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YWPS Newsletter

Greetings From the PrincipalParent-Teacher InterviewsThank you to everyone who attended our Parent- Teacher interviews this week. Interviews have been well-attended across all class groups this year and the feedback from teachers and parents has been very positive. Parent- Teacher interviews provide families with the opportunity to further discuss their child’s report and aspects of their learning and behaviour generally. For our students, your interest in their education motivates them to strive harder in their educational endeavours and to feel more connected to the daily routines of life at school.DET have developed a resource for parents and carers that complements the learning at school. Literacy and Numeracy Tips to Help your Child Every Day provides families with fun, inexpensive, accessible and practical ways to help children to develop the literacy and numeracy skills they will need for life, to prepare them for school and to keep them progressing until the end of Year 6. Here’s the link to it https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/english/literacy/LiteracyandNumeracyTipstoHelpYourChild_Final.pdf We will add it to the school website as well.

A broader understanding of Australian HistoryYWPS children have been learning about Australian history, using some of the learning resources now available through the Healing Foundation, https://healingfoundation.org.au/On Wednesday, all Year 3 – 6 students and staff were able to listen and learn about the Stolen Generations. Mr Ian Hamm, Yorta Yorta man and past parent of YWPS, shared his personal story of being stolen at the age of 3 weeks and later in life finding out his full identity, family and culture.Ian’s story was moving and powerful for all of us in the audience. The way that Ian told his story strongly connected with the children and they asked insightful and sensitive questions at the end. Learning about the Stolen Generations encourages understanding and reconciliation for all of us.

School Schedule changes From the start of Term 3, the recess break will be reduced from 30 minutes to 20 minutes (11.00 – 11.20am). Children will eat their morning tea from 10.50am – 11.00am, then go out to play for 20 minutes. Lunch eating will start at 1.20 and children will have supervised play from 1.30 – 2.30pm. This change is to ensure that all staff are able to have a daily 30-minute break free from duties. This break entitlement is within the Victorian Government Schools Agreement.An alternative schedule will also be in place for when the

Important Dates28th June • Term 2 ends - 2.30pm

15th July • Term 3 Starts -9am16th July - 2nd Aug • Life Education

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oval is not able to be used. In order to minimise yard congestion and ensure appropriate levels of supervision, two different lunchtimes will operate. The first lunch break will be 12.30 – 1.30, and the second will be 1.30 – 2.20pm. This schedule is being fine-tuned and I will ensure all families are provided with the details when finalised.

Staff NewsAs you know, we are saying farewell to Mrs Chris Johnstone, the school Business Manager for the past 25 years! Chris has been busy this week finalising all the regular finance and administration tasks but also enjoying people popping in to wish her well. Chris has also been packing up her things and showing us treasures such as 1990s brochures about the school. Things have certainly changed! I wish Chris a wonderful retirement and hope she stays in touch with our community. Which leads me to a warm welcome to our new BM, Ms Raelene Daneher. Raelene has begun the transition to YWPS with an orientation day. Chris took us on a tour of the school to see all the hard to find utilities equipment, including water mains pipes, stormwater drains and electrical switchboards, and the secret sewerage inspection point. Very important!Assistant Principal Judy Webster will be on leave for all of term 3. Judy’s Wellbeing role will be undertaken by Assistant Principals Sally Emery and Nicole Arnold. Please contact Sally or Nicole to discuss any wellbeing matters to do with your child/ren.Our preferred mode of communication (and the most direct) is by telephone - 9314 7714.Welcome new teachers: Ms Alexandra Pakulski is replacing Ms Sarah Foster 1-2S; Ms Olivia De Bortoli is replacing Ms Erin Forbes 3-4F.

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Cyber safetyAll children at YWPS learn about being safe and responsible when communicating online. Lessons are taught by class and specialist teachers that address what online behaviours are expected (respectful; protective of passwords and friends’ information), and what to do if you receive online messages that humiliate, harass or threaten. Our children are generally very responsible and are not involved in inappropriate behaviour at school. Teachers schedule the use of devices for explicit teaching and learning tasks and carefully monitor and support children to use them for this purpose.I am aware that many of our children are engaged online, eg. through gaming or chat rooms outside of school. Cyberbullying unfortunately does occur and can have serious health implications for the children involved. Parental supervision of children whilst online is essential – knowing who your child is communicating with and what the content of the communication is, can reduce incidents of cyberbullying from occurring. When you are aware of your child’s online activity, they can be guided by you when interacting with others.There is now a lot of advice for parents on how to support children online. The site https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents contains specific advice for parents about helping children have safe and enjoyable experiences online. The site also has links to other resources for parents.

Last day of term Friday – 2.30pm dismissalPlease don’t forget that the children are dismissed from their classrooms at 2.30pm on Friday, the last day of term. Please remember to be at the school to pick the children up by 2.30pm.

Thank you all staffI would like to thank all staff for their commitment and hard work for the first half of the year and wish them a restful and relaxing break over the holidays.

A safe and happy holidayI would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very safe and happy holiday for the next two weeks. See you back in Term 3. If you are lucky to have your holidays with your children, have lots of rest, fun and relaxing times.Warm Regards,Karen

Save Willy RoadSome YWPS parents are involved in the Save Willy Road campaign. ‘Save Willy Road’ is a community group advocating our communities’ concerns to government and calling for truck bans on Williamstown Road.MORE POLLUTION & TRAFFIC CONGESTION ARE COMING……

• The West Gate Tunnel will increase truck traffic on Williamstown Road by 100%, making it comparable to Francis Street’s current levels.

