woodport · 2 days per week 676.5 13.5 3 years 2 terms average 5 days per term 220 5.5 1 year 1.5...

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2019 IS THE YEAR OF KINDNESS AT WPS

______________________________________________________________________________________

Issue 1 – 6 February 2019

Welcome to another busy and exciting year! It is great to see

you all back and we welcome our many new students and their

families. The students are settling in well to their new classes

and establishing new routines. Students and staff should be

congratulated on how well they have commenced the new

school year.

This year we currently have 429 students,

which has allowed us to form 17 classes. We

have two new staff members, Mrs O’Neil who

will be teaching a Year 5/6 class and Ms Callan

who has Year 2. Mrs O’Neil has worked across

K-6 classes at Valley View Public School for the

past ten years and is a trained

Reading Recovery teacher. Ms Callan has

many years experience in a variety of schools

and is also a trained Reading Recovery

teacher. We warmly welcome them both to the

Woodport community.

Mrs Williams will be in the library four days a week with Mrs

Goodman one day. We also see the return of Miss Bush and Mrs

Kolev who are both returning from maternity leave. Mrs Wyatt

will be working part-time this year in the office. Mr Day will be

working with me in the office all year to assist with welfare,

administration and teaching and learning. All other staff

members remain the same.

Once again this year we have two School Counsellors. Mrs

Leanne Foubister will be here every Tuesday and a half day

every second Wednesday (even weeks) and Mr Michael Lamm

will be here every second Friday (odd weeks). If you would like

your child to visit the School Counsellor throughout the year

please speak with your child’s class teacher.

During the school holidays, we have had new carpet laid in the

office, new LED screens installed in two classrooms and

Dates to Remember

Mondays School Band

Tuesdays School Banking

Wednesdays

Sporting Schools

– Tennis

Wednesday

13 February

7:45 am – Year 1 &

Year 2 information

session

Wednesday

13 February

8:25 am

Kindergarten

information session

Wednesday

13 February Text Book Day

Friday

15 February

7:45 am – Year 3 &

Year 4 information

session

Friday

15 February

8:30 am – Year 5 &

Year 6 information

session

Monday

18 February

P&C Meeting

7:00 pm

Tuesday

19 February

Year 5 Surf Fun

Day

Wednesday

20 February

Year 6 Surf Fun

Day

Thursday

21 February

Premier’s Debating

Challenge

workshop

Wednesday

27 February

New families get-

together

Friday

1 March Swimming Carnival

WOODPORT

Public School Phone: 4367 7324

Email: woodport –[email protected]

Principal: Judy Boland

______________________________________________________

mailto:–[email protected]

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extensive work has taken place to rectify drainage issues on playground two (oval) where our new

seating area was installed.

THE YEAR OF KINDNESS

Last week we declared 2019 as the Year of Kindness at Woodport Public School.

As a staff, we all strongly believe that empathy and kindness are two of the greatest

qualities we can foster. Too often we are quick to speak or act aggressively towards

others when we are feeling anxious, annoyed, frustrated or upset. Being kind to

others costs nothing and requires courage and strength. Kindness is a very

important interpersonal skill that strengthens relationships and encourages

inclusivity and mutual respect. Studies show that kindness, support and warmth

towards others has lasting benefits to our well-being. Regularly throughout the year, we will be talking

about and sharing ways we can practise kindness and be more aware of other people’s feelings

through respect and consideration. A kind word, gesture or even just a smile can make a huge

difference in someone’s life. Look for ways that you can practise random acts of kindness in your own

life!

CAR PARKS CLOSED

This is a reminder that for the safety of our children entering and exiting the school grounds the top

car park gates will be closed in the morning from 8:30am – 9:05am and again in the afternoon from

2:30pm – 3:05pm. The bottom car park will be open in the morning but will be closed in the afternoon

from 2:30pm – 3:00pm. If you intend to park in the bottom car park you MUST only park where there

is a designated space. If the car park isn’t used safely by families I will have to consider closing it in

the morning so please follow the rules.

The safest way to drop and pick up children from school is by using the Kiss and Drop zone at the

front of the school. Students waiting for families are expected to wait in the Kiss and Drop area. This

area is supervised by executive staff.

All families should be using the middle gates to exit the school.

They ARE NOT to wait in the bottom car park.

Please KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE and follow the rules.

KISS & DROP AREA

Our Kiss and Drop Zone is located directly out the front of the school in front of the

hall steps exit. There is enough room for approximately five cars. If it is used

correctly children will be able to be picked up safely and quickly. There are rules for

this zone that are listed later in the newsletter. Parents and carers are able to legally

drop off or pick up their children within a two-minute timeframe.

