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.

Welcome to our first fortnightly newsletter of the 2024 school year

In my Principal's Message today, you’ll find information regarding:

• Welcome Back Message
• 2024 Term Dates and Student Free Days
• Meet and Greet Parent Teacher Meeting Information
• 2024 Staffing Update
• Road Safety
• Wellbeing at Wembley
• 2024 Student Captains
• Office News: School Council Election, Voluntary Parent Payments,  Permission notes reminder, Wembley Junior Basketball Club-Fundraiser, and Breakfast Club.
• Capital Works Building Update-Concrete Pour Friday 9-Monday 12 February
• Student Acknowledgement

Welcome Back

Congratulations to all Wembley PS community members on a wonderful start to the 2024 school year.  A warm welcome to all families that are new to Wembley Primary School. It has been a very positive start to the school year and the students have quickly settled into their engaging learning environments. We would like to thank all staff members for their remarkable efforts in building relationships and in supporting students, and parents, in a smooth transition back to school. 

A special acknowledgement to our Prep students and their families on the beginning of their primary schooling journey. We understand that this is a big milestone for the whole family, and we are very proud of our prep students for their curiosity, resilience and independence! 

I would also like to thank our Executive Leadership team, Katie McClue (Assistant Principal), Melanie Irons (Prep-Year 2 Assistant Principal), Renee Johnson (Year 3-6 Assistant Principal), Adriana Jankulovski (Year 3-6 Learning Specialist) and Phoebe Moore (Prep-Year 2 Learning Specialist), together with our wider leadership, teaching and ES team for their diligence, focus and support in collaborating during the the student free days, and ensuring all processes are in place to ensure all community members have a strong and supportive start to the year.

Seeing and hearing the students learn and play across the school is music to our ears, and we are confident that it will be a great year of achieving our mission of empowering all students to learn at high levels, to become successful, independent, lifelong learners.

*please note that we have consolidated our newsletter for this week and have included all updates in my Principal's Message, reducing the newsletter tabs. 

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

2024 Student Free Days (Curriculum Days) 

Each year schools receive four student free days (when student instruction does not occur) for professional development, school planning and administration, curriculum development and student assessment and reporting. We used the first two days on Monday 29, and Tuesday 30 January. 

School Council has approved the following two remaining student free days for 2024:

See below for the 2024 Student Free Days approved by the School Council.

• Wednesday 28 February
• Wednesday 24 July

We would like to share with you the reason that we hold our Student Free Days on Wednesdays is because all staff members (full and part time) are in, thus maximising the professional learning and collaboration opportunities.  Students do not attend school on these days. School Council has set these dates well in advance to enable you to make appropriate arrangements for childcare. 

TheirCare will be operating on these days should you require childcare. The contact number for bookings for Theircare is 0460 315 055, and email contact is  wembley@theircare.com.au

Meet and Greet - 14 and 15 February - Bookings are open!

A reminder about our Meet and Greet Parent and teacher Meetings being held next week. Please see Katie McClue's email containing further information. 

HOW TO BOOK

You will be able to book your interview time/s via the Sentral parent portal. Bookings will open at 09:30am on Wednesday 7 February and will close at 3:00pm on Monday 12 February. When the booking window opens, please login to the Sentral parent portal: https://wembleyps.sentral.com.au/portal2/#!/login and click the 'Interview' option and follow the prompts.

If you have more than one child for which to secure an interview for, we recommend leaving at least 1 interview slot between each booking, in order to ensure that you can transition between appointments in a timely manner.

Specialist and Intervention teachers will also be available for appointments until 4:45pm on both afternoons, and an interview may be requested with these teachers via email at wembley.ps@education.vic.gov.au. Bookings with these staff members however are not compulsory.

If you have any difficulties booking an appointment, please contact the office between 9.00am and 4.00pm on wembley.ps@education.vic.gov.au or on 9314 7054, to assist you.

2024 Staffing Update 

We are proud to share our 2024 staffing list with you. 

Whilst this was shared in our final newsletter of 2023 we thought it was worth sharing once again for the benefit of our prep families, and any parents who may not have had the opportunity to read the update in the busyness of December. 

Farewell, and congratulations to the following leaders:

• Joel Magnabosco - who was successful in picking up a role as Leader of Data and Learning at Queen of Peace PS. I'd like to thank Joel for his contribution to Wembley PS for 13 years, as a teacher, facilitator (team leader), Learning Specialist and Acting Assistant Principal -Prep-Year Two. Joel’s leadership, impact and calm demeanour has had an impact on the learning of all students, staff members and parents that he has supported. Joel will be sorely missed. 
• Lindsey Delooze - who was successful in picking up a promotional role as Assistant Principal at Warringa Park Special School. I’d like to acknowledge Lindsey for her impact on the learning, health and wellbeing of our students, staff members and parents, as she’s worked as a Leading Teacher-Wellbeing, and Acting Assistant Principal-Disability Inclusion since 2021. Lindsey’s heart and work ethic will be missed. 
• Tom Penberthy - who was successful in picking up the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader role at Dinjerra PS. I’d like to acknowledge Tom for his significant contribution to Wembley PS for the past 7 years, as a teacher, facilitator (team leader), and Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader. Tom’s legacy is far reaching and his passion, dedication and moral purpose is unwavering. Tom will be missed by all.

