A Warm Welcome to our Weeden Heights Community

A warm welcome to our community

We hope that you all had a great day on Cup Day and took advantage of the curriculum day on Monday thus potentially creating a long weekend for your family! Our staff were busy at school working together to analyse student assessments for developing learning goals, moderating tasks and being briefed on the expectations of the final student reports. It was an extremely productive day and most beneficial for everyone.

We are very busy at school at the moment writing school reports and with staff planning for 2023. Thank-you to the families that did let me know about their arrangements for next year. It was greatly appreciated and allows for no surprises which potentially could negatively impact on our school.

Annual Implementation Plan (AIP)

This week co-ordintors began meeting with leadership to assist in the construction of the AIP for 2023. We have taken the opportunity to review school data (which is impressive!) and set goals and targets for the 2023 AIP. 2023 is actually the final year in the current Strategic Plan and next year, the school will go through a school review (conducted every 4 years). This process will support the direction of the school in the near future.

I would like to thank Mrs Arya (Learning Specialist), Mrs Michalski (Mathematics Co-ordinator) and Mrs Nancarrow (Wellbeing Co-ordinator) for their support in reviewing the current AIP with me. We have set some aspiring goals for our school and students to meet next year! Thank you team.

It’s time to wear our Summer Uniform..... reminder

Students may now wear their summer uniform as our weather is beginning to change. Unfortunately I am starting to see a few unapproved changes to our Weeden Heights PS uniform. Please remember that students are expected to wear the approved polo t shirt with the specialised banding and the school logo. This has been made especially for our school and we should not see plain pale blue polo shirts.

Also please remember that leggings are not to be worn under our summer girl’s school dress. The only jewellery worn at school is a watch and plain stud or sleeper earrings. Long hair needs to be tied back and any hair attachments (hair ties, clips – no large bows) need to be in school colours which are blue, maroon or white.

If you have any questions then I am happy to provide you with a copy of the school’s uniform policy developed by School Council in consultation with the community. As a reminder, the following uniform is expected to be worn:

Appendix A

Uniform	Boys	Girls
Shoes	Enclosed black shoes or white runners.
Rugby Jumper	Maroon poly/cotton with school logo & striped trim or grade 6 approved jumper.
Bomber Jacket	Maroon poly/cotton with school logo & striped trim or grade 6 approved jacket.
Sleeveless Vest	Navy blue sleeveless fleece vest with embroidered school logo.
Summer	Sky blue polo shirt with school logo & striped trim. Blue shorts or pants (worn with white socks).	Check poly/cotton dress in school colours (worn with white socks). or Sky blue polo shirt with school logo & striped trim. Blue skort or shorts (worn with white socks).
Hats	Maroon wide brimmed style with school logo.
House T-shirt	Yellow, Blue, Green or Red t-shirt with school logo (as per allocated house).
School Bag	Dark Blue with school logo.

Please look out for the second hand uniform shop that operates from school and they may be able to assist you in supplying some of the summer uniform.

Year 6 Movie Night

A big thank you to all of those families who supported our year 6 students for their graduation fundraising event last Friday. It was great to have so many attend the movie night and it was wonderful that we are now holding these events again on site! I believe the ‘Minions’ were a huge hit! I would like to thank Mrs Alter, Miss Walls and Mrs Michalski for setting up and supervising the event. Fantastic!

Remembrance Day

Today our Year 6 student leaders will conduct an early Remembrance Day Assembly. It is a day early due to the WESA Round Robin which is being held on Friday for Years 4 - 6. The school will still have a minutes silence on Friday.

Our assembly/service acknowledges the heroic people who served their countries and gave themselves to the war effort so that we could live in our amazing country, Australia. We cannot forget our past and I am very proud that Weeden Heights honours these very important days.

Bright Beginnings Transition and Student Handovers

We had another terrific transition session on Tuesday with all of the kinder students. They are starting to find their way around the school and they are meeting all of the staff along the way.

The students are settling at the school and have their final session on 22 November to prepare them for their start in 2023. Our Year 4’s will be allocated their buddies soon and will be ready to build strong relationships and connections with our new students.

All students across the whole school will go through a transition process as they move into their 2023 grades. The sessions will run at school in week 10 and 11. Students will meet over several sessions with their new class and potentially their new teacher. New students joining us next year will hopefully be able to participate as well as part of the transition program. It is important for them to make a connection with one/some of our students.

Please be re assured that teachers participate in a hand over process so that new class teachers will be prepared and will be able to challenge students along with the information you provide at the 2023 ‘getting to know you’ interviews at the beginning of the year.

Building a School Community at Weeden Heights PS

Now that we have returned to full time school after remote learning, we are working extremely hard to re build our school community. There seems to be a little bit of apprehension about coming back in and working in the school as we had ‘struggled’ a little this year with family attendances at events. We understand that the world is a very different place and we have offered many online events as an option for activities. I only encourage you to embrace your school as we are your community and we welcome you back! Our students benefit significantly from your support at home but also from your positive presence in schools. Our families are generous.

Here are some ways parents are welcome to become involved in our school:

STRUCTURES WITHIN THE WHOLE SCHOOL

School Council

Includes: Education Sub Committee, Finance Sub Committee, Buildings and Grounds Sub Committee, Community Building Sub Committee

Meets monthly
Represents the parents and wider school community
Focus is around the governance of the school. Principal sits as member of DET and deals with school operations

Parents and Friends Association (PFA)

All welcome to attend

Committee members and members attached to events
Meet twice per term
Focus on fundraising and school activities for students

Parent Representatives (Parent Reps)

One parent volunteers to represent the class
Emails and notifications
Social Events
Avenue for contacting each other

School Programs

Classroom Helpers

School Excursions
Swimming program
Camping Program
Interschool sport
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
STEAM Program
Inquiry Learning investigations – experts in the classroom
School Production – parents to support, contribute – props, costumes

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Family Fun Night
Prep and new family social night
Trivia Night

AFTER SCHOOL BASED EVENTS

Education Week
Open Night
Parent information night
School Production
Graduation
Mathematics Event
Christmas Concert

WAYS WE COMMUNICATE WITH YOU

School Stream
Fortnightly newsletter
Website
Emails – from Classroom Representatives and Administration
Notices
Facebook and Instagram
Class newsletters
School Assembly

ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING PROCESS

Term 1	Getting to Know You Interview Home Visits Foundation Year/Prep Testing
Term 2	Formal Written Reports
Term 3	Student Led Conferences
Term 4	Formal Written Report Portfolio Presentation

OTHER CONTACT WITH THE TEACHER

Student Support Group Meeting – termly
Make a time with the teacher/co-ordinator/Principal
Helping in the classroom programs
Camping program
Excursion program and sporting events
Kitchen/garden program

Building the Classroom Community

Bright Beginnings Transition Program
The year before and the first two weeks – finding out about learners
Classroom Agreement
Agreed Learning Conditions – behavioural expectations
Individual reward system/class reward system
Individual education plans for each student with their own educational goals to meet their learning needs

We have a few events coming up so please lock these dates into your diary:

2 December – Prep, 1 & 2 camping program
14 December – Graduation for year 6
15 December – Christmas concert.

We hope to see our families support these events….it’s tradition!

Until next time……

Kylie Campbell

Principal

Futures are Bright at Weeden Heights!

Working Bee