Newsletter
Friday, 25th August, 2023
From the Principal
Happy Book Week everyone! I’m sure everyone has fond memories of Book Week growing up, and the joy of the dress up parade that came with it. I remember the excitement of this week, dressing up as Darth Vader (ever popular in the 80s when I was at primary school, but still as relevant today), as Mickey Mouse, and, of course, as a King! Hopefully as parents and carers of students, you continue to enjoy the week, celebrating books and the characters that fill their pages. A big thanks to those parents and carers who have spent a great deal of their time organising outfits for their children, creating those fond memories of such a special week.
This Book Week we introduced our Book Swap to the festivities of the week. What an amazing experience it was this morning! We did not anticipate so many amazing books being swapped and the love of these books being shared with new households and families. Thanks to everyone who supported this Book Swap!
A very big thank-you to our very own Education Support Staff member, Lauren Verhagen, who was the staff ‘mum’, taking time to create our Mr Men / Little Miss outfits! Top job! And for the record, I didn’t choose to be Mr Perfect!
Grounds Works
Just when you thought the works around our grounds were complete, guess again! We will be seeing some further works completed over the coming months. Next week we will be having some serious footings installed outside the Classroom Kitchen ready to install a solid shade sail over the outside eating area and decking. Please be mindful of this when you all arrive on Wednesday morning and stay clear from the area. We are also having a walking track installed around our oval, with some special sensory stations installed as well. We will let you know when these works are scheduled to begin.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
A huge highlight of my week is having the opportunity to share some of the delicious creations that come from our SAKG program, with fresh produce from ‘Porrgil’s Patch’. On the menu this week was scrumptious spinach and ricotta gnocchi served with an Asian cucumber salad and fresh bread roll, followed by a tasty stewed apple. Each week I am blown away by what our students are making in the kitchen, and the rave reviews that give to the menus. Don’t forget each Tuesday afternoon our market is open in the administration for you to purchase some of our fresh eggs and produce from ‘Porrgil’s Patch’, to cook up at home.
Open Classrooms
We will again open up our classroom doors and encourage everyone to come and see what we’ve been learning throughout Term Three, on our final day of term, Friday, 15th September. We will be teaming this up with RUOK? Day, and a special community barbeque with the first official ‘Dance Club’ performance. Watch out for communications around this opportunity to come and celebrate the amazing learning of our students.
Steven King
Principal
Dates to Remember
Monday, 28th August
Assembly at 2.45pm in the gymnasium
Tuesday, 29th August
Belmont Kinder Visit and Kitchen Garden Program
Friday, 1st September
Years 3,4,5,6 Garden Rejuvenation Incursion
Tuesday, 5th September
Kitchen Garden Program
Friday, 8th September
Newsletter
Responsible Pet Ownership Incursion
Monday, 11th September
Grade 5/6 BioCATS Excursion
Assembly at 2.45pm in the gymnasium
Tuesday, 12th September
Belmont Kinder Visit and Kitchen Garden Program
Friday, 15th September
R U Ok? Day Celebration
Open Classrooms
Last Day of Term 3
2.30pm Finish
Wangala Primary School acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land we are on, the Wadawurrung people, and thank them for sharing their long lasting culture with us as we learn and grow together.
Star Students
Well done to our Star Student, Principal Award and Kitchen Garden Award recipients…
Prep – Sally, Harry, Aneisha
One and Two – Darcie, Taha
Three and Four – Chavelle, Eleni, Zac, Manya
Five and Six – Airlie, Kaylee, Aria and Dayne
Reminders
Upcoming Excursions/Activities 2023
To help you plan ahead, we would like to advise you of the following excursions/activities and approximate costs planned for the remainder of the year:
Two week swimming program – approx $50
End of year Adventure Park celebration – approx $40
Expression of interest Year 3 – 6 camp – approx $350
Science Dome/Planetarium Incursion – $15
GAC performance – $8.50
BioCATS Grade 5/6 – $8.50
Grade six graduation activities – covered by Wangala Primary School
Wangala Gymnasium
Did you know that our school gymnasium is available for hire? Currently a karate group and a basketball club utilise the gym some weekday afternoons/evenings, however there are time slots available if your group or sporting club are looking for a venue to hire.
Our gymnasium also has a fully operational commercial kitchen for hire. We are very lucky to have these facilities available to us at Wangala Primary School!
Please contact reception if you have any queries.
Thanks to Ollie and Adele
Many of you may have heard your children talk about Ollie and Adele over the past seven weeks. We have been fortunate to have these two exceptional Deakin University occupational therapist students with us since the beginning of the term. Both Ollie and Adele have slotted into our school and made great connections with so many of our students. One huge success story include Ollie teaching Danielle in prep how to tie her shoelaces!
Thank you Ollie and Adele. The whole Wangala community wishes you the very best in your future carers. We hope to see you working with our students again some day soon.
OSHC
Last week in OSHC we combined themes from Science Week and our fortnightly focus – Belonging – and sampled some popular foods from around the world. We spoke about the cultures behind different cuisines, the climates of different countries, and had so much fun trying fruits and snacks we haven’t heard of before. We tried Papaya, Guava, Sour Mango, Pink Dragonfruit, real Turkish Delights, Pocky, Irish potato chips, Wispa chocolate bar, seaweed chips, and Mushy Peas. Safe to say the Dragonfruit and sweet snacks were a hit – the Mushy Peas, not so much!
Porrgil’s Patch - Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
Last week in Porrgil’s Patch we learnt about the life cycle of a tomato. Students planted seeds that are being nurtured on the sunny window seal in the kitchen, when they are big enough we will transfer them to the garden and hopefully enjoy their fruits!
