Across Oliver's Desk 

Dear Parents & Guardians, 

Welcome back to term four! I hope you all had a fantastic holiday with family, and a break from remote learning. We are all very excited at the prospect of having all students back on site from 5th November.  It will also be fantastic having our Prep and Grade 1/2 students attending part time from Monday 18th October, and then Grades 3/4 and 5/6 students attending part time from Tuesday 26th October. 

Whilst this term will no doubt present its challenges, WYPS Primary School is extremely well placed to provide our students with a successful staggered return to on-site learning, as well as an engaging and rewarding final term for 2021. 

Our school’s leadership team met over the holidays and finalised the details of the staggered return. As you will appreciate, the commencement of term, involving the continuation of remote learning, then transitioning to a staggered return, before finally having all students back on-site, will require an array of supports and adjustments. Next week will have lots of staff on hand at the Kiss and Drop to help any children that are feeling a bit anxious about the return.

As the staggered return commences in week three. Teachers across all year levels will be planning for a successful transition back that will include lots of opportunities for students to debrief, reflect and share their experiences this year, reconnect with peers, re-establish class routines and expectations and refocus on learning in a classroom setting. We’ll work hard together to provide our students with the very best possible final term of learning for 2021. Of course. ALL staff, including our wonderful School Wellbeing Team are here to support, encourage and facilitate a successful transition back to school. Thank you so much for your flexibility, understanding and support as we navigate this term together. 

MANDATORY MASK WEARING GRADES 3-6

From Monday the 18th the Government has mandated that students wear masks while inside at school. As a school we will do our best to support our students with this change. We understand that there will be exemptions for some of our students and we also understand that for some of our children it will take them a little while to get use to wearing them. 

As of 12pm on Friday we still don’t know what the rules will be for exemptions. As soon as I am given directions from the Department I will send out a compass notification. I do apologise and I thank you for your patience. 

PARENTS WEARING MASKS AT THE KISS AND DROP

During the next three weeks we will be continuing with a 3:05 pick up! As of November 5th, we will go back to a staggered pick up time.

A – K 3:05pm 

K – Z 3:15pm

To keep the community as safe as possible parents do need to remember to wear their masks when picking students up from school in the kiss and drop area. At Woori we all love each other and we are all very social, which is why I love working in this community. However, in the current climate it is important that parents remember to wear masks at the front of the school when picking up children. 

STAFF VACCINATIONS AND COVID 19 SAFETY PROCEDURES

From Monday the 18th every staff member will have to prove that they have at least one dose or a booking for a vaccination otherwise they cannot work in the school.

In fact anyone that comes to the school will have to prove their vaccination status after the 18th or they cannot enter the school buildings. We will be continuing with only essential people being able to access the school.

To make the school as safe as possible we will be ventilating the rooms as much as possible with open doors and windows. Cleaning of high touch areas and mandatory washing of hands will also continue. 

FREINDSHIP REQUESTS FOR 2022

As skilled professional educators our teachers spend a considerable amount of time and effort in placing students into classes for the following year and therefore, staff recommendations will be a priority in relation to student class allocation.  Please do not request a specific teacher.  We are proud to have built a team of highly dedicated and knowledgeable educators, who work together superbly, with a student-centered focus, whole school approach to teaching and learning and a priority placed on high quality instruction in literacy and numeracy. Also, as you would appreciate, teachers do not necessarily teach in the same level as the previous year. 

Staff follow a carefully planned procedure for allocating students to their grade for the following year: Students nominate five peers that they would like to be placed with. Students are advised that we will do everything possible to ensure that they will be placed with AT LEAST one of their nominated peers. Classroom teachers meet and use the criteria of academic, social and emotional to compile draft grade lists. Students participate in ‘Step Up Day’ on Tuesday 7th December, spending time in their classroom for 2022 with their new grade and teacher. I will provide further information about grade structures, staffing and programs for 2022 throughout this term. We are all looking forward to a great year of onsite learning next year!

TUTOR PROGRAM

It is with great pleasure that I can announce the tutor program will again go ahead next year. The funding for this program will give the school a chance to teach missed concepts to students in small groups with a qualified tutor. Rachel Ward is in charge of the program. Rachel will notify you before the end of the year if your child is to be placed in the program for 2022. Who goes in the program is decided by student results, teacher advice and advice from parents.

PREP TEAM FOR 2022

Every year we announce the Prep team early because they have transition activities to organise during fourth term. Having said that we don’t exactly know when those will happen? But we have our fingers crossed that the first one will be on, Friday the 12th of November. Prep Team for 2022 is:

Jess Howe (Team Leader)

Jess Lowe

Bonnie McKercher

Lisa Syme

As I said above we have put together a workforce of highly skilled and motivated teachers.  Our preps will do well with any of the teachers above!

Please make sure you look after yourself this week and remember if life gets tough escape to the wonderful world of a book! I’m currently reading ‘Heritage’ by Judy Nunn. The first I have read from her and I think I will read others. I have really enjoyed this one. As ‘Molly Meldrum’ use to say, “do yourself a favour”!

Thank you again for all your support! 

Oliver Thockloth

Principal