Congratulations to:

• Renee Johnson-Renee has worked at Wembley PS as a teacher, facilitator and Learning Specialist for a number of years, and we are proud to share that Renee has been promoted to the role of Assistant Principal 3-6. I have no doubt that Renee will continue to lead and serve our Wembley PS community with great integrity, intellect and heart.
• Loredana Walker-Loredana has been a parent, first aid officer and receptionist at Wembley PS for many years. We are proud to share that Loredana has been promoted to the role of Office Manager, (considering that Marg Webb has transitioned to retirement), and will continue to work closely with Mandy (Business Manager), Kathy (Receptionist/First Aid Officer), and Kristen Kosowski (ICT Tech). 
• Kelly Edwards-Kelly has been our school counsellor, throughout term four and comes to us with years of experience working at Headspace, Eating Disorders Victoria and as a teacher. Kelly is stepping into the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leadership Role. 
• We have advertised a Disability Inclusion Leading Teacher role, to replace Lindsey's role and will advise our community when the role has been filled. 

Welcome back to:

• Kim Cleghorn and Nathan Welsh who are returning from a year of long service leave, as they’ve travelled this year, and supported us in doing (Casual Replacement Teacher) CRT work throughout the 2023 school year.

We would like to welcome four new staff members to the Wembley PS family. 

Welcome and congratulations to:

• Phoebe Moore to Wembley PS who will fill the role of as a Prep-Year 2 Learning Specialist. Phoebe comes to us from Footscray North PS, where she has worked for 10 years in teaching and senior leadership roles. Phoebe will be supporting all staff across prep to year 2, with instructional coaching. 
• Alexander Wignall, who comes to us from Balwyn PS, as a classroom teacher. 
• Dennis Mazzella who comes to us from Truganina P-9 college, and who has filled Spanish and Italian Language roles in the past. 
• Gus Carty-Cowling who comes to us from Melton PS where he has filled the role of PE teacher and Specialist team leader (facilitator).

2024 Staffing Structure 

It is with great pride that I share the 2024 Wembley PS Staffing Structure with you. 

2024 School Map

Road Safety

This is a reminder to all Wembley Primary School community members about the importance of road safety. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation required during this challenging time of Westgate Tunnel works, Capital Building works and road closures which affect our immediate community. Wembley Avenue and Fogarty Avenue are currently heavily used as detours for accessing suburbs on either side of the bridge, causing traffic congestion. 

We have had a number of neighbours that have reported to us that parents are parking either in their driveways or across their driveways and leaving the vehicle, restricting residents from entering and exiting their properties. We ask that people are mindful of our local residents, and parking legally, or in neighbouring streets and walk around to the Wembley PS, to drop off/collect your child safely. 

We remind you about the importance of road safety and observing road rules, as we have witnessed drivers parking cars on footpaths, close to pedestrians, in high traffic areas. Please drive safely, and exercise tolerance and patience.

If you are able to commute by walking, or parking on the other side of the walk bridge, and then walking to school, this may alleviate some of the traffic congestion.

We ask children that ride their bikes or scooters to school, to 'walk' their bikes around the perimeter of the school to ensure that all children and adults are safe and that no one is hurt by children riding at high speeds. We ask all parents to have a conversation with their child/ren about the importance of safety.

We thank you in anticipation around all community members working together to ensure our collective safety and wellbeing.

We continue to have contact with the council and the West Gate Tunnel team to work through safer processes, to enable safer travel to and from school, and ease traffic flow. 

Wellbeing at Wembley

This week we began our term's focus on our value of empathy. Each fortnight we will focus on a different behaviour. This fortnight's behaviour focus is 'be considerate'. A number of students at Wembley have helped to make a video showing how to be considerate and show empathy. 

2024 Year 6 School Captains

We would like to proudly congratulate our newly appointed, 2024 student leadership team and captains:

School captains: Zoe Mackey, Adella Courtney, Tess Steer, Kip Lear

School vice captains: Sadie O'Connor, Lana Bebic, Amelia Hua, Lucas Anderson

House captains

Cruickshank: Leah Nguyen, Jensen Morpeth

Kulin: Niamh Kelly, Hamish McIntyre

Westgate: Zoe Paice, Kevin Nguyen

McIvor: Charlotte Allen, Amelie Tinkler

Specialist captains

Art: Milla Nguyen, Max Champion

Music: Jude Prendergast-Withy, Louisa Smith

PE: Aleksija Stajic, Bailey Piper

Language: Panel to be held in 2024

Cross curricular captains

ICT captains: Brodie Leigh, Max Green

Peer mediator captain: Damon Theofilas

Wellbeing captains: Holly McGlade, Willow Sturrock

Wellbeing ambassadors: Zoe Scott, Kaiden Toomey-Brown

Sustainability and Environmental captains: Marley Martinez, Rose Gibson, Macy Hudson

Renee Johnson (3-6 Assistant Principal) and I met with our School and Vice Captains last week, and discussed the year ahead and immediate responsibilities regarding facilitating assemblies. 

