Wiripaang Whisperer… Term 1 Week 4

Wiripaang Public School 2A Pacific Highway, Gateshead NSW 2290 Phone: 02 4943 4357 Fax: 02 4942 2589

Email: wiripaang-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Positive Affirmation:

Dear Parents, Carers and Community, Congratulations to our School Leaders who were sworn in at our annual Induction Assembly last Friday. Proud parents, carers, grandparents, family members and teachers pinned their badges on their chest as they recited their oath. We know that this year’s leaders will show respect, responsibility and we know that they are learners. A sunny day, fabulous water temperature, excited children, staff and parents and Hunter Sports High volunteers all led to a successful Swimming Carnival on Monday. There were so many more students with 'blue bands' on denoting that they can swim than ever before and there were more students able to compete in races and in relay teams. Thank you Mr McNeil and Mr Durie for your organisation and to our lovely parents for coming along. It was wonderful to see so many parents there and kind donations such as Mrs Kerry's sandwiches and pikelets for the children to share, our new parent Mrs Hobbs-Ladd sharing her swimming expertise and Dave Watson as lifeguard. Hunter Sports High sent a group of students who are studying sports subjects to help out and they were fantastic....helping with timing, marshalling and general duties...they were a credit to their school. The only disappointing factor was the number of students who did not come to school on a day when instruction was planned. This unfortunately leads to the situation we had two weeks ago when our school had many of our ex-students in Year 7, in their second week of high school and they are in our playground in their play clothes (not uniform) and when questioned why they weren't in uniform their answer was simple...'swimming carnival, not going.' DET Attendance policy states that students must come to school 'every day that instruction is provided'. Every day of the school year, instruction is provided. This is true of our carnival days when every child is included in the program. It is not ok to say they had the day off because they can't swim - our school provides year round swimming instruction. It's not ok to say they won't be safe: schools have risk assessments and staff ratios that must be adhered to around water...it is our job to absolutely provide safety structures. Please note that the new DET attendance policy has stricter guidelines in regards to absences, particularly the reasons for absences. More information around the changes can be found on our website. Thank you parents, carers and families...our children look fabulous in their school uniform and in particular the new sports shirts. Mr Thompson is about to start the design and ordering process for our 2015 Year 6 shirts. It was lovely to see parents and carers here yesterday afternoon attending the annual Class Information Sessions'. I am sure that valuable information was gained. If you missed out watch out for our Podcast Links on our website that give a shortened version of the information sessions. Please join us next Thursday night (26h February) as we come together to explain the exciting changes to how your children learn at our school and what our expectations are. It takes a village to raise a child, so come on villagers...let's gather..... Mrs Saurins Principal

Our positive affirmation this week is ‘Nice talk shows respect’ ……. Be Respectful. This affirmation is all about how we talk to one another. It reminds us that as human beings we have the gift of language and we need to remember that we can make each other feel good with our kind words. ‘Please, thank you, hello, you look nice today’ are all examples of nice talk. We as your school leaders, challenge you this week to use plenty of nice talk in our lovely school?

Calendar Events….

Thursday 26th February Curriculum workshop 6pm-7pm Tuesday 3rd March - Wonnai commences Friday 13th March - Paul Harragon Cup Wednesday 18th March - CoS Cross Country Wednesday 25th March - T-Ball Gala Day Tuesday 31st March Easter Hat Parade Thursday 2nd April Last day Term 1 Friday 3rd April Good Friday

Respectful Responsible Learners

Leadership Oath

I stand before you today ready to step up to a leadership position at Wiripaang

Public School.

I will set an example of positive behaviour, respctful of my fellow students and

helping others when in need. .

I will strive to be responsible in all that I do, persisting until I get it right. I will approach my leadership duties as a learner and I will be organised to lead. I am proud of Wiripang School and today I commit to helping my school and its students to fly high on the wings of success.

Office News School Office Hours 8.30am till 3.15pm

Outstanding Money Just a reminder that at all times parents/carers are most welcome to pay small amounts regularly off money that is owed to the school.

Payment of Money to Office When money is paid to the office a receipt will be handed immediately to the person paying the money (except for Uniforms). Please check the details on the receipt are correct e.g. name/activity/amount paid and notify the office staff if there are any discrepancies.

School News PBL

Wiri Says,

Let’s learn about “Doing my Best!!”

This week we are learning to do our best.

As respectful, responsible, learners we:

• Take pride in the presentation of our work. • Set high standards for ourselves. • Listen closely and follow instructions. • Are responsible for being in class. • ‘Have a go’ – Even in the tough times. • Are persistent.

Just like Wiri says,

I

“Doing my Best”

Solution Steps This year we ask all parents and students to follow our Solution Steps if you need support at school. You would have seen this poster in the office and around the school. The poster lets you know who to speak to when you need help at school.

The first port of call should always be your child’s classroom teacher; from there you can speak to our friendly executive team. If you still need further assistance a school executive can book you an appointment to see Mrs Saurins.

If you have any questions about this process please speak to your friendly staff at Wiripaang Public School.

PBL – School Suspensions

I would like to take the opportunity to share my excitement about where we sit as a school right now. Our enrolment is growing (now 240) students, students are in class learning, teachers are working so hard implementing early Action for Success and Powerful Learning Accountable Teaching and our student data is improving.

