Issue 18 –14th June, 2018

CADBURY FUNDRAISER MONEY, UNSOLD CHOCOLATES AND LOLLIES DUE Thursday 14th June Vic Roads information session regarding the intersection upgrade 6pm-8pm

Friday 15th June State School Spectacular Dance Rehearsal

Wednesday 20th June Breakfast Club

Wednesday 20th June Northern Metro Regional Cross Country

Friday 22nd June Year 5 & 6 District Volleyball Round Robin

Monday 25th June Mid Year Reports available on Compass

Tuesday 26th June Year 1 & 2 Inquiry Exhibition

Wednesday 27th June Breakfast Club

Wednesday 27th June Year 3 & 4 Excursion to IMAX and Melbourne Museum

Wednesday 27th June Year 5 & 6 Science Incursion

Friday 29th June Final Instalment for the 2018 Incursion/Excursion Levy due

Friday 29th June Red Nose Day - Students can wear RED clothes to school on this day

Friday 29th June Last day of Term 2

PRINCIPAL REPORT

Hello everyone,

As mentioned last week, I’d like to extend an invitation to our parent community to attend our mid-year parent

forum on Tuesday, June 19th at 5:30pm. This catered event will be a great opportunity to come and meet other

WPS families while working through a series of workshop activities to give feedback on a range of school

operations. Please RSVP by contacting the office on 9716 2140 or email whittlesea.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Earlier this week Rae Gittos and I had the opportunity to attend the North Western Leadership Conference.

Principals from Fitzroy to Mildura attend this event each year and this week’s event was another great

opportunity to hear great leaders in education share their expertise. One speaker which resonated with Mrs

Gittos and I was Misty Adoniou. Misty is an Associate Professor in Language, Literacy and TESOL at the

University of Canberra. She has received numerous teaching awards, including an OLT National Citation for

Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning and the 2014 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Misty’s presentation addressed a worrying trend in literacy performance across the nation as students move

from primary school to secondary school. As a system our data shows that we are laying strong foundations

for early literacy skills, but once students become competent readers and writers, those who were ahead of the

expected level are falling back and a greater percentage of students generally are falling behind over time.

Another aspect of Misty’s presentation was the importance of students being regularly exposed to quality

literature. It is imperative that all children experience great examples of writing as this develops a love of

reading. The following quote was shared:-

‘How will our children learn to read complexity when we feed them ‘low nutrition’ texts’

Considering this, I encourage you to consider what books you share with your child at home that form a ‘rich’

diet of literacy. Don’t be afraid to share texts that your child may not be able to ready independently. Through

support you can help bring the joy of these great stories to your child. This support may involve explaining

concepts, making clear author inferences or explaining contextual knowledge required for the reader to fully

comprehend the story. Reading with your child is a special experience and something I encourage you to do as

often as possible.

Until next week,

Ty Hoggins

Principal

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL REPORT

Hello everyone,

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend with your families. This week I was fortunate to attend the North Western

Leadership Conference in Melbourne CBD. Mr Hoggins and I engaged in a range of learning that links closely with

our 2018 Annual Implementation Plan. Specifically, I was interested to learn about how we can continue to

improve how we use data to provide immediate feedback to students about their learning and how we can drive

improvement in reading and writing by providing relevant and targeted professional learning to build capacity in

our teachers. My take away quote for the conference was ‘if we create a culture where every teacher believes

they need to improve, not because they are not good enough, but because they can be even better, there is no

limit to what we can achieve’. I am looking forward to sharing my learning with our teachers in staff forums and

professional learning teams in the coming weeks.

On Monday 25th June, your child’s semester report will be live to view on Compass. If you have not been able to

login to Compass, please contact the office for support. Alternatively, you can access the Compass demo

presentation on the school homepage under the Compass icon. If you don’t have internet access, please contact

the office by 4pm, Friday 23rd June to arrange for a paper copy to be sent home with your child on Monday.

Teachers will be available to meet by request throughout the last week of term, if you would like to discuss your

child’s report in more detail. Please contact your classroom teacher via the office or via email through Compass,

to make an appointment.

A reminder that if you require care for your child at any time throughout the

term break, Big Childcare are taking bookings from now until Friday 29th June.

If you would like more information about the programs on offer, you can

collect a form from the office or alternatively you can call and speak to Beth

on 0426 768 971.

Finally, we commence the winter term break with a 2:30pm finish on Friday

29th June. This is also a key date for our SRC Red Nose Day, fundraising for

SIDS. Students and teachers are encouraged to dress in red and bring along

a gold coin donation.

Best wishes for a wonderful weekend with your family

Rae Gittos

Assistant Principal

SRC RED NOSE DAY

Friday 29th June (last day of term 2)

Please wear red coloured clothing and bring a gold coin donation

to support Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (S.I.D.S).

