Willoughby Public School Newsletter

Welcome back to Willoughby Public School 2022. We’ve had a great start to our school year, our students had a settled week reconnecting with their class mates from 2021 before we formed or 2022 classes.

A warm welcome to our new families joining our Willoughby community, and also to our new teachers who bring a wide range of teaching experience to our school.

Thank you to our admin and SLSO staff for preparing and monitoring the distribution of the Rapid Antigen Test kits.

While we will still have cases of COVID within and across our community we hope that the disruption will be minimal. If your child is showing symptoms – sore throat, running nose, headaches please keep them at home and test for Covid. Students need to remain at home for 7 days from the positive test result day.

Our 2022 Kindergarten teachers had a great week last week, meeting their new students as they attended their Best Start assessment with their teacher – some lovely one-on-one time for both.

We have formed 38 classes for 2022. Our teachers at the end of 2021 spent time organising the students into their new class groups, including our new students to Willoughby PS. We have formed 34 single classes and 4 stage classes, two 6/5 classes and two 4/3 classes. The stage classes are the same as we have had over the past 3 years.

Composite classes happen for a number of reasons.  A school may have them due to uneven enrolments by age group – for example, there’s a larger than average intake of Year 3 and a smaller group of Year 4 enrolments. In order to keep class size to the optimal number, the school may decide to run one Year 3 class and a Year 3 and 4 composite class to allow for two evenly sized classes. Similarly, some schools have low enrolment numbers overall and may combine several grades to make up classroom numbers - this is more common in rural areas, where classes may be made up of children from a wider range of age groups.

Sometimes, however, composite classes are formed for educational reasons in schools where it is felt that the mixing of children of different ages is educationally and socially advantageous.

The most common fear for parents having a child in a composite class is that they will fall behind – that the teacher's attention will be split between the two years and they’ll get less overall learning time with their teacher. The research, however, doesn’t agree.  Multiple studies conclude it makes no difference to performance whether students are in a straight year group or in a multi-age class. Experts agree the most important factor in determining how well a student does is the quality of the teacher and their teaching.

Additionally, it seems composite classes can actually enhance development; students becoming more confident and assertive, and learning to operate as part of a group while bolstering independent learning skills.

Composite classes have been shown to provide benefits to both the older and younger students in the class. Older students often take on a mentoring role, and benefit from helping younger students in co-operative learning situations, while younger students have the opportunity of enhanced learning experiences where they are ready for it.

Other key benefits of composite classes:

·     Older students are able to practice and reinforce their own skills as they teach them to younger students.

·     Older students provide a model of appropriate behaviour for the younger students – this also means less behaviour problems in the classroom because younger students integrate quickly into established class routines as modelled by the older students.

·     Younger students are able to seek help from a wider range of people rather than relying on the teacher to help them all the time.

·     Changing the focus of learning from achieving a certain ‘grade’ to individual personal best alters the nature of the learning experience to lead children to value learning and the learning process.

·     Students develop a greater respect for individual differences across the board.

All students rolled into their 2022 classes on Monday 7 February.

There may be some minor changes in staffing as we move into Term 1, while Department of Education HR finalise appointments.

We have a great mix of experience across all classes and I know our new teachers are well on their way to settling into our school. They bring a diverse range of experience and knowledge which can only build on the great learning programs we have in place.

We will continue to enter and exit by the gate system to support our students in a COVID safe way. Parents please drop off and pick up your children at their gate, unfortunately due to COVID restrictions parents are not allowed on the school site.

School captains: Olivia L, Harry M             Vice Captains: Sylvie L, Jack Carroll

Dennis: Captains: Elyse M, Jack H              Vice Captains: Alice M, Max C

Kendall: Captains: Holly B, Kyan S              Vice Captains: Tilly N, Joseph T

Paterson: Captains: Sierra F, Aryan W      Vice Captains: Bonnie B, Hugo B

 Gordon: Captains: Bianca L, Zachary K    Vice Captains: Ella H, Liam P

Congratulations to our 2022 students leaders I’m looking forward to working with you as you lead our student body throughout 2022.

 (Photo of new leaders above - Absent from the photo Aryan W)

We look forward to a fabulous year of learning at Willoughby Public School.

Kind regards

Jennifer

Jennifer Simmonds

Principal

It is that time of the year for the annual Willoughby PS Swimming Carnival. We will be travelling by bus to the Lane Cove Aquatic Centre on Friday 18 February.

Please make sure you have submitted the note for the carnival online. Notes were emailed to parents and carers earlier this week.

We would like all students from 3-6 to attend the day as all teachers from those grades will be at the pool running the carnival. Participation in events is restricted to those students who can swim without stopping and unassisted for 50m. Please indicate this on the online permission note.

