Latest News

From the Principal

Kaya Waddington PS community.

What a huge term we have had! Camp, swimming, school photos, a new Pirate Ship AND EduDance we have all been so very busy! I would like to say thank you to all of you for your support during this very busy time and for sending students to school every day. Our attendance has improved which is excellent. Please remember as we come to the end of term and into Term 4, students still need to come EVERY DAY to maximise their learning. 

We are looking forward to seeing parents and caregivers at our EduDance concert this Friday at 2:30pm in the Undercover Area. We have worked hard as a staff to ensure our students had access to this amazing program and we think you will enjoy their performances. 

Next week (Week 10) is our Jumps and Throws (Monday) and our Faction Carnival (Tuesday). Mr Hevron has been working with students to get them ready for the day and there is a letter going home today with approximate times for events and the lunch order form which has been organised by our super P&C! We would love to see you there on the day, but will post lots of photos and updates on Facebook for those who are unable to attend. 

Week 10 will also be our Scholastic Book Fair. Ms Smith has been very busy organising this and students will be able to purchase books on Monday (18^th September) and Tuesday (19^th September). If you are coming for the Faction Carnival, we will open up the library for to purchase books both before and after school. Our school library will get some of the funds from the books purchased over the two days. On Wednesday (20^th September) students can dress up as their favourite book character and there will be a book parade in the undercover area at the end of the day. Students have also been making dioramas with Mrs Reeves and they will bring them to showcase. 

It is the time of year where we start planning for 2024 and we want your valuable opinion! We would love to hear your thoughts on our school so please click the link below to help us with our planning. We truly value the opinion of our community:

https://www.schoolsurvey.edu.au/s/w5YMe7va

In staffing news, we have finished interviews for our Science position and are pleased to announce that Mr Greg Longman is the recommended applicant and will be joining us at Waddington PS in Term 4 in Science. In 2024, Mr Longman will teach both Science and Art. Mr Longman is currently teaching at Kinross PS and has a lot of experience in Science and Art (and is actually an artist himself). Mrs Sharon Reeves will still be with us teaching Art until the rest of the term and I think you will agree, has done a fabulous job in teaching our students this year. We thank Mrs Reeves for her hard work. 

Kind regards,

Jemima Tomlinson 

Principal

Friendly Schools –

At Waddington PS, we have a strong focus on being a Bully Free Zone! Part of bullying is also bystander actions which we talk about with students. As parents, it can be hard to talk about with our child when we know they are involved in bullying behaviours. Here are some great tips to help you with these conversations:

From the Administration Team

Term 3 Planner

The term planner is updated regularly and below are some important dates to be aware of for the last 2 weeks of term.

Please refer to the Term Planner page under the ‘Community’ tab for the most up-to-date events for term 3 (but this may be subject to change so please check regularly).

As this is the last newsletter for term 3, we hope all our families have a restful school holiday break and we look forward to seeing you all back at school on Tuesday 10th October 2023.

Important Dates

11th September 2023 – School Photos

12th September 2023 – Edudance

15th September 2023 – Assembly Room 9

15th September 2023 – EduDance Performance 2pm (Undercover area)

15th September 2023 – 10.30am – 12.30pm Ready! Set! Kindy!

18th September 2023 – Book Fair

18th September 2023 – Jumps and Throws

19th September 2023 – Book Fair

19th September 2023 – Faction Athletics Carnival

20th September 2023 – Book Week Parade

22nd September 2023 – Term 3 ends

9th October 2023 – Staff Development Day (Students do not attend)

10th October 2023 – Term 4 Commences for students

The importance of handwashing

Room 8 – What a busy term 3 it’s been!

The year 3 and 4 students in Room 8 have had a busy term. As well as having to adjust to a new teacher, we also had a visiting student from China for 4 weeks, who really enjoyed his time with the class – We will all miss you Isaac!

The class have been writing persuasive texts, attempting to convince me to use iPads in every lesson, or to bring their gaming console to school. The students will need a little more practise at writing a good argument to persuade me, however, some students made a very good case! We are currently completing a novel study on Roald Dahl’s “Fantastic Mr Fox” and are finishing an in-depth look at the book “Are We There Yet?” about a family’s travels around Australia. This has tied in nicely with our HASS work about the states in Australia together with some of the important Australian landmarks and their significance to Indigenous Australians.

In mathematics, Room 8 have had some fun measuring angles around the classroom, and we recently tried to estimate the size of dinosaurs – Who would have thought 27 metres was THAT long! Students continue to work hard on their multiplication and division strategies. Students also had the chance to design and then build their own Rube Goldberg machines. These are a complex set of actions to complete a simple task. The class had a lot of fun.

On the 31^st of August, the class joined the mayor and councillors for a walk along the newly completed walkway near Butterworth Park. Some students rode their scooters as well. There was an official ribbon cutting ceremony, and lots of professional photos taken- keep an eye out in the local newspaper in case we feature in it. Room 8 students showed incredible patience, and I was very proud of how they all followed the directions as they were moved around a lot for the pictures. They also sat perfectly still for the speeches, where they found out that the council was given “bags and bags of money” to build the paths – $890,000.

