Newsletter 2 Week 3 Term 1, 2023 – Message from Admin, Dogs on School Grounds, NAPLAN, P&C Annual General Meeting and Elections, Uniforms, Canteen, Netball, Junior Footy

Message from Administration

Dear parents and caregivers

It has been such a positive start to the school year at Wembley. Our students have been very settled, despite the nerves from some, bubbling excitement from others and significant changes in routine and new environments to navigate. I’m sure there are some tired young people at the end of each school day, which is all very normal as we settle back into learning after the long summer break. I know this successful start is all down to the supportive classrooms our staff are building combined with the positive messages from parents and carers about returning to school. It has also been wonderful to resume parent information sessions in our preferred face to face format. We look forward to strengthening our connections with you this year, moving forward without the restrictions of the past few years.

Our students were very excited to welcome the Fremantle Dockers to Wembley yesterday, including Travis Colyer. Thanks to Mr Bowman for organising!

 

COVID:

Although COVID is not having the same impact, we have already experienced some cases in the first 2 weeks of school. Please stay vigilant for symptoms and test if any doubt so we can limit transmission. We will continue to use all available precautions in the school environment; air purifiers where needed, ventilation as a priority and hand hygiene. Please continue to report positive cases to WA Health via the online form here and to the school via Compass when marking your child absent. WA Health still recommends a minimum 5 days isolation, see current information here.

Important Dates:

As communicated, please see Compass to check for relevant school events. You can switch between the weekly and monthly view to see what is coming up. In Term 1, we usually hold parent-teacher meetings in Week 9. Due to NAPLAN shifting earlier and clashes with EduDance, our half day school closure to facilitate these meetings will now take place in Week 2, Term 2. The short week in Week 10 of this term due to Good Friday and the shorter week at the start of Term 2 has given us less options to facilitate these meetings earlier. This half day school closure is an approved annual half day closure as per our reporting to parents schedule. Please continue to contact your child’s teacher at point of need with any concerns or information required.

Save the Date

Year 4-6 Faction Swimming Carnival: Wednesday 8 March

ANZAC Day Service: Thursday 6 April at 9am

Parent-Teacher Interviews ½ day school closure: Wednesday 3 May 12pm

Staffing:

We welcome many new staff to our school in 2023. Thank you for making our new members of the community feel so welcome.

Deputy Principal: Mr Scott Sullivan

K/PP Teacher: Ms Celeste Cunningham

Music Teacher: Ms Alana Porter

Year 4 Teacher: Ms Ellen Lawless

Year 5/6 Teacher: Mr Jeff Cornez

School Psychologist: Ms Melissa Birch

It is also fantastic to welcome back Mrs Michelle Lucas (Year 6), Mrs Sophie Hillen (Pre-primary) and Mrs Jessica Ralph (Early Childhood).

Principal role: I look forward to a great year ahead leading Wembley Primary School. It has been a privilege in my almost two years in the role and 2023 is shaping up to be a highly productive year for our team. Thank you for your ongoing support. In Term 1 and 2 this year, I will be taking Long Service Leave on Thursday each week. As many would be aware, public sector employees are required to clear their Long Service Leave within two years. In my absence on Thursdays, our highly respected and experienced Deputy Principal Mrs Milani Grace will be acting principal. Thank you to Mrs Grace for her leadership.

 

Student Leadership:

Our new student leaders for 2023 were presented with their badges at a special assembly this afternoon. We have no doubt they have all the leadership qualities needed to succeed and lead their peers in their final year of primary school.

This week, I also spoke with our Year 5 students as they head into their second last year of primary school. I spoke with them about the importance of being positive role models as they are now become senior school students. I encouraged them to embrace every opportunity and do so with courage, always considering the decisions they make and showing respect for themselves and others. We discussed being collaborative, humble and taking the initiative in the classroom and playground. I look forward to a great year ahead with such positive and responsible students leading the way for our school.

 

Community Engagement

On Country Cultural Professional Learning:

On the day before school started, our staff were privileged to take part in cultural learning with emerging indigenous leader Greg Nannup, son of indigenous Elder Dr Noel Nannup. On the banks of the culturally significant Galup (Lake Monger), we listened and learned about local First Nations culture and history from Greg who shared with us so passionately. We have so much to learn from the world’s oldest civilisation and strengthening our connection to Country will ensure we embed First Nations perspectives to our teaching and learning programs authentically. We hope to have Greg visit the school and share with our students later in the year. This year we will be working to finalise our Reconciliation Action Plan in partnership with the community as we strive to be a culturally responsive school.

School Board Parent Representatives:

At the end of March, the terms of three (3) current School Board parent representatives are expiring; Scott Crawley, Paul Wallman and Evita Soldo.

These parent representatives have the option to re-nominate for their positions. However, all vacancies are advertised to give the parent community the opportunity to consider nominating. You can see our current School Board Members on the school website here.

The WPS School Board is an unincorporated Board. Board members participate in school governance by supporting the principal and school staff to implement the strategic directions outlined in the Department’s 2020-24 strategic directions ‘Building on Strength’ and the WPS Business Plan 2023-25 to achieve year-on-year school improvement.

• Endorsing and reviewing the School Business Plan and noting the school budget
• Processes to review school performance
• Processes to determine satisfaction levels
• Reporting school progress and achievement and endorsing the Annual Report
• Input into policy development
• Communicating with the broader community about the functions of the Board.

The Board will be seeking parents with diverse skill sets. We are about to launch our next School Business Plan and will continue to work on policy reviews and two improvement strategies; communication, and a buildings and grounds master plan. In two weeks time, we will call for nominations. In the meantime, please consider this opportunity to be involved in your child’s education and gain a deeper insight into the operations of our school.

Connect, Collaborate, Communicate, Care

Yours in learning

Tamara, Milani, Scott, Stacey and Natalie