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Newsletter: Term 1 Week 4 2021 Principal’s Message: On Wednesday 3rd February the P&C committee held their first meeting. As a newcomer, it was terrific to see the benefits that a small team of committed parents can have on the school. They are very keen to make some plans for 2021 that would improve the childrens’ time at WPS. If you would like to contribute in some way to the school and enjoy sharing experiences with like-minded people, please don’t hesitate to come along to a P&C meeting. The committee are very keen to see new people involved and listen to new ideas to support Westlawn PS. Also, this would be an opportunity for you to listen to special talks by teachers or guests at the meetings throughout the year. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 6pm. If you require any further information please call the school office.
The first two weeks have been busy with many special events. I would like to acknowledge the extra time dedicated to the organisation of these events by the staff. This includes the Parent Information Meetings by Stage 3 staff, the Leaders Induction Ceremony by Mrs Ellis and the Swimming carnival by Mr Ogilvy. All these events provide a positive experience for students or parents and continue to build upon the ‘Westlawn Way’. Importantly, I do wish to thank all parents for their patience and support with the current COVID guidelines. Our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) program is highly successful across the school. Keep an eye out for our PBL focus areas each week in each newsletter. Our Learning and Support Team will post these focus areas and we encourage you to talk about them at home with your children. At the beginning of each school year our Administration staff are busy ensuring all student information is accurate and up to date. For the safety of your children, please check that you have shared with us the correct mobile contact numbers and address in case of an emergency. An important reminder that before school student supervision commences at 8.25am. This is when our Duty of Care commences. Before this time, we are unable to take full responsibility for their safety as no direct supervision is occurring. As we all know, 2020 was a tough year. This was particularly so for our students and teachers who rose to the challenges in a disrupted year that included seven weeks of remote learning due to COVID-19, and in some areas, that came on top of bushfires and floods. For our students, this has been an unsettling time. The government and department have recognised this with the announcement of a $337 million program aimed at ensuring that schools can identify students who would
Westlawn Public School Strive to Achieve
Tel: 02 6642 7466 Email: [email protected]
benefit the most from intensive support. This will be tailored to their requirements to ensure that students’ educational outcomes continue to improve in 2021. The 2021 COVID Intensive Learning Support Program will provide small group tuition for students who need it most across NSW primary, secondary and specialist schools. All public schools across the state will benefit with an allocation to employ additional teachers and educators to support student learning. At Westlawn PS we are currently planning for the implementation of a small group tuition program. The groups will be conducted during school hours. We will be focusing on literacy and numeracy throughout the year, with a focus on literacy this term. We will keep you updated. In the meantime the NSW Department of Education website has more information on this program. Mrs Gough and Mrs Acevedo White, two of our Assistant Principals, will coordinate the program in 2021. Westlawn has employed three teachers, Mrs Stratford, Mrs Weiley and Mrs Roberts, who will work with selected students on a daily basis. Please, also be mindful of the ongoing COVID restrictions that schools have in relation to food coming onto the school site. If you are considering sending in food to share with your child’s class for a birthday celebration, the food needs to be individually packaged. Store purchased items are also encouraged as they show the contained ingredients which should ensure the safety of all students. Finally, thank you to all our students and parents for using the new road crossings correctly. Road safety is an ongoing key priority for our whole school community. Kind Regards, David King
(Acting Principal)
WPS 2021 Leaders Congratulations to our school leaders for 2021 who received their badges at our Induction Assembly last Thursday. We are so proud of our new leaders and know they will do a brilliant job throughout the year. Our school leaders for 2021 are: School Captains - Thomas and Mollie Vice Captains – Hamish and Romy Prefects – Oscar, Bodhi, Aliya and Ruby.
Dates to Remember: Week 4 Tues 16.2 – Kinder Parent Session Wed 17.2 - Stage 2 Parent Sessions (Year 3: 5 – 5:30 & Year 4: 5:30 – 6PM) Thurs 18.2 – District Swimming Carnival Week 5 Mon 22.2 – Induction Assembly 12 PM Week 6 Mon 1.3 – Backflips on Bullying Week 7 Wed 10.3 – School Photo Day Week 9 Mon 22.3 – WPS X Country
Swimming Carnival Results Good weather greeted us last Monday morning for our swimming carnival - not too hot, not too cold. Our main aim for the day was to get everyone to have-a-go! We had a range of swimming abilities on show and plenty of children willing to try something they felt was challenging – swimming 50m. It is important to build the confidence needed to be in the water while having fun with friends instead of perhaps sitting in the stands and possibly feeling worried about not being able to finish a race or perform a stroke correctly. Congratulations to all students on your participation and outstanding behaviour on the day. Students were not disqualified for using poor technique at the carnival as the focus was on participation. A referee will attend at the Clarence carnival and disqualifications will occur for competitors using incorrect technique. The referee’s opinion is not to be taken as a personal attack but as advice competitors can use to improve their stroke/technique in the future and should be treated as such.