We also joined the Room 5 students to attend NAIDOC celebrations at Balga Senior High School on the 1^st of September. Several different activities were tried by different groups of students, and we had the opportunity to taste kangaroo stew and damper. Sometimes it can be difficult to try new foods, however many students tasted it and most discovered it was delicious!

Wow it has been a busy term! We need a little break, so we are ready for the big push to the end of the year. We are looking forward to loads more fun over the coming weeks.

Mrs Cahill and Miss Middleton

Community Notices

Saver Plus – The Smith Family

Like many families in WA, your family may also be experiencing the impact of cost-of-living challenges. Saver Plus helps empower families with money skills and assist with school expenses by rewarding them for saving.

What is Saver Plus?

Saver Plus is a free online community money skills program funded by ANZ and the Australian Government, and delivered by The Smith Family in WA:

·        helping people to hit their savings goals,

·        develop life-long savings habits, and

·        receive up to $500 in matched savings from ANZ to assist with school expenses.

Please note an Eligibility criteria applies.

Athena Calisthenics Club Term 4 2023

Ever wondered what Calisthenics is all about? Well now is the time to get the kids, bring some friends and give it a try with TWO FREE trial classes!

Calisthenics is perfect for all ages to build confidence, improve stamina, make new friends and stay active. It’s an exciting sport that is a mix of dance, gymnastics, simplified ballet, singing and apparatus work. 

We are a community based not-for-profit Calisthenics Club training locally in Dianella and Ballajura.

Free Parenting Education Sessions – Ngala

Please see below flyers for some helpful parenting sessions relating to toileting, screens and other topical issues parents of primary and secondary aged children are facing in 2023.

Free events for families – Pharmacy 777 Nollamara

Please see below some information on upcoming free events for families provided by Pharmacy 777 in Nollamara.

From the Principal

Dear Waddington Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Week 6!

It has been a huge couple of weeks for students with swimming and we sincerely thank all of our parents/carers who have been ensuring students are getting to school with their towels, bathers, goggles etc. Students are showing a lot of COURAGE in the lessons when learning new skills, a lot of RESPECT in their behaviour and they also showing RESPONSIBILITY with their belongings. So many of our Waddington PS school values are on display!

We have some very exciting news to share with you! We are currently in negotiations with TheirCare Outside of School Hours Care (OHSC) and we are organising after school care to start Term 1, 2024! This is something we know a lot of you have been waiting for. At the moment, we will just have after school care for Term 1, but if we have enough families sign up, we may be able to expand to before school care and holiday care. If you are interested, please get in contact with us at the front office and we will write your name down to contact once the agreement is finalised. Please tell your friends and family and if they are wanting a school that offers this service, we are able to provide it starting next year! WE WILL BE THE ONLY SCHOOL IN KOONDOOLA THAT OFFERS THIS SERVICE so please spread the word. This is a wonderful opportunity for our school. 

I am thrilled to share with you the outstanding achievements of our students in this year’s NAPLAN assessments. It is with immense pride that I announce our school’s exceptional performance, which not only reflects our commitment to academic excellence but also underscores the dedication of our entire school community.

In the areas of Reading, Writing, and Spelling, our students have not only met but surpassed expectations, outperforming like schools. In Year 5 Spelling, our students were only 0.62 points away from the National Average. This achievement is a testament to the unwavering efforts of our teachers, who have embraced a pedagogical approach centred around explicit direct instruction (EDI). By providing targeted and focused guidance, our educators have empowered each student to unlock their full potential, allowing them to excel in these crucial literacy skills.

Equally noteworthy is our remarkable performance in Numeracy, where we have once again shown success. This achievement highlights the effectiveness of our teaching methods and the emphasis we place on cultivating a strong foundation in mathematical concepts. It is especially gratifying to note that our Year 5 students have demonstrated exceptional proficiency, showcasing the fruits of their hard work and the exceptional teaching they have received.

Furthermore, I am delighted to share that our Year 3 students have come within a mere 1.22 points of achieving parity with like schools in Numeracy. This achievement reflects the incredible dedication of both our students and teachers, who have worked tirelessly to bridge this gap. It is a testament to our school’s commitment to ensuring progress for every student, regardless of their starting point.

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our entire school community for their unwavering support, dedication, and collaborative spirit. Together, we have achieved remarkable results that underscore our school’s commitment to fostering a love for learning and academic excellence. As we move forward, let us continue to embrace our shared mission of nurturing well-rounded, confident, and high-achieving individuals. We need all of our parents/caregivers to keep sending students to school every day to ensure that they have access to the comprehensive learning our school is providing. 

