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
AIMS
POLICY
Implementation:
Requests
Notification of future year teacher/s
Requests for students to repeat a year level
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
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
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.
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:
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.
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
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
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!