YWPS Newsletter

#18 - 24th November, 2022

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#18 Important Dates

Wednesday 30th November - Friday 2nd December - Grade 2 Camp - YMCA Mt Evelyn

Tuesday 6th December - Grade 1 Night of Fun - 3:30-5:00pm

Wednesday 7th December - 'Within School' Transition Program

Friday 9th December - Professional Practice Day - (No students required at School)

Tuesday 13th December - 'Within School' Transition Program

Wednesday 14th December - Mr Whippy end of year celebration

Monday 19th December - Prep Disco

Monday 19th December - Grade 6 Graduation Celebration

Tuesday 20th December - Whole School Assembly 9:15am

Tuesday 20th December - Last day of Term - Early Dismissal 1:30pm 

Monday 23rd January, 2023 - School office Re-opens

Friday 27th January, 2023 - Curriculum Day - No students required at School

Monday 30th January, 2023 - Curriculum Day - No Students required at School

Tuesday 31st January, 2023 - Grades 1-6 Start 2023 School Year

Tuesday 31st January, 2023 - Prep Transition Day
Wednesday 1st February, 2023 - Prep Transition Day
Thursday 2nd February, 2023 - Prep Transition Day

Monday 6th February, 2023 - Preps Commence Full Time

Wednesday 15th February, 2023 - School Photo Day

#18 Greetings From The Principal

Dear Parents, Students and Friends,

We had a very successful Curriculum Day last Wednesday – teachers used this day to continue writing the Student Semester 2 Reports, and other staff culled books in the library and organised resources and rooms in the school.

The school’s final Pupil-free Day will be held on Friday 9th December. On this day, students are not to attend school as the teachers will be preparing learning programs for 2023.

2023 CLASSES AND TEACHERS

There will be a few changes in our teaching line-up in 2023.

We are farewelling two of our teachers who are moving on to other schools next year.

Tom McAlinden has picked up a position at Garrang Wilam Primary School and Christina Crosland will be moving to Williamstown Primary School. Tom has only been with us in the Prep team for a short time and during this time has made great friendships and relationships with students, staff and parents.  Christina has been part of the community for 6 years and has taught grades from Year 2 to 6.  Many of you will know her from assembly as she wrangles the PA, supports the JSCs, and  (I reckon) does great stand up in front of the whole school.  Congratulations to both these teachers and best wishes for the future and I am sure that they will make an impression at their new schools.

We are also farewelling Elizabeth Chen, who has worked as an aide with many of our students and teachers over the past 18 months.  Elizabeth has a magic way with students and is always calm in a crisis!  Elizabeth is continuing her studies so we hope she returns as a fully fledged teacher some day.

Two very cherished teachers have made the big decision to retire from teaching to do other things in their lives.  Re Casey has been teaching here for 27 years and has expertly led the PE Program for some of that time.  Under Re’s leadership, the PE program has supported budding athletes to develop skills in many sports and to achieve high levels of success at a state and national level. Most importantly, she has helped 100s of students develop and maintain a love of being active, being a team player, being resilient in defeat, and encouraging others to have a go at new physical activities.  These behaviours all transfer to other aspects of school life and life in general.  Thank you Re.

Heather has taught here for 31 years and during that time has achieved exceptional success in many areas but especially film-making with our students.  Countless awards for Claymation movies and the sheer satisfaction of creating has spurred our students on to vie for a place in Heather’s program.  Not everyone is into sports or games and for some of our writers, thinkers, and makers, Claymation has been a treasured outlet for their passions.  Several students have continued to pursue these skills in tertiary studies and careers.  Luckily for us, Heather is keeping her teaching hand in shape, and will return next year to continue Claymation as a special program. I wish Heather and Re a wonderful retirement from teaching and that they enjoy the freedom from the school bell.

Ed Weatherson and Christine DiMuccio are taking a break next year from teaching.  I hope they have a wonderful time pursuing other interests and return in 2024 raring to go again.

We have four new teachers commencing with us next year.

Julia Richardson, Brad McKenzie, Emily Grull, and Madison Metaxas are starting their teaching careers with us.  We are also welcoming back Celia Iao from her year at Tarneit P-9 College.

