Term 2 Week 4 Thursday, 18 May

A huge community effort As the first newsletter since the very successful Fair, I would like to say how proud I was of our great school and the community effort that got behind the day. We were blessed with great weather, but the real blessing came from the volunteers on the day and the Fair Committee who spent many months preparing such a large community event. On behalf of the Wattle Grove staff and students, I would like to thank Kristen Elmore for her tireless efforts leading the committee to create such a spectacular day. There are many great ideas in the pipeline from staff, community and students to enhance our school and I look forward to sharing these ideas with the P&C Association in the future. Every dollar raised through our P&C Fundraising Committee goes back into our school to directly benefit the students of Wattle Grove.

Week 5

Monday - Winter Uniform Tuesday –ICAS Test Digital Technologies Wednesday – Canterbury Knockout Sport in Schools Thursday - 3/6 Assembly @ 12.45pm 3C item Friday – PSSA Sport

Week 6

Monday- 3-6 Superkids Morning Tea Tuesday- ICAS Test Science Wednesday – Sport in Schools Thursday – K/2 Assembly @ 12.45pm 1C item Friday– PSSA Sport

Annual Report Each year, schools are required to report on their progress in an Annual Report. The Wattle Grove 2016 Annual Report has been published on our school website. The importance of arriving on time Arriving at school and class on time:

• ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day

• helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine

• gives students time to greet their friends before class

• reduces classroom disruption. Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents.

Principal’s Message WGPS Calendar

www.wattlegrov-p.school.nsw.edu.au P 02 9731 1355 F 02 9731 1377 E wattlegrov-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

School Pride Winter uniform officially starts next Monday - 22 May. Thank you to most families who have reinforced the wearing of full school uniform over the past week. Although there has been a noticeable improvement in more students wearing full uniform and hats, there are still some students wearing clothes that are best saved for the weekend. Green school jumpers and hats are enforced each day at school. Please encourage your child to wear full school uniform as it develops our school pride and makes our students part of our united team. Parenting tip: Helping kids focus in the age of distraction Neuroscientists tell us that the more a young person can practice keeping focus and resist distraction, the stronger and more richly connected this child becomes. Tips for helping kids maintain focus and attention: 1. Build your child’s focus - As with all tasks, the

aim is to start small and build your child’s capacity to master the concept of ‘sticking with it’. Set a timer between breaks and then on a break they need to do something active like a push-up. Then there is a little reward for staying on task for a particular amount of time.

2. Remember it’s all about the journey - Teaching your children to tolerate the unexpected can have wonderful benefits, as can sitting with something that may have previously been viewed as unachievable.

3. Keep calm and focus - Use calm methods to engage children who become distracted: ‘breathe, relax and high five each other’ when working alongside your child or when with a group of children.

Skilled Teachers This week, four of our staff have attended a two-day professional learning conference on Formative Assessment by international education expert Dylan Wiliam. Dylan Wiliam is Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment at University College London. Wattle Grove Public School teachers attend weekly stage and staff meetings to gain new skills and knowledge to learn new ways and methods of teaching. Our teachers engage in professional readings and following the conference, all our teachers will participate in professional learning on the use of formative assessment in classroom practice. Debating Success Congratulations to our Stage 3 Debating Team – Ben, Brayden, Bronte, Natalie, Brieanna and Andrew who competed and won against Bankstown Public School yesterday. Our team, who took the negative, argued the topic “We should all be meat eaters.” Thank you to Mrs Robinson who trained and organised our team to compete yesterday.

Thought for the fortnight “Life is like photography. You use the negatives to develop.” – author unknown. Clint White Sam Wilson Principal Deputy Principal

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Respectful Learners Week 3 and Week 4

Act of Kindness Week 3 and Week 4

Congratulations On Wednesday 3rd May, Cynthia 6P was selected to represent Liverpool Zone at the regionals for the Primary Girls Football (soccer). Cynthia played really well scoring a goal as striker and in defence, saving the team to secure a win in the last minute. It was great to watch the girls play as a team who have never played together which led to their success in winning the grand final against Campbelltown (1-0) and crowned Champions!

Principal’s Awards

5 Merit Awards- William (1C) 10 Merit Awards- Jasmine (5B), 15 Merit Awards- Bianca (3J), Sotiris (2B), Allegra (2R), Ella (2R). 20 Merit Awards - Georgia (3J), 25 Merit Awards- Mikayla (6P), Brayden (5/6R) 30 Merit Awards- Ashleigh (6SK) 40 Merit Awards- Bianca (5/6R)

Merit Awards

KB Zoey, Pedro, Mason, Felix. KG Danny, Benjamin, Piper, Emma. KP Ethan, Levi, Livia, Alexis, Eden. KC Tayla, Ayman, Joel, Ava. KR Will, Addison, Marcus, Oliver, Juliet. 1A Zane, Annabelle, Isla-Belle, Jade, Aliyah,

Samuel. 1C Savannah, Holly, Ava, Jai, Kesaiah, Ofa. 1F Lincoln, Jessica, Chloe H, Isabella, Inaayah,

