Newsletter 3 – Week 3, Term 2, 2021 – Message from Admin Team, P&C Kindy/PP Subcommittee Meeting, Book Club, Library, Unpaid Billing Items, Canteen, Celebrating Success

Message from the Executive Administration Team

Dear parents and caregivers

Despite the ongoing restrictions, I have been impressed with how resilient and calm students, staff and parents have been this week, adjusting to the changes with relative ease. It’s important we stay vigilant about the risk of COVID-19 in the community and school environment and maintain physical distancing, good hygiene, staying home when unwell and mask wearing to keep everyone safe and healthy.

That said, we can also continue teaching and learning with little disruption and hold events such as the Mother’s Day stall today with COVID safety in mind. I thank the committed group of parents and caregivers led by Victoria Martelli and the P&C executive for adjusting quickly and giving up their time so all the mums, grandmothers and significant women in our students’ lives can be thoroughly spoilt this weekend! Students have been excitedly rotating through the undercover area all day, picking out special treats for you all. Happy Mother’s Day and I hope you have a lovely weekend together as families.

Next week and the following week, our Year 3 and 5 students will participate in NAPLAN testing in Writing, Reading, Numeracy and Language Conventions (Spelling and Grammar). Wembley PS is a NAPLAN Online school, having participated in this format for several years with the only exception being Year 3 writing, which is completed on paper. As we know, NAPLAN assesses what a student can demonstrate on that day in that particular test.

What it doesn’t assess is every talent and exceptional quality that makes your child special. So while we aim for all our students to do their best and the conditions are in place at school to give them every opportunity to do so, the results will not tell you everything there is to know about their abilities. What can you do as parents? Keep normal routines in place, be on time, pack healthy food and snacks and avoid undue attention on the tests. Most importantly, continue to celebrate everything that makes your child unique!

Learning Environment

A School Board sub-committee focused on developing a School Grounds Master Plan is being convened this term. The aim is to develop a strategic long term plan for the enhancement and maintenance of the school grounds and facilities. The plan will be used to map out future planning for projected enrolment numbers, providing an aspirational vision for formal and informal teaching spaces that reflect current and future trends in educational pedagogy.

The idea to pursue a school grounds master plan came about during sub-committee work on planning for the upgrade of the Pre-Primary playground last year.

A number of elements are likely to be considered:

• Playground additions and improvements
• Building and infrastructure
• Sustainability
• Cultural awareness
• Landscaping
• Oval maintenance

The sub-committee is seeking expressions of interest from parents and caregivers with expertise in these areas who would be willing to contribute to the plan.

The sub-committee is likely to meet twice during each term, both face to face and working collaboratively online to achieve our goal of a master plan. If you are interested, please send an email to tamara.doig@education.wa.edu.au stating your interest/expertise in the sub-committee’s work.

Leadership

The School Board election process has now been finalised and the new board members announced. I thank all candidates for putting their names forward for consideration. We welcome Rachel Clay, Sara Tuohy and Chatarina Brady to the board and congratulate them on their appointment on behalf of myself and Board Chair, Prof Tama Leaver.

Community Engagement

At the beginning of Term 2, we opened communal verandahs up to parent access again following the easing of restrictions at that time by the State Government. Unfortunately, it was short-lived due to the community cases detected and subsequent lockdown. Once restrictions ease again and following Department of Education guidelines and health advice, we hope to move back to verandah access once again. I thank you for your patience as we navigate the restrictions.

In the meantime, please continue to communicate with your child’s classroom teacher by email, allowing up to two working days for a response. Teachers will also continue to make themselves available outside twice a week, before or after school for incidental conversations. We value strong relationships with the community and we will continue making this a priority in the future.

Collaborate, Connect, Communicate.

Yours in learning

Executive Admin Team

Tamara, Alan, Rachel and Melinda