The only positions yet to be filled are some part-time teaching positions.

Below is the much-anticipated release of the classes and teachers for next year. I have also included the Student Placement Policy to alert parents and carers as to how the process of placing students into their classes for the following year works. It also sets out the limitations of parent requests. 2023 Classes have been organised with the students placed by the Classroom Creator software program. In previous years we have found that by moving a student after the classes have been created, a domino effect results in students being left without a requested friend, or some classes being loaded with behavioural or academic concerns.

Please note that a decimal number after a teacher’s name indicates that the teacher is part-time in that role: 0.2 = one day, 0.4 = two days, 0.6 = three days, 0.8 = 4 days. TBC is To Be Confirmed

Classes 2023

Students will find out their classroom and teacher for 2023 on Wednesday 7th December and spend an hour in their new classroom with their teachers and new classmates. This is a very exciting day for everyone!

We are asking for parents and carers to please respect the decisions made by the school with regard to placement of students and do not ask for changes to be made after the students meet their new teacher/s and classmates.

There is a second transition session on the 13th of December.





CLASS PLACEMENT POLICY 

PURPOSE

  • To explain to our school community how we manage requests for class placements, for the following school year.

AIMS

  • To place each student in a class that allows the best opportunities for learning
  • To form well-balanced classes that take into account the social, emotional, academic and physical characteristics of each student.
  • To ensure that optimum use is made of the prior knowledge that teachers, parents and relevant others have of each student prior to class placement.

POLICY

  • The process that the school works through to plan each student’s class placement begins months before the end of the school year.
  • A clearly defined, collaborative process for the placement of students into classes leads to greater efficiency, increased understanding, and improved opportunities for learning.
  • Individual class placements can have significant effects on a student’s attainments and must be based on professional judgments about the student’s educational needs, circumstances and interests. Whilst the individual is always to be considered this cannot dictate or be seen to over-ride what is in the best educational interests of the majority of students.
  • Due to the high number of enrolments, the size of the school necessitates a formal policy to manage the allocation of students to classes.

Implementation:

  • The allocation of students to various classes, class structures, teaching responsibilities and class compositions are all ultimately responsibilities of the Principal
  • The process of forming classes commences in Term 4 of the preceding year
  • The Principal, in consultation with the Consultative Committee determine the number of classes for the following year, class sizes, and the year levels of each class
  • Preferences are sought from staff members to teach a particular year level or specialist role
  • Once decided, the class structure and teaching responsibilities are published in the school Newsletter before the first of the in-school transition sessions in term 4
  • Current year level teachers and school leaders work collaboratively to develop classes and student placements
  • Consideration is given to gender, the previous class, each student’s ability, behaviour, and friendship groups. Individual needs and a whole school perspective are considered.
  • Classes are to be homogeneous, as far as practical, with respect to academic performance, social development, behaviour, and gender
  • Students are not streamed into ability home group classes. The aim is to make each class as equal as possible; however, streaming into ability groupings takes place within classrooms and across year levels for some curriculum areas
  • Prep - 2 classes will be smaller whenever possible
  • Preferred class compositions are either single grade level or composite grade levels that most easily fit with the Victorian Curriculum framework
  • Under exceptional circumstances the Principal may reorganise classes at any time
  • Staff members do not disclose the composition of proposed classes or teaching responsibilities prior to any formal announcements
  • Students who enrol at the school during the year are temporarily allocated to classes, with the possible need to alter the placement once further information regarding the student is known

Requests

  • Parents are invited to submit written requests with respect to class placements. The submissions must be based only on educational reasons.
  • All parent requests must be directed in writing to the Assistant Principal, usually before the end of October
  • Requests for individual teachers will not be taken into consideration without valid educational reasons. A personal preference for a particular teacher is not a valid educational reason.
  • All valid written parent submissions are given consideration but not automatically be accommodated
  • Friendship pairing requests and student separation requests will not be accepted. The software program ‘Class Creator’ facilitates friendship placings. If situations are of a nature that requires students to be separated, the Assistant Principals ensure this occurs. Separations will be reviewed and may not be carried forward.
  • The Assistant Principals inform teachers of valid parent requests prior to the formation of classes
  • Only in exceptional and compelling circumstances will a student be moved from one class to another once the classes have been finalised

