13 December 2022

• Principal's Report
• Video - Stage 1 Christmas Dance
• Citizenship of the Month Award
  

• Southern Stars Performance Company for 2023

• Video - Year 6 Jamberoo Excursion
  

• Library News
  
• Moments in Maths
• WHSPA Year 7 Audition Applications OPEN now for 2024
  
• 2022/2023 NSW term and vacation dates
  
• Canteen and uniform shop
  
• Community News
• Contact Us

One of the highlights in our last week is our Annual Presentation Day, which was held today. Three assemblies took place; Year 6 Graduation, Years 3 to 6 and Kinder to Year 2. I was so proud that our planned celebrations came together in a way that we could incorporate our students, staff and community. To share my thoughts and reflect on our school year and then share the successes of many students who received recognition across a diverse range of disciplines was a fantastic way to conclude a year that as it progressed, felt increasingly normal, and for this I’m sure we are all relieved and should feel immensely proud. Well done to every recipient, but also to all students in our school, who have certainly achieved success throughout the year in many areas.

A big part of today was the announcement of our 2023 School Captains and Prefects. I want to again congratulate all nominees. However, only four people can be elected to School Captaincy and Vice-Captaincy and four to the Prefect role. I congratulate Mikayla and Max, our new Captains, Zoe and Lachlan, our new Vice-Captains and Natahlia, Mia, Lennox and Flynn on being elected to the Prefect role. I believe that these students will be excellent leaders for Woonona Public School and we look forward to them growing into their role in 2023. Well done!

As was mentioned in today’s assemblies, we will be wishing two staff members all the best as they transition into retirement. Mrs Belinda Petrolo and Mrs Barbara Peary will finish at the end of this year and I know that our community will join the staff and students in wishing these wonderful educators a fitting farewell.

Mrs Petrolo graduated from Wollongong Institute of Education in teaching in 1979. Her early career saw her at Bonnyrigg Public School, followed by Ambarvale Public School, before moving down to Wollongong, where she married her husband John in 1993, having her first child in 1994. In 2000, as a local to Woonona Public School, she enrolled her son to attend and became a regular parent helper. For many years, she helped in the canteen, uniform shop, with reading and on the P&C.

In 2010, Mrs Petrolo did a half day casual work at our school, and as she puts it, “That’s how it all started.” Since that moment, Mrs Petrolo has had many wonderful years working K-2. She will be remembered for her listening ear, her sound advice, her advocacy for staff and for her wicked sense of humour. Mrs Petrolo had an immense commitment to her students and passion for seeing students grow and change on their learning journey. Whilst Mrs Petrolo will be retiring, she has told me that she may well be keen to continue casual teaching and I am confident we may see her at times in the coming year, something that I am sure we all look forward to. All the best in your retirement, Mrs Petrolo, and thank you for your years of service to our students and families.

Mrs Peary moved to Wollongong when she was 28 after getting a job at Bulli Hospital. Not long after, she met her husband Glen, with baby number one arriving in 1998. In 2003, her son began at WPS and Mrs Peary took to the role of parent helper. She did cooking every Friday with Kindergarten and did a lot of reading as well as helping out wherever was needed within the school, including on the P&C.

In 2006 Mrs Peary started as a staff member at WPS working three hours a week, then moving to one day a week, before steadily increasing to five days a week. Mrs Peary will be known for her caring, kind nature and for her amazing cooking and morning teas – her carrot cake is the greatest! She is highly creative, has a passion for art and always went above and beyond, in her role, to support students and staff. Like Mrs Petrolo, I suspect we will see Mrs Peary next year, who is keen to continue to be involved in school, between enjoying some down time and spending time reconnecting with some of her passions outside of school. All the best for your retirement, Mrs Peary, you will be missed, but we are excited for you as you move onto new adventures.

In Week 8, our first Santa Photos, took place on our school grounds. I want to thank our P&C organising committee for bringing this together for the benefit of our students and their families. I would also like to say a big thank you to Santa for making the time, in his busy schedule, to look after the families of our school.

Last week, I was fortunate enough to join Maddi S, at the South Coast Blues Awards. The Blues are awards that recognise the highest achieving sporting athletes on the South Coast and Maddi was one of only six primary school recipients. As was shared earlier in the year, Maddi achieved several medals, representing NSW, at the Australian Championships, including an individual gold medal in the 100m Backstroke, which saw her recognised at the Blues Luncheon. Congratulations Maddi on your achievement!

