West Lakes Shore School Newsletter

Term 1, Week 8 2021

LEADERSHIP CORNER

Dear Families,

3 way interviews are well underway and we value this time to ensure we can work together to support your child/s individual learning needs.

If you have missed the opportunity to book online, please contact your child's teacher directly. Thank you for supporting COVID-19 requirements by ensuring you sign in using QR codes. 

Please remember families are unable to enter classroom units outside of interview times. During the school day (when gates are locked), no family member is to enter school grounds or buildings. This is a safety measure in place at all times. If you need to drop something for a child during school hours, or your child is late, please enter via the front office. 

'Better School' - World Class Renovations

We are well underway with our site redevelopment using our $5,000,000 Better School Funding.  The asset committee, staff, students and architects have met and finalised plans for our Stingray, Octopus, Dolphin and external new courtyard - replacing the existing courtyard and Turtle Unit (currently identified as Forum on the plans) Please see the attached plans below for more information.

  • Sports Day information will be supplied to families soon, including COVID-19 safety management plan requirements.


BETTER SCHOOL - PLANS AND PHOTOS

WELLBEING AND ENGAGEMENT SURVEY COLLECTION 2021

Our school will undertake the annual Wellbeing and Engagement Survey collection for years 4-7 students. Please find attached parent information regarding this. Please notify your child's class teachers if you do not give permission for them to participate.

Download

ENROLMENTS FOR 2022

Families of children due to commence Reception in 2022, and seeking a place at WLSS are encouraged to fill out an expression of interest for their child by Friday 21nd May 2021. This includes applications for siblings, students in zone, and any students - should they not live in zone - applying to be considered for a place in 2022. All enrolments will be considered in line with the department enrolment policy which can be found on the school website.

It will be a busy school year as we plan the implications of Year 6 and Year 7 having their final primary school year in 2021. All Year 7 students will commence at High School in 2022.

If you know your child will be commencing at an alternate school, including private High School in 2022, please can you email our enrolment officer Janet Massey - janet.massey644@schools.sa.edu.au at your earliest convenience. This information is vital for our class structures and has implications for staffing, school planning of senior school processes and pre-booked 2022 excursions and camps. Your support with this is hugely appreciated as we plan for the impact of future change. 

CLASSROOM CORNER

PELICAN 4 STUDENTS

P4 students have been busy exploring narratives in both Reading and Writing lessons. Students have deconstructed narrative texts in Guided Reading analysing text structure, language features and purpose. In writing students have been busy exploring and practising some of the Seven Steps to writing success techniques such as Sizzling Starts, Tightening Tension and Exciting Endings. They have then used these skills when writing their own narrative to ensure it is an engaging story that captures their readers interest. Students are learning to use the VCOP method to edit and improve their writing.

Check out the images below of the students hard at work.

P4 Students - Reading and Writing Superstars!

WELLBEING CORNER

WHAT IS INTEROCEPTION?

In a previous newsletter, you may remember we mentioned The Nest, which is now located in the Wellbeing Hub. The Nest provides students with valuable interoception skills; but what is interoception? 

Interoception is another sense – like hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch – that notices, identifies and responds to our internal physical and emotional states of the body. It can range from basic needs such as knowing when to go to the toilet and feeling hot or cold, to more advanced emotions, like being aware that you are becoming angry or upset and managing these feelings proactively. Sometimes, we don’t always respond to the signals our body is sending or know how to read them.

This is where The Nest can help. Targeted activities and sensory fidgets can help students recognise and understand their internal body signals for uncomfortable emotions, so they can begin to work out what distresses or stresses them and then how to best respond to these stressors. This results in more positive time in the classroom and better learning outcomes. 

If you would like to know a little more, here’s a couple of great resources: 

https://www.education.sa.gov.au/sites/default/files/interoception-parent-caregiver-booklet.pdf?v=1587342417 

This link is for Kelly Mahler; she is an occupational therapist in the US and has some great videos and blogs about interoception: 

https://www.kelly-mahler.com/what-is-interoception/ 

 

SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS

We are pleased to be hosting two Social Work students, Selina and Nelly, for Terms 1 and 2. They will be spending time in the Wellbeing Hub and selected classrooms to learn more about the important role of student wellbeing and engagement in the school setting. Children are welcome to introduce themselves and say hello when they meet them around the school, and we look forward to supporting them at WLSS in their placements. 

 

UNPLUGGED WORKSHOP FOR FAMILIES

SCHOOL SPORT CORNER

SAPSASA UPDATES - District Swimming, Cricket & Softball

DISTRICT SWIMMING

Congratulations to the students who participated in the recent SAPSASA Port District Swimming Carnival held at Largs Swim Centre.

Our school was represented by the following students: Ky B, Stephanie H, Ethan H-R, Ethan S, Luke W, Amelia Z, Christian H, Lara H, Amber P & Ava T.

Our school came 3rd overall out of 12 schools competing. 

