From the Principal, Diana Ellis
Remembrance Day
This week our school commemorated Remembrance Day with two of our School Captains (Sophie and Georgia) attending the service at the RSL and Sophie doing an outstanding job of reading a poignant passage. At school, our school leaders Lilian and Sam organised and delivered a service over the PA system that included reading the ode and broadcasting the last post and Advance Australia Fair. Over the last week our student leaders have been selling products from the RSL to raise funds. Along with this the RSL provided 400 poppies to be allocated to our students. I recommended that each student tie their poppies to the front fence of the school as a symbolic gesture of our respect.
School Captain Interviews
A week ago, 22 of our aspiring students presented speeches to all of the year 4/5/6 cohort expressing their wish to be School Captain and outlining ways they would like to work to support continuous improvements at our school.
Over the last two days, Mrs. Graham, myself and this years’ School Captains have interviewed each applicant. We have heard a range of ideas that students believe they could initiate or improve including: greater student voice, strategies for improved sustainability, greater equity and inclusion, fundraising to support more resources such as a prep playground, more drinking taps, etc
It was also very pleasing to see the level of pride students have in our school and their desire to be role models to their peers, to promote and represent our school, to build their leadership skills and confidence in public speaking and decision making. Although the decision will be particularly hard, we look forward to announcing our School Captains for 2020. I congratulate all of the students who have stepped out of their comfort zone and have recognised the important role of School Captains and have applied to be a leader at WPS.
School sign
Maybe over the last week you have noticed a new addition to the front of our school – yes our new school sign. The sign was paid for and constructed three years ago at Macedon Ranges Signs where it has been in storage waiting for our Capital Works project to be completed. We will use the sign as another way of communicating events and celebrations to our school community.
Carlsruhe Fair
With only a few weeks until our Carlsruhe Fair there is a level of anticipation starting to build. This week a hand made sign with natural products adorned our front fence along with lots of bunting. Behind the scenes I have had the pleasure of working with a committed, hard working team of around 14 parents. The amount of time these people have volunteered towards the organisation of this event has been overwhelming. I would also like to thank the many people in our school and local community that have supported the fair through sponsorship and donations of cash or goods.
Tabloid Sports
As communicated in previous newsletters our whole school tabloid sports day will be happening on November 20th. Ms Mann and Mrs Connell are currently working on all of the logistics behind the scenes. On the day students will bring their normal lunch/lunch orders and we will have a whole school picnic on the oval (weather permitting). Parents are invited to bring along a picnic and join in with our home group classes.
Curriculum Day
At the beginning of the 2020 school year the whole staff will be participating in a curriculum day. This means students will start school one day later than usual with the beginning date for all students being Thursday 30th January 2020.
Car Parking survey results
Recently parents were asked to complete a survey about parking around our school. DAVE Keenan, one of our parents has spent a huge amount of time behind the scenes collating the results which we have added below. Again, we appreciate the time that people took to provide us with valuable information which will be taken to the shire.