Principal  Message

 

Hello to all our families,

We have some announcements for 2024...

It is that time of year again when we approach the pointy end of the planning process for 2024 at WPS.  Below you will find some information about the decision that have been made so far in relation to classes for 2024. Not all decisions have been made yet and we are basing the information below on the current number of enrolments we anticipate for 2024. I want you to know as much as you can about the decisions we make that impact your child/ren. 

Several considerations are made when forming class structures and class placement. Staff begins by examining the options available based on the predicted enrolment numbers for each level next year and develops class structure scenarios which are then costed. When planning, we must also consider the academic needs and emotional needs of individuals as well as the overall needs of each cohort. The variation of this can be incredibly wide.

When presenting the class structures to School Council, budgetary constraints and the numbers at each level are vital considerations.  The School Council does not decide on class placement or structures, but they do oversee the indicative budget based on the predicted enrolments and the expected expenditure for next year. 

Once again, we have gained more enrolments over the year and with 39 preps coming next year and only 20 outgoing Grade 6’s we predict that we will be back over the 200 students mark at approximately 204. We are very excited to have such a large number of incoming Preps and the bottom line on our budgets are looking much healthier. Each year a school is funded with a dollar amount per student, and we are required to work within those limitations. Anytime we don’t we incur a deficit which must be repaid the following year. 

You will see from the numbers below that some of our level’s numbers are not conducive with being able to simply offer straight splits.  The staff and I have had to work hard to come up with a configuration that will support the lowest possible class numbers within the budget. 

To account for the varying groups in this structure teachers have decided that planning will happen vertically across Grade 1 - 6. This will ensure we provide consistency in the teaching programs for each class and consider the varying academic needs. Whether your child is in a composite or not the teachers know there is up to 5 years difference in the level of abilities in a classroom. Planning vertically will support a differentiated program and ensure the teachers are planning for opportunities to learn across classes and provide social opportunities beyond the classroom too.

2024 Staffing announcements

We have a few announcements to make regarding teachers for 2024. The following teachers will sadly not be returning in 2024. 

• Katie Penhalluriack: Katie has taken 12 months leave without pay to pursue a new career challenge as the Deputy Head of Teaching and Learning at Kingswood College F-12. Katie has been a part of WPS for 14 years and both she and the staff are very sad to say goodbye to each other.  She will be greatly missed as a teacher, colleague and leader of our school. She has played a very important role in the implementation of our Literacy and Numeracy program over the last few years and I have been fortunate to work alongside her since arriving here. We wish her the best in her new role, and I am sure she will shine there too. Katie will remain an important part of our community as a parent to her 3 children who will all be attending WPS next year.
• Ersie-Marie Kakris: Ersie has made the decision to travel in 2024 with her partner and we are also very sad to see her leave. In her short time here, she has established herself as a kind, hardworking, professional teacher and colleague. We wish her the best in her travels as she explores the globe.
• Nicole McInerney: Nikki has decided that it is time for her to begin a new chapter in her life and will be moving on from WPS in 2024. Nikki has been an energetic and passionate contributor to our school, both in and out of the classroom. She has built some very close bonds with her students and staff over the last 3 years. She has been a part of our community through a very difficult time in her life and she wants to let the community know how grateful she is for the support and kindness she was given in her time of grief. Nikki will also be missed, and we wish her the very best as she seeks new opportunities.

We have been recruiting over the last few weeks and we are pleased to announce the 3 available teaching roles have been filled. Next year we welcome the following staff;

• Claire Lambert as a classroom teacher: Claire has been our tutor for the last 2 years and has been able to use her strong knowledge of how to use the science of reading and the Victorian Curriculum to support students through their learning journey. She is a highly valued member of our team, and we look forward to having her working in the classrooms.
• Meg Steed as a classroom teacher – Meg will be coming across from Mitcham Primary School, which is a high performing school that runs a Montessori and mainstream program. Meg comes with a Masters in Inquiry Learning and will be a valuable asset to our school. She lives locally and is looking forward to joining the WPS community.
• Samuel Crigan as a classroom teacher – Sam comes from Noble Park Language School and has worked as a mentor to other schools in the area of differentiation and Literacy instruction.  

I know we are losing some wonderful teachers at the end of the year, but I am sure you will join me in welcoming our new teachers. We will arrange for them to be available to meet their new class on the final ‘Meet the Teacher’ transition session on December 15th at 12:30pm.

Please note that teachers and ES staff have not been allocated at this point, except to say, that if a teacher has been in a year level in Grade 1- 6 for more than 2 years, they will be moved so as to provide greater variety in the teachers your child has. We are still finalising teacher placements, but we will let you know once this has happened.

Parent Requests

You will receive an email shortly that will have the parent request form for 2024. I am pleased that the number of requests we get is less each year as we try to be open and transparent with the decisions being made in the space of transition. We do not accept request for teachers, and we cannot guarantee all requests will be met as there are so many factors to consider. As a small school, we naturally have less options. 

Your child will also complete a Buddy Hand which gives them a chance to write down 5 peers that they think they would work well with next year. Students are guaranteed at least 1 person from that list. If you are putting a request forward, please complete the form that will be attached to the Compass post by the 17th of November and send through to me directly. If you have already sent me an email with requests, you do not need to complete the form. Please know that we do our utmost best to try and please our students when choosing classes. The list takes many attempts to get right, and we do literally spend hours on it collectively. We do not use a computer program to determine classes as we believe the 'human' factor when deciding is a crucial element of the process at WPS.

Transition

We have also put together a transition schedule of dates for the 3 sessions to take place for all of next year's Grades 1 - 5 students. Transition sessions into a new classroom play a crucial role in a child's overall wellbeing. It provides them with a sense of stability, security, and familiarity in an unfamiliar environment.  It also fosters social and emotional development, as they are exposed to new friendships opportunities and varying social dynamics. For some of our student's additional transition might be appropriate. If you have concerns, please see your classroom teacher to discuss further. Ultimately, we want our students to head into their summer holidays feeling excited about the following year's class.

Bogan Bingo

Finally, I would like to thank Terri Fernando and the FOWPS team for a great evening of laughs and fun on Saturday night. The Bogan Bingo was a great way to let our hair down and everyone got into the 'bogan' spirit on the night (perhaps a little too easily). There were some very convincing outfits. A lot of work went into the evening, and I was reminded of why WPS is such a unique community. Our families are always willing to have some fun and unite to support their local school.  Terri has done a fantastic job this year as the FOWPS President and is already making enquiries about what she can do at the Carol's. Amazing!

Auctioned Carpark!

As part of the auction on Saturday night, a carpark at the top of the hill, outside the main entrance was auctioned off. The winning family were the McKellar's, who now have carpark rights to that space at drop off and pick up times. We will arrange for a sign to remind everyone to leave that space free, but Cherise has put a temporary sign up for now. The carpark auction has been a longstanding tradition at WPS, but this is the first time since before Covid-19 that we have have had the opportunity to auction it off.

Before School Care reminder

Don't forget that our Before School Care Program is re-opening this coming Monday. Breakfast Club has now closed but Katrina will be at Our Patch, Monday to Friday from 7am if you require care before school. 

I hope you have a great weekend and for those families who are going away, have a fun and safe trip. A reminder that the school is open the Monday before Cup Day, but the following Monday will be a non-pupil day.

Take care,

Nieta