Heights Happenings
Winston Heights PS - Term 1 Week 4 2023
⭐ PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE ⭐
We have enjoyed an exciting start to 2023, with our dedicated staff ensuring that everyone experienced a smooth and positive start to the school year. Our students settled into their new classes with maturity and enthusiasm, while keenly rekindling friendships in the playground.
I would like to thank our students for the wonderful way in which they have returned to WHPS after the holidays. There is a positive buzz around the school, with lots of happy and smiling children and adults. It has been delightful to see all students wearing their full school uniform with pride. They should be very proud of their efforts and engagement throughout the first weeks of 2023.
2023 is shaping up to be an incredible year. Our focus is on whole school improvement and excellence in teaching, learning, wellbeing and engagement. Through the evaluation and implementation of our WHPS Strategic Improvement Plan, our newly appointed Assistant Principal Curriculum & Instruction (AP C&I), Mrs Sarah Kennedy, will continue to lead the implementation of the new curriculum and drive high-quality literacy and numeracy professional learning for all staff. Wellbeing takes centre stage this year through a variety of initiatives. I am very excited to implement wellbeing initiatives and work alongside Mrs Dyan Sim, as she embarks on the newly created role of rel. Assistant Principal Wellbeing & Engagement (AP W&E). Exciting things are coming for WHPS!
🎉 WELCOME KINDERGARTEN 2023 🎉
Our Kindergarten students started their educational journey last week with much energy and resilience, as they bravely entered the school gate, taking the hand of their teacher … and walking down to their kindy classrooms! They have been busy ever since, becoming familiar with the routines of big school, learning in their classrooms, and enjoying time with new friends in the playground.
I would also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome our Kindergarten parents, carers, and extended families to our school community. Some of you may be long standing members of our community with older students at WHPS, and some of you may be first-time big school parents, nevertheless your child’s first day of kindergarten is always special and one to be cherished. We are excited to have you join our school community.
🎯 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION 🎯
Over the past two years, the Department of Education has introduced a new Assistant Principal Curriculum and Instruction (AP C&I) position in all primary public schools with enrolments from Kindergarten to Year 6. Mrs Sarah Kennedy is Winston Heights PS’s new AP C&I.
Our AP C&I will work shoulder-to-shoulder with our Assistant Principals and Principal in providing high-impact literacy and numeracy professional learning for teachers. Mrs Kennedy will work collaboratively with the leadership team, to lead the continued implementation of the new English and Mathematics syllabi this year.
Our AP C&I provides guidance and professional learning to all staff and works alongside teachers in classrooms to enhance high-quality teaching practices. This is in the form of demonstration lessons, team teaching or working with small groups of students in focussed literacy and numeracy tasks. Mrs Kennedy’s role is dedicated to ensuring our students have strong literacy and numeracy learning outcomes.
Mrs Kennedy is also looking forward to forging strong connections with our school community and hosting parent information sessions focused on supporting the literacy and numeracy development and learning of children.
🥰 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WELLBEING & ENGAGEMENT 🥰
Student, staff, and community wellbeing and engagement is the foundation of a positive school culture and breeding ground for student success and school excellence. in 2022, we surveyed all stakeholders through the Tell Them From Me survey; parents and carers via an online survey; and staff using the NSW Government People Matter survey. Survey results supported a renewed focus on being responsive to the needs of our school community and incorporating wellbeing into planning and processes so that teaching and learning environments enable students to be healthy, happy, engaged and successful.
Throughout 2023, we will be investigating, evaluating, planning, implementing, and trailing a variety of evidenced-based strategies and initiatives that are responsive to the evolving wellbeing and engagement needs of our students (individually and collectively) and school community.
With much excitement, I can share that the first initiative was the development of the relieving Assistant Principal Wellbeing & Engagement (AP W&E). Mrs Dyan Sim is our very own, well-respected and much-loved Winston Heights PS wellbeing champion. She exudes unlimited passion, dedication, and love for all things ‘Winston Heights’ and has taken on the AP W&E role with enthusiasm and a desire to transform our school into an even happier place than it already is. Every Thursday and Friday Mrs Sim will be busy establishing and leading school wellbeing approaches and initiatives with students, staff, and our community.
