A Message from Vassie 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wurundjeri, Woi Wurrung and Boonwurrung Peoples of the Kulin Nation and pay our respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. Aboriginal people have a deep and continuous connection to the place now called Victoria. Aboriginal people have lived in the Maribyrnong River valley for over 40,000 years.

End of Term One

Congratulations to all students, teachers and parents on a successful first term for the 2024 school year. We are very proud of the independence, resilience and responsibility that our students have demonstrated in settling into their new classrooms, building relationships with students and teachers, and focusing on their learning and wellbeing. 

We also acknowledge our Prep students for their very first term of school, and in transitioning to being full time students. We understand that this is a special time for parents also, in seeing your child/ren grow and develop into the next stage of their lives, and we acknowledge your partnership. 

Happy Easter

As this is our final fortnightly newsletter for the term, we wish all Wembley PS families a restful, safe and enjoyable Easter break with your little bunnies, celebrating doing what you love with those you love the most. 

Last Day of Term One - Thursday 28 March 

Thursday 28 March is the final day of Term One. 

EASTER BONNET PARADE 9:00am - We will be having an Easter Bonnet Parade on the last day of school from 9:00am-9:30am on the soccer pitch. Families are invited to attend and join in the fun. Students are invited to make or purchase an 'Easter inspired' hat to wear, as they parade with their class. You may wish to google 'Easter bonnets' for inspiration!

ASSEMBLY 2:00pm - We will hold an assembly outside in the school yard at 2:00pm and students will be dismissed at 2:30pm. The Easter hamper raffles will be drawn at this assembly. 

Lunch Break and Canteen Open 

A recess and lunch break will be scheduled on the final day of term, therefore students will require lunch as per normal. The canteen will be open on this day for lunch orders, should you require this service.

The Out of School Hours Care Program 

Their Care will be operating from 2.30pm on this day, and they also have a holiday program planned. The contact number for booking Theircare is via Jacqueline on 0460 315 055, email wembley@theircare.com.au.

First day of Term Two - Monday 15 April at 8:55am

Monday 15 April is the first day of Term Two.

HARMONY WEEK

This week is Harmony Week, and the theme for this year is 'Everyone Belongs'. read more about Harmony Week here.

'Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds'.

Students will be engaging in discussions, readings and activities around inclusiveness, respect and creating a sense of belonging for everyone. They will have the opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate our diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We would like to acknowledge and celebrate Harmony Day as a whole school this week, on Thursday 21 March.  

We invite everyone to wear a 'touch of orange' on this day!

'Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect'.

Gold Coin Donation - Our student leaders and whole school events committee have asked if we can invite students to bring in a gold coin donation to be donated to a charity - Inclusive Australia which aligns with the purpose of Harmony Day: https://www.inclusiveaustralia.com.au/about-us#:%7E:text=About%20Inclusive%20Australia&text=Inclusive%20Australia%20has%20a%20clear,and%20form%20connections%20with%20others

Please don't panic if Kmart is out of orange t-shirts, socks, zinc, hair spray and/or hair accessories. For any students that don't have anything orange, teachers will be able to provide students with orange paper wristbands.  

Thank you and we are looking forward to a wonderful week of celebrating the diversity in our community, and reinforcing our value of inclusion and that 'everyone belongs'.

Centre of Multicultural Youth - Anti-racism

The Executive Leadership Team have been working in partnership and engaged in training with the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) to devise an action plan regarding anti-racism, since 2023. This will result in lessons and community communication to ensure that everyones protected traits are respected and celebrated. Watch this space.  

Wembley Parent's Association (WPA) - Easter Raffle and 2024 Calendar of events

I'd like to thank Sam Rovis, Shelley Botterill and Linh Krygger from the WPA for their efforts in organising the Easter Raffle. Thank you to the families that have already kindly contributed to the raffle. 

Also thanking Lisa Filippin and Kelly Dean for their support in arranging the WPA 2024 calendar of events, and seeking input into future events. 

Please visit the WPA tab of the newsletter for more information. 

International Women's Day - Friday 8 March

Friday 8 March was International Women’s Day and this year’s theme was Inspire Inclusion. We acknowledged this day at Wembley PS in a variety of ways. All year levels have lessons and activities themed around IWD24 so students will have the opportunity to learn about, discuss, draw and write about the incredible achievements, discoveries and the ways in which brilliant women have changed and improved our world. 