Please DO NOT park or leave your car at any time. The bell rings at 2:50pm and children need

time to leave their classroom and exit the school. It would be best if parents could time their run so

not everyone is waiting right on bell time.

Please be considerate of others and follow the rules.

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SCHOOL WEBSITE AND SKOOLBAG APP

Please make sure you have downloaded Woodport’s Skoolbag App. Here we will keep you up to date

with events and changes to routines.

On the App, please remember to join any groups relevant to your child e.g. Moving from Kindergarten

to Year 1, you will now need to join Year 1.

Our school website is also updated regularly and has our fortnightly newsletters attached. Both are

great resources to keep informed. Please feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions for

improving our communication channels.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

Thank you to everyone for ensuring that your children are wearing full school uniform. They all look

terrific. Wearing uniform is an important aspect of feeling a sense of belonging and creates a real

sense of pride in our school. School hats are $15 and can be purchased from the Uniform Shop and

the canteen.

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

Next week we will be holding Information sessions for parents before school. These sessions will

provide parents with the opportunity to meet with teachers, be informed of routines and events and

outline how to support your child’s learning.

The sessions will take place on:

Wednesday 13 February

7:45am – 8:20am Stage 1 (Year 1 and 2) 1C and 1S classrooms

8:25am – 9:00am Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) KB and KV classrooms

Friday 15 February

7:45am – 8:25am Stage 2 (Year 3 and 4) 3M and 3P classrooms

8:30am – 9:10am Stage 3 (Year 5 and 6) 6B classroom

The information session is not designed for parents to meet individually with teachers to discuss their

child, however, if you feel you would like an individual appointment, please contact your child’s teacher

to arrange a suitable time.

Supervision will be provided for students on Playground 2 from 7.40am in the morning. The canteen

will have a variety of healthy food choices available should you wish to purchase something for

breakfast. We look forward to seeing you.

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As you are aware, parking and traffic will be an issue, so allow time to find a suitable parking spot.

The bottom car park will be available. Please park only in designated spaces. Please note the top

car park is for staff only.

NOTES

Students have received a series of permission notes for you to read through with your child. The notes

are related to safe use of technology, internet usage, permission to view PG films and participation in

local walks, if the need arises. All notes need to be signed and returned to your child’s class teacher

as early as possible.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance at school is essential to assist students to maximise their potential. Schools in

partnership with parents, are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students.

It is a state law that students who are enrolled at school, regardless of their age, are expected to

attend school on all school days. If your child is absent, it is a requirement that the school be provided

with a reason for the absence. Parents and carers may send a letter or an email to the school,

telephone, respond to absentee texts sent by the school or visit the school office.

School rolls are checked on a regular basis by Department Home School Liaison Officers and regular

absences or recurring unjustified absences may be investigated. If absences continue parents/carers

may be prosecuted.

Justified reasons for absences may include, illness or infectious disease; an unavoidable medical or

dental appointment (these should be made after school or during school holidays where possible); is

required to attend a recognised religious holiday; is required to attend an exception or urgent family

circumstance (such as a funeral).

Unjustified absences from school would include things such as: shopping; sleeping in; working around

the house; birthdays; haircuts.

Family holidays and travel outside of designated school holiday time are not encouraged as it is within

the child’s best interests for holidays to occur during school vacation periods. If you do intend to take

an extended holiday of 10 days of more you will need to collect an Application for Extended Leave

form from the front office or the schools website.

This year the parent or carer who has nominated ‘Parent 1’ on the enrolment form, will receive a text

message when their child is absent from school. The text will be sent at approximately 10:00am to

notify parents that their child has been marked absent. Parents can simply reply to the text message

to explain the absence.

Arriving at school on time is extremely important as it:

ensures students don’t miss out on the important learning activities

scheduled; helps students learn the importance of punctuality and

routine; gives students time to greet their friends before class to give

them a sense of belonging.

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Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents/carers in the same way

as other forms of absence.

Below is a chart that shows the cumulative effect of persistent non-attendance over the period of

compulsory schooling from Kindergarten to the end of Year 10.