The second exciting initiative was the employment of a part-time Wellbeing Support Officer (WSO) to support the implementation of wellbeing and engagement initiatives across the school. Given her wellbeing experience and existing relationships with students, staff and families, Mrs Robyn Bowman (former WHPS Chaplain) has taken on this role and will work in collaboration with Mrs Sim and the Principal. Our WSO role will evolve as new wellbeing and engagement initiatives are trialled and implemented throughout 2023.
In her new AP W&E role, Mrs Sim has already led the implementation of the following:
- PBL Playground BINGO - a fun ‘game’ that reinforces and rewards student positive behaviour, while building a sense of community in each class
- Playground Games & Equipment - reorganised soccer and basketball games, and purchased new soccer and basketballs for students to use during playtimes
- Mindfulness - submitted an expression of interest for a whole-school mindfulness-based social and emotional learning program to equip our students with the skills they need to thrive in life, by building healthy minds and engaged classrooms
- Class Check-Ins - visited each class to see how students are settling into the new school year and how each class is tracking with the PBL Playground BINGO game
- Student Check-Ins - engaged in informal check-ins with identified students
- Structured Play Leaders - recruited and trained our Stage 3 structured play leaders to run organised lunchtime activities with students from Kindy to Year 4. Activities include a variety of fun games on Mondays and parachute play on Wednesdays
- Big Buddy Leadership Workshop - ran the Big Buddy Leadership Workshop where Year 6 students investigated how to mentor their Kindergarten buddies as they begin their learning journey at WHPS
- Teacher Consistency - accompanied teachers during playground duty, to share expertise and develop consistency with playground expectations, rules and management
- Facebook engagement - sharing WHPS good news stories and photos with our Facebook community
Watch this space! Wellbeing and engagement is shaping up to be an exciting space for WHPS this year. Should you have any wellbeing ideas or suggestions, please feel free to pass them on to Mrs Bullock or Mrs Sim.
🏫 NSW CURRICULUM REFORM 🏫
A new NSW school curriculum - Curriculum reform recommendations shape the new NSW syllabuses, and identify priorities for the early, middle and later years of schooling:
- building strong foundations for future learning with new English and Mathematics syllabuses for Kindergarten to Year 2
- more time for teaching by reducing the hours teachers spend on extra-curricular topics and issues and compliance requirements
- strengthening post school pathways with new learning areas for Years 11 and 12 that clearly link learning to future employment and study options
- a new curriculum with new syllabuses focused on what is essential to know and do in early and middle years of schooling, and key learning areas in the senior years.
The new NSW curriculum gives students more time to focus on key learning areas so that they can acquire a deeper understanding of central concepts. It ensures students develop strong foundations for learning, life and work in a complex and fast-changing world.
An overview of the new English and Mathematics K–2 syllabuses?
The new syllabuses emphasise key concepts, identify essential knowledge and skills, and include new outcomes to clearly show what is essential. They remove ambiguity for all users.
Clearer - Clear and concise language in the outcomes and content help you to understand the learning expectations for building foundational skills in English and Mathematics.
Easy to navigate - The new Digital Curriculum means the syllabuses will be easier to access and navigate, so users can find information more efficiently.
Accessible - Access content points are provided to indicate content that students with significant intellectual disability may access.
Samples and resources - Teaching samples and examples are easy to find and use. Teaching advice is a supporting guide that was refined through engagement and consultation activities with teachers.
When will new syllabuses be taught?
What does ‘building strong foundations’ for learning mean in the early years (K–2)?
The English and Mathematics K–2 syllabuses are the first new syllabuses of the K–12 NSW Curriculum Reform. They are essential to establish foundations for future learning success, particularly the development of oral language, reading and writing skills, and mathematical knowledge and skills. Years K–2 are sometimes referred to as ‘the early years of school’.
What does the reform mean in the middle years (Years 3–10) of children’s schooling?
In the middle years of school, priority will be given to providing every student with challenging learning material appropriate to their current level of knowledge and skills. This means that students who need more time to master curriculum content will have it; students who are ready to move on more quickly can do so.
