Foundation & One

A warm welcome to Foundation and Grade One students and families. Welcome also to Larry-the-puppet, who has been teaching us "Whole Body Listening". A number of our activities so far have involved learning a bit about each other. We have discovered what pets we have, what food we like and don't like, and our favourite colours. We have also found out that Mrs Tanya has a very naughty cat! Foundation children have been reading some big books titled , 'Greedy Cat'. Grade One children work with Mrs Prevos during this Literacy block .

Children will be bringing home a timetable that lets you know the days when the different subjects are on, but you can also access this schedule on Compass.

Grade One students are looking forward to borrowing books from the Library on Wednesday and Foundation children on Friday. We are also looking forward to the Swimming Sports.

2023 is up and running; it's going to be a great year!

School Nursing Program - Department of Education

Important Information for Foundation Parents and Guardians

Your child has been given an envelope containing a questionnaire to take home regarding their health and development. Please return the completed questionnaire to the school no later than 17 February.

Mrs Chalmers, Classroom Teacher

Years 1 & 2

A big welcome back! We hope you had a great holiday and are ready for some fun and learning.

This term we are looking at Dinosaurs in Inquiry. We will be learning about how their teeth and bodies evolved to help them survive.

If you have any dinosaur items you are welcome to bring them to school (best to name them.)

In Maths we will be looking at Place Value and learning about hundreds, tens and ones.

Please make sure your child reads every night (or morning) and sign their diary. Regular reading and discussing what happens in the book really gives your child a huge advantage.

The class timetable will go out this week.

We have had a smooth start to the year but if you have any queries or issues please reach out.

Mrs McKenzie and Ms Martin, Classroom Teachers

Year 3

We are all so excited about returning to school and getting to know each other. We have been focusing on new procedures and what goes on generally in the classroom. The students have been a great help at teaching Mrs T how to use new technology. We need to remember to practise our spelling words and to read every night. We are looking forward to the Swimming Sports on February 17th. Don't forget to fill in the Dental Forms that were sent home today.

Thanks for such a warm welcome Wedderburn College.

Mrs Torney, Classroom Teacher

Year 4

A big welcome back for the school year from our Year 4 class community! It has been amazing to see how enthusiastic the students have been to be back at school as we begin our learning journey together.

This week we have started our exploration into our Inquiry unit on understanding how the Earth’s surface changes over time, appreciating the beauty of our planet we call home and the importance of protecting it.

It’s been a busy time in Year 4 already, where we have been learning some new Mathematics games – continuing to develop fluency in multiplication facts and understanding of place value.

Students are asked to read every night at home and practice their SMART Spelling words.

We look forward to what this term and year has to bring and we are excited to share our adventures, discoveries, thoughts and wonderings with the Wedderburn College community!

Miss Anderson, Classroom Teacher

Year 5/6 A

Welcome to 5/6A! We are super excited to be back and ready to begin the school year. There were lots of smiling faces and questions for Miss Douglas to answer as we got to know each other on Thursday and Friday.

Our focus behaviours for the next two weeks are Responsibility and Resilience, with a big emphasis in Grade 5/6 on Respectful Listening. We are having discussions about treating others how we would like to be treated and we are working hard to ensure we are listening when others are speaking.

We have been working closely as a unit with 5/6B and Monday’s activity of 3D shapes was a big hit with everyone. We worked in pairs or small groups to build 3D shapes using toothpicks and marshmallows and identified the corners, faces and vertices. A few marshmallows went missing, never to been seen again!

We have started work in our Writers’ Notebook where we use a prompt each morning to get our ideas flowing before getting stuck into our main writing session. Smart spelling has also returned, along with our usual favourites of PE, Music, Art and Digital. Miss Douglas gave us our first homework task for the year where we had to find items from home to represent us. More work on that to come in class.

It has been fantastic to see a high attendance rate this early into the term and we are looking forward to continuing this throughout the year, along with the adventures and discoveries to come!

Miss Douglas, Classroom Teacher

Year 5/6 B

Grade 5/6B have started the year with lots of excitement! Students enjoyed some fun team building maths activities with a sweet reward if they could build a paper triangle tower that could balance a chocolate bar.

Reminder to students that their library day is Friday.

Mrs Turnbull and Mrs Postle, Classroom Teachers

Year 7

And just like that, the first week of being a secondary student is over!