Partial absence Total days Number of terms Number of years

missed

1 hour late per week 75 days 1.5 terms

½ hour late per day 188 days 3.75 terms Almost a year

1 hour late per day 376 days 7.5 terms 1 year 3 terms

Days absent Total

days

Number of

terms

Number of years

missed

1 day per week 451 9 2 years 1 term

2 days per week 676.5 13.5 3 years 2 terms

Average 5 days per term 220 5.5 1 year 1.5 terms

Average 10 days per term 440 8.8 2 years 1 term

STAFFING FOR 2019

TEACHING STAFF:

KB Mrs Blanch (Mon, Tues, Wed) & Mrs Langdon-Down (Thurs & Fri)

KV Mrs Vinton

KT Mrs Timewell (Relieving Assistant Principal Early Stage 1)

1C Mrs Clayton

1S Mrs Stark

1/2R Ms Ridland (Assistant Principal Stage 1)

2C Ms Callan

2M Mr Mallarky

3M Mrs Moore (Mon, Tues & every 2nd Wed) & Mrs Kolev (Thurs, Fri & every 2nd Wed)

3P Mrs Puglisi (Relieving Assistant Principal Stage 2)

3/4S Miss Stott

4E Mrs Eaton. Mrs Goodman (every 2nd Friday)

4K Mrs Kirby

5B Mr Brown

5/6M Mrs Minter

5/6O Mrs O’Neil

6B Ms Barney (Relieving Assistant Principal Stage 3)

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Library Mrs Williams (Mon,Tues,Thurs, Fri) &

Mrs Goodman (Wed)

RFF/Music Mrs Lawson (Tues, Wed & every 2nd Mon)

Miss Bush (Thurs, Fri & every 2nd Mon)

English as an Additional Language Mrs Goodman (Tues)

Learning Support Ms Yerbury

School Counsellor Ms Leanne Foubister (Tuesday & every 2nd Wed

(even weeks)

Mr Michael Lamm (Half day every 2nd Friday odd weeks)

OFFICE STAFF AND STUDENT SUPPORT:

Mrs Walter School Administrative Manager

Mrs King School Administrative Officer

Mrs Allen School Administration Officer (Mon, Tues)

Mrs Bladwell School Administration Officer (Wed & Fri)

Mrs Wyatt School Administration Officer (Wed & Thurs)

Mrs Dolan Student Learning Support Officer

Mrs Yeo Student Learning Support Officer

Mrs Pennington Student Learning Support Officer

Mr Annabel Student Learning Support Officer

Mrs Saffy Student Learning Support Officer

Mrs Carroll Student Learning Support Officer

Mr Brown General Assistant

Mrs Stansfield Canteen Manager

Ms Campbell Canteen Co-Manager

Should parents have any queries regarding their child, the first point of contact is always their class

teacher. Should further support be needed, please contact the Assistant Principal for your child’s

stage.

Judy Boland

Principal

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Mrs Yerbury – Learning & Support Teacher

I have spent most of my 35 year career working as a teacher in the western

suburbs of Sydney but also taught in Japan for 6 years. For the last two years I

have worked at Woodport Public School as a Learning and Support teacher

(LaST). My role is to work with classroom teachers, the School Counsellor, speech

therapists and other support professionals to assist students with additional needs

and improve all students' social and academic outcomes. I have always loved

teaching and find the students at Woodport a delight to teach. Seeing the progress

they make gives me great satisfaction. I look forward to another rewarding year at

Woodport, working with its dedicated and talented team to bring out the best in all our students.

Mrs Goodman – EALD & Librarian

Hi, my name is Melissa Goodman and you will see me in a couple of

different places around the school this year. On Wednesdays I am the

Librarian and on Tuesdays I am the EALD (English and Additional

Languages and Dialects) teacher. My role is to support students learning

English as an additional language or dialect so they can fully participate in

school and reach their full potential. I will also be teaching 4E every second

Friday. It will be a fabulous year teaching so many grades across the school

and watching the students learn and grow.

Mrs Lawson – Music & Technology

My name is Nadia Lawson and this year I am teaching Music and Technology at

Woodport PS. I started my teaching career in Townsville, North Queensland in

2001, and teaching upper primary. Eventually, I caught the ‘travel bug’ and

moved to England where I taught in West London. I have a keen interest in

Science and Technology and robotics. I consider myself very fortunate that I get

to sing, compose and make music with the students this semester. It is always

rewarding to watch the students express themselves creatively. I am very

fortunate to be a part of a wonderful school, its supportive community and

amazing staff.

Ms Williams – Library

My name is Kerianne and I am the Librarian at Woodport Public School. The

best position I believe there is! I have been teaching in both private and public

schools, from Kindergarten to Year 6, and I have started the Masters of

Librarianship course. I have a love of learning and literature!

I have some very exciting activities and promotions planned for the library this

year.

I will also be the band coordinator this year. I am looking forward to seeing

many fantastic performances from our very gifted students.