What does this mean for student learning at Winston Heights PS?
Last year, Winston Heights PS was one of 211 schools selected as an early adopter school to trial the supported implementation of the new K-2 English and mathematics syllabus. This trial was immensely successful and provided all teaching staff with an intimate knowledge and understanding of the new curriculum and teaching pedagogy.
In addition to being an early adopter school, our AP C&I, Mrs Kennedy, continues to lead extensive staff professional development to help prepare our teachers to implement the new curriculum with confidence.
At Winston Heights PS this year, we are implementing and teaching the following new syllabuses:
- NEW K-2 English syllabus
- NEW K-2 Mathematics syllabus
- NEW 3-6 Mathematics syllabus
In 2023, we will be planning and preparing teachers to teach the following syllabus in 2024:
- NEW 3-6 English syllabus
In 2024, we will be planning and preparing teachers to teach the following syllabuses in 2025:
- NEW K-6 Science and Technology syllabus
- NEW K-6 PDHPE syllabus
- NEW K-6 HSIE syllabus
- NEW K-6 Creative Arts syllabus
⏰ TEACHER & EXECUTIVE CURRICULUM RELEASE TIME ⏰
From 2023 to 2025, teachers will be given release time to focus on curriculum reform to help them effectively implement new syllabuses.
- Primary school teachers will receive a guaranteed 5 hours per term in 2023, increasing to 10 hours per term in 2024, and 10 hours per term in 2025.
- Additional release time will be provided for primary school executive staff which will be equivalent to an additional 1 day per week for the period of the curriculum reform.
"Evidence indicates that the most effective curriculum implementation occurs when teachers have time to plan and teach a new syllabus.”
Executive Curriculum Release at WHPS - school planning for curriculum implementation is a significant, complex and ongoing process. Every Wednesday, our executive (Principal, AP C&I, and Assistant Principals) will meet to collaboratively engage in this process. Effective curriculum implementation drives student growth and attainment, and school improvement.
Teacher Curriculum Release at WHPS - this year, the allocation of teacher curriculum release time will be used to support teacher planning and preparation of the new curriculum. During Week 4 and Week 9 of every term, teachers will be released from face-to-face teaching for 2.5hrs to meet with their stage teams, the AP C&I and Principal.
During this release time, teachers will engage in activities that will deepen their understanding of the new syllabuses and strengthen teaching and learning practices. This may include:
- engaging in targeted and differentiated professional learning
- collaborating in developing new scope and sequences
- designing units of work and evaluating resources provided by the DoE
- preparing assessment tasks.
💬 MEET THE TEACHER CHATS 💬
Meeting your child’s new class teacher is an exciting time. This is a great opportunity to embark and continue a positive school-home relationship that will enhance your child’s learning journey throughout 2023.
Meet the Teacher Chats will be 10 minute individual conversations, enabling parents to meet the teacher, learn about the expectations for the year ahead, and for parents to share information about their child. Please understand that this is not a time to discuss your child’s progress. Appointments of this nature can be made as required through the school office or app during the year.
When will Meet the Teacher Chats be held?
Monday 20 February - 8:00am - 8:40pm and 3:10pm - 4:50pm
Tuesday 21 February - 8:00am - 8:40pm and 3:10pm - 4:50pm
Wednesday 22 February - 8:00am - 8:40pm and 3:10pm - 4:50pm
Thursday 22 February - 8:00am - 8:40pm and 3:10pm - 4:50pm
Tuesday 28 February - 8:00am - 8:40pm and 3:10pm - 4:50pm
Parent Sharing of Information Form
Last week, attached to the letter about Meet the Teacher Chats, was a Parent Sharing of Information form. When completed and returned, this information will assist your child’s teacher develop a thorough understanding of your child. To assist with the sharing of information during Meet the Teacher Chats, we ask that you complete and return the information to your child’s teacher by Friday 17 February.
Meet the Teacher Chats will be held in your child’s classroom. We understand your time is precious and thank you in advance for keeping to your scheduled 10 minute interview timeslot.
How can I book a Meet the Teacher Chat?