Wishing all women in our community a very Happy International Women's Day. 

See the newsletter reflection below written by ruth Branthwaite, who coordinated our efforts for IWD this year. 

International Women’s Day 2024

Friday 8th March was International Women’s Day 2024. 

It was a day to inspire everyone to understand and value the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. 

Our students were encouraged to learn about and acknowledge the incredible women who have made such great contributions globally as well as in our own community. 

Some classes read books about famous women, others engaged in discussion and some of our Preppies even made cards for their teachers. 

Our Year Six students wrote about the women they were inspired by and Louisa 6A and Basqui 6C shared their writing at Friday’s Assembly. To access all of the Year Six students’ writing from IWD2024, please use the link provided. 

https://wembleyps.padlet.org/averyfrancis4/international-women-s-day-e6kbnp62xrxgew5e 

See some IWD snapshots from 3A (Anna's class) below. Well done to Michael, Leo, Hayley, Luna, Talia and Zali for sharing these reflections with me. 

Capital Building Works

We are making great progress in our Capital Building Works Project. 

Structural steel, walls and roofing works are occurring onsite. 

The projected stage 1 handover date is 29 July, and we are tracking well towards this date. Following this date, we will move into the new building and then the demolition of the existing building will take place, making way for a landscape design and more play space for our students. The estimated project completion is October 4. 

Watch this space for some community fundraising to assist with furnishing the new building!

Teacher Data Days - Professional Practice Days

Professional Practice Days (PPDs) are an element of the Victorian Government Schools Agreement. PPD days entitle teachers to be released from their scheduled duties, including teaching, to focus on the improved delivery of high quality teaching and learning. Each teacher will have one professional practice day per term, pro rata. 

At Wembley PS, our collaborative teaching teams will have their term one PPD days through the next three weeks, collaborating around student learning data and setting SMART goals. 

On assigned PPD days, you may notice that your child’s teacher is at school, however they are not teaching the class on that day. Teachers have been replaced with casual replacement teachers (CRTs) on their PPD day. Teachers will inform students of their scheduled PPD.

Annual Privacy Reminder For Our School Community

Our school collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy and the Schools’ Privacy Collection Notice.

Our Photographing, Filming and Recording Students Policy, describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Google Workspace for Education safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Google Workspace for Education, please contact the school. For more information about privacy, refer to: Schools’ Privacy Policy — information for parents. 

Office News

Voluntary Parent Payments, Permission Notes Reminder &  WJBC Fundraiser

Voluntary Parent Payments

Information has been distributed to all families in relation to Voluntary Parent Payments, which are now live on the Sentral Parent Portal.

Payments can also still be made via the Sentral parent portal (preferred), at the Office for EFT, and/or via Bank Transfer.

When activities or charges are created you will receive a notification from Sentral to action. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the office on 

03 9314 7054.

Permission Notes Reminder

We ask that parents return permission notes at their earliest convenience as this assists teachers with beginning processes and programs within and beyond their classrooms. 

• Code of Conduct
• Digital Acceptable Use Agreement
• Local Walks 
• Photo Permission
• Copyright Permission (Artworks)

Wembley Parents Basketball Club - Fundraiser

Our gym has also been resurfaced, and is polished to perfection, with thanks to the Wembley Junior Basketball Club.

This month the Grill’d Yarraville Local Matters program has a jar for the Wembley Junior Basketball Club!

The club has the opportunity to raise some funds to help cover the cost of the recent hall floor resurfacing and upgrade.

We’d love for our WPS community to support the cause and help the club whilst eating burgers!

2024 Term Dates 

In order to assist parents with planning for holidays the following are the school term dates for this year. Parents are asked to be mindful of the term dates when booking family holidays.

Term 1: 29 January to 28 March

Term 2: 15 April to 28 June 

Term 3: 15 July to 20 September 

Term 4: 7 October to 20 December

Student Newsletter acknowledgements

We LOVE to hear about student achievements outside of school. If there are any acknowledgements that parents/students wish to share with us and can be celebrated with our wider community, we ask that you email us at wembley.ps@education.vic.gov.au with the student/s name/s, a summary of the acknowledgement and any photos that you would be comfortable sharing and we will aim to include it in our fortnightly WPS newsletter.