Despite some ‘teething’ issues and some stress about materials required for some classes, the Year 7s had a fantastic first week.

Each student has been provided with a timetable for their locker and diaries, as well as a list of materials required for each class. The secondary teachers are being very understanding for the first couple of weeks of Term but very soon they will be expecting the Year 7s to come to all classes prepared, and will begin writing chronicles for those students who are not. One item all teachers are now expecting to see all students with, is a College hat for recess, lunch and HPE. Term 1 and Term 4 are considered ‘hat terms’.

Students are encouraged to have their own laptop, however for now, we have some access to students’ previous Chrome Books. The Chrome Books are not to leave the school grounds and are on a strict ‘sign in/out’ system based in the Year 7 Homeroom.

Parents received login details for Compass in their enrolment packs. Compass is our online school manager and our main form of communication. Please contact the College if you did not receive your login details or need them re-issued.

Last week students received their 2023 Secondary School Vaccine Program forms. These forms need to be returned to the school as soon as possible, regardless if students are participating in the program or not. Further information can be accessed through the newsletter, Compass or speaking directly with Janice Deocampo (School Nurse).

Every Tuesday 2b, the College conducts Huddle (extended Homeroom). This week’s Huddle session will focus on appropriate behaviours around Yindi (The College Wellbeing Dog), as well as having a selected SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support) focus.

The College Swimming Carnival will provide the Year 7s with their first opportunity to work together as a team. Year 7 students are reminded to; ‘Show Up’, ‘Dress Up’ and ‘Participate’, with two free lunches up for grabs if the cohort can meet the following requirements:

If the Year 7s have 100% attendance and everybody is dressed in house colours
If the Year 7s have 100% attendance, everybody dressed in house colours and 100% participation (every student goes in a least one event).

The College has two houses Ansett (blue) and Jacka (yellow), and Year 7 Homeroom teachers Ms Graham and Mr Fowles, are in opposing houses – so let the ‘friendly’ rivalry begin!

Ms Graham and Mr Fowles are the primary contact for Year 7 parents this year, however if an issue is more subject related, we may direct you to the subject teacher.

We look forward to communicating regularly with the parents of Year 7 students throughout the year.

Miss Graham and Mr Fowles, Year 7 Homeroom Teachers

Year 8

The Year 8 Team (Mr Monaco, Mr Pettifer, Miss Moody) were so pleased to welcome our new Year 8 class back to school at the start of term. Most students seemed to be excited to reconnect with classmates and share holiday stories about what they had been up to. Well over half the class have 100% attendance so far which is fantastic, a great start to the year and something we want to see continue as the term progresses. A few students have signed up for the upcoming triathlon, as well as to play basketball after school. It would be lovely to see all our Year 8 students participating as fully as they can in school life. With that in mind, we are aiming for 100% attendance and 100% participation at the Swimming Carnival on Friday the 17th of Feb so that Mr Lockhart will have to buy us all free lunches. Well done on a very positive start, Year 8!

Miss Moody, Mr Pettifer and Mr Monaco, Year 8 Homeroom Teachers

Year 9

Welcome back all! It has been fantastic to see everyone back and we have welcomed three new students to our year level.

This year, our three Homeroom teachers – Emma Milne, Emily Van De Wetering and Sophia Herrington. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us.

A big thank you to those students who have all submitted their USI’s. There is still a couple that are yet to do so, please get those in ASAP. Please remember to send these through to Ms Milne.

Hopetoun Camp

The first week back, our Year 9’s had their Hopetoun Camp in the Mallee. The group arrived in Hopetoun to a stunning day with conditions perfect for water activities. On Wednesday, the group participated in canoeing on Lake Lascelles. This was a great event as the students navigated around the lake in double canoes, playing some games along the way. Back at the boat ramp the students enjoyed cooling off in the water with some choosing to give each other mud masks. After canoeing, we gathered ourselves and headed off to the local swimming pool. The water slide, water bombing, underwater photography and water polo were great fun. After a few hours in the pool, we were ready to head back to camp for showers, tea and a movie night (Vertical Limit) on the big screen in the lawn area. Sweets was definitely a highlight having banana sundaes.