To book your Meet the Teacher Chat, please go to School Interviews Online, enter the code “rv3ud” and follow the prompts. If you do not have internet access you can phone the school on 9624 7485 for assistance.
🩰 YEARS 3-6 EXTRA-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES 🎶
This year at Winston Heights PS, we will be implementing a number of initiatives that focus on increasing student engagement and wellbeing. Research has shown that participation in extra-curricular groups has a positive effect on student happiness and sense of belonging.
The following extra-curricular opportunities will be offered to students in Years 3-6 - choir, dance, drama, recorder, SRC, tech club, WHET group, Maths Olympiad, and PSSA.
The following extra-curricular opportunities will be offered to students in Year 6 and/or Stage 3 - debating, library monitors, and Tournament of the Minds.
Most of these groups will run during lunchtime. School organisation and playground supervision means that these groups must be held on the following days:
- Monday - Choir; Tech Club; WHET Group
- Tuesday - Dance; Recorder
- Wednesday - Drama; Library Monitors
- Thursday - Library Monitors, SRC (twice a term)
- Friday - PSSA
Debating, Maths Olympiad, and Tournament of the Minds will be run by teachers during class time.
Over the course of the next week, students will be able to express their interest in joining our choir, dance, drama, recorder, tech club, WHET group and PSSA, with trials being held during school time. Extra-curricular group try-outs will be advertised to students during morning assemblies in the 3-6 COLA.
👩🌾 K-2 STARS - EXTRA-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES 🕺
Our school-wide focus on implementing initiatives that increase student engagement and wellbeing continues with a focus on our youngest students - those in Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2.
We are super excited … in a few weeks’ time we will be launching our K-2 STARS program.
K-2 STARS will run on EVEN WEEKS on a Thursday afternoon between 2pm-3pm. This will be on the alternate week to our K-2 assemblies.
We are putting the final touches on the K-2 STARS organisation, however groups may include:
- Art and craft
- Dancing
- Bollywood dancing
- Choir
- Gardening
- Mindfulness and colouring
- Technology
More information about our K-2 STARS program will be distributed in the coming weeks.
🎤 K-2 & 3-6 ASSEMBLIES 🎤
K-2 and 3-6 assemblies at Winston Heights PS are held fortnightly in the school hall. Parents and friends are welcome to attend. However, if you are feeling unwell or have any cold/flu symptoms, we ask that you do not attend the assembly.
Assemblies will commence as follows:
- K-2 Assembly - ODD Weeks - Thursday 2:00 pm - starting Term 1 Week 5 (23 February)
- 3-6 Assembly - EVEN Weeks - Thursday 2:00 pm - starting Term 1 Week 4 (16 February)
🤝 COLLABORATIVE . RESPECTFUL . COMMUNICATION . 🤝
The School Community Charter was produced to support a respectful environment in our schools. It outlines a framework for positive interactions and provides parents with guidance in engaging as partners in their children’s learning. It also highlights unacceptable behaviour that has no place in our school communities.
Communicating with our school and staff
Parents, carers, educators and our staff are all responsible for ensuring our learning environments are collaborative, supportive and cohesive. When raising a concern, making a complaint or providing feedback, we ask that you communicate in a positive and constructive manner, and treat others with respect and fairness.
Our staff will find a time to talk to you when they can give you their full attention. While our staff are preparing resources for learning, in class teaching, on duty supervising students, attending meetings, or dealing with other matters, they may not be available to answer your questions immediately.
Before and after school, our teachers are often busy setting up their classroom and preparing student learning resources and activities. I respectfully request and remind parents and carers not to enter a classroom to speak with a teacher unless a pre-arranged appointment has been made.
Our staff will respond to parent enquiries/requests at their earliest convenience and within 3 business days. Teachers are not expected to respond or communicate with parents outside of school hours, being 8:00am to 4:00pm.
Respectful communication is a right
In all workplaces, people have the right to feel respected and safe. Unacceptable and offensive behaviour has no place in our school communities.
To ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, staff and the community in our schools, steps will be taken to address unacceptable behaviour. When a person’s behaviour is unreasonable and obstructs the proper management of a complaint or other issues, a senior officer from the department may decide to restrict or terminate contact with that person. In more serious cases, this may include referral to NSW Police.
Unacceptable behaviour in our schools
Unacceptable behaviour may include but is not limited to:
- Aggressive or intimidating actions, such as violence, threatening gestures or physical proximity.
- Aggressive or intimidating language, including the use of obscenities, making sexist, racist or derogatory comments or using a rude tone.
- Treating members of the school community differently due to aspects such as their religion or disability.
- Inappropriate and time-wasting communication.
Important Points to Remember:
- Communicate in a positive and constructive manner and treat others with respect and fairness.
- If you have a question or concern, contact the office to make a time to speak with the appropriate member of staff.
- Teachers aim to respond to parent enquiries and requests at their earliest convenience and within 3 business days.
- Teachers are not expected to respond or communicate with parents outside of school hours, being 8:00am to 4:00pm.
- Teachers are busy preparing - do not enter classrooms before or after school to initiate a conversation with a teacher. Make an appointment so the teacher can give you their full attention.
- If you have a concern or wish to follow-up on an incident, inform the school and let our staff manage the situation.
- Do not, under any circumstances, approach someone else’s child to discuss an incident, intimidate them, or threaten them. This is unacceptable and will require follow-up by a member of the executive.
NSW Public Schools work to create positive environments for students, staff and the entire school community that support student learning. We strive to ensure that every student is known, valued and cared for. The best education happens when students, parents and schools work together.
🏫 YEAR 6 TO YEAR 7 TRANSITION 🏫
The Year 6 to 7 transition process is moving online this year. In preparation for the new process, the Moving to high school page has now been added to primary school websites. Links to the online Expression of Interest (EOI) and Placement Not Required (PNR) forms will be available on this page from 6 March – 31 March 2023.
Parents and carers will need to complete digital expressions of interest and Placement Not required, on the Moving to high school page on our school website between 6 to 31 March 2023. (Note: Parents and carers must submit their paper EOI/PNRs no later than 24 March 2023. Digital EOI/PNRs must be submitted no later than 31 March 2023).
🚧 RESOURCE AND GROUND UPDATES 🚧
Winston Heights has been a hive of energy lately with so many maintenance and ground updates happening. Here's a snapshot of what's been going on:
Laptops - recently we purchased 64 new student laptops. These will be rolled out to classrooms for student use over the coming days and weeks. Our teachers will also receive new laptops to support the focus on professional learning and curriculum delivery.
Carpark fence - during the Christmas holidays, the fence was installed between the carpark and pedestrian path near the Buckleys Road entry. As a safety measure, this fence was installed to limit pedestrian access to the carpark.
K-2 COLA - the K-2 COLA underwent major resurfacing works over the holiday break, transforming it from a cracked and uneven play surface to an excitingly smooth and inviting play area. A top layer of paint will be laid on the K-2 COLA later this week, with colourful markings being drawn for games, handball and class lining up.
Painting - maintenance work in 2022/23 had a focus on painting internal and external areas of the school. A team of painters worked tirelessly during the Christmas holidays to paint many classrooms, toilets, the canteen, and hall. The hall floor was also resurfaced and polished - it looks incredible! A few other areas of the school will be painted later in the year.
Fence and astro turf outside 5P/Maths room - the area between 5P and the Maths room will undergo a make over this year. During the holidays, a fence was installed around the internal retaining wall in this area, and over the coming months, it will be resurfaced with astro turf. We then have further plans to turn this space into an outdoor learning area.
External gates being locked - I would like to thank our community for their continued understanding and patience with the locking of the school gates. To maximise student safety, this will practice will continue. However, I'm sure you will be extremely excited to know that work will be carried out toward the end of this year to install electric gates at the Langdon Road and Buckelys Road pedestrian gates. In addition, the carpark will receive an electronic gate. We cannot wait for the electronic upgrade of your gates to happen ... in the meantime, we greatly appreciate your support and understanding.