Age Champions Jnr Boy – Caleb Jnr Girl – Klancee 11yrs Boy – Chad 11yrs Girl – Ruby Snr Boy – Marcus and Ethan (tie) Snr Girl – Riley
House Points Winning House – Neptune
Records Riley continued on her ‘record breaking’ way by setting three new records this year. Snr girls breaststroke 45.31s – previous record was 46.18 by S Collie 2006 Snr girls butterfly 41.69s – previous record was 44.25s by S Collie 2006 Snr girls Individual Medley 3:18.50 – previous record was 3:18.62 by S Collie 2006 The fastest three swimmers in each race from the Westlawn carnival have qualified for the Clarence carnival. Please note that there are qualifying times for the 100m freestyle and medley races. Students have been informed as to whether they have qualified for these races.
Clarence Swimming Carnival The Clarence Swimming Carnival will be held this Thursday 18th February at the Grafton Olympic Pool. Permission notes went home last week and should have been returned to the office. Mr Pereira, Mrs Hadley and Mrs Palmer will attend the carnival. Good luck to our competitors: Neave, Ivy W, Niah, Klancee, Maia, Bonnie, Isabella-Rose, Sophie, Sally, Ruby, Lili, Lahnee, Riley, Mollie, Cloie, Grace, Saideeann, Mia, Lucy, Romy, Skylae-Mae, Ivy D, Eliza, Braith, Leo, Logan, Cooper P, Nate, Hayden, Cooper M, Hunter, Caleb, Chad, Taj, Oliver, Marcus, Ethan, Jarrad, Alec, Billy, Oscar, Jacob, Jake, Rylann, Jimmy.
House Meetings and Election of House Captains and Vice Captains Students gathered into their sport houses prior to our swimming carnival to elect house captains and vice-captains.
Congratulations to the following students:
Jupiter (Red): (C) Barney & Lillian (VC) Alex & Clair Mercury (Yellow): (C) Billy & Eliza (VC) Luna (No boy VC atm) Neptune (Blue): (C) Taj & Emily (VC) Keegan /Rylann & Riley Saturn (Green): (C) Nathan & Mia (VC) Jimmy & Saideeann
Mid North Coast Boys and Girls Cricket Trials Sam, Oscar, Thomas, Ethan, Bohdi, Ruby and Eliza travelled to Coffs Harbour last Tuesday to trial for selection in
the MNC teams. Congratulations to Sam, Oscar, Thomas, Ethan, Ruby and Eliza on your selection.
The boys will play at the North Coast trials on March 7 and 8, the girls on March 1. Best of luck to you.
Sporting dates to remember – plan ahead! Clarence Swimming Carnival (Grafton) – Thursday 18 February
Mid North Coast Swimming Carnival (Coffs Harbour) – Thursday 25 February
North Coast Swimming Carnival (Coffs Harbour) – Wednesday 3 March
Westlawn PS Cross Country Carnival at Junction Hill – Monday 22 March
Community Sport for Term 1 Community Sport will begin this Friday 19 February. Today, students will have brought home a small slip with their
sport allocation and weekly price. Please ensure students have a full drink bottle of water and any equipment
needed for their sport each Friday.
Sport money collection will occur every Thursday after morning assembly so we can start sport immediately on
Friday. Please send your child’s sport money on a Thursday each week.
Costs and equipment needed each week: Hockey - Cost $6 (inc. bus fare). All equipment is provided however, participants must have their own mouth guard, hat and water.
Tennis - Cost $7 (inc. bus fare). All equipment is provided. Please take a hat and water.
Ten Pin Bowling - Cost $6. Bottle of water is optional.
Basketball – No cost. Take a bottle of water.
KidsFit - Cost $4. Take a bottle of water.
Futsal - Cost $5. Take a bottle of water.
Gymnastic/Parkour - $7 Take a bottle of water. It is important that all students remember their sport money each week as we are using community venues, which
depend on income to remain open. Students who fail to pay for their sport two weeks in a row will still go to their
venue but will not be able to participate. Please contact the school if there are difficulties covering the cost of
weekly sport.
Year One Sport – Fundamental Movement Skills
Library Matters
Love your Library 2021! Sunday 14th is Library Lover’s Day and at Westlawn we are celebrating Loving out Library. Students have been falling in love with new books and discovering new books by choosing surprise books based on a genre. Classes are settling in and it is wonderful to see students prepared for learning for library each week. You can help your child be prepared by reminding them to bring books back with their library bags on their allocated day. Monday: 1AW, 6H, 2C & 2T Tuesday: 5A, 5O, 3M & 2S Wednesday: 5/6W, 6G, 1R & KB Thursday: 4E, 4P, 1M & 3A Friday: KR, KG & KS When borrowing, all students are required to have a library bag to minimise damage to books. Westlawn Library bags are available from the office for $10. All students are welcome to exchange books during lunchtime playtimes if they have already completed their books. Library Leaders Congratulations to our wonderful Year 6 library leaders for 2021! The library leaders are valuable members of our library that are developing their knowledge and skills in the library whilst assisting and supporting students and staff in a variety of roles. It is with great excitement to announce this year’s library leaders: Elijah, Connor, Lilli, Ilianna, Paetyn, Destiny, Lily, Savannah, Layla, Clair and Tora. Safe internet day last Tuesday was a wonderful introduction to our units for library this term where we will be discussing using the internet safely and having a positive digital footprint. Stay tuned for next newsletter to find out more about library happenings and what adventures are taking place in the library. Happy Reading!