New structured play programs in the playground have improved engagement and behaviour in the playground, so there are less students being referred to Lift Off.

The clear message is that we are so happy with our school and the journey we are taking and the efforts our students are making to improve their results.

Aggressive behaviour and violence will not be tolerated on this site or any other DEC site. I have included an excerpt from the DEC Suspension Policy for your review, noting that the full policy can be accessed on the DEC website and on Wiripaang Public School’s website, where there will be a link.

Mrs Saurins

EXCERPT

Short Suspension

In cases where a range of appropriate student welfare and discipline strategies have been implemented and been unsuccessful in resolving the inappropriate behaviour or the principal determines the behaviour of the student is of a type that warrants immediate suspension, the principal may choose to impose a short suspension of up to and including four school days. Short suspensions may be imposed for the following reasons and will be reported in the following categories:

1. Continued Disobedience. This includes, but is not limited to, breaches of the school discipline code such as: refusal to obey staff instructions; defiance; disrupting other students; use of alcohol or repeated use of tobacco.

2. Aggressive Behaviour. This includes, but is not limited to hostile behaviour directed towards students, members of staff or other persons, including: damaging the property of the school or students; bullying (including cyberbullying); verbal abuse, and abuse transmitted electronically such as by email, SMS text messages or by other electronic means.

Long Suspension If short suspensions have not resolved the issue of inappropriate behaviour, or the misbehaviour is so serious as to warrant a long suspension, the principal may impose a long suspension of up to and including 20 school days. In determining if a student’s behaviour is serious enough to warrant a long suspension the principal must consider:

The safety of students and staff The merit and circumstances of the particular case Factors such as the age, individual needs, any disability and developmental level of students.

Subject to factors outlined in the dot point above, principals will impose a long suspension for:

Physical violence: Which results in injury, or which seriously interferes with the safety or well being of other students and staff (including sexual or indecent assault).

Meet some of our staff……….

Awards Congratulations to the following students who received an Assembly Award for being Respectful, Responsible Learners:

Tayah Reed Cody Frizell Henry Norrie Glen McGuiness Banjo Hooton Lee Thornton Noahjames Denning Dean Quinn Hayden Chittenden

Jake Mulley Aidan Jaunalksnis Marshall Hopgood Gabrielle McGuiness Monifah Brown Ashton Salter Lucy Hedges-Wellings Tiarnee Cox Jack Lawrence-Newell

Ebony Blake Byron Lawrence-Carr Aaliyah Lemalama Madasyn Hamilton Zach Toward Keyara McCauley Durrant Jaykob Holzigal Hari Swaminathan

The Tell Them From Me student feedback survey I am delighted that this term, our school, like many others in the state, will participate in a Department of Education and Communities initiative: the Tell Them From Me student feedback survey. The survey aims to help improve student learning outcomes and measures factors that are known to affect academic achievement and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and effective teaching practices.

More information about the survey is available at: http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents

The survey is a great opportunity for our students to provide our school with valuable and quick feedback on what they think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them. Schools in Australia and around the world have used the Tell Them From Me survey to help improve how they do things at school.

I want to assure you that the survey is confidential and school staff will not be able to identify individual students from their responses. The survey is conducted online and will typically take less than 30 minutes to complete. It will be administered during school hours between 9 March and 2 April. Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary.

A consent form and FAQs for parents/carers about the survey is being sent home with students. If you do not want your child or children to participate, please return the form to school by Friday 27 February. Copies of the form and FAQs are available from the website above.

Sport News

Sport in Schools Australia (SISA)

Our whole school has been enjoying the SISA program. Activities and equipment are highly engaging and students look forward eagerly to their session. We have been able to subsidise this program with $400-00 that our PBL team won at the PBL expo last year which brought the cost down to $24-00 per student. Please attend to this payment if you haven’t already done so.

Check out some of our students having fun!

Mrs Cook

Tips For Parents

Friendships to boost your child’s learning

If children are happy socially they tend to be more engaged in their learning. So teaching your child about the importance of making friends is as vital as learning their ABCs.

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/development/how-friendships-boost-your-childs-learning

Assignment starters for the arts

Videos are great resources for getting kids enthused about their assignments. These pages on cubism, percussion and critical studies provide key points to help them get started and links to useful sites to assist with further research.

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/homework-and-study/other-subjects-and-projects/the-arts/assignment-starters-for-the-arts

Helping your Kindy kid succeed at school

A great way to kick off your child's formal education is to understand the school culture and what your child is doing in the classroom.

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/development/helping-kindy-kids-succeed-at-school

Speech problems

All kids learn how to talk and listen at different rates but did you know there’s a general pattern to your child’s language development?

Find out more: http://www.schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au/wellbeing/health/speech-problems

Library News

It has been great sharing the library with our Wiri friends and making new friendships over the past 4 weeks. So many faces have ‘popped’ in for a look and have taken the opportunity to spend some time with us during their lunch time.

Remember:

The library is a beautiful place to be. Please leave it that way when you leave as many people share their learning time in there.

Star Person of the Week Congratulations Jamahley Bell!! You are doing an amazing job being an assistant in the library.

Thank you for showing responsibility and being passionate about your job!

What a great Wiri Friend!!

Community Information

Windale Junior Rugby League Football Club is holding their registration days on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 4pm-6pm at the oval. Fees are U/6 to U/16 - $60-00 (shorts and socks included).