Principal's Report

By Frank Catalano

Dear Members of the Glen Waverley Primary School Community,

I trust all is well with you and your family and welcome to this fortnight’s newsletter where so much is shared about our fabulous school. In fact, this is our penultimate newsletter for the 2021 school year – yes, where has the year gone?

As per usual, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me on 9802 9938 or via email at frank.catalano@education.vic.gov.au

Coronavirus Update

As mentioned in last week’s Compass Post, I cannot express how wonderful it is to be able to invite parents and extended family members to school events such as our school assemblies, the Prep Prom and the Year 6 Graduation. The entire staff and I not only look forward to the above events but also sharing the joy and celebrations with the children and their extended families.

As also indicated in the Compass Post, as we are a primary school setting the rules and expectations pertaining to us are a little different such as the wearing of face masks:

Will now only be required by staff, visitors and the Year 3 to 6 students in an indoor space within our school
The wearing of masks remains recommended for the Prep – Two children also in an indoor space
As mentioned previously, our school has purchased child-sized facemasks; however, we encourage families to organise their own as this may be a way of the children developing a deeper connection with their facemask
Naturally if a child or adult prefers to wear a face mask at all times, then this is also fine.

I also write to remind everyone of the following:

Social distancing – is to be maintained wherever possible
Sanitising – will continue every time the children leave and enter a classroom or specialist area
If your child is not feeling well please do not send them to school
If a parent or other family member is not well also refrain from coming to school
If this is the case, immediately complete a Covid test
Quarantining until the Covid test result is received and
Informing me if a child/family are quarantining and the test results immediately upon receiving them.

Once again, the easing of restrictions is certainly welcomed however it is also incredibly important that we do not take them for granted. I am hopeful that our school will not be impacted by a positive case, however the reality is that this is something that we cannot predict although there is so much, we can do to minimise the risk.

Thank you everyone for the manner in which you are supporting our school as we embark on this next ‘covid-challenge or phase’ and please ensure you follow the advice provided whilst keeping me informed of test results.

Warm Weather

As everyone would be aware, the weather is beginning to warm up hence we strongly encourage all of the students to ensure they bring a drink bottle to school, some sunscreen and naturally their sun smart school hat. A water bottle on the desk will enable the children to have a quick drink and alleviate the need to leave the room and interrupt learning time. If a child does not have a hat at school, they will be required to play under the stage area.

Congratulations and best wishes to Anuki, Sayu and Minuli

Throughout this week Anuki, Sayu and Minuli (all in Year 6) are attending the State Schools Victoria (SSV) Team Victoria cricket state development camp which is being held in Shepparton. The entire school community wishes the girls all the very best and look forward to hearing how they go! Well done and congratulations Anuki, Sayu and Minuli as we are all so proud of you!!

Thank you to the Gunasekara Family

Thank you to Nethmi (Year Prep) and her family for the kind donation of numerous books which will be used to support our classroom reading program.

Below is a photograph of Nethmi and the books – thank you Nethimi for thinking about our school!!

Prep Transition Program

On Tuesday we had the privilege of welcoming the other half of the Prep children who will be commencing school next year and it was fabulous to see how confident, delightful and very much ready for school they were! The children were also very excited to meet their teacher, meet other staff whilst also exploring their new school.

A sincere thank you to their parents for making the time to attend our school and the students in 6D for assisting.

Included are some photos of the children’s transition session!

2022 Student Leaders

As mentioned in last fortnight’s newsletter, there has certainly been a little more than usual “excitement and trepidation” in the air as the Year 5 children are currently undertaking the process of nominating for the various student leadership positions for the 2022 school year. May I take this opportunity to thank the children and also acknowledge the support provided by their families and to also to wish them all the very best of luck. We look forward to announcing the 2022 Student Leaders on Monday 6th December.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED A PRINCIPAL’S AWARD RECENTLY:

Prep B

Nethmi, Ritisha, Minza, Vidhi, Kisal, Kiyan, Senon, Shreyansh and Vinaiy for making amazing progress with their writing
Sandaru, Navesha, Tenuja, Marvika and Senoli also for making amazing progress with their writing
Karan and Yuvein for learning about division in maths
Marvika, Tarini and Tenuja for learning all about fractions

Prep D

Minadi, Oli, Arjun, Methuli and Calden for making the most amazing progress with their writing
Sineysha for working so hard on all areas of the curriculum and for making excellent progress

Prep E

Shivaan for drawing a very elaborate card for my office

Vihas for demonstrating his understanding of symmetry
Aadyah for continuing to make excellent progress with his learning, he wrote a great deal about chocolate
Ahmad for writing a wonderful piece about me
Yashen for being a very supportive friend
Vivaan and Dion T also for drawing a very elaborate card for my office
Dion T for his wonderful achievement at Jumon where he was awarded an Advanced students honour roll – well done and keep it up Dion!

Minaya, Krisha, Adrisha, Ngo Shun for working exceptionally hard on making a film about empathy
Akeesha for making exceptional progress with her writing skills
Aseli for drawing lots of intricate pictures

Jash for writing a terrific narrative about a crocodile that eats a large number of people, however as with all good stories, there is a happy ending when someone saves all of the people that were eaten

Arya for writing a beautiful card and foe completing really impressive home learning
Akira for being a very supportive friend

Neha and Aarini for learning all about chance, data and predictions through colour wheels

Imelda and Anaya for writing some very thoughtful and clever cards for my office

Chris for creating a very descriptive PowerPoint about volcanoes
Riyon for being a very supportive friend

Reyansh for writing a fabulous poem about lockdown as featured in the Kids Corner section of this newsletter

Amellia and Thinushi for developing a very comprehensive slide show all about language features in persuasive texts
Yuvraj and Nel for writing persuasive texts with lots of very emotive language

Liyansa for being a very supportive and trusting older sister

Wishing everyone a safe and happy fortnight,

Frank Catalano

Principal