🐶 DOGS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS 🐶
Under the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW), Section 14, dogs are prohibited on school grounds unless the principal grants permission. Reasons why the principal may grant permission for a dog to be in a school include:
- Assistance or Service dogs
- Farm working dogs
- Visits by organised groups or programs for school incursions
- School support dogs
We understand that our pets are much-loved members of our families, and from time to time, your dog may walk to school with your family. In these instances, you may really want to bring your dog on school site. Unfortunately, dogs (of any size or breed) are not permitted on school site.
Should your child wish for your family pet to visit the school or classroom, you must contact the Principal to request permission. Such requests will be considered on a case by case basis, be well managed, and only for a limited time where the parent/carer brings the dog to the school. Permission for a dog to be in a school must be supported by a risk assessment.
It has been an incredibly busy start to the 2023 school year, with many initiatives and organisational structures established that will see our school continue to improve and strive toward teaching, learning, wellbeing, and engagement excellence.
On a final note - check out these very proud Year 1 students. During their RFF lesson in The Studio, they created a maze and then programmed the BeeBot to follow the white line. Lots of trial and error, and determination ... but they did it! Congratulations and well done girls! ⭐
Mrs Terri Bullock
Principal
🧸💙💖 POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING (PBL) 💖💙🧸
We are playing playground BINGO!
Winston Heights is a POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING (PBL) school. We foster safe, respectful and responsible learning.
To start 2023 with a happy, harmonious playground, each class in the school is playing
playground BINGO as a positive way of reinforcing and rewarding appropriate playground behaviour.
Here is what the playground BINGO gameboard looks like:
Each class will focus on demonstrating the positive behaviours required to attain a square in the game.
Once that postive behaviour has been achieved consistently over a period of time (1-2 weeks) the students will achieve BINGO for that game square and enjoy a class reward, like a special game, class handball time, free time on Friday or Mrs Bullock's gold principal’s tokens, for example.
Next, the class will try to make it three squares in a row, horizontally, verically or diagonally to attain another BINGO for a whole class reward. Then classes will aim for another three in a row until they have achieved all nine squares for ULTIMATE BINGO. We hope all nine playground BINGO squares can be achieved in Term 1.
The teachers and students are so excited to work together to ensure we all play together, creating a safe, respectful and responsible playground environment to share.
This will explain what we are looking for to achieve each of the nine bingo:
How can parents/carers help?
Have a chat with your child to see which square your child’s class is trying to achieve. Check in with them about their progress throughout the term.
👩🏫 WHPS SCHOOL STAFF & ORGANISATION 👨🏫
As you would be aware, a school’s staffing allocation and structure of classes is determined by the number of enrolments the school has.
In 2023, Winston Heights PS has an enrolment of 360 students, resulting in 14 classes being formed.
I would like to thank our community for their positive feedback with class formation and the class notification letter that was sent home with your child last week. With your positive support, I know our students settled smoothly and adjusted well into their new classes.
Sometimes it is helpful to be able to put a face to a name. To assist you, we have developed a Staff Photo Directory (see below).
👍 WINSTON HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL IS ON FACEBOOK ! 👍
Have you liked our WINSTON HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOL facebook page?
The official WHPS Facebook page is used to share reminders, updates and photos from school events.
Find us on facebook - search for ‘Winston Heights Public School’ to like and follow our page.
💻 SAFER INTERNET DAY 2023 💻
WHAT IS SAFER INTERNET DAY?
Safer Internet Day is a global initiative that brings together communities, families, schools and organisations from more than 200 countries to help create safer online spaces.
Technology has evolved dramatically in the past two decades and the benefits have been huge. These developments have also exposed us to many risks with real-world impacts, making online safety awareness even more important.
That's why on Safer Internet Day 2023 we are learning to Connect. Reflect. Protect.
- Connect safely and with purpose – by keeping apps and devices secure and using social media in positive ways.
- Reflect before we act – by taking a moment to consider how what we do and say online may affect others.
- Protect ourselves and others by taking action – by telling family, friends or colleagues about eSafety and how we can help.
This week, students at Winston Heights Public School raised their awareness of online safety through a range of age-appropriate activities provided by the eSafety Commissioner, such as interactive webinars, watching “Mighty Heroes” videos and participating class discussions.
