Woonona Public School was established in 1882 and has a long, proud history of serving and working with the local community as a centre of educational excellence. The school’s motto,

“learning and working together” typifies our everyday aspirations, where staff, students and the community come together to share a love of learning and growing together.

Primary school is an exciting time in a child’s life and it is our goal to make that journey, for both the child and their family, a fun, engaging and highly successful one. Students are given a diverse range of opportunities to connect, succeed and thrive from their first day at school, and leave Woonona Public School well positioned to succeed at high school and beyond.

Our core school values underpin everything we do at Woonona Public School, with students taught and encouraged to display: Respect, Co-Operation, Effort and Responsibility in every aspect of their schooling. It is the school’s strong belief that these values will not just create a successful student, but a high functioning and productive member of society and we work collaboratively to ensure students learn these values and utilise them in their daily life.

At Woonona Public School we are also firmly focused on embedding the globally recognised Visible Learning ethos in all learning. In essence, we want learning to be visible to students. Students are active and engaged in their own learning and are taught to see themselves as their own teachers. At the same time, our teachers are taught to see learning through the eyes of the student and to assist each student, every day and every lesson to plan the next step in their learning journey. Students are always being asked to reflect on three key questions; Where am I? Where do I need to go? How will I get there? Students at Woonona Public School are shown that learning is a continual process, where once one skill is learnt, the next learning journey begins. This cycle is one that students embrace as they progress and grow.

There is also a strong focus on teacher professional learning and improvement. Evidence shows that the quality of the teacher and quality of the teaching matters. Teachers should always aspire to improve and the school provides a great depth of opportunities for its teachers to connect with learning that is specific to their needs and in line with the school’s direction. Our three key questions; Where am I? Where do I need to go? How will I get there? do not just apply to our students, but to our staff and the journey they take as educators.

Woonona Public School is proud of its reputation as a pillar of the community and a centre of educational excellence. It is something that is grounded in evidence-based research and is supported by strong processes that are continually being refined and reviewed each and every day for the benefit of each and every student. Your exciting educational journey at Woonona Public School is about to begin and we look forward to sharing this special time with you and your child.

Mr Tim Fisher

Principal

Deputy Principal - Alison Strinic

Assistant Principals - Emma Phillips, Rachel Brown, Steve McGee, Tristan Loosemore

Business Manager - Karina Curry

School Administrative Officers - Kim Davis, Sharlene Hodson, Chris Belling

School Support Learning Officers - Kirstie Seymour, Barbara Peary, Sharyn Summersford, Amber Barraclough

Information Technology -

General Assistants - Suzanne Holz, Eric Seymour

Teachers - Michael Arrighi, Matthew Argaet, Helen Bailey, Alanah Barnaby, Melanie Beckinsale, Jacklyn Boyd, Katrina Bugg, Rebecca Chesher, Rebecca Gibson, Connor Grennan, Darcy Heffernan, Belinda Kotevski,Nicole Lambert, Lauren Lockyer, Rebecca McLerie, Declan McMullen, Louise Ney, Belinda Petrolo, Sarah Rolfe, Edwina Smith, Laura Stewart, Mahalia Royters, Ben Samuel, Brooke Sibley, Holly Vella, Leah Weir and Conny Wuestner

Learning Support - Hayley Cheney

Library - Angela Carroll

Counsellor - Tanya Bertapelle

We ask that you advise the school and update your profile on the Parent Portal of any changes to your email address.

Future absence requests

If you are aware of pending leave your child will be taking, for example a family holiday, please add these dates and reason by clicking on the ‘Absence’ tab. Then click on the ‘+’ symbol in the top right-hand side. Kindly complete all fields on this form.

Alternatively, an absentee booklet is available from the administration office.

• To register and gain access to the Parent Portal, please follow these instructions on our website - https://woonona-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/parent-portal.html
• Additional family access keys are available for both parents, please click on the link above for instructions.
• On the Parent Portal homepage, you will be able to view upcoming events for school activities. On the app you can view the calendar in a monthly format.
• For further assistance in using the Parent Portal app please use this help guide https://www.sentral.com.au/portal-app-help#guide

Please keep the school informed about any Family Law papers. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide the school with up to date court and interim orders in relation to custody and access. As per the Department’s policy the school is able to respond only to the orders it currently holds. If no court orders are available then the school is obliged to allow access to both parents.

At 8:55am students in Years 1 to 6 assemble before school under the COLA between the Library and Building 2. Students in Kinder assemble on the synthetic grass area on the northern side of Building 6. At the end of recess and lunch, students line up at designated areas.

No running is allowed on the asphalt for obvious safety reasons.

We have a number of communication methods for our families at Woonona Public:-

• School Website - primary source of information
• School eNews - online notifications to families subscribed
• Fortnightly Newsletter – online at our website www.woonona-p.schools.nsw.gov.au
• School Facebook and Instagram Pages
• Sentral Parent Portal
• Parent Teacher Interviews – held at the end of Term 1
  
• K-2 Seesaw
• 3-6 Google Classroom
• Semester One and Two Student School Report
• Notes home – please check your child’s bag regularly and School eNews and reply promptly if appropriate.
• Phone call/Meeting -You may see your child’s teacher, Assistant Principal (Stage Coordinator), Deputy Principal or Principal. We request that you contact the school to make an appointment so that we can ensure sufficient time is set aside for productive discussion.

