Principal Message
Dear parents and carers,
It is hard to believe that we are on the downward path to the end of the term. We have had a very topsy turvy term in terms of student absences being high due to Covid or a nasty Flu that is going around. We have had several staff members that have also been hit by this. This is not just in our school and is across the board in Victoria. So much so that regional staff have been asked to put their details down to go into schools as a last resort if we cannot find replacements. This is less so for us but small regional schools are being forced to shut when one or two staff go down. Our numbers were improving but this week, we have again seen a spike in absences as a result of illness. For families that are unwell, we hope you are feeling better soon and please contact the school if you need anything.
Having said that our absences are high, we had an unexpected turn out for our Open Night. I would like to thank all the families that attended for coming out and letting your child/ren share their learning experiences. The connection between family and home is one of the most important components of a child’s success in school. We had such a turn out that some people could not fit into the Bampi and I apologise again to those who watched behind the glass. The bi-fold doors have been an ongoing issue for the school that goes back before my time. However, the doors finally gave up working late last year and we have finally been able get the Victorian School Building Authority to grant contingency funds for us the repair them. I’m pleased to say they now open and close. We are also having the old portable demolished and removed from the grounds and the prep playground equipment will have Softfall laid in the next week or so. Our Shade Grant is also in the pipeline, and we will be constructing an outdoor learning space that is more compatible with the front area of the school.
Reconciliation Action Plan – Special Assembly/events
We have been working on the implementation of a Special Assembly for Monday 20th June to raise the 3 flags next to our Bampi in recognition of the cultural and historical importance of Indigenous culture in our society and in our school. The 3 new flagpoles were part of a 2020 Bendigo Bank Grant for the RAP and we also had the watertank mural done by Amanda Wright, as part of this grant.
The June 20th special assembly starts at 12:30pm and we invite all our parents and the broader community to attend. We have arranged for a Welcome to Country to take place as we raise the 3 flags and mark the commitment to our Reconciliation Action Plan across the school. Digeridoo Australia are coming to do an Assembly performance.
The process is implemented over a period of time and the teachers and I are very excited to begin working on the following RAP actions and deliverables. Below are just a few examples of what the school and the RAP Working Party will be doing in the near future:
- Working with the DET Koorie Education division to implement Yarn Circles as part of the social and emotional component of the curriculum and classroom culture.
- Provide students with opportunities to learn about reconciliation as a journey and ongoing component of our community, rather than just celebrating in isolation.
- Embed vocabulary and some dialogue into our daily classroom routines.
- Create a physical representation of the ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ in the school grounds.
The Rap is made up of volunteers who have really been very dedicated to helping create a RAP that is relevant, achievable and in partnership with the school. I thank them for their passionate commitment to helping to shape the culture and the future of our school.
Last week our School Captains, Sadie and Hunter delivered a very reflective and inspiring speech about what reconciliation means to them and for our school. I wanted to share this with you as we begin a conversation as a school community about how we can respectfully and genuinely embed inclusive practices in our daily classrooms and across the school
RECONCILIATION WEEK
This week is Reconciliation Week, and it is very important that we talk and understand what this truly means. The theme this year is Be Brave. Make Change. And we are wanting to be brave and be part of the change to make Australia a better place for everyone.
So, what is Reconciliation?
Reconciliation means to reconcile, repair & make better after something has been broken. It is about healing, truth, justice, forgiveness, understanding and love.
Supporting Reconciliation means working together with our community to understand and to overcome the division, or gap and inequality between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
Warrandyte Primary School’s Reconciliation Action Plan will be our school’s formal statement that we're actively supporting reconciliation and some of the things that have already taken place are the flagpoles so that we can raise the Australian, the Aboriginal & the Torres Strait Islander flags and the Aboriginal Acknowledgement plaque at the front gate – these things are important as it shows our school recognises the traditional owners of these lands and waters.
We also had Amanda Wright design and paint the water tank for us. Some of the smaller things we have done is putting some items on display in the office, getting some books together and also our Warrandyte Primary School RAP YouTube channel, which has some videos and songs.
Here in Warrandyte, we have some fantastic history that we already know about and should really celebrate:
The Yarra River is known as Birrung, which means the River of Mists. I’m pretty sure anyone that has walked along the river on a cold morning can understand why it is called this?
Next time when you’re walking under the bridge look for the stones that were placed there along with baskets to catch eels and fish for eating.
The origins of AFL came from the game Marngrook. This game was played at the last Corrobboree of the Kulin Nation in 1852 that was held here in Warrandyte, close to the Warrandyte Footy oval.
Songlines were the first paths that connected different areas. Birrung is a main songline and there was many songlines over the river, including one here at the end of the road where the police station is that connects to Research.
What we are hoping to achieve is to learn about, celebrate and understand the culture and teachings of our First Nations people. To get involved in making all Australians be accepted, valued and heard. In Australia we are fortunate to have one of the richest & oldest continuing cultures in the world. This is something that we should be proud of and celebrate.
Thank you for FOWPS
I would like to extend a big thank you to Linda Nolte and our families that contributed/helped out on Election Day on the BBQ. There was a great deal of work put into making it successful and we raised over $2400 for the day. That is an amazing effort and I thank you for taking time out from your families to raise much needed funds for our school.
Report timeline
The teachers have been writing the final components of the Semester 1 reports and we are about to undertake the editing and revising phase. The final reports will be made live for families to access on Tuesday 21st June at 4pm on Compass. We have returned to a full report format which will include information about where your child/ren are placed on the Victorian Curriculum Learning Continuum as well as an outline of the work that has been undertaken in your child/ren’s classes, including Specialists.
We will be running parent/teacher conferences in week 2 of term 3. This will give you all a chance to read the report. We have made the decision to not do the conferences at the end of this term due to so many staff absences and families who are unwell. If you are going away at the beginning term 3 or have pressing concerns for your child, your teacher will meet with you before the school holidays. Please contact them directly to arrange a time if this is the case.
Child safety and wellbeing at Warrandyte Primary School: information for families and the school community
On 31st July this year there will be full implementation of the mandated Child Safety policies and procedures that relate to the latest requirements set by the Victorian Government.
The Victorian Government has announced new Child Safe Standards to further strengthen child safety across organisations, including schools. The new standards recognise the critical importance of families and the broader school community in maintaining and promoting child safety and wellbeing.
Warrandyte Primary School has reviewed and updated our child safety policies and procedures to ensure they meet the requirements of the new standards. These are available to view on our school website and at the school office.
We are committed to continuous improvement in our approach to child safety and wellbeing and welcome feedback from families and members of our school community on ways we can further strengthen our child safety policies, procedures and practices. You can find our Child Safety documentation on our website (see link below).
Our Community | Warrandyte Primary School (warrandyteps.vic.edu.au)
If you have any questions, please contact me at nieta.manser@education.vic.gov.au
Warrandyte Primary School Choir
Today we have sent out an expression of interest for students who would like to join the Warrandyte Primary School Choir. Rehearsals will take place on Monday lunchtimes from Term 3. We will meet for 1/2 hour to allow students time to still go outside and run around. We have started with an expression of interest to determine where the demand is in the school to be a part of a choir and then we can make some decisions around the types of songs and complexity of arrangements.
You can find the link on the Compass message that went out to all families this afternoon. Or you can click on the link below. It’s important to note that students will be expected to attend the rehearsals that run through half a lunchtime and they are also expected to adhere to positive behaviour expectations to be able to participate.
So far we have had over 30 students sign up.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CDKMMNQ
Have great long weekend and stay warm.
Nieta