Across Oliver's Desk

Dear Parents,

This has been the most amazing week!

STATE BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT FOR WOORI YALLOCK P.S.

The State Budget was announced last Tuesday. The Budget had more money for education then I can ever remember which is wonderful, but it had something special in it for our school community.  We now have 10.5 million reasons to smile, in the budget Woori Yallock Primary School is listed for a $10,500,000 building upgrade. That is truly the best news for our school ever. Our teachers make our school great, not bricks and mortar but it will be so good to have our old tired building upgraded.  

I do believe that our results, our good name, our increased enrolments and our school council has led us to get this amazing amount of money. A big well done to everyone.  I will keep you informed as more details are released to us on what will be rebuilt. 

2020

As I write this it is hard to believe that there are only 16 school days left this year!  I’m really proud of what we have achieved as a school this year considering the challenges but even more excited about what we are planning for 2021 with the extra resources we will have on hand.  We will be starting off the new school year with at least 64 Preps, last year we had around the same amount, these are our highest prep enrolment numbers for decades.  Cutting enrolments from outside our zone was not something I would have ever predicted four years ago. I’m not overly concerned with enrolments and how many we have, other than the fact that it is a huge endorsement for what we are doing here at WYPS. 

In 2021 School Council (separate to the budget announcement) has approved work for a brand new area out the back of the school where we will be putting some astro turf and picnic bench seats, which will complement our suburb grounds, brand new buildings and fantastic outlook over the river flats and mountains.  This work will be completed in January.

I don’t pretend that we are perfect, but one of our big strengths is that we are always striving to be the best school in Australia, maybe the world.  Not a bad goal if you ask me.

GRADUATION DINNER

Over the past number of years we have held our annual grade six graduation dinner at the beautiful Killara Winery, which has made the night a very special occasion. Unfortunately due to the pandemic that is not possible this year.  We are planning to hold the dinner at school in our hall, even with the easing of restrictions it is not possible to have parents at the dinner due to the rules around people per square metre.  This is really disappointing for the school as we have always maintained how important it is to have parents attend what is such a big milestone.  The parents and students will still be able to have their photo opportunity on the red carpet! We will also be streaming the speeches and awards live for parents to watch at home.  We are very proud of our current group of grade six students who have demonstrated an extraordinary amount of resilience this year to still lead the school beautifully. 

YARRA VALLEY SPEECH COMPETITION

You may be aware of our continued success in the inter-school competition due to the fact I made sure it was on our school sign. I must admit to being a little worried that this year might be the year we would hand the trophy to another school. I was worried because the format was different and it was a filmed speech that could be edited. However, I shouldn’t have worried at all because our finalists Will Plant-Buttle (sustainability), Olivia Hyndman (mental health), Layla Wotherspoon (depression) and Frankie Taylor (black lives matter) were incredible.  All the students could have won the competition with really well researched, worldly topics and terrific public speaking strategies.  Frankie was judged the winner for the second year in a row and Olivia was judged second.  We have won the competition seven years in a row which is a testament to all the teachers in our school that do such a terrific job teaching the art of public speaking at each year level. 

WEARING OF MASKS

Restrictions have thankfully eased with wearing masks outside, I do want to remind parents however, that the kiss and drop area is still a high traffic area, therefore we need to socially distance.  If that’s not possible then we still need to wear our masks. 

STAFFING FOR 2021

I did say in the last newsletter that I would be able to publish where teachers will be placed for next year. Unfortunately, we are not quite finished with staffing but I am publishing what we have finalised.

Prep A Libby Bemrose

Prep B Melissa Greig

Prep C Jess Howe (Team Leader)

Prep D Bonnie McKercher

1/2A Katie MacDonald

1/2B Amy Cleary (Team Leader)

1/2C Deeon Toogood

1/2D Rachael Cantwell

1/2E Sophie Young

3/4A Lisa Syme (Team Leader)

3/4B Ben Eaton 

3/4C Katherine Bolton

3/4D Sara-Jane Vaughan

5/6A Jess White (Team Leader)

5/6B Ash Shanks

5/6C Jess Wallace/?

5/6D Danielle Marnock

Art  -  Clive McArthur

Science  -  Fiona Eckhardt

P/E -  Ash Gibbons

German/Cooking  -  Sandy Walter

LLI (reading intervention)  -   Mary Menta

Teacher Coach  -  Rachel Ward

At this stage we will be welcoming two new staff members, Danielle Marnock and Ben Eaton to our school in 2021.   I will update you in the next newsletter with the name of the teacher that Jess Wallace will share with and the names of the teachers that will be employed as tutors in the school.

It’s busy time of year but as always, as a school and a community we are finishing strong!  What a brilliant week for our wonderful school.

Oliver Thockloth

Principal