Lastly, I would like to express my gratitude for your support in our endeavour to promote healthy eating habits among our students by encouraging nutritious recess and lunch options. Your partnership plays a vital role in fostering an environment that nurtures not only physical well-being but also optimal learning outcomes. Research consistently demonstrates the profound impact of nutrition on student learning and concentration. By providing your child with wholesome, balanced meals, you are empowering them with the essential nutrients needed for sustained focus, enhanced memory retention, and overall improved academic performance. Our wonderful Student Wellbeing Officer, Amy has created and placed some posters around the school showing some of the different options you can provide your child. Your commitment to sending healthy options to school not only contributes to their growth and vitality but also instils lifelong habits that will serve them well beyond the classroom. 

Kind regards,

Jemima Tomlinson 

Principal

Friendly Schools – How to approach your childs school about the issue of bullying

Last week on Wednesday, our students participated in SuperHIRO day which is all around raising awareness of bullying and what we can do to prevent it. As you are aware, Waddington PS is a Bully Free Zone and we have been committed to ensuring our students feel welcome and safe at our school. Some of the current measures we have introduced to ensure this is our new Bullying and Good Standing Policies (which can be found on our website). We also use the Friendly Schools Plus Program in our Social and Emotional Curriculum to ensure our students understand what bullying is and isn’t, and what they can do to stop bullying. Parents play a crucial role in this as well and we can work in partnership to ensure students feel heard. See below for some strategies on how you can interact with our school if you are concerned that your child is experiencing bullying:

From the Administration Team

Term 3 Planner

The term planner is updated regularly and below are some important dates to be aware of for this term.

Please refer to the Term Planner page under the ‘Community’ tab for the most up-to-date events for term 3 (but this may be subject to change so please check regularly).

Important Dates

21st August 2023 – Interm swimming – PP to Year 6

22nd August 2023 – Interm swimming – PP to Year 6

22nd August 2023 – Edudance

23rd August 2023 – Interm swimming – PP to Year 6

24th August 2023 – Interm swimming – PP to Year 6

25th August 2023 – Interm swimming ends – PP to Year 6

28th August 2023 – Year 5 / 6 Camp

29th August 2023 – Year 5 / 6 Camp

30th August 2023 – Year 5 / 6 Camp

30th August 2023 – P&C Father’s Day Stall and Raffle (Kindy A students)

31st August 2023 – Butterworth Park opening walk – Room 8 students (Years 3 and 4)

1st September 2023 – NAIDOC celebrations with Balga SHS

1st September 2023 – P&C Father’s Day Stall and Raffle (Kindy B, PP to Year 6)

1st September 2023 – 10.30am – 12.30pm – Ready! Set! Kindy!

4th September 2023 – Edudance

8th September 2023 – 10.30am – 12.30pm – Ready! Set! Kindy!

11th September 2023 – School Photos

Superhero Foods in disguise!

Room 1 – George the mischievous dragon and more!

Wow, what an action-packed exciting Term it has been for Room One…and we are only halfway through, with so much more to look forward to and so much more learning to do!

It all kicked off with the discovery of a nest in our classroom. It wasn’t too much later that we found out it belonged to a dragon named George. He knew our classroom would be the perfect home during the winter months. Each day he writes a letter to the students and hides it somewhere and each day he gets up to a bit of mischief. We thought Mrs. Tomlinson might be a bit upset with having a dragon in the classroom so we wrote a letter to convince her that he would make the perfect classroom pet. And now students in Room One will have the opportunity to write their own persuasive text on an animal they think would make the perfect pet.

George the Dragon gave us inspiration for our assembly item and we were so proud of the way Room One students practiced and then performed on the day. They all showed so much courage!

We are so pleased with the progress students are making and how well they are working in their Literacy and Numeracy groups. Students are working really hard to achieve their personal goals and to continue to build on skills and concepts learnt so far. They took great pleasure in sharing their news last week and always enjoy answering questions from their peers. Room One also had the chance to dress up as their favourite super hero character for a very important day, ‘Bullying No Way Day’. It was great to students putting a lot of thought into the activities they completed on the day. A highlight was a ‘connection chain’ made that reached from one side of the room to the other.

Students have also been super excited with the start of swimming lessons. It is wonderful to see them getting themselves organized and the enthusiasm they demonstrate during their lessons.

All this and we still have our sports carnival and our Edu Dance performance to look forward to. Students are really showing their moves during the Edu Dance lessons on Tuesday mornings. They are going to be little stars at the school performance at the end of this term!!

Never a dull moment in Room One and that’s just how we like it!

Community Notices

Saver Plus – The Smith Family

Like many families in WA, your family may also be experiencing the impact of cost-of-living challenges. Saver Plus helps empower families with money skills and assist with school expenses by rewarding them for saving.

What is Saver Plus?

Saver Plus is a free online community money skills program funded by ANZ and the Australian Government, and delivered by The Smith Family in WA:

·        helping people to hit their savings goals,

·        develop life-long savings habits, and

·        receive up to $500 in matched savings from ANZ to assist with school expenses.

Please note an Eligibility criteria applies.

It takes a village!

Please see the flyer below with some information for families with children aged 0 to 5 years who have been living in Australia for less than 5 years.

Stirling Leisure Centre – Junior Sport Competitions

Please see below some flyers for upcoming sporting competitions for basketball and soccer that may be of interest to families.