Principal's Report

4th August 2023

Parent Opinion Survey

The Parent Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education that is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of families’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour, and student engagement. The survey is optional, but we encourage all families to participate. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies. 

The Parent / Caregiver / Guardian Opinion Survey will be open from Monday 7 August to Friday 8 September 2023. A link to the survey and how to access it will be sent via an email to parents on Monday 7 August. All families are invited to participate in the survey.

The survey will be conducted online, only takes 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the survey period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in English and 10 other languages including Arabic, Greek, Hakha Chin, Hindi, Japanese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

100 Days of Prep - 100 Days Brighter!

Earlier in the week we celebrated 100 days of prep and our students were encouraged to dress up in the theme "100 Days Brighter". Our preppies had a great day celebrating this important milestone of their schooling. Thanks to the prep teachers who organised the day, and parents who created some great t-shirts and outfits celebrating the 100 days brighter theme. 

Stefanie  PBC said " she loved making the 100 Gumball Craft"

Ade said "I enjoyed doing my short talk about my t shirt"

Aadvik PBC said "I liked making my 100 days crown"

Renee PBC said "I liked playing Race to 100"

Diya PBC  "liked doing the 100 sports activities, sit ups were hard!'

Parents' Association Reminder

The school council is looking to revive the WHPS Parents' Association (PA) after an extended break due to COVID and lockdowns. A new Parents' Association page has been created in the newsletter (the page after this one) where you will find information on what the PA is and how you can join. Information about the PA is also available on Compass. Please have a read through this page and consider joining. Thank you to school councillor Michael Wos for his work with restarting the association. 

Senior School Concert

A big thank you our Performing Arts teacher Dan Slater and all the other staff involved in running the senior school concert the other week. Well done to our students for their amazing performances. It was a great night to showcase the performing arts talents we have at school, and to have a large part of the school community all together at the same time. The juniors have just started rehearsing for their concert, which will be in Week 2 of Term 4. We look forward to another entertaining night!

Reminder - School Starting Time

A reminder that students at WHPS are expected be at school by 8:50am each morning.  

When the bell rings at 8:50am, students enter the classroom and perform daily tasks such as unpacking their schoolbag, changing their take home reader and preparing for the day. This ensures that they will be ready for learning to start at 9.00am. 

Students who arrive between 8:50am and 9:00am struggle to be ready on time for when learning starts, and this can have a significant impact on the running of the classroom. Being consistently late for school may have a negative impact on your child’s learning as they miss important instruction and may feel stressed or disorganised at the start of the day. 

Also, please note that if your child is late to school you must sign them in at the school office.  They should not come into the school late on their own.

A big thank you to all the families that consistently get their children to school on time, every day! 

Oval Update 

You may have noticed the oval looks just about finished, and it almost is! Unfortunately a small number of defects have been found in the asphalt and these are planned to be repaired early next. Once repaired, we hoping for an opening date late next week, just in time for the book week parade. 

Student Free Days - Term 3

Students are not required at school on these days in Term 3.

Monday 4th September - Teacher Planning Day for Term 4

Tuesday 12th September - HALF DAY ONLY - Students will be dismissed at 12:50pm for Parent / Teacher Interviews

OSHC will run a program on these days. Please enquire with the service if you need care on these dates.

Leave

I will be on leave from the 16th August and will be travelling around Europe for the rest of Term 3. Ms Richards will be the Acting Principal in my absence, supported by Mrs Spicer. 

Michael Ramsey

Principal