Friday 1st September - Sensory Courtyard Opening

Friday 1st September - Father's and Special Persons Day Stall

Tuesday 5th September - Grade 3 & 4 Author visit

Friday 8th September - Hoop Time Competition Grades 5/6

Tuesday 12th September - Italian Day Dress Up

Parent and Carer Opinion Survey reminder – closes 8th September

This Department of Education survey was provided to 282 families to provide feedback about the school on a range of subjects. These include the learning programs, communication, parent participation in school activities, and transition programs. As of today, only 15% of invited parents and carers have responded.

We have used past results to make improvements in parent participation opportunities, by establishing a Community sub-committee of school council; enhancing communication by introducing the Compass system, and establishing a ‘step up’ transition program for students in Prep – Year 5.

I ask you to please take the time to complete the survey as your opinions are important to us and will contribute to the future management and organisation of our school. The survey link and PIN were emailed to invited parents and carers on the 8th of August so it should be sitting in your inbox waiting for you to complete it.

Planning for 2024

We have begun preparations for 2024 classes and staffing. I am excited that we have around 100 new preps starting school next year, and about 600 students altogether in Years 1 – 6. If your family have plans to not return to Yarraville West PS in 2024 please communicate this in an email to yarraville.west.ps@education.vic.gov.au as soon as possible. Planning for classes and staffing is underway and it’s important to know our cohort numbers, as well as being able to farewell children and families, and liaise with the new schools that children will be attending.

Warm regards,

Karen

Our Sensory Courtyard is formally opened tomorrow – please come along, have a free coffee and walk through this beautiful space. Our school captains and buddies, school councillors, staff, working bee volunteers, and students and parents who contributed to the grant application will be present for the special opening.

Some students are using the sensory courtyard to recalibrate and co-regulate with a staff member when they need to. They are loving it! Shoes are off and socked feet walk along the different ground surfaces and textures. One student expressed that ‘I was in the red zone but now I’m in the green zone’, (green = being calm and ready to be with the class again). Another gently stroked a furry kangaroo paw stem which helped to calm and settle the emotions.

Our new line marking of the asphalt area is almost complete and it was just in time for Wednesday’s sports day. Hazard lines throughout the school are being remarked in yellow and uneven concrete surfaces in the prep play area have been ground down. This should be completed over the weekend.

The prep classroom that had the termite problem has been completely refloored, carpeted and painted, and a new window frame installed. Prep Sharyn will be moving into this fresh classroom next week. The children are going to love being next door to their friends and the prep playground.

At our school:

September 1^st to April 30, Students are required to wear a school hat or another hat style that protects the face, neck and ears when outdoors, for example broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket. Students who are not wearing appropriate protective clothing or a hat will need to play in the:

-          shaded Middle Area (Year 1 – 6)

-          Prep covered area (Prep)

Navy bucket hats are available for purchase at the school office for $14.00

YWPS Italian Day:

Tuesday, 12^th of September: Italian Day: 

Ciao!, there will be a special Italian Day on Tuesday, 12^th of September. The Italian day aims to develop students’ understanding and appreciation of the Italian language and culture, through many wonderful Italian activities and fun experiences. 

• Dress up Italian Day

All students and staff may dress Italian on this day. This could include wearing the Italian flag colours of green, white and red OR students may also like to dress up as something or someone Italian such as Pinocchio, Strega Nona, an Italian cook or artist, an Italian food item (pizza or pasta), Mario, Luigi, a gondolier, soccer player, Mona Lisa, Ferrari car driver or even as an Italian monument. Students may also like to wear a mask and dress up ready to go to the famous Venetian ‘Carnevale’ festival. You may have your ideas! 

      

• Italian gelato for all

• Italian arancini rice balls(to order through the canteen online).

         

Italian language and cultural fun activities

It should be a great day as learning other languages can ‘…give learners the world by opening their minds to other cultures and opening doors to new possibilities’. 

Ciao, Anna

At the 5/6 Sports Gala day on Wednesday 30^th August, our La Crosse teams competed against other schools in the area.

We won 3 flags!

The boy's Division A, B and C teams all came first place.

The Girls Division A team did an excellent job, showing a lot of persistence and coming in 3^rd place. The Boys Division A team will continue on to State finals.

For Inquiry, the 5/6 classes have been focusing on Chemical Science and the Grade 1's are investigating "Mixing Things". Grade 5/6 Siobhan & Samantha invited their buddies, Grade 1 Julia, to make slime with them. Students combined PVA glue, baking soda and saline solution, creating a chemical reaction and turning the matter into slime.