Office News

School Council Election, Voluntary Parent Payments, Permission Notes Reminder &  WJBC Fundraiser

School Council Election

Wembley Primary School has a School Council of twelve members - eight parent members and four DE members.

Parent members whose tenure ends in 2024 (in alphabetical order) are:

• Helen Harris
• Rebecca Holder
• Lachlan McCallum
• Alice Taylor
• Beck Thomas 

School Council Election Process and Timeline

Notice of Election and call for nominations open at 9.00 am- Monday 12 February 2024

Closing of Nominations Monday 19 February 2024 at 4.00 pm

Posting of list of candidates and nominators Wednesday 21 February 2024

If number of candidates exceeds the number of vacancies. The number of candidates exceeds the number of vacancies and as such we are moving to an election. 

Ballot papers to be distributed Tuesday 27 February 2024

Close of ballot Tuesday 5 March 2024 at 4.00 pm

Vote count Tuesday 5 March 2024

Declaration of poll Tuesday 5 March 2024

We have called for nominations for DE employees within the school also. 

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, and Photo Permission

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!

Breakfast Club - Starting next week! 

Breakfast Club is returning next week and will run on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings in the Eating Area. 

We work in partnership with Foodbank to deliver Breakfast Club to 100% of our community members. It gives any and all students a fresh start to the day, enables them to have a first, second or third breakfast, and brings our school community together in the morning. 

If any parents would like to volunteer in assisting the setup, serving and pack up of Breakfast Club please email Phoebe and Adriana on wembley.ps@education.vic.gov.au

We would like to thank Adriana and Phoebe (Learning Specialists), our student, staff member and parent volunteers who assist us in delivering this service to our community. There's nothing better than walking into school and smelling toast!

Capital Building Works - Level 1 Concrete Pour

From Friday 9-Tuesday 13 February, the level 1 concrete slab will be poured. We ask families to park in neighbouring streets and walk to school as there will be concrete trucks banked up on Hawkhurst St, cycling through Wembley Avenue. See the VSBA letter (below the newsletter) that is being sent to residents.

As you may have seen, there has been quite a significant amount of progress towards the completion of our project. Over the summer break, the sewer and stormwater works were completed, and more steel has been erected. The wood panels have been removed from the Block A building windows. Part of our outdoor basketball court, eating area and soccer pitch steps were absorbed into the construction zone over the holidays, and has been reinstated. 

Our students and teachers will have an opportunity to continue demonstrating our school value of resilience, as we continue to work together over the next 12 months during the completion of our Capital Works Building Project.In late Term 3, 2024, we will move into our new state of the art learning facility. The Wembley PS Capital Works Project stages can be found on the VSBA

website: https://www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/wembley-primary-school

VSBA LETTER TO RESIDENTS

Dear resident,

As you may be aware, in the 2021–22 State Budget the Victorian Government invested $10.219 million in Wembley Primary School to upgrade and modernise the school’s main building. 

Traffic management will now take place along Wembley Avenue and Hawkhurst Street between 7am – 5pm during the window of Friday 09/02/2024 and Tuesday 13/02/2024 to allow for a concrete pour to take place. 

Note:

• The pour will occur over one (1) day during this window.
• The pour will not occur on the weekend

Trucks will be travelling to and from the school and may be parked on the street during the day.

You will still be able to access your properties and travel along Wembley Avenue and Hawkhurst Streets, but you may experience some delays.

We ask that you allow additional travel time on this day.

More informationIf you have any questions about the works at Wembley Primary School, you can phone us on  1800 896 950, email vsba@education.vic.gov.au or visit our website: https://www.schoolbuildings.vic.gov.au/wembley-primary-school. 

We appreciate your cooperation and patience during this project. 

Kind regards,

Victorian School Building Authority

Student Acknowledgement!

A number of Wembley students represented Westgate Basketball at the Eltham-Dandenong Junior Basketball Tournament, which is one of the longest running and largest basketball tournaments in the world (with over 15,000 players this year). 

Congratulations to the following students whose teams were Premiers - Sadie O'Connor for the 12.1 Girls and Zoe Paice, Zoe Mackey and Romy Pearson for the 12.2 Girls.

Special congratulations to Zoe Paice, who was awarded MVP for her team in the Grand Final!

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.