Dear Parents/Carers,

WELCOME BACK

Welcome back to a very exciting school year at Warrnambool Primary School.

It was great to see all the students arriving at school on Thursday eager to meet up with their friends and to settle into their new classrooms.

We extend this welcome to new and existing students and families. Our priority is to ensure every child has a great day every day.

Student, staff and whole school wellbeing is a priority not just for Warrnambool Primary School but also at State level. Please contact the school if you need assistance for any reason and we will do our best to provide as much support as we can.

WELCOME PICNIC AND WHOLE SCHOOL STOMP CONCERT

We are holding a welcome back picnic next Thursday 8th February 2024 from 5pm on the school oval. You are invited to bring your own dinner to share with your family.

We are also holding a ‘STOMP’ concert which the students will be practicing for in the first week back. We look forward to seeing as many families as possible there.

SCHOOL WEBSITE - NEW AND IMPROVED

If you haven't already seen we have a new and improved website which has recently been updated with our new school colours and logo. There is a lot of helpful and useful information including school policies, enrolment information, upcoming events and lots more. Please take a look when you have a chance.

Well done to Skye Nichols, Pil Kim and Marcus Bell for liaising with Top Notch IT in presenting an excellent completed product. In particular, Skye put in a lot of work behind the scenes.

STAFFING

We are very fortunate to welcome several new staff to Warrnambool Primary School (WPS) this year.

David Tomkins who has been teaching at Coleraine Primary School for the past two years will be in Year 4. Edward Hargreaves is familiar to us at WPS through his relief work in 2023 but he is an experienced teacher with statewide and international experience and will be in Year 5. Julie Versteegh is also an experienced teacher from South Australia and is also teaching Year 5. We wish David, Edward and Julie all the very best at Warrnambool Primary School.

We welcome Jane McMeel (Year 3 Teacher), Lauren Hoy (Admin), and Sharyn Fary (Business Manager) back to Warrnambool Primary School. It is great to have them return to work with us.

SCHOOL COUNCIL 2024

The role of School Council is to provide strong leadership and ensure good governance in Government Schools. We have a very strong School Council at Warrnambool Primary School who work together to ensure the best outcomes for our school.

There may be parent vacancies for the 2024/2025 school years. If you are interested in putting your name forward please contact me and I will arrange a nomination form. If we have more nominees than positions we will hold an election as per the Department of Education policy.

It is a great opportunity for parents to be involved in the school.

ASSEMBLIES

Assemblies will continue take place on Monday mornings in the school gym. If you are able to attend we would love to see you there. Assemblies will commence just after 9am and will be completed in approximately 30min.

The first official assembly will be on Monday 12th February 2024 to allow for the ‘STOMP’ practise next week. At this assembly our Year 6 Leaders will be presented with their badges.

Please take a look at this time lapse by Steph Hann of our first assembly today. As you can see our students are very orderly when entering the gym.

JAMIESON STREET HANDICAPPED SPACE

Please note that the handicapped space in Jamieson Street must remain free during pick up and drop off. We do have families with children who require access to this parking space at these times. Warrnambool City Council contacted the school during 2023 also requesting that we keep this space vacant. I appreciate your co-operation with this important matter.

STUDENT SUPERVISION BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL - YARD DUTY POLICY

A reminder that the school grounds are not supervised before 8.45am in the morning and after 3.40pm in the afternoon. TheirCare operates from 7am in the mornings and straight after school. They operate out of the school gym and can be contacted on 1300 072 410 to arrange bookings. Please refer to the letter attached to this newsletter and the Yard Duty policy on the school website.

SOUTH WEST DIVISION SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Notes have been sent home with those students who maybe eligible to compete in the South West Division Swimming Championships.

Taking place on Thursday 29th February 2024 Aquazone, Warrnambool, students who are the fastest swimmers who can swim within the qualifying times in each event get to represent the school.

If your child wishes to participate, please fill in the swimming entry form sent home or by contacting Mrs Owen. This form must include swimming times that have been verified by a swimming coach or instructor over a distance of 50 metres and returned to the office by Wednesday 14th February.

Mrs Owen will then let your child know if they have been selected. Please note that the Regional Championships (for students who proceed beyond the Division Championships) will be held on Friday 22nd March at Horsham Memorial Swimming Pool.

Parents are responsible for transport and supervision of their child/children at both of the Championships.

If you are able to assist with official duties on the day please let Mrs Owen know.

ATHLETICS SPORTS DAY PREPARATION

Students have already been practicing ready for our whole school athletics sports day on Friday 7th March.

Have a great weekend!

Peter Lee

Principal

Student Birthdays