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ANAPHYLAXIS

Anaphylaxis management is a shared responsibility. The start of a new school year is just the right

time to remind everyone about anaphylaxis and what we can do as a school community to support

our families.

We have students in the school who have varying degrees of allergic reaction to nuts. Reactions can

range from mild allergies to severe reactions, which can quickly become life threatening. For this

reason we ask (as much as possible) that nuts are not brought to school, which includes peanut

butter, nut spreads and nut bars. It is not possible for any school to claim to be nut free, but these

measure will help reduce the risk of exposure for students who are allergic.

This is also a timely reminder that if your child does have any medical conditions it is important that

the school is supplied with up-to-date medical information. Please contact the front office for further

information.

WOODPORT NEW FAMILIES “GET TOGETHER”

On 27 February from 9:15am - 10:15am we will be having a meet and greet session for new families,

both in Kindergarten and throughout all grades. Returning families are also welcome to attend. We

will gather in the staff room – part of the administration building – ask for directions at the office if you

are not sure.

Starting a new school and/or sending your child off to school for the first time can be a very daunting

process but it does open up a whole new world for everyone in the family. This session is a chance

for you to meet some new people, learn more about things happening within the school and ask any

questions you may have whilst being in an informal setting. We will discuss such topics as school

jargon, student welfare, reward systems and certificates, Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL),

canteen, P&C, volunteering, reports, stages, school communication, technology program, events and

First Aid support. All parents, carers, babies and toddlers are welcome and morning tea will be

provided. Hope to see you there.

SPORTING SCHOOLS TENNIS PROGRAM

This term the school has received a grant from the Sporting School’s

Program. The grant will allow all students from K-6 to participate in the

ANZ Tennis Hot Shots (ANZTHS) program, Tennis Australia’s official

development program for primary aged children.

Each class will participate in a four-week program with Tennis Australia’s Club Professional Coach,

Mark Presdee of the Erina Tennis Club.

Lessons will take place on a Wednesday on the basketball court and will begin for half the school

today. The timetable will be as follows:

Tennis program timetable

Wednesday - Weeks 2, 3, 4 & 5 – 1S, 1C, 1/2R, 2M, 3P, 3/4S, 4K, 4E & 5B

Wednesday - Weeks 6, 7, 8 & 9 – KB, KV, KT, 2C, 3M, 5/6N, 5/6M & 6B

Please note: The timetable may change. If so, classroom teachers will inform students and an alert

will be placed on the Skoolbag App.

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Children are to wear their sport uniform, joggers and bring a water bottle to each session.

SWIMMING CARNINVAL

This year’s swimming carnival will be held on Friday 1 March for students from Years 3 to 6. Year 2

students who will be turning 8 this year and who are capable, competitive swimmers may also

participate. The carnival will be held at the Peninsula Leisure Centre at Woy Woy and students will

be transferred there and back by bus. We are hoping for maximum participation regardless of your

child’s swimming ability, we will also be running fun activities throughout the day that will not involve

swimming.

Please note: students are expected to remain at the carnival until it is completed. It is a condition of

entry for school swimming carnivals that no child is to swim in any other pool other than the designated

50 metre pool. That means if you intend on signing your child out early they WILL NOT be allowed to

free swim in the other pools until the carnival is over. Any child wishing to be considered for the medley

at zone level need to submit their time to Mrs Eaton, signed off by a squad coach.

We cannot run the carnival without parental support. If you are able to help on the day, please fill out

the form at the bottom of the note with your contact details (or see Mr Brown). Roles include recording

desk, time-keeping, judging, marshalling and general support. Notes with further details will be sent

home to families this week. We really appreciate your support and volunteering is a great way to get

to know other parents in the school. Please note all volunteers must have completed an Appendix 5

and provided 100 points of ID to the office prior to the event. Hope to see you there.

STAGE 3 SURF FUN DAYS

Stage 3 students will have the opportunity to participate in a Surf Fun Day run by the Surf Lifesaving

Association NSW. The day will be held on Tuesday 19 February for Year 5’s and Wednesday 20

February for Year 6’s.

The Surf Fun Day will be held at Terrigal Beach and will utilise the expertise of the Terrigal lifesaving

personnel. On the day students will learn surf safety skills (body board and nipper boards), rescue

techniques, sun safety protection, beach awareness and beach games in a safe and fun environment.

If you have any questions or queries, please give Ms Barney a call at school.

YEAR 6 POLO SHIRTS

To mark Year 6’s final year of primary school, students will have the opportunity to purchase a

specially designed polo shirt which will help them celebrate and stand out.