The best of luck to Ky B, Ethan H-R, Ava T, Amber P and Christian H from WLSS who will be representing Port District at the SAPSASA Metro State Day Carnival at Marion Aquatic Centre on Thursday 25th March.  

KNOCKOUT CRICKET

Well done to the boys SAPSASA cricket team consisting of the following students: Edwin B, Liam C, Mason H, Dylan J, Declan P, Samuel P, Charlie R, Riad R, Hamish R, Cooper S & Mitchell W.

Last week the boys met at Adelaide Lutheran Sports Grounds on South Tce and participated in a 4 team, two match knockout competition.

Our boys defeated Grange Primary in the first game, and then went on to play Cabra College in the final, who had defeated Westbourne Park Primary.

The WLSS team comprising of all year 6 students played extremely well but were unfortunately beaten by Cabra College in the final.

A big thanks to Ty Jenkins and Paul Polujnikoff for umpiring on the day.

SAPSASA SOFTBALL

Congratulations to the following students who will represent the Port Adelaide district in SAPSASA Softball in week 10 this term.

Amber P, Ava T, Madison B, Alexia A, Klara McK, Macy P & Izzy H-H, Hudson S & Mitchell J

Good luck and well done!

HARMONY DAY - 19TH MARCH 2021

LIVING IN HARMONY AND NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST BULLYING AND VIOLENCE

The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) is an important day in our school calendar to join the other schools across Australia to say 'Bullying. No Way!' and WLSS is proud to be a NDA school!

Harmony Day is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community. Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it.

Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.

Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. 

This Friday 19th March, all children are encouraged to wear something orange (please make clothing Sun Safe).  Our school will celebrate on Friday with the following:

  • A short, whole-school assembly on the asphalt
  • A Harmony Day trail with their buddies; Buddy classes will work together to unscramble a secret message hidden in Harmony Day artwork around the school.

There are some fascinating statistics about Australia's diversity:

  • nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was
  • we identify with over 300 ancestries
  • more than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia
  • since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia
  • apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi.

HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION INFORMATION FOR 2022

STARTING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN 2022 - Year 6 & 7 Families

Families will soon be receiving information and a transition brochure from the Department.  This pack will go home with students before the end of Week 11.

An email from the Department with your child's Online Registration of Interest URL will be sent in either Week 1 or 2, Term 2.  You will have until the 21 May to complete this.

Make sure you are having meaningful conversations as a family about High School choices, and have been to open days and school tours.

Specialist entry programs will be closed or closing shortly - please visit High School web pages for more information.

If you require more information or would like to check what high school you are zoned for, please visit the Department website via this link: https://www.education.sa.gov.au/parents-and-families/year-7-high-school/year-7-high-school-information-parents 

We require family information to be correct - emails for both parents/guardians especially as this is how the registration of interest will be sent. Contact rachel.roe536@schools.sa.edu.au if you have any questions or would like to change email addresses.

EXTRA TOUR DATES ADDED - HENLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Given Henley High School’s school tours have all reached capacity, they have decided to hold 2 more this term.

  • Tuesday March 23rd, 1.30pm – 3.00pm
  • Monday March 29th, 9.00am – 10.30pm

You must book in for a tour here:   https://henleyhighschool.wufoo.com/forms/zqkt44312j71ka/

For more information visit there website at www.henleyhs.sa.edu.au.

FAMILY INFORMATION

AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS - FINAL CALL FOR SOCCER REGISTRATIONS


REGISTRATIONS CLOSE 18TH MARCH 2021

The 2021 After School Soccer Program registration/ nominations are now open and will close promptly on the 18th March 2021 at 11:30pm.

The first game for the season will start Saturday 8th May - more information is provided in the attached link.  

Please complete the attached online form as soon as you can to secure a place for your child.

After School Soccer will not go ahead without volunteer coaches. 

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=6fS7c4gGRkmuqb0LtA7PBzMwUdpZ4AxOinr9Sx7eoa5UOUgyTU0zU1gwT1VIV0RFWUo4WEE2TDVESi4u

OSHC - IMPORTANT REMINDER

Two weeks remain for families to confirm their 2018–19 income.

If you don’t confirm by 31 March as part of the balancing process, you will lose your Child Care Subsidy.

To confirm income, families need to:

CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED

HELP! The Canteen urgently requires volunteers on alternate Fridays. Any help is most appreciated even if you can only spare an hour or two.  This might include: food prep, order taking, packing lunches or serving students.  

If you can help please contact the front office for more information.

A reminder that you will need a current / valid volunteer application.  If you don't have one please click the VOLUNTEERING AT WLSS INFORMATION link below.

WEST LAKES SHORE SCHOOL - CONTACT INFORMATION

ABSENTEE LINE - 8449 7574 or send via SkoolBag Eform Absence 

To contact OSHC call - 8242 3141

To contact WLS Kindy call - 8449 1189