night

Monday 5th Foundation Flying Bookworm incursion

Tuesday 6th PAFA Meeting (9:15am onwards in the staffroom)

Thursday 8th 2018 School Tour (9:30 to 10:30am)

Monday 12th Queen’s Birthday public holiday (no students required at school)

Tuesday 13th Curriculum Day (no students required at school)

Have you

recently

asked your

child/ren.....

“What

did you

learn

today?”

PARENT

PAYMENTS

RECEIVED

270 families at WPS.

153 Completed

payments

= 57 %

What’s gone home recently?

The following notices were sent home between

Thursday 11th May & Wednesday 17th May:

Whole school: Nil

Selected Families: Nil

Selected Students: Nil

Individual grade levels:

Foundation:

School Nursing Program Health Questionnaire

One/Two:

Classroom teacher in 1/2G

Three/Four: Nil

Five/Six: Nil

Spare copies of notices are in the school foyer in the grade level trays.

Can anyone in our school community assist with

transport to and from school on Thursday and Friday

from Kilmore for one of our students? Please contact

the office if you are able to assist.

Centrepay - Centrelink payments can be used for Education expenses.

For those families in receipt of Centrelink payments the following service is NOW available:

Centrepay is a voluntary bill paying service that is easy to use. You can start, change, or cancel Centrepay deductions at

any time, to suit your own personal circumstances. By choosing to use Centrepay you benefit from knowing that your bills are

under control. Instead of having large bills every month or quarter, you can pay your bills in manageable amounts from your

Centrelink payment, making budgeting easier. You can nominate a fortnightly amount to cover education expenses.

Minimum $10 per fortnight. Please contact the school for an application form.

Writing at Wandong Primary School

Foundation:

Foundation writers have been developing their emergent writing skills throughout the year, and are now writing simple sentences relating to

their personal experiences. Students are building their awareness that letters are written to represent sounds heard within spoken words.

Throughout the term, they have been practising to ‘stretch’ out the sounds heard within a word, and then record these sounds. For example,

‘s-u-n’ or ‘w-e-n-t’. Students have been developing their writing environment and using resources throughout the room, such as ‘word charts’ to

assist in their writing process. Our Inquiry topic, ‘Topsy Turvy Tales’, has been woven throughout writing sessions, where students have labelled

an image of their Jack and the Beanstalk plant. Students enjoy writing daily in their own personally decorated Writer’s Notebook.

At home:

You can support your children by reading to them daily and encouraging them to listen to the sounds heard within various words. Play fun

games, such as ‘Guess My Word’ where you might start with a simple three letter word (dog or cat) and have the children guess the sounds with-

in the words. Always refer to the sounds rather than the name of the letter as this assist your child in recording.

Year One and Two:

Our writers have been focusing on writing to persuade an audience through friendly letters. Students have been developing arguments,

choosing precise words and different types of sentences to create an effective piece of persuasive writing. Our inquiry topic, Creating Robots,

has been integrated into our writing sessions, designing a robot and persuading an audience to buy it. Each week we have ‘Open-Cycle’ writing

sessions where we’ve been learning about the writing trait of Word Choice, followed by writing about topics that we are inspired by in our own

Writer’s Notebooks.

At home:

You can support your child by getting them to write you a letter about something they do or do not want to do at home. The piece of writing

would need to include at least three carefully chosen reasons.

Year Three and Four:

Grade 3/4 students started their persuasive writing unit by looking at and analysing a very popular children’s book. As a class, they read

“The day the Crayons quit”, they then went through and analysed each of the letters written by the crayons. Students were required to

determine the Crayon’s point of view and what they were trying to persuade the audience to do. Students then began to look more closely at

the term “opinion” and unpack what it meant to them. They looked at a series of different statements and had to decide on their own viewpoint

and share with the class their opinion. Students have now begun to look at the structure of a persuasive piece of writing, writing their own pieces

on a range of topics. They are forming opinions, providing reasons/arguments and then trying to support those reasons/arguments with

examples and evidence.

At home:

You can support your child at home by engaging them in discussions on debateable topics. Ask them their opinion and then when they have

provided it, prompt them to continue to expand on their response with questions such as:

Why do you think that?

Why is that important?

How could that affect us?

But I think this….. can you tell me why I am wrong?

Year Five and Six:

Grade 5/6 students began their persuasive unit by unpacking the structure of a persuasive text. Students have had to brainstorm ideas, and de-

cide on their viewpoint of their chosen topics. Brainstorming the pros and cons of their topic, students were able to form their arguments as well

as determine possible counter arguments they may need to consider in their persuasive text. Students have now begun unpacking persuasive

devices, such as audience, emotive language, rhetorical questions, statistics and facts, to assist students in developing stronger arguments,

whilst ensuring that they support their arguments using examples and evidence.

At home:

You can support your child by engaging in discussions about debatable topics within your home, or that have been on the news, etc.

Encourage your child to:

Brainstorm a pros and cons list for the topic

Determine their own viewpoint on the topic

Provide 3 detailed arguments (with explained examples and evidence) as to why they have established that viewpoint, and,

Provide at least 1 counter argument that they can respond to.

Indonesian and English: Indonesian is linked into literacy because it requires similar skills of reading, writing and word memorisation. The great thing about Indonesian

is that it is phonetic which means its spelt exactly how it sounds!

At home:

To help students, you can practice every day Indonesian greetings by saying the word in English and then getting them to translate by saying

the word or writing it down.

WANDONG PRIMARY SCHOOL TEAM SHIRT

Don’t forget to order your Wandong Primary School Team Shirt.

Shirts are available for students in Grades 3-6

Orders will be submitted on Friday 26th May.