Across Oliver's Desk 

Dear Parents,

STUDENT ATTITUDE TO SCHOOL SURVEY

Students in Year 4, 5 and 6 will be participating in the 2023 Student Attitudes to School Survey (AtoSS) this year. We value student voice as a means to improving student engagement, wellbeing and quality instruction and are conducting a survey to find out what your child thinks of their school. The AtoSS is an annual student survey offered by the Department of Education to assist schools to gain an understanding of students' perceptions and experience of school. Students will be asked about their thoughts and feelings in relation to their school, their learning, peer relationships, resilience, bullying, health and wellbeing, physical activity, and life in general. This year, the AtoSS will be conducted at Woori Yallock Primary School during Term 2. What are the benefits? Young people enjoy having a say! This survey has been running for nearly 20 years and is invaluable in helping schools understand student views to plan programs and activities to improve your child's schooling experience. At Woori we let the grade five students analyse the results so they can come up with ways we can improve the school. Once they have done that I will publish their findings in the newsletter. 

The survey responses also help the Department of Education understand how student’s learning experiences can be improved. The teachers and I conduct the survey with the children so that we have consistency in how it is delivered across our school. Please contact the school if you have any questions about this survey.

SPEECH COMPETITION

Students have been working hard in class to write persuasive pieces on a topic they are passionate about. Most of the topics are worldly and show how inquisitive our students are about the world they live in! Soon students will turn their persuasive writing piece into a speech.

The Speech Competition final for 3-6 students is on Thursday, 22nd June starting at 9:10am. The final is always extremely competitive and demonstrates that public speaking is clearly one of the strengths of the school. 

LOCAL HISTORY

Oliver’s humdrum history of the week!

Electricity was extended to Woori Yallock on 27th September, 1951, for 85 consumers in the Woori Yallock/Hoddles Creek area, which included 12 farms. In 1953, extensions were made, and in 1954 a sawmill and several residences in Allsops Road received electricity. Extensions were made to eight consumers in the Varley/School House Roads area in 1958, and further extension to Church and School House Roads in 1959. The school was connected to electricity in 1960. 

ATTENDANCE

Remember it is COOL TO BE AT SCHOOL. If students are unwell they unfortunately need to stay home. But every single day students are taught new concepts when they are at school. Therefore, please make sure your children are at school unless they are unwell. 

Also please remember to put their illness into Compass. 

REPLACING TEACHERS

We are having trouble gaining access to emergency teachers when teachers are away. I would like to let parents know that we do everything in our power to replace teachers if they are away. However, in our current climate that is not always possible. Therefore, sometimes we do have to split grades. 

Have a great week!

And remember when life gets a little difficult, escape to the wonderful world of a book!