We will be purchasing shirts from Good Gear, a local company. They are royal blue in colour with a

gold panel down each side and a gold stripe on the collar. The school emblem is on the front and the

names of all Year 6’s on the back in a design chosen by the students. Both the emblem and the back

design are in gold print. The shirts look great, especially when the students are wearing their uniform

on excursions.

SPORT DAYS 2019

Kindergarten: Friday Stage One (Y1 & 2): Tuesday

Stage Two (Y3 & 4): Friday Stage Three (Y5 & 6): Thursday

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The cost for each polo shirt is $25.00. All orders with money will need to be returned to the office by

Week 3, Thursday 14 February. Please ensure money or a receipt number, if paid online,

accompanies the order form. Late orders will not be accepted. Good Gear has sent a sample of

sizes for students to try on which are located in 6B.

These polo shirts can be worn on any day, including sports days. They are 100% polyester, a

micromesh fabric that is quick drying, breathable and has sun protection. If you have any queries,

please don’t hesitate to contact Ms Barney.

KINDERGARTEN WITH THEIR YEAR 6 BUDDIES

At Woodport we aim to create a friendly and caring school community by building strong buddy

relationships between students in their first and last year of school this has led to reduced negative

behaviours.

Over the past week our Year 6 leaders have volunteered their time at recess and lunch to ensure our

new kindergarten students feel safe, included and have a great start to their primary school years.

Senior buddies have done an outstanding job at teaching their younger buddies playground games,

how to make friends and showing them around the school.

Year 6 students and their buddies will continue to meet throughout the year and participate in buddy

activities such as buddy reading, art and games.

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DANCE NEWS

Welcome back! There have been a few enquiries regarding dance and when auditions and rehearsals

will be starting. In previous years Woodport PS has had three dance groups, Infants, Junior and

Senior Groups. This year we are excited to announce some changes. There will be a Junior group

(Years 3 and 4) and a Senior Group (Years 5 and 6) and a Boys dance group (Years 2-6). The three

groups will audition for the Central Coast Dance Festival (CCDF) which is held in the final two weeks

of Term 2. The auditions are held in Week 10 of Term 1.

We are also forming a special Glee Club this year for the infants - they will not audition for the dance

festival but will have many opportunities to perform throughout the year. Stay tuned for more

information regarding the Infants Glee Club.

Only 22 students can be selected for the CCDF dance groups so each group will be limited to that

number of students. Two teachers will be involved in the audition/selection process for each dance

group. Please remember that all students invited to participate in this year's dance groups are

expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. If your child has been successful in the audition

process, a note detailing costume costs, rehearsal times and a contract will be sent home.

Junior Dance (Years 3 and 4) coordinated by Miss Stott & Mrs Hamlin (a parent of our school).

Rehearsals will be during sport for Term 1.

Senior Dance (Years 5 and 6) coordinated by Mrs O'Neil. Rehearsals will be during sport for

Term 1.

Boys' Dance (Years 2-6) coordinated by Mrs Blanch. Rehearsals will be each Wednesday after

lunch including (every 2nd week which is Infant’s assembly week), beginning 6 February.

Some lunchtime rehearsals may be required in preparation for our upcoming auditions for Central

Coast Dance Festival. Should these additional rehearsals be required, your child will be notified.

Payment for costumes will be due ASAP. Please ensure all payments have been made no later than

Friday 28 February, so teachers can purchase group costumes.

Please ensure you have downloaded the WPS Skoolbag app as this is our primary communication

method for parents.

Miss Stott, Mrs Blanch and Mrs O'Neil

LIBRARY NEWS

We will kick off the New Year with the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

I hope you will join me in encouraging your child to read and

complete the challenge, reading 30 books before August.

Each month the students have the opportunity to order from

Bookclub. Book Club provides a fun and convenient way of bringing

the best in children's literature into your home. It’s packed full of exciting books from best-selling

authors, popular titles and series that kids love, as well as products and books that make perfect gifts

for younger siblings who may not be at school yet. Ordering from Book Club is easy—simply go online

www.scholastic.com.au/schools/bookclub and place your order and then Scholastic’s ‘book elves’

take care of the rest. Before you know it, your child will have a lovely surprise to take home when their

http://www.scholastic.com.au/schools/bookclub

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order gets delivered to their classroom. When ordering from Book Club,

you are not only helping your children, but you are also helping your

school—20% of your spend goes back to your school in valuable

Scholastic Rewards, which are used to buy classroom resources. To

celebrate the start of the New Year, any family ordering from Issue 1

will also receive a free All About Me Activity Journal to help us kick-start

our 2019 plans. For more information about Scholastic and Book Club, visit www.scholastic.com.au

PREMIER’S DEBATING CHALLENGE

Six students in Year 6 will have the opportunity to participate in the Premier’s Debating Challenge

coaching day on Thursday 21 February at Erina Heights PS.

