Wassup Woonona
Newsletter 17 May 2022
View more wonderful photos further down in this newsletter
Principal's Corner
STAFF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
As a part of driving our school improvement in the teaching and learning of mathematics, our teachers have been involved in extensive professional learning throughout Term 1 and now into Term 2. The professional learning has been targeted at improving staff knowledge of our mathematics syllabus, as we have transitioned away from using the Stepping Stones program. Whilst this has been and is a huge transition for our team, we are confident we are on the right track and very excited about the direction we are taking to improve our student outcomes in mathematics.
On the staff development day to begin Term 2, we had members from the Teaching Quality and Impact Directorate present to our staff on mathematics, with lots of great ideas and collaboration occurring amongst staff. See some fantastic photos of the day below.
In the coming term, Mrs Alex McDonald and Mrs Sue Natter, Lead Specialist Numeracy with the Department of Education, will be working with our staff and students to continue our journey and share their expertise. We look forward to gaining valuable skills and knowledge and transferring this to our students and their learning. Already Mrs McDonald and Mrs Natter have spent time surveying students and conducting interviews, to gain baseline data on where our students currently sit from Kindergarten to Year 6. We look forward to seeing how this strategy looks and unfolds in the coming weeks.
ADMIN RENOVATION
Our Administration Block renovation continues to take shape, as the last two weeks have been spent busily relocating furniture and staff to various places around the school. The internal demolition is planned to begin next Monday 23 May, so be prepared in the coming days and weeks to see some changes to the entry along Gray Street and our Admin area.
It is anticipated that the Eastern gate will be inaccessible on Gray Street for the duration of the renovation. This means that only the Western gate on Gray Street will be accessible. This will inevitably create some congestion at school pick up time. This means we will have two entry and exit points to our school, as opposed to three - the Western gate on Gray Street and the gate in the cul-de sac.
Most importantly for our parents and students, our Administration Block will now be located via entry through the Western gate on Gray Street. The Admin will now be the first classroom to your left, as you walk around the Admin area and will be sign posted for those families needing access.
Please keep in mind that while we are transitioning to our new space, we anticipate some short-term disruption to operations – phone lines being moved, etc. In addition, some of our communication devices with classes will not be operational throughout the duration of the build. Please keep this in mind when you are picking up your child early as this may extend the pick-up time by a few minutes.
SOUTHERN STARS
Our school is excited to be again participating in Southern Stars in 2022. After the disappointment of last year being cancelled, we are confident that this year will go ahead, with students who were down to participate last year, given first opportunity to rejoin for 2022.
Southern Stars is a wonderful event that provides students with a passion for performing arts to engage with a professional and accomplished production. We wish all the students participating all the best as they work hard in the coming months to prepare for what will be an event they will remember for life.
In addition, I would like to congratulate Charlotte, who after being selected in the dance company last year, has been offered a place again in 2022. In the coming months, there will be significant training, in preparation, and I congratulate Charlotte for her dedication and commitment to her craft.
DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY
Last Friday, a team of 48 students represented our school at the District Cross Country Carnival at Bulli Park. All of our students represented our school with pride and displayed exceptional behaviour, manners and determination. Eight students have progressed to the next level and will represent our school at the Regional Cross Country Carnival in June. A short report is written later in this newsletter, but a big thank you also to Mr McMullen and Mr Samuel who took our team to this carnival.
We would like to extend a huge congratulations to all our students who participated and successfully completed the course. Woonona Public School is very proud of you!
RECONCILIATION WEEK
Reconciliation Week is coming up in Week 6 and is always an important learning experience for all of our students. The theme for 2022 is “Be Brave. Make Change” with students being involved in three major activities throughout the week:
- A class research activity on an influential Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
- A portrait activity of their influential Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
- A “Be Brave. Make Change” Reconciliation Walk visiting the work of other classrooms
Thank you to our organising committee for bringing together what should be a wonderful, insightful learning experience for all of our students.
