Across Oliver's Desk 

Dear Parents & Guardians, 

UPDATE

Firstly, I apologise for the way the school looks at the moment. But I would like you all to think of what a house looks like a few weeks before a move. Times that by 20 with a school. I keep walking into a room and looking at the things that need to be packed up and then walking out because there is so much to do.  We are getting really close to the move into the new building which is so exciting. Unfortunately this means a little more disruption in terms of parking/playgrounds and some of our normal annual events.

Three years ago when we started planning the new build, my number one priority was to make sure that learning was not disrupted. I believe we have achieved that. The downside is that we haven’t been able to do Production, Grandparents’ Day and Christmas Carols night. We will make them all priorities next year once we get our Hall back after Term 1. 

Unfortunately, until the end of term one next year, Mr Gibbons will also have a challenge with running his exceptional P.E. program without the use of the hall. He has told me he is up to the challenge and has lots of things in mind by using the oval and our undercover area.

Timeline:

• As much packing as possible in the next three weeks.
• The weekend of the 28th & 29th October, staff will be volunteering time to help with major packing, removalists have been booked to move the whole school into the new building on this weekend
• Monday the 30th (Curriculum Day) staff will help to unpack and set up classrooms on this day in the new building.
• From Tuesday 31st of October – A very exciting day as it will be the first day in our new school building. The old building and the top part of the school in front of the old building will be fenced off. The hall will also be fenced off. Before and After school care will run out of the new school’s new library space plus german/cooking room. All of the junior school classrooms will be in the new building, except for 1/2E which will be in our current science room (the very end portable room next to the new building). The new building  includes a new Science, Art and German/Cooking room.
• 1st of November onwards – Our current building will be removed, the worksite will be through the drive way we have built on the far side of the school.
• January 2024 – New basketball courts, amphitheatre and outdoor learning space will be completed, ready for day one 2024.
• Term 1, 2024 – The hall renovation will be completed.
• Term 2, 2024 – All works completed.

Our official opening of the new school will be some time in 2024, after all works have been completed. Next year the school turns 150 years old, this will be the perfect time to celebrate all things Woori Yallock Primary School!                                                                                                                                                I think our whole school community is currently living through our old and new history, which is just so exciting. 

CONGRATULATIONS 

This week we congratulate one of our grade six students, Janna Rodriguez for being selected to participate in Emerald Secondary College SEAL program. The SEAL program provides a high quality accelerated curriculum for a select group of students with high intellectual potential. The central aim of the SEAL program, which a few local Secondary School’s run, is to provide educational experiences of an appropriate type and quality for that group of children, identified through the selection procedures, as having exceptional academic ability. 

Well done Janna we are proud of you.

STEPS MORNING TEA

Our deserving steps winners enjoyed a wonderful morning tea with me in Sandy’s cooking room. We enjoyed hot party food, cake and even ice cream. Thanks again to Sandy for the wonderful job she does in going above and beyond to help the school. 

CRAZY HAIR DAY

HATS/BLACK SHOES

A reminder that we require all of our students to wear hats at recess and lunchtime during term 4. If students don’t have a hat they are asked to be in an undercover area which limits what they can do during break times.  This year our whole school uniform is the best it has been at my time at the school. There is still a small percentage of students who are not wearing black shoes and I ask for your support with this as having 100% of our students in full uniform upholds our school motto of ‘Take Pride At All Times’.

If there is a reason why your child is out of uniform can you please contact the classroom teacher to explain why. Thanks for your help with this.

FREINDSHIP REQUESTS FOR 2024 

I know that when we put friendship requests out for next year it makes a few people nervous. I would like to say, as skilled professional educators our teachers spend a considerable amount of time and effort in placing students into classes for the following year and therefore, staff recommendations will be a priority in relation to student class allocation. Please do not request a specific teacher as all our teachers are high quality educators.  We are proud that our school has a reputation of having excellent teachers, who work together superbly, with a student-centred focus, whole school approach to teaching and learning and a priority placed on high quality instruction in literacy and numeracy.  As you would appreciate, teachers do not necessarily teach in the same level as the previous year.  Staff follow a carefully planned procedure for allocating students to their grade for the following year: 

• Students nominate up to five peers that they would like to be placed with. 
• Students are advised that we will do everything possible to ensure that they will be placed with AT LEAST one of their nominated peers. 
• Classroom teachers meet and use the criteria of academic, social and emotional to compile draft grade lists. Students will participate in ‘Step Up Day’ on Tuesday 12th of December, spending time in their classroom for 2024 with their new grade and teacher. 

I will provide further information about grade structures, staffing and programs for 2024 throughout this term. 

A LITTLE BIT OF SCHOOL HISTORY

Like I said above, I think we are all about to be part of a new chapter in the school’s history. Therefore, I thought I would take you back to 1873.

In December 1873, the Education Department noted that the new teacher position created for the first school in Woori Yallock…… “This is a position not at all likely to be accepted by any qualified teachers. Under the circumstances an unqualified person should be appointed. Michael O'Halloran states he is classed under the New South Wales Board, and that he will take any position offered to him.”

Mr O’Halloran left Melbourne on 19th of January 1874, and took up his appointment as full time head teacher at the Woori Yallock School No. 1259.

At the end of the month he reported, “I have the honour to acquaint you that I commenced duties in the above school on 21st. I had a low attendance but had 21 pupils today and expect 3 more tomorrow”. He added. “The schoolroom is in poor condition to teach in”. 

And so the first teacher appointed by the Education Department began duty in the small tent school house. 

Have a great week and remember when life gets a little tough, escape to the wonderful world of a book!

My current read is Maralinga by Judy Nunn. I’ve read a few Judy Nunn books now and most have been really enjoyable.