More information for parents/carers can be found at: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
🐛📚 NEWS FROM OUR LIBRARY 📚🐛
I would like to take this opportunity to not only welcome you back to WHPS for 2023 but to also introduce myself as the new school Teacher Librarian.
I have heard fabulous things about the students here and their love for all things library and I look forward to continuing to learn, nurture and expand upon their literacy journey with them this year.
Please find below our library schedule showing which day your child will need to bring their library bag for borrowing.
Monday - 6B 50 3C 4E
Tuesday - 3N 1K 2M
Wednesday - 4H 1T KT KB
Thursday - 6S 5P 2G
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the office. I look forward to meeting you all at some point during the year.
Kerrie Pennell
Teacher Librarian
Well done to these PBL Award winners who have been Safe, Respectful & Responsible Learners:
3-6 PBL award winners :
⭐⭐⭐ ASSEMBLY SUPERSTARS ⭐⭐⭐
Week 4 Awarded Recipients
3N :
4H : Emily, Emmeth, Ebony & Lucas
4E : NFP, Tabitha & Tyler
5O : Ruqayah, Mitchell, Journii & Renit
5P :Elise, Chloe, Naythan & Evie
6B :
6S : Thomas, Eli, Charlie & Olivia
Library : 3N & Ethan (6B)
Studio : 5P
🎯 FROM THE OFFICE 🎯
New School Finance System
In preparation for transition to a simplified finance system for both of you and the school, we will be required to implement a short payment lockout period where we will be unable to accept any online payments.
What this means for you:
- No online payments can be made online from 4pm, Wednesday 15 February 2023.
- Any existing payment links that have been sent to you previously in emails can still be used after the transition and will automatically redirect to the new system.
- After transition, a School Bytes portal will be available for you to register and begin using.
- After transition the school will invoice monies outstanding for PSSA, tennis etc and parents will be able to pay online.
Further information on the finance system will come home shortly.
Other news
- We are already getting un-named lunch boxes and other student possesions in Lost Property. Please label all lunch boxes, drink bottles, hats and jackets so they can be returned to your child promptly.
- We have a student phone that has been in our student phone box for over a week. Please come and collect it from the office.
If your child requires antibiotics or Doctor prescribed medication to be administered by the office staff during the day, we now ask that you measure the dose out into a medical syringe. Place it into a labelled sandwich bag along with the completed Administering of Prescribed Medication form which is found on our website under ‘Permission Notes’ or available at the office. This save having to leave the bottle of medicine at school during the day. All medication must be brought to the office by a parent or carer and please note we can only administer Doctor prescribed medication.
Have you downloaded the latest version of our school APP? They have made changes to the absent note section, and it is much more user friendly. Search for updates via your play store or delete the APP and reinstall. Don’t forget to select notifications so you don’t miss any important notices.
Mrs Leverton, Mrs Calvar and Miss Griffin
✉ STEWART HOUSE ENVELOPES ✉
Every year 1,600 public school children attend Stewart House next to Curl Curl beach at no cost to their parents or carers. During a 12-day stay, they are provided with dental, optical, hearing and medical screening and treatment.
Children participate in educational programs and excursions designed to develop their social and emotional skills, build self-esteem and improve their overall wellbeing. This experience provides children with a much-needed break from their current circumstance. Children are inspired to see beyond the present and to have real hope and positive aspirations for their future.
Children in the care of Stewart House attend a specific purpose school onsite for 10 days of their 12-day stay. The NSW Department of Education provides infrastructure and staffing support for this school. All other costs associated with the children’s stay are met from charitable donations.
As NSW Public Education's Charity of Choice, all schools receive envelope packs early in Term 1 each year.
The Stewart House Donation Drive is an annual fundraising event. Staff and students are encouraged to enter the draw, where for as little as $2, they could win a prize valued at $4000!