Luke S. 1G Joshua, Lily, Arielle, Eli, Zoe, Dylan. 1S Jack, Nandish, Layla, Suchita, Du, Bonnie. 2B Leah, Cooper, Sotiris, Paige, Riley, Saxon. 2FM Antonio, Matthew, Adia, Max, Valeria. 2K Tristan, Tiarah, Emma, Ethan, Drew, Talon. 2R Laura, Fletcher, Cody, Ashanti, Allegra, Ella. 3C Aidan, Isabella, Sophia, Maisie, Allana, Nihal. 3J Georgia, Bianca, Shennae, Zane, Draven,

Holly A. 3S Lucie, Makayla, Tahlia B, Samantha, Mason. 4K Joshua, Hayden, Carlos, Lani, Robbie,

Indiana. 4C Mia, Kayla, Annabelle, Irene, Lily, Meghana,

Elias. 4D Andy, Marissa, Jayde, Henry, Amelia, Lukas. 5B Jasmine, Matilda, Tara, Ananta, Andrew,

Brody. 5S Charlie, Sam, Emma, Chelsea, Juan, Rhianna. 5/6R Andrew, Ryleigh, Samantha, Piper, Brayden,

Brieanna. 6P Reece, Bethany, Brody, Olivia, Mikayla,

Chelsea. 6SK Bridgette, Brad, Sienna, Ashleigh, Mariah,

Jacqob. Stage 2 Maths Groups Awards Jessica (3J), Sasha (4D), Cooper (3S), Chloe (4D),

Dante (3J), Mia (4C)

School News Student Achievement

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Stage 3 Maths Groups Awards Miss Bateman - Tim (6P) Mrs Cook/Mrs Alderton – Logan (5B) Mrs Robinson - Taya (5B) Mrs Phillips – Olivia D (6SK) Mrs Fuller – Matt (6SK) Notes sent home Date Year/

Class Details Returned

By 8/5/17 selected Canterbury

Knockout Yes

8/5/17 Dancers 2017 Dancers handbook

Yes

8/5/17 Dancers Cross Network Yes 8/5/17 selected Term 2 Tennis,

Karate, Zumba Yes

8/5/17 selected PSSA winter sport Yes 11/5/17 Eldest Shop School

Rewards No

18/5/17 Year 6 Diary dates No Kookaburra Kids On Thursday 11/5/2017 I had the privilege of attending the NSW launch of the Kookaburra Kids Defence Program for Serving and Ex-Serving ADF families at Parliament House. It was encouraging to see so many representatives from Defence organisations, fellow Defence School Transition Aide’s and Members of Parliament in attendance.

Defence Coffee Catch Up Don’t forget, coffee catch up will be held each Monday in the “Clinic” from 9:20am.

Deployments and Absence Please ensure you let your Class Teacher, DSTA or Office know if you have a Member away. Education Assistance Scheme (EAS) Remember it’s never too early to begin tutoring; you have 18 months from your new posting date to take advantage of the Education Assistance Scheme. Tutoring can begin at any time of the year for students so be sure to take advantage of this scheme before your 18 months in your new posting location ends. Application forms and information is available from the DSTA. Kim Lazarevic Defence School Transition Aide Mother’s Day Stall Thank you to our Wonderful Volunteers

Disclaimer: The NSW Department of Education and Wattle Grove Public School do not endorse companies, services or products that are advertised in our newsletters or leaflet distribution.

Defence News

P&C News

Office News

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Who we support We support ADF & APS Families across Australia. We specialise in Early Childhood Education and Care and we utilise this expertise to assist families to source and secure suitable Child Care options for their families

How we support you DCO work with ADF Members to

locate Child Care. If care proves difficult to find the DCO will refer families to the ICM Service via 1800 757 343

Personalised initial telephone consultation to ascertain the specific needs for Child Care

Case management

Liaison with Care and Education providers to enquire about vacancies and put families in to contact

Ongoing support until care commences to ensure suitability of placement

Individual Case Management Service (ICM) Defence Child Care

What The Individual Case Management Service provides

We provide a service to assist ADF and APS Members to find suitable Child Care options for their family when posting to new areas, returning from periods of leave or accessing Child Care for the first time. Defence Families should continue to discuss their Child Care needs by calling the all-hours Defence Family Help Line on 1800 624 608. Where there is a need for individual case management for child care, DCO will refer families to Mission Australia by calling 1800 757 343 and selecting the Defence Child Care option.

Mission Australia Early Learning has Child Care facilities located across Australia and we will endeavor to assist you to secure care at these sites where suitable. Positions may not always be available due to high demand in certain areas across the Country. Where this is the case or there are no MA EL Services in the area we will look at availability within other Children’s Services providers for care. The ICM Service sources vacancies that are suitable to your Child Care needs and then provides you with information for you to contact the Child Care setting where you can organise a suitable time to visit and view the service, and if you are satisfied, proceed with an enrolment

About Mission Australia Mission Australia is a non-denominational Christian community service organisation that helps people regain their independence through early learning and youth services, family support and homelessness initiatives, employment and skills development, and affordable housing.

Together we stand with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves.

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Contact us If you have any questions please contact us at:

w missionaustraliaearlylearning.com.au

t 1800 757 343

e els_enquiries@missionaustralia.com.au

The ICM is sponsored by the Defence Community Organisation and operated by the Defence Child Care provider Mission Australia Early Learning (MA EL) to support Defence families to locate suitable Child care options across

Australia