WNPS School Newsletter

Assistant Principal's Report

Term 1 Week 7

Dear Families,

 

We are nearly at the end of Week 7, how that time has flown. We have lots going on in the school at the moment. A reminder that the Compass Calendar is now live for parents to view important dates throughout the year. Below is a snapshot of events coming up:

  • WNPS Harmony Day – Friday 21st March (More details to come)

  • Year 3/4 Swimming – Monday 24th March to Thursday 3rd April

  • Parent Teacher Interviews – Monday 24th and Wednesday 26th March

  • Year 5/6A, 5B, 5C and 6B Excursion to the Melbourne Museum – Wednesday 26th March

  • Year 5D, 5E, 6C and 6D Excursion to the Melbourne Museum – Thursday 27th March

  • Foundation Colour Zones of Self-Regulation Incursion – Friday 28th March

  • Whole School Photo Day – Friday 28th March

  • Worlds Greatest Shave Fundraiser – Friday 28th March (please see the information later in the newsletter)

  • Regional Swimming – Tuesday 1st April

Our Year 1/2 Cohort have begun their swimming lessons this week. Everything seems to be running smoothly at Bayfit Leisure Centre. If you are free, you are more than welcome to pop by the pool and watch your child swim.

 

The School Council process has now been completed. I can now confirm that no elections need to take place. There was 1 Staff nomination - Shevani Moodley, and 4 parent nominations - Sharon Cave, Laura Mahoney, Elissa Gale, and Stacey Demery.

 

The WNPS community congratulate these 5 people on their selection to the School Council for the next 2 years.

 

Below is the full list of School Council Members for 2025:

  • Richard Buckingham - Executive Officer

  • Sarah Nobbs - Staff Member

  • Kaitlyn Hayes - Staff Member

  • Shevani Moodley - Staff Member

  • Martin Gill - Parent Member

  • Philippa Askham - Parent Member

  • Lara Papadopoulos - Parent Member

  • Mark Smith - Parent Member

  • Elissa Gale - Parent Member

  • Laura Mahoney - Parent Member

  • Sharon Cave - Parent Member

  • Stacey Demery - Parent Member

We look forward to working together as a group to best support the school in 2025.

 

NAPLAN testing for our Year 3 and 5 students began on Wednesday. 

The testing schedule will run as follows:

  • Wednesday 12th March  - Writing 

  • Thursday 13th March - Reading 

  • Friday 14th March - Conventions of Language (Spelling & Grammar) 

  • Monday 17th March - Numeracy Year 3s

  • Catchups are scheduled for Tuesday 18th through Friday 21st next week.

Thank you to all the parents who have communicated to me about the School Saving Bonus. I certainly appreciate your patience as we all manoeuvre this process. Moving forward, I have a list of students that have indicated that the School Saving Bonus (SSB) will be used for activities/camp. For future events, I will already have confirmed payment, you will just need to provide consent on Compass. If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

 

With a busy 3 weeks coming up, please ensure that if your child is unwell, please keep them home. Absences due to illness are approved school absences as per DE guidelines. Please see our previous newsletter for reference. We also ask families to please be mindful and patient that school staff work directly with many children as well as adults, and this can at times leave us susceptible to illnesses. Staff may have absences for many reasons; illness, bereavement, expecting parenthood, carer's leave, and professional learning to name a few. We currently have internal staff coverage to minimise interruption to our daily programs, and ensure students have a familiar face to reach out to should they need. We appreciate your understanding.

 

Have a great week ahead.

 

Sarah Nobbs

Assistant Principal/Finance Manager

Harmony Day Celebration – Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

We are excited to announce that our school will be celebrating Harmony Day on Friday 21st March. Harmony Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity that makes our school community so vibrant and unique. It is a day dedicated to promoting inclusiveness, respect, and understanding among all students, staff, and families.

 

What is Harmony Day?

Harmony Day is an annual event that encourages people to share, learn, and appreciate each other’s cultures. It highlights the importance of inclusivity, respect, and a shared sense of belonging, regardless of cultural, linguistic, or ethnic backgrounds. In Australia, it coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

 

How We Will Celebrate:

  • Cultural Dress-Up: Students are encouraged to wear traditional or cultural attire on Harmony Day to showcase the diversity within our school. Instead, they are welcome to wear orange clothing as a symbol of unity, as orange is the official colour of Harmony Day, and signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.

     

  • Classroom Activities: Students will participate in various activities designed by classroom teachers to promote teamwork and understanding, such as art projects, games, and discussions about diversity and inclusion.

     

  • Acknowledging all the diverse and unique cultures that make up the WNPS community at our assembly on Friday 21st March

Why is Harmony Day Important?

At our school, we believe that fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment is key to helping every student feel valued. By embracing and celebrating our differences, we create a stronger, more connected community. Harmony Day gives us a chance to reflect on the importance of respect and understanding in our everyday interactions.

 

How You Can Get Involved:

  • Encourage your child to participate in wearing cultural attire or the colour orange. 

  • Discuss and share your cultural heritage with each other, celebrating what makes us all unique.

  • Attend assembly on Friday 21 March

We look forward to celebrating the rich diversity of our school community together on this special day. Let’s make Harmony Day a fun, meaningful, and memorable experience for all!

 

Warm regards,

Shevani Moodley

World's Greatest Shave

Hi!

 

I’m Natalie, and this year, I am taking on The World’s Greatest Shave to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. Every day, so many families are impacted by cancer. The money I raise will go to helping support cancer suffers and their families get the support they need, as well as funding the research for better treatment options. My own family experienced, first hand, the benefits of cancer support services when my dad was diagnosed with cancer in 2020. I’d love your support in donating towards a great cause, as I shave my head on Friday, 28th March, at 2.45pm during a whole school assembly. 

 

Come and celebrate my baldness!

 

Natalie G

_________

 

To support Natalie's bravery and this incredible cause, there will be a special whole school assembly at 2.45pm on Friday, 28th March. At 3.30pm, there will also be a BBQ outside the gym. Families are welcome to join the BBQ, and all proceeds will go towards this great cause. To support Natalie, we ask students to bring a gold coin donation on Friday, 28th of March. In addition, families can access Natalie’s fundraiser via the link below, or QR code contained in the flyer below.

 

https://www.worldsgreatestshave.com/fundraisers/nataliegray