The workshop is run by the department's most senior adjudicators and coaches who cover all the

requirements students will need to know for primary school

debating including rebuttal, arguments, definitions and

speakers' roles, as well as a few games and activities and a

chance for every student to present a short debating speech

and receive some feedback.

The day is appropriate for all levels from beginner to

advanced and is a great introduction for students to learn

more about debating and hear from the people who will be

adjudicating the finals of the Premier's Debating Challenge in

2019.

The Woodport debating team is looking forward to

participating in this day in preparation for their first debate in

the Premier’s Debating Challenge at the end of March.

DRUMCORP

Drumcorp is an exciting

bucket drumming program

for students in Year 3-6.

Bucket drumming, is a style

of music which involves

drumming on plastic

buckets to create melodies. We know that playing drums,

even for just a few minutes, can boost your mood, relieve

frustration and stress. The correlation between musical

training and academic performance has been documented a

number of times, particularly when it comes to mathematics.

This Friday, Drumcorp instructors will be coming to

demonstrate bucket drumming at the Primary Assembly and

parents are welcome to attend. Following the performance we

will be sending home an expression of interest form.

http://www.scholastic.com.au/

https://www.x8drums.com/blog/drumming-and-endorphins/

http://artdrum.com/HOW_CAN_DRUMMING_HELP_STUDENTS_GROW_ACADEMICALLY.HTM

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Please feel free to learn more about Drumcorp on Facebook: thedrumcorp,

Instargram@thedrumcorp or https://www.drumcorp.com.au/.

Co-ordinator,

Nadia Lawson

Band News WOODPORT SCHOOL BAND

Welcome back, and a very special welcome to our new students and parents. It is great to see so

many students learning an instrument this year and joining our school band. Being part of the band

and learning a musical instrument has many benefits, as well as, providing opportunities for players

to perform at a range of events across the Central Coast. The link below is a short clip detailing the

benefits of learning a musical instrument.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng#action=share

We are looking forward to another great year of making music. Below is some important information

for us to kick off the year.

NEW BEGINNERS (those learning an instrument for the first time in 2019).

There are two components to the Band Program: group lessons and a full band rehearsal both held

on the same day.

• Group lessons: Started Monday 4 February. Students will be collected from their class.

• What to bring: Instrument and Accent on Achievement book if already purchased. Items ordered

Through Teaching Services Australia (TSA) will be distributed on the first lesson. • Full Band Rehearsal: Beginners will not be required at band rehearsal until Term 2. Rehearsals

will take place on Monday at recess in the school hall.

This first lesson will focus on showing new students how to set-up and care for their instruments.

EXISTING BAND STUDENTS (those who already learned an instrument in 2018)

• Full band rehearsal: Started Monday 4 February at 8:00am in the school hall.

• Group lessons: Started Monday 4 February. Students will be collected from their class.

• What to bring: Instrument and pencil, Accent on Achievement book and band folder.

The first lesson will focus on finalising grouping and assessing how continuing students have

progressed during the Christmas break.

IMPORTANT ITEMS

Fees – In 2019, band and tuition fees will be $190 per term plus $10 TSA resource levy. TSA will

email invoices at the beginning of each school term and your invoice needs to be finalised within 2

weeks of issue or late fees will apply.

Absence from Band – if your child is absent from band or lessons, please be sure to notify your

child’s band director.

https://www.drumcorp.com.au/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0JKCYZ8hng#action=share

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Creative Kids Vouchers – TSA is a registered provider and all families can apply for their $100

voucher by visiting www.service.nsw.gov.au/creativekids. The voucher may be used at any time in

2019.

Exiting the Band Program – TSA requires notice by the end of any term if your child wishes to exit

from the program the following term.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Band Director: Mrs Pauline Ainsworth [email protected] (timetabling, groups, band

rehearsals)

TSA Admin Staff: 9651 7333 (enrolments, instrument hire and service)

TSA Website: www.teachingservicesaustralia.com.au (notes are also available here)

School Coordinator: Kristi Barney

SCHOOL OPAL CARDS

An important requirement of your child’s school opal card is the need for them

to tap on and tap off when they travel to and from school. The data gathered

from this process is used to determine the demand for bus services.

If students don’t tap on and tap off, services may be cancelled or reduced due

to the lack of recorded patronage. Could you please remind your children of the importance of tapping

on and tapping off? This will ensure the appropriate level of service to your students is maintained.