During the school year there will be frequent opportunities to visit the school. Parents are invited to Stage Showcases, Easter Activities, Education Week, Book Fair, Sport Carnivals, Presentation Day and many other school activities and celebrations of success.

See COVID-19 update for current situation.

• School website, class and stage Seesaw accounts
• Department of Education publications including the school newsletter
• Official Department and school social media accounts such as the Woonona Public School Instagram and Facebook sites.

Children arriving late (after 9:00am) must get a late arrival slip from the Administration office for their class teacher. These will be recorded as partial absences. If students have to leave the school during the day for an appointment, parents need to go to the Administration office to sign the student out. Class teachers will be notified and the child will be sent to the office with their bag. Parents are not to collect their child directly from the classroom.

Teachers respond to the learning needs of every student. Teachers can also refer students to the Learning Support Team for advice and support to help students reach their potential. Our Learning and Support Team (LaST) consists of the Principal, School Counsellor and Learning Support Teachers. It assists teachers to plan programs to meet student needs, develop Individual Learning Plans and plan effective use of support teacher time. Class teachers write Individual Education Plan’s for those needing extra support in learning or behaviour. The LaST supports them in planning, writing, implementing and reviewing the plans.

At the start of each term you will receive a term statement of account incorporating activities happening during the term that requires payment, eg. excursions, performances and sport. Student Assistance is available to those families dealing with financial hardship. Also, if you are having difficulty paying the term fees, we can organise small regular payments over a number of weeks. Please ring the administration office to discuss.

The Parents and Citizens Association (P&C) of Woonona Public School brings parents, staff and other members of the community together, to advance the best interests of our great school and its students. The P&C plays an important role in supporting the school through parent volunteer sub-committees which support the programs and activities that the school is involved with. All parents are invited to participate in the activities of the P&C. Together we support and encourage the school to provide a positive learning environment.

P&C meetings are held on the second Wednesday of every month @ 6.30pm via Zoom.

• Students in Years 3 to 6 proceed to the primary asphalt playground and play until it is time to go into class
• Kinder to Year 2 students move to their area on the northern side of our two storey building after 8:30am
• A teacher is on duty in this area for the 25 minutes until students line up.

Early Arrival

Students are requested to arrive at school no earlier than 8:30am, as there is no teacher on duty before then. All students arriving early are to sit on the Stage 2/3 lunch seats until the first bell.

Recess

Students eat recess under the supervision of teachers. Time is given to eat, go to the toilet and play.

Lunch

For the first ten minutes of lunch, classes eat under the supervision of the class teachers. On the play bell, students proceed to the appropriate play areas. There are numerous teachers on duty throughout lunch.

Morning and afternoon

Roads & Maritime Services Crossing Supervisors ensure the children cross Gray Street safely. A drop off zone exists on Gray Street.

Wet Weather

During wet weather, students arriving between 8:30am and 8:55am are to proceed to classrooms.

School supply lists are sent home at the end of the year. These lists are also available on our school website. We ask that parents supply their children with the items on the list.

Uniforms are available from our Uniform Shop located at on the western side of the Canteen building. The shop is run by the P & C and volunteers process the orders each Friday.

Order forms are available at the office and on our school website. Orders can also be placed online using QuickCliq which can be accessed through our school website as well. Orders will be made up and can be collected from the office. SMS will be sent when your order is ready for collection.

The uniform shop coordinators have advised that the sports shorts run large and the waist of the culottes are small. Exchanges for incorrect sizes are available but please try on all clothes before removing tags.

Uniform Ordering FAQ's

The following Special Religious Education (SRE) and Special Education in Ethics (SEE) classes are offered at Woonona Public School:

Catholic SRE is provided by The Catholic Diocese of Wollongong. More information about The Catholic Diocese of Wollongong SRE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the The Catholic Diocese of Wollongong website http://www.dow.org.au/services/agency/confraternity-of-christian-doctrine-ccd.

Christian SRE is provided by SRE teachers from different Christian denominations and churches. The approved providers in this combined arrangement are Northern Illawarra Ministers Fraternal. All Christian SRE teachers are authorised and trained by an approved provider.

SEE is provided by Primary Ethics. For more information about SEE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the Primary Ethics website https://primaryethics.com.au/.

During the time that SRE/SEE classes are being held, students not attending will be located in a separate space and will participate in meaningful stage appropriate activities.

Students who become sick or injured during the day are sent to the sick bay in the Administration office where our staff monitors their condition. If necessary, parents or the nominated contact person are telephoned. Please ensure that your contact details are up-to-date by using our ‘Change of Parent/Emergency Contact Details’ .

Medication can only be administered by staff, who must volunteer to do so. Parents need to complete the ‘Request for medication to be administered at school’ form if medicine is required. The form can be located on our school website under – Permission Notes and Forms or from the administration office . All medications are stored in the administration office and must not be left with the student.

All students with serious health conditions, such as Asthma, Diabetes and Anaphylaxis are required to provide a Health Action Plan from their Doctor that must be updated annually by a doctor.

All medications need to be clearly labelled with the child's name, medication name and dosage required. Medication needs to be in date and replaced on expiration.

Further information on Administration of medication.

The Student Welfare Policy is designed to ensure our students are always in an environment that is safe, engaging and promotes a strong sense of self. Our Student Welfare Policy encompasses the practices of the school to meet the personal, social, emotional and individual needs of all our students.

During wet weather, students arriving between 8:30am and 8:55am are to proceed to classrooms.