• Increased diesel pollution will impact our children’s health, not just for those on Williamstown Road, but on surrounding streets, Yarraville Oval, tennis courts and the skate park.

• Increases in heavy truck traffic will also impact on our children’s safety and cause traffic delays for road users.

• Every other residential street in the City of Maribyrnong will have a truck ban once the tunnel opens, except Williamstown Road – this is not good enough.

To get involved and informed please see: www.savewillyroad.com

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Ian Hamm’s story – the Stolen GenerationOn Wednesday 26th, Ian shared his personal story of being a part of the Stolen Generation, with all grade 3 - 6 students.

We are very grateful to Ian for sharing his story, which has had such an impact on our students’ and their understanding of this time in Australia’s history.

You may view Ian’s presentation by clicking on link below. This video will now be used as a learning resource for future inquiries by our students.

https://youtu.be/7G6tHHsC6AQ

Finn, Chloe and all of the students from 5/6 Aimee worked together on a response, which they gave to Ian on behalf of Yarraville West PS. Here it is.

Dear Ian,On behalf of Yarraville West Primary we’d like to thank you for the time you spent here. Thank you for coming and telling us about your life story. We’d like to apologise for our ancestors’ mistakes and assumptions about the Aboriginal community. And we’d like to thank you for your take home message ‘don’t ever make fun of someone because of their race’. We know it’s not easy to share your life story. We think it’s very glorious that you are helping the Aboriginal community move forward and informing places like our school about things like you described in your life story. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.Sincerely, Finn, Chloe & and 5/6 Aimee

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Cutting deepCutting deep,Every time I think about it,Every time they called me names,Every time I think I never met my birth mother,Every time I think I never met my aboriginal father.Grateful,For having nice parents,For not having to choose over families,For knowing that I have family to support me.Confusing,Not knowing who I was,I was falling apart.Terror,I felt terror when I was told my birth mother died,I was in terror and I cried.I was torn,I was tearful,I was torn apart,And for that I forgive but I will never forget By Laura Chick

GoneRunning fast Walking slowFreezeShouts MumDad says noSis says runBro says slowAunt says yesUncle says noGran says goGramp says noI am in a dazeThen baby says goI run likeThere’s a killerThere’s no killerThere’s worseThere’s a white personNot a Macassan, they’re nice.There’s a bulky English manRunning fast Then walking slowLike there’s no reason to go.by Alycia Versteegen

I will never forgetBy Abbey and Issy

Yorta Yorta the place I’m fromThe place I love The place I belong

My new discovered familyMy new discovered friends My new discovered cultureThe culture that never ends

I was taken from my family at only 3 weeks old

At least that was the story I was always told

The day I was taken there was screams of terror

I never got to meet my mum and dad altogether

I will try to forgive but I will never forget

There’s still a hole in my heart that I can not neglect

Ian Hamm Proud mansoft voicesad eyescalm culturenice familyLucky person.He tells his past,he tells his presentbut he’s not afraid at all by Harley Nicholson

Ian’s Life Proud man Teary eyesVoice calmAwful namesStory brokenProud manBy Owen Henderson Lost and Found

Everyone hide,Don’t make a sound,Let’s hide in the bushes,We don’t want to be found.

This is not a game,

Fine, w’ll play hide and seek,

Really! They’re five feet away I’m gonna have to Peek.

I don’t think They’ll trust me,

Jack I’m so scared I need to pee!

Hey youse get in our truck,I’m sorry but you’re not in luck,Stay put, darn it they’re not here

And that was the life of me and my fear.By Mia Rogers and Kali Schofield

LostSearching and seeking I’m freaking out Wondering who l amWho l found My heart poundsI’m crowned Ian HammBy Charlotte Skeels

Stolen childrenCrumble bark fallsFinally at the topGet downThey’re hereConfusedI fallIn a bushEyes shutI wakeTo see them On the groundEverythingBlack

By Patrick Le and Ben Kouteris

The students from 3/4 Christine wrote poems based on Ian’s visit. Here are some of them:-

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As part of our drug and health education this term we are having the Life Education mobile learning centre visit our school in Term 3 from Tuesday the 16th July to Friday the 2nd of August.

Life Education delivers health and drug education through a unique mobile learning centre environment which provides students to develop strategies and practice the skills required to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Lessons are age appropriate and the children will be covering a wide range of health related topics, ranging from the human body and how it works, healthy eating and nutrition, medicines and drugs, bullying, resilience and social skills.

Healthy Harold, the much loved Life Education giraffe mascot is always a much anticipated element of the visit. The sessions are always fun, interactive and really extend and develop the children’s understanding of the topics covered. We will be further broadening these topics in class both prior to and after the visit with the student workbook.

As a charity, Life Education relies heavily on the generosity of local organisations to keep its fleet of mobile learning centres on the road delivering positive health and life messages to over 200,000 children in Victoria alone.

The cost for this incursion is covered by the incursion/excursion levy. Please be aware that if you haven’t paid the levy please do so ASAP. Parent Information Session

As part of this visit a complimentary Parent Information Session is offered. The duration of the session is approximately 30 minutes and is held in the Mobile Learning Centre (MLC). This gives parents an opportunity to gain an understanding of what the students will experience during the session. Visit the Life Education mobile classroom on Tuesday 16th July from 9 to 9:30am. 

Please complete and return the Parent Information Session attendance slip below to the school office.

@ YWPS term 3

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