Day 2 began with a cooked breakfast to build strength for what was to come at the Pine Plains, Wyperfield National Park at the Snow Drift stop. The students tried to slide down the sand dunes on cardboard and soon discovered that rolling or running was much more fun. They played group games, discussed the natural surroundings and generally had a wonderful morning of activities. On the way back to camp we stopped to view the Silo Art at Patchewollock. We had lunch, then gathered to work on the MY9 workbooks and played some games in the hall area.

On our final day, we did a self guided tour around Hopetoun. Unfortunately the weather was conducive to the planned activities at Sea Lake, so we stopped for a quick lunch and headed back to Wedderburn.

It was a fantastic way to begin the MY9 program and Duke of Ed, and we look forward to a positive 2023.

Year 10

Year 10 has enjoyed a fantastic start to 2023. Our first week back was focused and energetic, with many positives reported by students and staff alike. Those students undertaking a VCE subject were excited to get cracking and seem well-prepared for the work that senior studies require. All students, but particularly the athletes in the class, enthusiastically signed up for events in the upcoming swimming carnival. Attendance and effort were highlights of our return to school in 2023.

Mrs Barker, Mr Iser and Mr Merritt, Year 10 Homeroom Teachers

Year 11 & 12 VCE Camp

Our Year 11 and 12 students are currently away on camp. Thanks to our teaching staff Mrs Woodman, Mr Gretgrix and Mr Pettifer, School Nurse Janice Deocampo and Education Support Macey Jaques for accompanying them for the week. We look forward to hearing about their adventures.

PE News

Swimming Sports: A reminder to all students that we have our Whole School Swimming Sports coming up very soon; Friday 17th February. Held at the Wedderburn Swimming Pool. It will be a fun carnival with a BBQ lunch available and annual Jacka Vs Ansett Shield up for grabs. All students are encouraged to support their house by coming in either yellow or blue clothing. Even if you don’t enjoy swimming, there will be plenty of novelty events to get involved in and there may even be some teachers to race against! Parents, Guardians, Caregivers and Families are invited to attend.

SPORTS CAPTAINS & SWIMMING SPORT SIGN UP

A big congratulations to Dylan Caruana and Chelsea Cunningham on becoming the Ansett House Captains and Conrad Sugden, Maikia Punguika and Shelby Giorlando on becoming Jacka House Captains for 2023. We look forward to seeing you all flourish under this leadership.

For those who were not present during our Sports Captain Speeches and Swimming Sport Sign up, please see Mr P, Miss Milne or speak with your Homeroom teacher regarding signing up to events. There is still plenty of time.

Triathlon: The NCD Triathlon is fast approaching also. Held in Boort on Thursday 9th March, the event features teams of three or individual races. If you enjoy running, riding or swimming, signup sheets can be found in the breezeway near Mr Lockhart’s office. Last year we took a team of very enthusiastic participants. It would be great to see if Wedderburn College could take an even bigger team this year to represent us proudly. If you have any questions, see Mr P. Please note that this is only available for Year 7 -12 students.

Mr P’s Secondary PE Student of the Week: This will be announced through each College newsletter. It will not necessarily be awarded to a student that is the most talented, athletic or coordinated. It will go to a person who constantly displays the expected behaviours in the PE classroom. This week’s award goes to Jaimee Sheahan. Jaimee has shown terrific resilience to overcome injuries sustained last year. Giving every practical activity a great effort and entering each and every class with an extremely positive behaviour. Well done, Jaimee! For your terrific start in PE, you have won a free lunch courtesy of Mr P at the College Cafe. Please see Mr P (when he returns from VCE Camp) to collect your prize.

Miss M’s Primary PE Student of the Fortnight is: Lucas George. Lucas always displays our school values in our classes. When discussing how to display our expected behaviours, Lucas came up with some fantastic responses. Lucas always tries his best and is a great leader within the Year 1/2 class. Well done, Lucas, on such a great start to the year. Please see Miss Milne for your prize.

Special mention to the Year 3 and Year 4 class for all students having their drink bottles and the Year 1/2 class who had a stellar lesson on a Friday afternoon.

Mr Pettifer and Miss Milne, PE Teachers

Compass

Don't wait for the end of semester to view your child's progress. Log in to Compass and view teacher feedback and feed forward at any time by checking out your child's Learning Tasks. Children also receive regular (every 5 weeks) progress reports on their Organisation, Behaviour, Attitude to Learning and Work Completion. Learning Tasks and Reports can be found on you child's profile page.

Library News