Mrs Palmer
Cyber safety for Families The internet, social media and all the many other related technologies now accessible have created many positive advances in the way we communicate. But with any advance, there will be challenges and adjustments. Technology changes very quickly. It can be a new app, a new device or a new youtube video. How we monitor the activities and access that children have is a challenge for schools and for homes. Parents can access free webinars provided from the eSafety department of the federal government. It will cover:
• starting conversations with your child about their online friendships and positive ways to deal with changing relationships
• understanding the rights, laws and community expectations that govern social media use
• where to seek help if your child is involved in a cyberbullying incident. Each webinar will include case studies, research and targeted advice so you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.
You can scan this QR code to register for 1 of 5 different webinars or use the web address and follow the webinar links: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/
A PBL Message
Week 4 Focus setting: Lining up after breaks
Week 5 focus setting: Bag Area
Please reinforce our Positive Behaviours for Learning expectations with your children. When everyone Strives to Achieve PBL expectations we are all making a positive difference everyday, everywhere and every time.
90 years of teaching children about money. School Banking Parent Guide.
Dear Parent/Guardian,
For 90 years we have been supporting schools and teaching children about money. Thanks to your participation and support, we’ve reached this incredible milestone.
Here’s how our School Banking program works:
Weekly saving
Children can save any amount of money
each week and bring it to school on their designated School Banking day.
The money is deposited into their Youthsaver account and they can track their
progress in their School Banking Dollarmites deposit wallet.
Depositing outside of School Banking?
Fun and rewarding
Each time your child makes a deposit
at school, they’ll receive a silver Dollarmites token.
Once they collect 10 Dollarmites tokens they can redeem them for a small reward.
There are a number of ways your child can make deposits into their Youthsaver account;
Deposit in branch, make sure you bring their deposit book with their account information
filled out so they can track their savings.
Use our intelligent deposit machines
and ATMs
You can also make deposits into your child’s account using internet banking, NetBank or the CommBank app for CommBank customers.
Remember, if you use these services to make deposits into your child’s account they will not receive tokens towards redeeming a School Banking reward.
Helping your school fundraise
As your child banks through School Banking, your school will receive fundraising support to recognise the administration required. To find out more on how we help schools fundraise and how this is calculated, visit commbank.com.au/sbinfo
Getting started
If you’d like your child to take part in School Banking, they’ll need a Youthsaver account. Designed for anyone under 18 years of age, this account has no monthly fees or withdrawal fees. They’ll also earn bonus interest when they grow their balance each month* on balances up to and including $50,000.
There are three easy ways to get an account:
Apply online at commbank.com.au/schoolbanking
Visit any CommBank branch.
Log on to your CommBank app (if you bank with CommBank). From the menu in the bottom left corner, select ‘Products and offers’, then ‘Bank accounts’ and ‘Student and youth accounts’, scroll down to Kids and tap ‘Open account’.
What you’ll need
Personal identification for you and your child. You can use a birth certificate, passport, driver’s licence or citizenship certificate#. If applying in branch, please bring your child’s birth certificate and/or an applicable Court Order to help us identify you as the parent or legal guardian.
When you open a Youthsaver account, your child will receive a Dollarmites deposit wallet in branch, or we’ll mail it to you if you opened the account online.
Saving is rewarding.
This year we’re celebrating the most popular rewards from past years. This will include the popular tomato seed kit, water skimming ball, and much more!
Our most up to date reward wallet insert can be found at commbank.com.au/sbc
How to redeem rewards:
1. Make 10 School Banking deposits – receive one silver Dollarmites token each time your child makes a deposit (maximum one Dollarmites token per week).
2. Choose a reward from the wallet insert and fill in the coupon that goes with it.
3. Place the completed reward wallet insert and your child’s 10 Dollarmites tokens in their Dollarmites deposit wallet and take it to school on the next School Banking day.
Simple rules:
1. To reward individual saving, Dollarmites tokens can’t be combined with other students’ or siblings’ tokens.
2. All rewards can be redeemed from Term 1, and are available whilst stocks last.
3. Our School Banking program is suitable for children in primary school.
School Banking rewards are not suitable for children 3 years and under. For safety reasons, remove any tags, labels and packaging before use and refer to the usage instruction
Community Events:
SP Netty Clinic – Highly Recommended!!
Men and Women of any ability Boys and Girls ages 5 to 16
City Bears is a family friendly club focused on good sportsmanship and fair play in all players, coaches & managers, parents & spectators on and off the field. We are also committed to the development of our
juniors.
Together Everyone Achieves More For more information: Call Renee: 0400 095 816 Email: [email protected]
To Register go to
www.revolutionise.com.au/citybearshockey