Students from year 2 turning 8 years of age have been invited to the carnival but it is not compulsory for them to attend. Teachers will be at school conducting classes as normal for students in year 2 not attending.

The buses will leave school at 8.30am so students will need to be at school by 8.15am and sit in their normal grade lines areas. Teachers will collect students, mark rolls, collect lunch order baskets and board buses as classes are ready to leave.

Buses will arrive at the Keary Street entry to the school so it will be important for people not to park in that area and make arrangements for a suitable drop-off point if you drive your children to school.

Lunches will be available from the school canteen. They have a ‘carnival pack’ lunchbox option on their online ordering portal for the day. This will be the option for all students on the day. Those lunches will be delivered to the venue for the children by our amazing canteen.

COVID Safe Procedures:

·         Children will arrive at the carnival and sit in grade rows not house groups to minimise cohort mixing.

·         Parents will not be able to mix with students in the grandstand area. Visitors can spectate from the viewing deck at the venue.

·         Students will not be permitted to leave the venue with parents at the end of the day. All students must return to school for normal ‘going home’ arrangements.

Hoping for great weather!

Simon Hutchison

(Swimming Carnival Coordinator)

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.

A wonderful, warm Willoughby welcome to all our new families this year! All of our classes have now had their first chance to borrow for the term – and they loved it!! See below for a list of class Library Days for Term 1.

When students come in to borrow each week,  our focus is to help them choose good books, from newly released titles to classics. Borrowing widely each week exposes them to many different types of books, different types of stories and really assists in strengthening their overall literacy skills.

Reading, and truly enjoying what you are reading, is one of life’s real joys. We have also found that children who enjoy what they are reading, will usually come back for more! It plays a large part in the work that we do as we try to help them find the right book at any given time. 

Below you will find confirmation of your child’s Library day. Students need to bring a Library Bag with them to be able to borrow. Unfortunately, we had several books last year come back to us waterlogged, damaged or mouldy. These books would have been able to be saved from accident or mishap, had they been in a protective bag. This can be a named WPS Library Bag, available from the Uniform Shop, or another sturdy bag with handles or a plastic bag. Please make sure it has your child’s name and class clearly marked. Lost or forgotten bags can then be promptly returned to your child.  

Mondays:  5S, 5C, 5H, 5T, 4D, 4Y, 4PG 

Tuesdays: KJ, KA, KM, KS, 1K, 1H, 1G, 1V 

Wednesdays: KC, KR, 2B, 1W, 1MT 

Thursdays: 4/3C, 4/3S, 6/5D, 6/5W, 6M, 2-6R, 6L, 6A, 6DS 

Fridays: 3H, 3N, 3G, 3Y, 2L, 2M, 2C, 2T, 2RB 

We look forward to working with you all this year and are so looking forward to that day in the (hopefully not too distant) future, when we will once again be able to welcome parents into our lovely new Library before or after school to visit with their children. 

Mrs Debbie de Silva 

Teacher Librarian 

The Uniform Shop is looking for new volunteers to join the team. If you are free and willing to help on any Wednesday or Friday, 8:30-9:30, please contact Slavka on 0434 622 866.

Being part of the Uniform Shop is a great way to be involved in the WPS community and join a lovely group of committed, supportive volunteers 😊

The WPS Chess Club are delighted to announce that chess club has returned to on site lessons.

 Classes are held on the following days during term times:

·  Years K-3 - Beginner/Rookie: Tuesdays from 7:45am to 8:45am, starting on 2 February 2021

·  Years 4-6 - Intermediate/Advanced: Wednesdays from 7:45am to 8:45am, starting on 3 February 2021

Kindy kids are encouraged to join starting in Term 3.

Playing chess improves concentration and memory, enhances reading and math skills, fosters logic & creativity, and encourages and rewards hard work. Classes are run by professional teachers from the Sydney Academy of Chess in an engaging environment.

To register, please go to the Sydney Academy of Chess website online payment page (https://sydneyacademyofchess.com.au/payment) and enter one of the following codes:

·  Years K-3: Tuesdays: VDRCUXEVP5

·  Years 4-6: Wednesdays: KPMN9ERN3F

Chess Club will be adhering to WPS and Department of Education and Department sanitising health requirements. Parents & carers will be requested to sign a declaration form after registering that can be previewed here: http://www.wpspandc.com.au/wp-content/gallery//2022/02/Willoughby-Public-School-Permission-Slip-2022.pdf

If you have any questions head to the P&C site here: https://www.wpspandc.com.au/chess/ or feel free to get in touch - contact details on site. 

We look forward to welcoming you to chess classes in 2022,

Chess Club Exec