We still have one more date allocated for our P&C to meet, which is Wednesday 14 December (that’s tomorrow!). This is not a meeting as such but a celebratory Christmas dinner. Woonona Bulli RSL has been booked for 6:30pm and we encourage those wishing to attend to come along for what is always a relaxing and enjoyable night. If you are wishing to attend, please email enquiries@wppc.com.au

Today, you will have received your child’s Semester 2 report. Reports happen twice per year at all public schools in NSW. Our staff have written extensive reports that cover all Key Learning Areas. These subjects have all been assessed through a range of techniques, with students abilities compared to relevant syllabus outcomes for each Stage of learning.

Remember:

• Teachers plan teaching and learning programs using syllabuses developed by the NSW Education Standards Authority.
• The syllabuses describe standards that apply across the state for each learning area.
• Your child’s teacher uses their knowledge of syllabuses and knowledge of the children in their class to plan their teaching and learning programs.
• Teachers use their professional judgement, internal and external data gathering about each child’s achievement against the statewide standards to award the grade.

If your child has achieved a Sound on their report then he/she has achieved what is generally expected. If your child has achieved a High or Outstanding, then he/she has achieved more than is generally expected. If your child has achieved a Limited or Basic, then he/she has not yet achieved what is generally expected compared to other children of a similar age.

Tomorrow is our Picnic Day and I hope students and staff enjoy the fun events planned for the different stages. I know there are a range of activities planned and I know there has been a buzz of excitement across the school, in anticipation of the day. A reminder that students are encouraged to wear mufti on this day.

Tomorrow, a number of talented and hard working students will perform for the Woonona Community of Schools Band at their end of year concert. These students have gone above and beyond, doing lessons and spending considerable time practising, outside of school hours, to fine-tune their skills. It will all come together tomorrow night and I congratulate them on their achievement.

Our talent show will take place this Wednesday. I would like to thank the committee of teachers for making this special event a reality. We have had a huge number of applicants this year, which is great! I’m sure everyone is looking forward to seeing the talents of the many students across our school.

Last Tuesday saw our Year 6 students off to Jamberoo and I congratulate them on their behaviour throughout the day. Ms Phillips and accompanying staff were very complimentary of our students who were responsible, mature and reliable. More than this they had a great time! Well done Year 6 and thank you to our teachers who co-ordinated the organisation of this day.

Please see video further down in this newsletter.

Tonight is our Year 6 Farewell and what a night it will be. Our graduating class of 2022 have had a huge year, with the last few weeks being exceptionally busy. However, it will all come together, with tonight being the pinnacle of their celebrations. Transitioning to high school is a huge, daunting time for our students but they have done a fantastic job, working closely with our teachers, and are ready for this next big step.

A special thank you to the organising staff and parent helpers who have assisted in bringing together the night.

I want to remind parents that students’ last day for the school year is Friday 16 December (that’s this Friday!). Students will resume school on Tuesday 31 January 2023. We look forward to seeing our Year 1 to Year 6 students on this first day. Our Kindergarten students will begin Big School on Friday 3 February after their Best Start Assessments have been conducted.

As this will be the final newsletter and correspondence for 2022, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support throughout the year. I wish you and your families a happy and safe holiday.

Merry Christmas!! I hope Santa is good to you!!

Mr Tim Fisher

Principal

These amazing students were awarded the 'Citizenship of the Month Award' for November, in recognition of their exemplary standards of conduct and service to others.

Congratulations to Sophie 1P, Marshall KS, Bodhi 3-4L and Baxter 5-6L.

Anyone interested in auditioning for the Southern Stars Performance Company for 2023, please see Mrs McLerie before the end of the year to get an information booklet.

Thank you!

Mrs McLerie

What a busy few weeks of learning K-2 have had to finish the year off!

Kindergarten have been exploring lots of different patterns. Year 1 have been investigating groups to solve multiplication and division problems and Year 2 have been using arrays to revise their multiplication strategies. We are so proud of all of our students and the hard work they have put into their learning this year.

Thank you.

Mrs Hayley Banzon

Assistant Principal

If you received an overdue loan notice and the book is lost, please let us know so it can be wiped from our system. Notices will also list the book price which parents can pay to the office for purchase of a replacement copy. If you receive an overdue notice and the book has already been paid for previously or has already been returned, please send the slip back in with this noted down. Our Library computer system will automatically create notices for any overdue books from this year. Thank you to those students who have already returned books or notified me about lost books.

Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.

Mrs Carroll

Librarian

Onsite uniform shop closed until further notice.

Online orders can be placed on the QuickCliq website

Please be aware that there are students in our school with allergies to nuts. We ask that you give consideration to voluntarily agreeing not to send nut products, in particular peanuts and peanut butter to school.