Notification of future year teacher/s

  • Students and parents will be notified of their class placements and teachers for the following year on the day of the first in-school transition session, usually conducted in the second to last week of Term 4
  • Some parents and students are notified in advance to support a smooth transition

Requests for students to repeat a year level

  • Our school follows the Department of Education and Training policy in the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library on Year Level Movement – see Repeating a Year Level
  • We promote students to the next year level and exercise our professional expertise and judgment in relation to these matters.
  • Students are only able to repeat a year level in exceptional circumstances where Yarraville West Primary School considers it is required for the long-term benefit of the student e.g. considering their social, wellbeing and academic needs.
  • We ensure that parents/carers are advised of the options that we consider best meet individual student needs.
  • Students will not repeat a year level without the consent of parents/carers.

#18 Report from School Council

 

 

Our School Council meets twice each term.  Here is the latest report from our President, Kristine Daw.

With only a month till we say goodbye to the school year, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the staff, parents and students this year.  It has been wonderful to reconnect as a school and a community.

This term has been busy, from incursions to prep transitions, camps and the Grade 6 class preparing for their graduation.

To the Grade 6 students, congratulations on your final year of primary school as you embark on new adventures.  Enjoy your graduation.  Celebrate your achievements and best wishes for your first year at high school.

Congratulations to all the staff for making these camps a wonderful experience for the students.  The Grade 3 / 4 Camps saw the students head to Camp Campaspe for three days of activities and fun.  From archery to bushcraft to making rafts and the disco.  Thank you to all the teachers who, like the kids, had minimal sleep.  

With the Grade 2’s heading off in a few days, I look forward to hearing their stories.

Earlier this term, we received our NAPLAN results.  Congratulations to all the students for your achievements.  For every student, it was the first time for all students to complete this assessment, and I would like them to be proud of their accomplishments.

This term, we have welcomed our new preps for 2023.  With their grades announced and their transition days completed, I hope each child has a happy beginning to the great adventure of life at school. 

As we move into 2023, we continue to seek new ways to enhance and increase our connection with the parents and students.  From next year we will have some new and improved features from Compass, personalised to grades and students’ information.

Congratulations to the Junior School Council for bringing new initiatives into the school.  We thank you for all your work this year.

Our Buildings and Grounds committee held a working bee for the sensory courtyard earlier in the term.  With 20 parents and students volunteering their time to help progress this project, we look forward to the builders moving in sometime soon.

The Events Committee has organised Mr Whippy for the 14th December, as a special end of year celebration for the students.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my year working with the staff, students and parents.  Thank you isn’t enough for everyone volunteering their time through the Council and the sub-committees.  It has been a pleasure working with you.

The School Council invites new parents for 2023 to join these sub-committees as we work together to provide further opportunities for our students.  

Working with a dedicated group of staff, parents and students have been a pleasure.  I wish you all the best for Christmas and the new year.  I hope the summer holidays bring lots of sunshine and some time to relax and enjoy precious time with our families and friends.

Kristine


Kristine Daw

School Council President

 

#18 2023 Parent Payments

Dear Parents/Guardians

YWPS is preparing for a great year of teaching and learning in 2023 and would like to advise you of our school council recommended voluntary financial contribution.

Curriculum Contribution - $300 per student

Other Contributions- $55

A detailed letter outlining the contributions will be available via Compass and on the school website early December after which payment can be made via EFT at the office or Compass which will also have a payment plan option.

Further information on the departments Parent Payment policy can be found at this link - https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/parent-payment/policy

 

Raelene Danaher

Business Manager

#18 OSHC Program News

Hi from the OSHC Program

OSHC Families – Please don’t forget there is a Pupil Free Day on Friday 9th of December.

If you require care on this day from 9:00am - 3:30pm, can you please book in by Friday 2nd of December.

To do so, please either email 2832-oshc@schools.vic.edu.au or call 9314 9378 and speak directly to Jo or Maddie.

