Thank you to all parents who attended our information sessions over the past couple of Monday nights, we understand families are busy, and there are some parents who were not available to attend. Teachers will be sharing a feedback link on Seesaw early next week – please take time to provide us with feedback so that we can continue to strengthen the way we work with you.

We hope that information our teachers shared provided clarity on the way we teach, learn and support at WEPS. It is important to acknowledge that we are working together and please know we refer to our roles as privileged positions, having your trust each day your child/children are in our care. During the information sessions teachers outlined;

the instructional model we use to teach our lessons from foundation to year 6
the way students learn and are supported in their learning community
behaviour support processes/wellbeing support
communication options
specialist subjects
special events specific to each learning community

Ann Dwyer (Assistant Principal), Ev Baulch (Learning Leader) and I also had the opportunity to say hello to everyone and outline whole school approaches to wellbeing and learning supports.

This week each learning community will upload their learning community newsletter with essential information for the term.

THRIVE@WEPS

Our school vision is the foundation of all our work with students and their families – ‘through a culture of nurture and inclusion and high quality teaching , all students can flourish as learners, and as proud members of their school, local and global community’. We are very proud of our school’s wellbeing approaches to support our students at Warrnambool East PS. We have selected the most impactful processes and programs that will provide our students with skills for life as they grow and experience different situations during their primary school life and beyond. These include the Principals of Nurture, Positive Education, Respectful Relationships and the Zones of regulation. Our aim is to immerse our students in learning skills and strategies to enhance positive mental health, promote healthy well-being and giving our students every opportunity to flourish. To encompass all our approaches to supporting student and family wellbeing, we have created the title THRIVE@WEPS. To thrive is to grow and develop strongly, and we felt this was the most suitable definition summarising the wellbeing approaches at WEPS.

WEPS Merit system

DET states Victorian Government Schools are expected to consider, explore and implement positive and non-punitive interventions to support student behaviour. Next week we are excited to launch the WEPS Merit system. The purpose is to increase appropriate behaviours and acknowledge students who consistently follow our school values – kindness, respect, inclusion and perseverance. We will use house colour tokens to acknowledge and encourage students following our school values and consistently making appropriate choices or even going out of their way to help their peers or teachers. The house colour tokens will contribute to the overall house score, individual children will also keep a tally of their tokens and receive a certificate of achievement for every 50 merits they receive. These will be presented at our monthly assemblies.

Behaviour Support Process

This week teachers shared the WEPS behaviour support process on Seesaw (and presented the plan at the information sessions). Reflections will now be referred to as ‘rethink’, strike will be referred to as a ‘reset reminder’ and an exit will be replaced with a ‘reset’.

What is a rethink?

A rethink is a rethink of behaviour when a student makes an inappropriate choice in the school yard (eg; swearing or physical towards another student). The students work through a restorative conversation and document their thinking. All rethinks will be sent home to parents via Compass. Teachers will make contact with you if there is a need to consider a behaviour support plan.

Parent payments

A reminder parent payments are due this term. Please contact the office if you would like to arrange a payment plan or require further information or visit the WEPS parent payment policy on our website.

Annual privacy reminder for our school community

Our school collects, uses, discloses and stores student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Schools’ Privacy Policy.

Please take time to read our school’s collection notice, found on our website. We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide on how we use Compass safely at the school and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns regarding your child using Compass, please contact the school. For more information about privacy, refer to Schools’ privacy policy: information for parents (education.vic.gov.au)

This information is also available in ten community languages:

Amharic
Arabic
Dari
Gujarati
Mandarin
Somali
Sudanese
Turkish
Urdu
Vietnamese

Car Park loop

Thank you to all parents for supporting safety at the car park look and helping us by ensuring your child only gets in the car when you are in position 1 or 2. If you are waiting in position 1 or 2 and your child has not yet arrived at the loop we will ask you to either park your car or proceed to do a lap to ensure a consistent flow of moving cars. Please refrain from parking in the no parking zones, as this also becomes a safety issue.

Messages to the office

If you have a message for you child, please contact the office before 2.30pm, as the office becomes a very busy place and the message may not reach your child in time.

School Council Ballot

As outlined in the previous LINK, we have 4 positions available on school council from March 2023 until March 2025. We are in an extremely fortunate position to have a number of parents show interest in supporting school governance with 10 parents nominating (2 withdrawals) now 8, hence more nominations than positions. Therefore, when the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, a ballot is required.

All nomination forms are available for inspection up to the commencement of voting upon request (personal information will not be shared or available) and shared only by the principal.

Nomination forms must be kept at the school by the principal for a period of 12 months from the date of the declaration of the poll and available for inspection by voters at reasonable times.

The ballot will open at 4pm on Monday 20th February and close at 4pm on Monday 27th February 2023.

Ballot papers (together with 2 envelopes) will be sent home to each primary parent/carer on Monday 20th February with information on how to ‘cast a vote’.

No campaign literature in support of candidates or groups of candidates may be distributed or posted in the school.

