A Word from the Principal

A Warm Welcome to our Weeden Heights Community

WINTER IS HERE!  Well, the cold weather has hit with a vengeance. We have been so blessed over the last few weeks with the most glorious weather for the end of Autumn, but as Winter approaches we will be needing to remind the students to wear their winter uniform and layers.  Remember the classrooms are warm but currently have doors open to assist with ventilation during the Covid period. Warm clothes for when they go outside would be handy. 

Thank you for your patience on Monday after school.  We had our first wet day pick up so there was a sea of umbrellas.  We go there in the end but I do appreciate your patience.

Working With Children Checks 

A friendly reminder that all parent helpers (in the classroom, kitchen/garden program and those who attend excursions/camps as a parent helper) are required to obtain a volunteer Working with Children Check Card.   Please email (just during this time) the school office a copy of your card as proof and you will be added to the Working With Children Register.  A huge thank-you to the parents who have already presented the school with their WWCC or updated WWCC. 

It is very easy to apply so please apply via the following link:

http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/home/applications/   

If you require any support to do this then please contact the office.

We are very much hoping our parents will be allowed back on site soon.  I will let you know as soon as I know. 

Reports and Student Led Conferences

Just a reminder that student reports will be emailed home on Friday in the last week of school.  Please ensure that you have your current and up to date email address with the office if it has changed recently.  The reports are sent to both email addresses that have been provided to the school but I know several of these email addresses, usually contact B, bounced back to the school.  Please phone Cindy in the office if your details have changed.

Teachers are currently writing reports with the information that they have. Reports will look more streamlined this semester as directed by the Department of Education and will also reference the unique remote learning experience.  A more comprehensive and detailed report will follow in December and I will send home to you a note next week about the semester 1 report format.

Each year we have student led conferences that promotes a conversation around student learning backed up with evidence in the student learning portfolio. This conversation involves parents, students and the classroom teacher.  These are conducted early in term 3 after you have had the opportunity to go through your children’s reports.  This year these meetings will go ahead using video conferencing so you will be able to take 15 minutes while at home with your child to meet with the classroom teacher.  We will use our regular booking process (Interviews on Line) to do this then send you an invite for a  Google Meet through your child’s Google Classroom.  We will send home a detailed instruction sheet next term so you can follow a step by step process to book in for the student led conference. 

Tours and enrolments for 2021

Unfortunately I cannot conduct school tours at the moment so I continue to ask you to speak to parents at your preschools and child care centres to ‘spread the word’ that we are taking enrolments.  Please encourage your friends and neighbours to return their enrolment forms for the 2021 Foundation year students to our office asap. 

Bright Beginnings Transition Program

Our highly successful Bright Beginnings transition program will commence next Friday on 19 June.  The future students are going to meet Mrs Michalski on a video conference and participate with some songs, stories and activities.  This will be interesting and our school will also send out some activities for the future students to complete.  We hope this will allow them to get a sense of our school even though they are not allowed to come on site at the moment.  Fingers crossed they might be able to next term.

Don’t forget that it is a public holiday on Monday.  However, we can’t wait for Tuesday to have our whole school back together.  Come on 3/4, 5/6A and 5/6M……time to get your uniforms out!  We have missed you! 

Until next time……

Ms Kylie Campbell

Principal

Futures are Bright at Weeden Heights!