To assist the schools, Busways is developing a campaign to further promote and encourage the use

of school opal cards. They will also continue to conduct boarding checks on school opal cards over

the coming months. Students without an opal card will be given a brochure to take home with

instructions on how they can get an opal card.

WPS POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) brings together the whole-school community

to contribute to developing a positive, safe and supportive learning culture.

At Woodport PS we:

Teach behavioural expectations as part of a social learning curriculum across the whole school;

Teach the behaviours we want and provide feedback to students on their achievement of those

behaviours;

Have established whole school rules and expectations for both in and

outside the classroom;

Effectively use school-wide data to identify patterns of behaviour,

monitor student progress, reflect on teaching effectiveness and inform

decisions that strengthen the learning environment and

Frequently reward students for displaying positive behaviour through our Ernie token system,

rewards menu and rewards days.

To promote a smooth, positive transition for all students into their new classrooms and decrease any

uncertainties or anxieties that they might have, the PBL team has developed a 'Great Start Program'

which is designed to be used intensively during the first 5 - 8 days of your child’s new class. However,

all staff and students will continue to strive for excellence in teaching and learning, making

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connections across many levels; maintaining trusting and respectful relationships and working

together to ensure our school continues to be a dynamic and positive learning community dedicated

to developing Safe, Respectful Learners who are:

Caring and supportive;

Feel valued and empowered;

Active participants in their learning;

Positive;

Have high expectations and are

Successful.

The ‘Great Start Program’ consists of 5 Key Elements that assist in creating a classroom environment

and culture where students can connect, thrive and succeed.

1. Looking At Me - students and staff participate in activities that focus on building a classroom

environment where all feel a sense of belonging, connectedness and feel valued and included.

Students and teachers share their qualities, gifts, fears, interests and learn about others.

2. Our Room – together students and teachers discuss what makes a good classroom?

Teacher? Student? They also discuss classroom expectations, roles and responsibilities.

3. Learning Together – building a community of learners through cooperation, collaboration and

teamwork.

4. Switching On To Learning – students learn about what keeps them switched onto learning

such as brain health - water, healthy eating, adequate sleep etc.

5. Reflection – is a part of our daily teaching and learning practice. Students are given the

opportunity to reflect on their academic, social or personal learning.

A Community Circle will be held daily as part of our ‘Great Start Program’ and throughout the year

to ensure our students: feel included and respected; to develop interpersonal and problem-solving

skills that will assist students with solving conflicts peacefully and as a forum which allows all

students to present themselves in positive, influential ways.

PAYMENTS DUE SOON

Year 5 Surf Fun Day – Thursday 14 February

Year 6 Surf Fun Day – Friday 15 February

Swimming Carnival – Wednesday 21 February

Dance Costumes – Thursday 28 February

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KISS AND DROP ZONE – STUDENT WAITING AREA

For the next two weeks all students will engage in lessons on the Kiss and Drop Zone and the

Community Circle.

ERNIE SAYS…

As Safe, Respectful Learners, students should always follow the school

expectations when waiting in the Kiss and Drop Zone

Safe Stay in the

designated area.

Hands and feet to self. Toys and games in

bags.

Respectful Polite, quiet talk. Keep walkway clear. Listen carefully

Learner Right place, right

time.

Look for car and wait

until it stops.

Walk to enter car curb

side.

SAFE

Students will wait in kiss and drop zone outside the school fence. All toys, balls, games and food are

to remain in school bags. No climbing on fence, hands and feet to self, walking or running around.

Pushing and shoving games are not permitted.

RESPECTFUL

Students will wait, standing or sitting, in kiss and drop zone. If raining, students will wait on the hall

steps until called by the teacher on duty. The footpath and walkways will remain clear for pedestrians.

Quiet, polite talk, at all times. Listen and promptly follow teacher instructions.

LEARNER

Whilst waiting at kiss and drop zone, students will be looking for their vehicle. When their vehicle

stops, students will walk to it and enter door on the curb side.

KISS AND DROP ZONE - PARENTS

This area is designed for quick entry and exit and operates under the same conditions as no parking

zones. Please read the following points very carefully so that everyone can pick up and drop off their

children quickly and safely.

The Kiss and Drop Zone is indicated by the white line. There is enough room for 4-5 cars at one

time

If you are the first car, please move all the way down to where the white line begins as this allows

for the following cars to move in behind you

You ARE NOT allowed to park, leave your car and go into the playground. You are required to

remain in or within 3 metres of your vehicle

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You may stop to drop off or pick up for a maximum of 2 minutes in this zone

When you arrive in the afternoon, keep in mind children will be waiting in the designated area

Please time your pick up - the bell rings at 2:50 pm and children need time to pack up, leave the

classroom and safely exit the school grounds. Please do not arrive at 2.40 pm and park in

this area. There are other areas in the street designated for this.