The S.R.C. will also be selling Red Nose Day items at second break

every day from Monday 25th June until Friday 29th June

Red Noses $3

Wristbands $3

Bracelets $5

Key Rings $5

Pens $5

Soft Toys $6

Made by Nancy, Lara and LeTia

HOUSE ATHLETICS CARNIVAL

Last Thursday we held our House Athletics Carnival for 2018 at Meadowglen International Athletics Stadium. All

of our students made our school community proud; demonstrating our community expectations throughout the

day in what was a fun day for everyone involved. Thank you to all of our wonderful parent helpers, without you

the event would not have been possible! Congratulations to the winning house on the day, Blue House!

Overall

Blue Red Green Yellow

893 616 681 716

INTERSCHOOL SPORTS REPORT

On Friday the 8th of June, we travelled to Hazel Glen College to

complete our season requirements for interschool sport. Under the

threat of rain the girls entered Hazel Glen in high spirits knowing

that to progress to the next rounds, we needed to win. Both teams

played at the same time and completed full 40 minute matches,

thanks to our spectators that stepped in to help with coaching.

The A team started well and kept getting stronger as the game went

on. The centre court of Bella, Daisy, Asha, Ruby and Eliza were

strong all match and set up many great drives. Both ends of the

court combined well to help us run out winners 25 – 13.

The B team were at first caught out with the full game time but played well and were the winners 9 to 5. Great

shooting by Emily, who shot 7 of our 9 goals.

Now we need to wait and find out if we go through to the next stage.

Last Friday was the last week for interschool sport for Term 2. The football team played

Hazel Glen College and the match would decide who would be premiers for 2018.

Unfortunately, we did not get the win, but we saw what a good team is able to do when

they utilise the space on a big ground. Congratulations to all of our footballers for coming

runners up in what was a great season!

UNIFORM ITEMS NEEDED

We would greatly appreciate uniform items in any size that your children have outgrown. Please send them

into the school office. Thank you.

COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE

WPS is supporting the Whittlesea Community Connections mid-year food drive, which assists families in need.

If anyone would like to donate non-perishable food items please send them into the school office by 29th June.

Thank you in advance for your support

2018 INCURSION/EXCURSION LEVY

Reminder to families that the second and final instalment of the 2018 Incursion/Excursion Levy is due on

Friday 29th June.

SCHOOL CHAPLAIN REPORT

Aim High

These words are about setting goals and raising the quality of these goals to the highest level. I have been

presenting a series of articles based on the thoughts of a clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson who has been

speaking widely to audiences on how to live life well. We are to make a real effort to aim high “toward the

highest possible good”. If we do that we will improve our chances for a rewarding life. Even if we don’t find

immediate success, we do have every chance of discovering the many positive outcomes when we look back on

our lives in later years.

We are built to aim at something. According to Peterson, we are ‘aiming’ creatures and we can conceptualise

the highest good that we can and keep it in sight. We can look at a point on the horizon and keep moving

toward it. Peterson says: “If you dare to do the most difficult thing you conceptualise, your life will work out

better than if you do anything else.”

Having something high to aim at creates a dominant filter in the mind and heart to organise the stuff of life. It

can readjust our world view. We will have a greater mastery over our emotions and motivation, and our efforts

will have a clear direction. We can engage in the present and at the same time hold our course for that point in

the future, that spot on the horizon. Meaning and hope will be woven into all we do. We may never reach our

highest aspirations but that should not put us off. Every step towards our goal will be supercharged and

provided we keep a positive attitude we will enjoy the stops along the way.

Peter Ackland - School Chaplain

The Next Link Up Market at the Community Activity Centre (Whittlesea Library building) is coming up this

Saturday, 16 June. This market exists to raise funds for the Chaplaincy Program at both the Primary School and

the Secondary College. There are about 28 stalls expected there and these have been managed for the

greatest variety of merchandise possible. Everyone is encouraged to attend because the more people coming

the better the market will become. Also… anyone who would like to volunteer at this market, please leave me a

message at the school office and I (Peter) will follow you up. I hope to see you there.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

VicRoads is holding an information night this evening to update the community on the final design for the Plenty

Road intersection in Whittlesea, and other works happening in and near the area.

Visit the VicRoads team at Whittlesea Primary School between 6pm and 8pm and meet the project team, and

see design plans for the intersection of Plenty Road, Wallan Road, Laurel Street and Macmeikan Street in

Whittlesea.

You’ll also have a chance to learn about other works in the area, from the VicRoads Plenty Road Upgrade team,

and the Level Crossing Removal project team for Mernda Rail.

Where: Whittlesea Primary School, 2435 Plenty Road,

Whittlesea

When: Today! June 14 2018, 6pm – 8pm.

Disclaimer: Photos may be taken during the event for use

by VicRoads and or for public viewing, including on our

website. If you have any concerns, please let us know

prior to the event.

COMMUNITY NEWS