Principal Message
Next week is Book Week and we start this with our regular Book Week fancy dress special assembly on Monday morning. I know there are staff up here really looking forward to the parade and all the enthusiasm it generates from thinking about characters out of some great books. If you haven't had a chance to put together costumes, this link might help to provide you with some simple ideas that don't cost a fortune.
21 Easy Book Week costumes you can make at home (beanstalkmums.com.au)
I can remember as a parent, being exhausted from work and then madly sewing the night before a Book Week parade. But I am particularly proud of the Mr Tickle costume I made for my youngest son when he was in Grade 1. I do look back and smile thinking about him navigating his school day with giant arms that were made out of stockings and stuffing.
We have purchased some of the books that were shortlisted in this year's Children's Book Awards, and they be added to our mentor texts to teach reading and writing with and for the students to access during Literacy. The shortlisted books for the 2023 Children's Book of the Year Awards offer a diverse range of stories that inspire the imagination of young readers. Each shortlisted book demonstrates the power of storytelling to entertain, educate, and empower young readers, establishing it as a great reading experience.
The shortlist is attached for you if you are looking for more details.
Art's Festival - 30th August, 4:45pm - 8pm
Whilst the family night on August 30 is packed with exciting things for families to do and see, the students will also get the opportunity to participate in are range of things during thte school day. Dream Puppetry, Japanese Drum Theatre (Taiko), Ukelele, cartoonist Richard Galbraith all have workshops running during the day and students will rotate around the sessions. Moran and Archibald prize winner, Daniel Butterworth, will also be in attendance demonstrating his technique with the students as he paints a portrait across the day for the school. This will be auctioned off on the night. More information about Daniel can be found at Australian Artist | Daniel Butterworth .
Finally moved in...
We had a delay in moving into the new space in the senior school building due to camp and Hooptime this week. However, we are finally in as the students bring the last of their things across. The extra space in the rooms has made a very big difference.
Learning Walks at WPS
Last week we had a team of teachers from Donvale Primary School come and visit our school to take part in a Learning Walk. Learning Walks take place in schools for a range of reasons. This particular walk was designed to provide these teachers with a chance to see how we teach Writing and to see the lessons in action. All the theory in the world cannot replace seeing how teachers manage the many competing needs in teaching whilst providing delivering on the lesson's outcomes. Donvale Primary School approached us and asked if they could send a team of teachers to come and see our Writing program in action after seeing our NAPLAN data for Writing and Reading, which is some of the best data in our Network of schools. In this area of the curriculum, we exceed like schools and schools in our network.
Grades 4/5 classes were open for the teachers to observe the teaching and to talk with the students about their writing. The students were proud to be able to show their skills and were enthusiastic to talk about their writing choices. They were able to clearly articulate the stage of writing they were in, the genre/text structure and discuss how their piece relates to their learning goals. The teachers went away buzzing with ideas for their first steps in a Workshop teaching model.
See you on Monday morning at the Book Week Parade - 9:10am in the Bampi!
Have a great weekend.
Nieta