Operating hours for these rules are: 8:00am – 9:30am

2:30pm – 4:00pm

ERNIE SAYS

As Safe, Respectful Learners, students should always follow the school expectations when

participating in the Community Circle.

SAFE

Hands and feet to self

Be caring and supportive

Sit in the circle

RESPECTFUL

Listen carefully

Appreciate others

Polite talk, facial expressions and gestures

LEARNER

Build positive relationships

Be a problem-solver

Participate

SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

A reminder that all volunteers must have completed a Working with Children Check declaration form

(Appendix 5) and provide 100 points identification to the ladies in the front office so that they can be

photocopied and securely stored. This only has to be done once and will last for many years. We

have been implementing the WWC declaration for many years now and we need to remain vigilant at

all times to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students. If you have completed the form, thank

you. If you need to, please see the office as soon as possible. We look forward to continuing our

partnership with parents and carers within the school and maintaining a safe and happy environment

for our students.

If you are not sure about which procedure you need to do then please see Mrs Walter or Mrs King at

the office.

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL

Please remember that ALL visitors to the school are required to visit the office before going to one of

our classrooms or contacting students in the playground. It is mandatory for all visitors to sign in and

sign out at the office and wear an identification visitor badge. This is important as it enables the school

to have a register of who is in the school at any given time particularly in case of an emergency or

evacuation and most importantly to keep our children safe. Outside of before and after school, the

ADMINISTRATION CORNER

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easiest way to discuss something with your child’s teacher (and less disruptive to their class) is to ring

the office and organise an appointment.

FAMILY CONTACT DETAILS

At the beginning of each year we ask families to ensure that their contact details are accurate, which

includes email address and mobile numbers. Thank you to those families who have already updated

their details. Accurate information is extremely important in the event that we have to contact you

regarding your child.

GOLD BOOK - 2019 Kiara P - 2C Alaela D – 2C Jack H – 1S Dylan H – 1S

Isabell T – 3M Leilani G – 3M Reuben M – 3M Hayden B – 3M

Zara J – 4E Isabelle H – 4E

P&C CORNER P&C MEETING The first P & C meeting for 2019 will be held on Monday 18 February at 7:00pm in the staffroom.

Everyone is invited to attend and new ideas are always welcomed. Come along and meet others and

learn what is happening in your school. P&C meetings are held on the third Monday of each month.

Hope to see you there.

UNIFORM SHOP

Our fabulous volunteers will open the uniform shop and be ready for business

each Monday and Friday morning from 8:30am – 9:30am. They do a

tremendous job in supporting our school community and we thank them for their

generous efforts. If you have time to volunteer an hour of your time in the

morning please contact the ladies in the front office so we can add you to the

roster.

School Banking Information Session. Woodport is excited to offer the Commonwealth Bank School Banking program to all students. School Banking is a fun, interactive and engaging way for young Australians to learn about money and develop good savings habits. Children who deposit money into their Youthsaver account through School Banking earn Dollarmites tokens, which they can save up and redeem for exciting rewards.

The rewards available during 2019 are:

Scented Stackable Highlighters

Snowy Origami Set

Icicle Slapband Ruler

Yeti Fluffly Notepad

Arctic Owl Fluffy Keyring

Scratch Art Cards

Water Skimming Bounce Ball

Polar Pencils & Pencil Toppers

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School Banking is also a great fundraiser for our school. Our school receives a Regular Savers Contribution of $5 for every 10 deposits processed per student as well as an Annual Contribution which is based on the number of students who made at least one School Banking deposit in the prior year.

School Banking day is Tuesday. Please hand your bank book to your teacher for collection.

We will be holding a School Banking Information Session at our school: Time: 7:45am – 9:25am Date: Wednesday 13 February Location: Playground, during meet the teacher

Please join us and find out more about the School Banking program and how your child can get involved.

If you are interested in opening a Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account for your child you can visit commbank.com.au/schoolbanking and click on the link to open a Youthsaver account. A School Banking representative will be available at the Information Session to show you how you can do this. In order to verify yourself and your child, you will need your driver’s licence and your child’s birth certificate, but if you don’t have these with you on the day, you can complete verification online at home.

SCHOOL BANKING DAY - TUESDAY

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woodport · 2 days per week 676.5 13.5 3 years 2 terms average 5 days per term 220 5.5 1 year 1.5...

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