P&C MEETING
MOTHER’S DAY STALL
NAPLAN
NATIONAL WALK SAFELY TO SCHOOL DAY
K-1 CROSS COUNTRY
FUN RUN
Our Fun Run planned for Friday 27 May, continues to come together and should be a colourful, fun event for all involved. More information will be shared later in the week, but for now we have made one major change and that is that we are now incorporating the whole school (Kindergarten and Year 1 are now also participating), in the event.
Mr Tim Fisher
Principal
Communication to our community
Over the past couple of school terms we have been communicating to our families by two main platforms - School Enews and Sentral Parent Portal. If you are subscribed to both, you would have received duplications of our notifications.
We are now confident that the majority of our families are registered with the Parent Portal. The Parent Portal will become our main source for communicating to our school community.
School Enews notifications will cease on Wednesday 1 June 2022.
If you are reading this notification on School Enews and you are not registered on the Parent Portal, please follow these instructions on our website . Additional family access keys are available for both parents, please click on the link above for instructions.
National Walk Safely to School Day
Primary school aged children across Australia will make those important steps towards a healthier future by participating in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday 20 May 2022. National Walk Safely to School Day is a community initiative that aims to raise awareness of the health, road safety, transport and environmental benefits that regular walking (especially to and from school) can provide for the long term well-being of our children.
Now in its 23rd year, the annual event has joined forces with National Road Safety Week (15 – 22 May) to further draw the spotlight on road safety and support the importance of regular walking, not just on 20 May, but every day.
This Friday, students are encouraged to walk with their parents or caregiver to school. Teachers from Woonona Public School will be positioned on the following corners on Friday morning from 8.25am to high-five students and give out stickers.
Corner of Princes Hwy and Nicholson Road
Corner of Princes Hwy and Gray St (near the Windmill Hotel)
Corner of Liddle St and Gray St (near the church)
Corner of Chenhalls St and Gray St
On the Gordon St cul de sac near the lane way
Happy walking to school!
April 2022 CITIZENS OF THE MONTH
Thank you for displaying kindness, respect for our school, peers and teachers and for being friendly and happy students.
K-1 Cross Country
The Cross Country Carnival for Kindergarten and Year 1 students took place on Thursday 5 May 2022. The house colours lit up the ‘Flat’ and the gloomy conditions were not enough to stop our Kindergarten and Year 1 students taking on the long-distance run. We were so proud to see all students running their best and also displaying excellent sportspersonship! Congratulations to all the place getters and to Hume for winning the point score.
North Wollongong PSSA District Cross Country Carnival
On Friday 6 May, 48 students proudly represented Woonona Public School at the North Wollongong PSSA District Cross Country Carnival. Previous wet weather conditions forced the organisers to make a late update to the junior and senior courses, which made the track even more challenging. Our representatives rose to the challenge and finished second overall against the competing schools in the North Wollongong district. Well done!
Congratulations to the students that progressed to the Regional Cross Country Carnival and will represent the North Wollongong PSSA in Nowra on June 10.
Those students are:
Archie
Jimmy
Reg
Frankie
Madeline
Ella
Ashton
Arabella
Library News
Just a reminder for students to bring their Library books back each week. Students can also return books at recess and lunch on Mon, Tues & Wed if they forget their books on their Library day.
National Simultaneous Storytime 2022
Register and participate at home by clicking on the image below.
National Simultaneous Storytime 2022 – let’s get 1 million kids reading!
Family Reading Month
Happy reading,
Mrs Carroll
Librarian
Canteen and uniform shop
Onsite uniform shop closed until further notice.
Online orders can be placed on the QuickCliq website
School Canteen
Uniform Shop
- Download the uniform price list and order form (PDF 204.7KB)
- Online orders can be placed on the QuickCliq website
Co-operation - respect - effort - responsibility
Community news
Woonona Public School
Email: woonona-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website: https://woonona-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/
Location: 5a Gray Street, Woonona NSW, Australia
Phone: (02) 42844316