From the Acting Principal 

Adele Brice

Dear parents and carers, 

I am writing the Principal section of this edition of the newsletter as Julie Crawford is on LSL for the last week of term.

Term 1 has been jam packed, the last two weeks being the busiest! 

Highlights of Term 1 include:

• Installment of new Playground at the top of the school
• Prep First Day BBQ to welcome our 2025 Prep students and their parents
• Gala Days - 5/6 Sport
• Harmony Day
• Matilda auditions - 5/6 students
• Melbourne Primary Dream and Lead conference - Grade 6 students
• Challenge Based Learning (CBL): Connections - Big Idea for Term 1
• Connections Groups (formally TRIBES) commencing - Run by our Grade 6 students
• Clubs and Joggers Club
• Warrandyte Festival - choir and parade
• Leadership Badge Assembly
• Colour Run
• Whole School Cross Country

Colour Run Fundraising Event

Thank you to our community for supporting one of our major fundraisers for the year. Sincere thanks is extended to Lauren Goodwin for coordinating such a wonderful community event. The event raised in excess of $11 000 which will be put towards the resurfacing of the Basketball Court. A heartfelt thanks to everyone who provided support to run this event; WPPS teaching and ES team, school council members working on the BBQ, Their Care for the donation of the sausages and the Wonga Park CFA for the generous donation of their time.

Whole School Cross Country 

What a beautiful day it was on Friday - just a perfect day for the Annual School Cross Country Event. Many thanks to Mike O'Dwyer for all his hard work, and also Kate, Jodie and the incredible band of parent helpers who supported them and to Julie E ... this wonderful support ensured the day was a huge success.

Warrandyte Festival

Thanks to our school captains and two other students from our school for representing Wonga Park PS so capably in the parade at the Warrandyte Festival on the weekend. 

Understanding the importance of belonging to a community is essential, and we truly appreciate the time they dedicated to the event. The CFA member in the photo with our students also has a special connection to WPPS—I wonder if you know the connection?

Thanks is also extended to our choir, led by Tim Phillips and supported by Kristy Salisbury. The choir performed beautifully to quite a large audience. We hope the students enjoyed the experience - I am sure the audience were delighted by their voices. 

Term 1 Progress Reports

Today you will be receiving Term 1 Progress Reports through the Sentral portal. These reports are designed to provide parents with information regarding student progress in Term 1. Progress Reports are accompanied by 10 minute interviews with the class teachers. Interviews are being enabled in the first week of Term 1 on Tuesday (Grades 3-6) and Wednesday (Prep -2). Interviews can either be held in person or via Webex.

Childsafe

Volunteer Childsafe Training sessions

We are mandated (without exemption) to provide training for school staff and all volunteers working within our school to ensure they are equipped with knowledge, skills and awareness to keep our young people safe through ongoing education and training.

To volunteer in our school you must:

·         participate in annual Volunteer Childsafe training

·         provide the school with a copy of your WWCC

·         Read and sign the Code of Conduct

All volunteers will need to have completed with their training prior to volunteering at our school. 

Staff are unable to select volunteers who do not have current training. 

Please note that if you work at another Department of Education school, training must also be completed at the school where you volunteer.

Volunteer Childsafe Training sessions are online and are offered frequently. 

We have one remaining session for Term 1, sessions on offer in Term 2 are also listed for you. You can also find the meeting links on the Parent Calendar on Sentral. 

Term 1

Thursday 27th March | 5:00 - 5:30 PM (online)

https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=m338c73b0471873f39d56a73e6c91506f

Term 2

Tuesday 29th April | 5:00 - 5:30 PM (online)

https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=mb5fb746c843670d4c70d63f0bcb3c946

Thursday 15th May | 5:00 - 5:30 PM (online)

https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=m54ee0f513642a290436a134b20bcbd43

Monday 23rd June | 5:00 - 5:30 PM (online)

https://eduvic.webex.com/eduvic/j.php?MTID=m7b9a7b1a748611ef5db21d7b4cb853b3

Cyber Safety Project - Monday 28th April

Our school partnerships with The Cyber Safety Project, the team will be onsite on Monday 28th April to deliver cybersafety training to all students Prep to Grade 6. This incursion complements beautifully the work that our teaching staff do all year with our students. 

The Cyber Safety Project's 2025 Parent Webinar Series is listed below for you:

• Empowering Parents to Protect Kids’ Wellbeing: Wednesday 2nd April, 7.30pm
• What every parent needs to know in 2025: Tuesday 3rd June, 7.30pm
• Understanding Ais impact on Your Kids: Wednesday 13th August, 7.30pm
• Safe gaming for Kids: Building Boundaries for Positive Play: Thursday 23rd October, 7.30pm

Registration Link for Parents & Guardians: ….

eSafety – Office of the eSafety Commissioner 

The eSafety Commissioner is a wonderful resource to make yourself familiar with. This space was established in 2015, it's Australia's national and independent regulator of online safety. It is dedicated to keeping people safe online. WE encourage you to sign up for the eSafety Newsletter to receive the latest online safety news, resources, and advice.

Parent eSafety PL

The eSafety Commissioner has shared information regarding: The hard to have conversations. We encourage you to read of this important information. 

Term 2 eSafety Commission online workshops

The eSafety's provide free webinars provide parents and carers with the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe, positive online experiences. Term 2 webinars are listed below:

First week of Term 2

 Just a reminder of how the first week of Term 2 looks:

• Monday 21st April - Easter Monday: Public Holiday
• Tuesday 22nd April - Interviews Grades 3-6 - Alternative Program running at school
• Wednesday 23rd April - Interviews Prep-2 - Alternative Program running at school
• Thursday 24th April - Curriculum Day: No students at school, Their Care is offering care on this day
• Friday 25th April - ANZAC Day: Public Holiday

I wish you all a happy and safe Easter break.

Kind regards

Adele Brice - Assistant Principal