A Word from the Principal

A Warm Welcome to our Weeden Heights Community

A warm welcome to our community

We hope that you all had a great day on Cup Day and took advantage of the curriculum day on Monday thus potentially creating a long weekend for your family.  Our staff were busy at school working together to analyse student assessments for developing learning goals, moderating tasks and being briefed on the expectations of the final student reports.  It was an extremely productive day and most beneficial for everyone. 

We are very busy at school at the moment writing school reports, writing goals and targets for the Annual Implementation Plan and student and staff planning for 2021.  Thank-you to the families that did let me know about their arrangements for next year.  It was greatly appreciated and allows for no surprises which potentially could negatively impact on our school.   

Re opening parts of the school’s operations

We are also incredibly busy working out a virtual graduation ceremony and how transitions will be conducted across the school.  This week we received news that the year 6 students will be able to go on transition visits to their new schools in small groups, much like the preschools attending primary school.  This is sensational news for everyone as we want our year 6 students to settle into their new setting.

We are currently organising our ‘Christmas Concert’.  This will be presented virtually as we are unable to let parents on the school grounds. The event will also include our academic and community awards and we will also announce the new Year 6 leadership team for 2021.

The Department of Education has also announced that schools can now conduct excursions.  Great news for our year 6 students as they will be able to attend their celebration excursion as a part of their graduation.  They won’t get to miss this one!

Camps are also fine to go ahead this term but for Weeden Heights, our bookings are gone and with only 5 weeks to go, it is not possible.  All parents have been refunded their deposits as well.  However, we can reconsider our prep breakfast and Year 1 late stay which is a part of our camping program.

It is really nice that things are slowly opening up at school! 

It’s time to wear our Summer Uniform..... reminder

Students may now wear their summer uniform as our weather is beginning to change.  Unfortunately I am starting to see a few unapproved changes to our Weeden Heights PS uniform.  Please remember that students are expected to wear the approved polo t shirt with the specialised banding and the school logo.  This has been made especially for our school and we should not see plain pale blue polo shirts.

Also please remember that leggings are not to be worn under our summer girl’s school dress. The only jewellery worn at school is a watch and plain stud or sleeper earrings.  Long hair needs to be tied back and any hair attachments (hair ties, clips – no large bows) need to be in school colours which are blue, maroon or white. 

If you have any questions then I am happy to provide you with a copy of the school’s uniform policy developed by School Council in consultation with the community.  As a reminder, the following uniform is expected to be worn:

Appendix A

PLEASE NOTE: it will be NAVY shorts and tracks from 2021.  It is ok to wear blue on the bottom now if you are purchasing larger sizes.  There is a blue skort available as well. Several students are already wearing the skort and it looks amazing!

Also, check out our new addition to the uniform on the last page of the newsletter.  We now have a winter beanie and a rain jacket.  Perfect!

Please look out for the second hand uniform shop that operates from school and they may be able to assist you in supplying some of the summer uniform. 

Remembrance Day

I hope everyone enjoyed our student led Remembrance Day service on Wednesday that was uploaded to Facebook.  The captains did a fabulous job and there was absolutely no way we would have let the current restrictions prevent our acknowledgement of the heroic people who served their countries and gave themselves to the war effort so that we could live in our amazing country, Australia. 

Acknowledging these days, really does put everything into perspective.  We have made a small sacrifice during the Covid restrictions.  We cannot forget our past and I am very proud that Weeden Heights honours these very important days. 

Bright Beginnings Transition and Student Handovers

Prep transition occurred onsite two weeks ago and the next session is this Friday.  Due to Covid restrictions, students have attended in small groups with one parent.  We have had a total of 10 visitors to our school site and they had restricted travel to one room during this time which had to be thoroughly cleaned before our students were allowed back in the room.

The kinder students were fabulous and were very excited at having the chance to see our school and interact with the other pre-schoolers who they had seen on a Webex transition sessions.  It is much nicer to see everyone in person!

The students are settling at the school and have an up-coming information night (via a Webex) to prepare them for their start in 2021. Our Year 4’s will be allocated their buddies and we are guided by DET’s restrictions about student interactions.  We are really hoping that they will be able to meet face to face however, this may occur next year.

All students across the whole school will go through a transition process as they move into their 2021 grades.  The sessions will run at school on 10 and 14 December.  Students will meet over several sessions with their new class and potentially their new teacher.  New students joining us next year will hopefully be able to join us as part of the transition. It is important for them to make a connection with one/some of our students. 

Please be re assured that teachers participate in a hand over process so that new class teachers will be prepared and will be able to challenge students along with the information you provide at the 2021 ‘getting to know you’ interviews at the beginning of the year. 

On a final note….

I really would like to thank you all for your ongoing patience with the current restrictions.  Drop offs/pick-ups are going well and most parents are social distancing. Please remember to contact your classroom teachers if you have any concerns.  Thank you all also for your ongoing support to the students, teachers and school.  We do appreciate all of your efforts and thoughts. 

Ms Kylie Campbell

Principal

Futures are Bright at Weeden Heights!