For more information, please visit https://www.stewarthouse.org.au/
📆 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 📆
TERM 1 - 2023
February 2023
Thur 15 - 3-6 Assembly
Fri 16 - Summer PSSA
Mon 20 - Thur 23 - Meet the Teacher Evenings
Thur 23 - K-2 Badge Assembly
Fri 24 - Summer PSSA
March 2023
Wed 1 - SRC Mufti Day
Thur 2 -3-6 Assembly
Fri 3 - School Clean Up Day
Fri 3 - Summer PSSA
Mon 6 - CHPSSA Zone Swimming Carnival
Tues 7 - Youth Leaders Day
Thur 9 - K-2 Assembly
Fri 10 - Summer PSSA
Mon 13 - School Photo Day
Wed 15 - Mon 27 - NAPLAN Yr 3 & 5
Tues 28 - Cross Country Carnival
Thur 30 - Red Badge Assembly 3-6
April 2023
Tues 4 - Cross Country Back Up Date
Thur 6 - Easter Hat Parade
Thur 6 - Last Day Term 1
Fri 7 - Good Friday
📅 2023 TERM DATES 📅
Term 1 - Tuesday 31 January to Thursday 6 April 2023
Term 2 - Wednesday 26 April to Friday 30 June 2023
Term 3 - Tuesday 18 July to Friday 22 September 2023
Term 4 - Monday 9 October to Monday 18 December 2023
Please note:
- 27 January, 30 January, 24 April, 17 July, 18, 19 December 2023 are staff development days. These days are for staff-only.
- Dates and events advertised above may be subject to change.
- Further information will be sent home closer to the events being held.
PSSA Draw
Friday 17 February
Softball & T/Ball - bus to Murray Farm Reserve
Touch - bus to Ted Horwood Reserve
Friday 24 February
Softball & T/Ball - bus to Torry Burn Reserve
Touch - bus to Ted Horwood Reserve
📢 P&C NEWS 📢
Winston Heights Public School P&C Association is on Facebook!
🚨 COMMUNITY NOTICES 🚨
PREMIER’S BACK TO SCHOOL NSW PROGRAM
As we prepare for another year of learning in 2023, you can now apply for the Premier’s Back to School NSW program, offering $150 worth of vouchers (3 x $50 vouchers) to help pay for school supplies like school uniforms, shoes, bags, textbooks and stationery.
Every primary and secondary school student in NSW is eligible for the vouchers.
Please read the letter below from the Premier about the program and the vouchers.
You can apply for and access your vouchers in your MyServiceNSW account, in the Service NSW app, by calling Service NSW on 137788 or by visiting your local Service Centre.
To be eligible, your child needs to be a NSW resident and enrolled in a NSW primary or secondary school in 2023.
For more information and to access all vouchers, visit the Service NSW website.
PARKING LEGALLY IN SCHOOL ZONES
A message from City of Parramatta Counci - Some common road rules are often overlooked during busy school pick-up and drop-off times. Please read the information below to help raise awareness of these road rules.
CHILD RESTRAINT FITTING/CHECKING PROGRAM
As part of the Local Government Road Safety Program, City of Parramatta Council and TfNSW run a free child restraint fitting/adjustment program which provides the opportunity for residents to obtain a voucher to have their child restraint fitted/adjusted for free by Council’s selected Transport for NSW (TfNSW) authorised fitter (subject to available funding, conditions apply).
Applications must be submitted via Council's website at Child Restraint Fitting/Adjustment Voucher Program | City of Parramatta (nsw.gov.au)
You are encouraged to view the NSW Centre for Road Safety website which provides useful and educational information relating to child restraints and National Child Restraint Laws.
SNAP SEND SOLVE
Being a community legend has never been easier!
Spotted an issue in your community like graffiti, illegal parking, dumped rubbish, trip hazards or abandoned trolleys? Time to get Snapping!
Snap Send Solve is the free app that simplifies the reporting of community issues across Australia and New Zealand.
We’ve made reporting quick and easy which means when you see an issue while you’re out, you can let the responsible authority know with only a few taps. Become a community legend and download Snap Send Solve today.
Snap Send Solve works on both iOS and Android devices and is available to download for free on both the App Store and Google Play.
Note that some older versions of iOS and Android are not supported.
You can also submit reports via the Snap Send Solve reporting website, report from your desktop below.