This week we discussed the importance of bee’s in the garden, we made some ‘Bee Beaches’ in small dishes with moss and rock, these are to ensure that the bees have a constant water source, particularly leading into the warmer months.
The Kitchen have been producing some amazing quality food this term that we are lucky enough to share as a group. The past two weeks they have used leafy greens from the garden, along with a variety of herbs and of course our eggs.
Serendip Sanctuary Excursion
On Friday the 18th of August Wangala Primary School students celebrated science week with a whole school excursion to Serendip Sanctuary. Students discovered a bug’s world at Serendip Sanctuary wetlands, taking a guided walk that explored the micro-world of minibeasts at our feet and all around us! It was a fabulous day that was thoroughly enjoyed by all, thank you to Mrs Beaumont for organising this adventure!
Year 3 and 4
Dirt by Sea
As we head towards the end of the term the Grade 3 & 4 students are drawing to the end of studying the book Dirt by sea. This week we learnt about Daisy’s and her dads travel to Rottnest Island. Did you know that Rottnest is Dutch for “Rats Nest’?. There is an interesting little animal that lives on Rottnest Island called a Quokka. The students had their own turn at drawing this cute little animal.
Mathematics
In Mathematics the students have been exploring fractions and how we use fractions almost every day in our lives. On Thursday the students explore fractions using different coloured butterflies. Can you guess how many butterflies were in our set of butterflies?
Book Week in Prep
Each day Prep.B are reading the shortlisted books for the Children’s Book of the Year awards. On Monday we read ‘Bev and Kev’ written by Katrina Germein and Mandy Foot. Bev is a tall giraffe who doesn’t have many friends, that is until tiny Kev comes along and gives her some company. Our Preps loved making some gorgeous Bev portraits using ripped paper. Well done Preps!
100 Days of School
On Tuesday the 15th of August our Prep students celebrated their 100th day of school. Everyone dressed up as 100 year olds, and our classroom turned into a very fun nursing home. We had a fun day full of craft activities, dances, party food and making necklaces with our 5-6 buddies. Thank you to the Prep parents for supplying us with delicious party food and for Hazel’s Dad, Andy for creating two awesome 100 Days of School signs that we can use for the next 100 years!
Performing Arts News
This term in Performing Arts, we have been focusing on the elements of Drama.
The students have been creating characters by changing their voice, facial expressions, and body movements. We have been having a fabulous time acting out scenes and plays from fairytales.
GEELONG MUSIC & MOVEMENT FESTIVAL.
Exciting news! On Wednesday 18th October, at 1pm Wangala P.S. will be performing in the Geelong Music and Movement Festival at the new Geelong Art Centre.
We will be part of Session 5 and tickets will be available so that families can come and see us on the BIG stage, under lights.
Our theme this year is Fluoro Fun (70s/80’s theme.) We have been busy learning and memorising our “Breaking Free” dance.
It is going to be such a memorable experience for everyone!
RECORDER CLUB
Our recorder club have been learning and practising their tunes every Wednesday at lunch time. We are very proud of their dedication and enthusiasm to attend in their lunch times. Congratulations to Erin and Kaylee for becoming our club’s leaders. We are very excited to be performing for you at assembly next Monday.
BioCATS excursion for the Senior Students
On Monday the 11th of September the Grade 5/6 students have an excursion to BioCATS at GMHBA Stadium. This is always a fun day and a highlight for many of the senior students. Such a wonderful opportunity. Students and teachers participate in dynamic scientific experiments, using problem solving, statistical analysis and observation skills to learn about the science and mathematics of football and career pathways in sport. A note will be coming home next week with more information.
STEAM - Static Electricity
This week in STEAM we learnt about Static Electricity. We learnt that when two objects – such as your hair and the balloon – rub together, one loses some of its electrons to the other. This makes one object positively charged and the other object negatively charged. The opposites then are attracted to each other. We learnt that the balloon is charged by rubbing it on your hair. We had so much fun conducting simple hands-on experiments with a balloon. We were not only able to make our hair move without touching it but we also made the tissue paper dance and even make water bend! Fascinating really.
R U OK? Day
R U OK?Day (Thursday 14 September, 2023) is Australia’s national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” and support those struggling with life’s ups and downs. It is a day to raise awareness of mental health issues, and to teach people about the signs of someone struggling. People are encouraged to reach out to their friends and family members and ask them if they are OK.
Wangala will be supporting R U OK? Day on the 15th September (last day of term) by wearing yellow together with a day full of activities, a sausage sizzle and open classrooms. This is a great opportunity to teach our students about checking in on their friends. All students will be given an R U OK? Day wristband with the 4 steps to start a conversation on it. More details to follow.
We all have what it takes to ask, ‘are you OK?’ and make a difference.
Use these four steps to start a conversation that could change a life….
- Ask R U OK?
- Listen
- Encourage Action
- Check In
Book Week Parade
Focus on Curriculum
Like reading, writing becomes an everyday activity at home. Let your child see you writing.
Try some of these writing ideas at home:
– Write a shopping list or add items to the list and tick off the items as you buy or unpack them
– Keep a board to write and read family messages
– Give your child a pad or sticky notes to write reminders for themselves
– Plan and write your weekly menu together
– Write captions for photographs in your family photo albums
– Write labels for your child’s art works and creations
– Make words using magnetic letters and stick them on the fridge
– Make and write greeting cards, birthday cards and thank you notes
– Keep a family calendar on display and write down family events. Talk about upcoming events with your child, for example where, when and who will be there
Doing Maths Together at Home
Ask your child questions to encourage your child to investigate maths:
– What shapes can you see?
– How could we measure the…?
– How will we find half?
– What is the best way to share…?
Our Positive Behaviour Matrix