No school resources, human or material may be used to support particular candidates or groups of candidates.

A securely sealed ballot box will be used for casting of votes at the school between the hours of 8am and 4pm on every school day up to 4pm on Monday 27th February.

Lea Ross (Business Manager) will receive and register votes delivered to the school up until 4pm on Monday 27th February. Parents are welcome to deliver their envelope to the school, and place the blank envelope containing the ballot paper in the ballot box and print your name and address in the register of voters.

Please note –

Electronic or digital ballot papers cannot be used.
Ballot papers must not be uploaded onto the school website or distributed electronically.
Voters may only vote once in a ballot.
Each parent of a student/s enrolled at the school is entitled to vote in the council ballot – if you require an additional envelop, please collect from the school office.

Please see statement from candidates below.

Statements from candidates

Philip Dennis

I am excited to announce my candidacy for re-election to the WEPS School Council. My vision is to create a progressive, evidence-based learning environment that is inclusive and supportive, where every student can thrive.

I have previously shown my dedication to the role by;

Fostering a sense of community by successfully advocating for the installation of new flag poles that display, our 3 national flags at the front of the school.
Supporting academic success by using my experience as a secondary school teacher to advise Council on student needs transitioning to secondary education.
Encouraging student engagement by using my outdoor education background to lead Council in making difficult decisions around risk and camps.

I have a track record of being a dedicated and hardworking member of this community and look forward to earning your vote and working together to make WEPS continue to thrive in 2023.

Casey Gellert

Hello, my name is Casey Gellert. I’m now an East Warrnambool local, having moved to Warrnambool from Melbourne in late 2021. I’m married to a high school teacher and a mum of 4 kids – the older two are in year 3 and 5 at WEPS and the younger two will be prep classes 2024 and 2026. Having so many children go through the school, I have a keen interest in making WEPS the kind of school my kids (and the community) can thrive in. My experience at our first school in Melbourne means that I have a broader perspective to offer the school community, and I am keen to make more connection and contribute to the school in a meaningful way. I have thoroughly enjoyed volunteering in my children’s classrooms in the past, as well as participating as a parent member of the WEPS school council in 2022.

Lauren Molan

Hi my name is Lauren and my daughter is in Prep C this year. I am passionate about education and have loved being a part of the WEPS community so far this year. I'd love to lend any skills and time I have to help see this community flourish and to ensure that all of our kids have a positive experience at school and the resources they need to realise their potential. I have qualifications in Communications and have spent 10 years working as a producer and journalist in media. I have also held a number of volunteer positions with a particular passion for organising events and fundraisers. Having grown up with a mum who is a teacher, I have a great deal of respect for the teaching profession. Given this insight, I hope to best understand and represent the interests of parents and staff alike, to work as a team for our kids.

David Long

I am running for a parent member position on the WEPS council for 2023. I am the proud parent of two children who started their school journey at WEPS, one now in grade 3 and the other grade 5. I have loved watching them thrive in the nurturing and positive environment of our school which has fostered both academic and social skills for our children. My professional background is that of a specialist doctor, managing a private practice and head of the medical team at an AFL football club. I hope I can bring useful organisational and managerial skills to the role. I hope that by contributing to the school council I can support the work the of the teachers and staff and help the school continue to grow in a positive direction for my children and generations beyond.

Samantha Pereira

Two years ago I was asked to join the school council to help fill the parental positions, and given I'd been unable to volunteer much in the classroom, I thought it was a great, if not slightly daunting, idea.

Since then I've participated in almost all meetings, including the first few during lockdowns.

I've been an active member of the fund raising committee, and was so thrilled when last year saw us able to bring the community back into our school, helping us not only raise funds, but our spirits too.

Last year I was brave enough to put my hand up to be Vice President of the school council, and I was proud of all we accomplished together. (My sincerest thanks to our many volunteers... it takes a village to run a school!)

Now that I'm getting the hang of it... I hope you'll consider me for re-election.

Billy Gardner

My School Involvement:

Allesha and I have all three of our children currently enrolled at WEPS. We couldn't be happier with this school.

Current Employment:

I am self employed as a sole trader and direct our small carpentry business under the label 'G6 Industries'. Based in Warrnambool. (Note, this allows me to be very flexible with working hours).

cert 3 in building and construction.

cert 4 in building and construction. (an education in contract management)

Volunteer work : (Comes second nature to me).

- Variety of work related jobs for people and communities in need of assistance.

- Committee member - Deakin Sharks football netball club. (2010-2015).

- Committee member - Kennedys Creek Public Hall. (2020-current).

- Event organisation - Kennedys Creek Music Festival (management)

Volunteer work comes as second nature to me/us, and I simply want to help out more where I can.

I'm happy to raise my opinion, and to be an extra voice on the school council, especially while we have three in school it would be a great opportunity.

I don’t want to change things, but I may just have the odd great idea to get everybody thinking.

Statements from Abby Dunnel and John Rodda to be published.

The Fathering Project