Before School Care/After School Care will run as normal.

Bookings for 2023

As of Term 1 2023, OSHC Program Fees are increasing to $20 for Before School Care & $25 for After School Care *Please note: this is before CCS is applied.

All current OSHC Families:  Your children’s current bookings will roll over into 2023 so you don’t need to do anything further UNLESS you want to change or add days in 2023 - to do please email, call or see Jo directly.

And most importantly, if you have a PREP child who is starting school next year, and you haven’t already enrolled them into the program for 2023, this can be done by following the link:  https://www.smartcentral.net/v2/service_profile/show/296

Please do so by  9th of December to ensure you child has a place.

#18 'Within School' Transition Program

Our ‘Within School’ transition program will occur during week 10 and 11 of this term. Students from Prep to Grade 5 will have the opportunity to meet their next year’s teacher/s and classmates over two sessions.

During the transition sessions, students will participate in engaging and authentic activities which allows them to ‘get to know’ the students within their class as well as their teacher. A note will go home after your child’s first transition session informing you of their teacher for 2023 and friends they have in their new class.

Our first transition session is Wednesday 7 December followed by our second transition session on Tuesday 13 December.

Please talk to your child/ren about the up and coming transition sessions as we know this process can be exciting and challenging at the same time. You can support them by:

  1. Talking positively about the change of a new teacher and going into a new year level and classroom.
  2. Acknowledging and discussing any concerns or questions they may have.
  3. Reassuring them that they will have at least one of their friend preferences in their grade.

 

In supporting our students with additional needs, teachers have completed a student profile which includes information and strategies relevant to supporting your child. This information will be included as part of the transition handover process. Students with additional needs will also have further informal opportunities to connect with their 2023 teacher before and after the transition sessions.

 

Thank you for your support.

 

#18 Building & Grounds News

A huge thank you to the 20 or so parents (and kids!) who turned up to help out at the school working bee on Saturday 5 November.

Over the course of a couple of hours, the group managed to do an amazing job clearing out the courtyard area on Powell Street in preparation for it being upgraded to a sensory courtyard in the near future, removing a range of unused materials from the shed, and giving the gardens a spruce up just in time for summer.

The pictures show some of the workers in action. There was a lovely, positive vibe surrounding everyone that was there in attendance. New acquaintances were made, jokes and stories were told, and there was considerable sweating as the sun emerged from behind the clouds. It was a great opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the school grounds. A special thanks to Kev for his leadership, coordination and guidance on the day.

Mike Hubbard














#18 Goodbye from Re!

Hello Everyone

After 36 years teaching and 28 at YWPS, Michael and I (and Puddle) have decided that retiring is a great idea. So Friday December 16th will be my last day here and I officially retire on March 16th (I am using the last of my Long Service Leave next year).

I have had a wonderful career and really love teaching. It is the best. The relationships with my colleagues, many I cherish as close friends, families and the broader community, have been truly amazing but it is the children that have made my role superb. I will miss that enormously. I will leave with the warm glow of happy memories, but I know a little piece of heart will stay.

Thanks so much for all the support you have given the children and therefore, me.

I look forward to seeing you around the area.

Re. J

#18 Food Drive

#18 In the Art Room

#18 Grade 1 Night of Fun

 

 

Dear families,

We are pleased to announce that we will be hosting a Night of Fun for our Grade 1 students to celebrate a wonderful school year.

We will be providing an afternoon snack, followed by a silent disco and games hosted by Higher Melbourne!

Students are encouraged to come to school during the day dressed in their best party outfit!

The Night of Fun will begin at 3.30pm and run until 5.00 pm.

You can pick up your child from the Anderson street gate near the hall, at 5:00pm.

If you have any questions, please talk to your child’s classroom teacher.

This will be a great opportunity for the children to enjoy themselves with their peers!


#18 Sustainability

Here is a poem about sustainability, written by Ruby in 3/4 Christine's class

#18 Camp 1 - Photos!

Here are a few happy snaps from the 1st 3/4 camp held at Campaspe Downs







#18 Camp 2 - Photos!