Principal  Message

Father's Day Breakfast

I would like to thank Katie for being inspired to run an online Father's Day Breakfast this morning and finding the energy to coordinate and MC the event.  She definitely seems to have a natural talent as a radio show host. 

We had our guest performer, Chris Cavill, come in and perform for us live.  Chris often works here at the school as a relief teacher and has quickly established a strong relationship with the students and staff here. Chris is also a singer and songwriter and we wanted him to perform for us today as his latest song release links directly with Father's Day. His latest song release, Lionheart, was inspired by events in his life and the relationship he had with this father who fought a 28 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. 

Especially beautiful was the song he and his little boy, Jesse, sang together. I know the sound was not great for people online, but from our perspective, physically watching it in the room, was very moving.  I would like to thank Chris for agreeing to perform and for sharing his story and the journey that led him to writing a song dedicated to his late father.

To listen to the Lionheart single visit chriscavillmusic.com or download for free on Spotify, Amazon and Apple Music.

We do have a few things coming up to help see us through the last couple of weeks of what has turned into a long term for you all.  Natasha has kindly put together a 'Guess who the Baby is?' challenge to see if you and your family can guess which baby picture belongs to which staff member.  There are some very obviously ones, but many that I can't work out.  A sneak peek of a couple of the photos is below.  Who do you think they might be?

WPS  - Our lives in Lock-down, 2021 

As a whole school we will also be publishing a book that records our students feelings and thoughts about 2021 lockdown. In the years to come we will reflect on this pandemic and as our students grow up they will come to see the lockdowns and remote learning as a very big part of their childhood.  We want to record those feelings and stories for us to keep in our library and look back on as part of the history of WPS. 

Each student is working through the writing process in their remote writing lessons to write a piece that will ultimately be published in a whole school text.  I've already read a few of the pieces that have come through to teachers, and I am so thrilled to see how passionate the students are about their writing now. As a Literacy Coach, I have a strong passion for students being given a chance to publish their writing. When we write for a purpose and for an audience we know will read our work, they think like authors and pour their hearts into the work.  I had hoped to run a Writer's Festival this year at school, so as an alternative I'm looking forward to reading each child's contribution to the book when it's done.  

Warrandyte Primary School's Got Talent Show - Thursday 16th September

In the last week of the term we will be running an online WPS Has Talent Show and we invite as many of our students as possible to participate.  Whether it be a magic trick, song, instrumental performance, comic act, dance or any other talent, we want to see it.  All your child/ren need to do is send their teacher a 1-2 minute video of their act to be included in the show.  I've received a couple of video's already and looking forward to seeing the talent our other students have.  It's Warrandyte, so there's got to be a huge amount of talent out there!

R U OK day?

Next Thursday is the national 'R U OK?' Day and we will be running our whole school assembly at midday on this day so we can explore as a school not only how we are feeling as individuals,  but how important it is to check in on the people in your lives to see if they are ok.  This week the national day for R U OK? is asking R U really OK?  This question is never more important to ask our family and friends than right now.  

I do hope you get a chance to get outside this weekend despite the rain.  Take care and look out for each other.  As always, please contact me if you need anything.

Nieta