Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers

I would like to acknowledge the amazing team effort of both staff and parents/carers, as we work together to teach our children. Between us all, we are teaching students and keeping them learning. Thank you for your support as we work through these unusual times. I know we are all working very hard to keep our daily structures and routines going and this helps provide a sense of security for us all.

Thank you to our teachers as they keep up their programming, preparation, marking and providing feedback from home. Our teachers are making videos, preparing lessons and resources connecting with their classes via zoom. I love joining into the zoom sessions as they are happening, seeing lots of smiling faces with creative backgrounds, and children hanging upside down on the screen.

This newsletter we are sharing some excellent examples of work that the students are completing with their online learning. I have also viewed some colourful and creative artworks. It was great to see Mrs Firth working via zoom with the students in the choir learning the songs for the 2021 Festival of Choral Music, another clever way of connecting with each other through music.

Every Tuesday morning, we connect via zoom for our staff meeting, we usually have 3 pages of faces – with pets and children sharing the screen. As a staff, we use this meeting time to share information but also have an opportunity for fun and laughter. In my video last Friday, I shared that our WPS staff followed the P&C’s great example of having a trivia night online. It was a first for many of us to compete online and I’m very happy to announce that the Year 1 Team were the winners for the evening. Social connections like these are so important during these difficult times.

Last week I was notified by school infrastructure that our application to have the school canteen and our P&C/OOSHC canteen upgraded to accommodate the installation of ovens and cooking tops. This is very timely as our new canteen provider; Vanilla Blue Catering will begin in Term 4. It is hoped that the work will be completed by then, enabling food to be prepared and cooked fresh onsite. Thank you to Tanya Taylor, Jenni Brown and Daniel Barber for your ongoing support over the past 2 years, persistence pays off.

It is really important to take time to look after your own wellbeing. At school students and teachers have access to the Smiling Minds program. The app has lots of great resources to support our mental health and wellbeing – a good habit for life to help deal with stress and anxiety. I love getting out into the sunshine and walking, letting my mind go free as I soak up the natural environment.

Take care and stay safe.

Jennifer Simmonds - Principal

Book Week 2021 

Did you know that Book Week has been celebrated in Australia through the Children's Book Council of Australia since 1945! It’s a wonderful way to celebrate books, reading, authors, illustrators and of course book characters – who have much to show us and teach us as they entertain us! Each year the CBCA chooses a theme, and this year it is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. Great theme, as it’s exactly what books do – they allow us to visit and immerse ourselves in other worlds as we read them! 

Week 7 is Book Week, and we will be celebrating in a few different ways!  Our annual Book Week Dress Up Parade is going ahead as a Class Zoom 'Parade' on Wednesday 25th August! We invite each student to dress up with whatever they have available to them at home, as a book character of their choice! Then, at a time determined by your teacher come dressed as your book character to your class Zoom meeting. We’d also love it if you could send in a photo of your child dressed as their book character either holding the book, or a printed cover of the book if you don’t have the book with you. But we’re not letting the kids have all the fun – Mums, Dads, Grandparents – whoever lives in your house – do you have a favourite book? Join your child in the photo holding your favourite children’s book! It might even be one you have read together. We will show these in the next Newsletter!  

Book Week Warm Up 

Thank you so much to everyone who has sent in a photo of their child reading so far! Keep them coming!! You can view our wonderful Willoughby Readers HERE! 

Children’s Book Council of Australia 

Every year this organisation hosts the Book of the Year Awards. Our students have been reading the 2021 selections with us during Terms 2 and 3. Winners in the different categories will be announced on the CBCA website just after noon on Friday 20th August. Here are the WINNERS in all categories. Both Short-Listed and Notables are also great reference points for parents looking for newly released quality, award winning Australian titles for their children. 2021 Short-list can be found at CBCAand the Notables at CBCA for the different age levels.  

Premier’s Reading Challenge 

This has been extended until Friday 3rd September. This is the last date that our Yr 3-6 students can enter the books that they have read online. Please remind your child to logon to the PRC website at NSW Premier's Reading Challenge 2021 : Home (det.nsw.edu.au) and enter the books they have been reading this term. Rule changes for the NSW lockdown mean they can also have up to 10 of their 20 books as choice books. E-books count! Any book that has been read and finished can count. This means that everyone should be able to easily get their certificate because our students are such great readers!! Just remember to enter the list online to qualify! K-2 students will have their books entered by Mrs de Silva, as the Challenge has been completed in Library lessons this year and finished this term with readings online. 

If you have any questions about anything at all, please contact us here .    

Mrs Debbie de Silva and Mrs Kiki Pandelas 

Teacher Librarians 

It's been lovely to see some students and families popping past the school on their Treasure Hunt in between their home learning activities.

Remember to complete your answers in the worksheet on the last page (attached below), and then submit all your answers and upload your photos here https://bit.ly/WilloughbyTreasureHunt  no later than Sunday 5th September.

Our Term 3 P&C E-Mag is now available to view via the link below.

Please check it out and support the local advertisers who support our school. https://www.emag.vigour.media/?pid=MTc179804

At Willoughby Public School we have a number of students with a

LIFE THREATENING NUT / PEANUT ALLERGY.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Even a small trace of nut, peanut or nut/peanut product may trigger a severe allergic reaction called Anaphylaxis, which attacks the immune system leading potentially to death within minutes.

This reaction can happen by taste, touch and sometimes can be airborne. All of these students have access to an adrenaline injection in the form of an Epipen, which can save lives. Photo posters are displayed in the classrooms, canteen, staffroom, playground bags and sick bay for easy identification of these children.

Willoughby PS works with parents/carers to support students in developing an awareness of their allergies and what foods to avoid. Students are encouraged not to share food and to always check with a parent/adult/teacher if unsure at any time. 

HOW CAN YOU HELP TO KEEP WPS STUDENTS SAFE? 

Please help us by not including peanut or any nut products in your child’s lunchbox. This includes peanut butter and Nutella. 

Please avoid products with any nuts/peanuts listed as an ingredient. 

Explain about nut/peanut allergy to your child and encourage the ‘no food sharing’ rule. 

Please consider what you are sending for birthday treats to share with the class, checking there are no nut products included. 

The school canteen does not serve products containing nuts. 

It is only with the continued support of all parents and staff that we can effectively maintain a safe school environment for these children.  

Thank you for your understanding. We know you will want to support the school and these children.