Weetangera Primary School Newsletter | Week 1, Term 3 2024
From Julie
Dear Families
Welcome to Term 3, I hope everyone is rested after the quite cold break that was the mid-year holidays. I was fortunate to spend some time in the top end so was able to thaw out in the sunshine and avoid all of our icy cold Canberra days.
As per usual the staff and students have returned to learning with vim and vigour and an enthusiasm for the second half of the year.
To illustrate how learning is connected from Preschool to Year 6 I have included the information that relates to the Global Concepts explored in Term 2 and the learning connections that are established as our students move through the year levels.
All classes had a focus on Community with an essential question leading their learning. Under each essential question are further herding questions that go towards building their understanding and are derived from the Australian Curriculum. I have provided the Year 4 example of Herding Questions so that you can see the connections between the essential questions and the herding questions that build knowledge as the students work through the learning programs.
Small Group: Essential Question: How can we be safe in our Community?
Preschool: Essential Question: How can I be a helpful member of our community?
Kindergarten: Essential Question: How do we celebrate in our community?
Year One: Essential Question: How can I keep myself safe in the community?
Year Two: Essential Question: What is Community?
Year Three: Essential Question: How do communities change over time?
Year Four: Essential Question: What can we learn from the First Nations Australians?
Herding questions:
Who are the First Nations Australians?
How do First Nations Australians create a sense of community?
How do the First Nations Australians pass on their knowledge?
How do First Nations Australians show connection to Country?
How do First Nations Australians show care for Country?
How do First Nations Australians communicate through their artwork?
What is a community and why are they important?
How do communities help us?
Who is in your community?
Does everyone have the same community?
Year 5/6: Essential Question: How are communities influenced by environmental factors?
Specialists:
Essential Question/s:
Music - What inner and outer factors influence a community and how they express themselves artistically?
French - What is a Community? Who are the important people in a Community?
Dance - What is Dance and how does it contribute to Community?
In Term 3 the Global Concept learning area of focus is Sustainability.
Some dates for your calendar – Term 3 events
- Paris Olympics begin - 26/7
- Yr 6 Bake sale fundraiser – 2/8
- Kenny Kola – 5/8
- P&C Trivia Night – 9/8
- Science Week – 12-16/8
- National Day of Action against Bullying & Violence – 16/8
- Belconnen Track and Field – 20/8
- Book Week – 19/8
- Book Week Parade – 22/8
- Wear it Purple – 30/8
- RU OK day – 12/9
- ACT Track & Field – 17/9
- Galleries of Learning – 18/9
- Lapathon (Possible Date) – 26/9
As you can see a busy term of learning and interesting activities ahead. Please remember to book in for the TRIVIA NIGHT; Friday 9 August @ 6.30pm Belconnen Labor Club. Last year the P&C ran an awesome trivia night, raised money for our school and all of us in attendance had a really exciting evening. Please come along and support the marvellous work of our P&C.
I shall finish with the Week 1, thought for the week shared in the staff Weekly Update.
The premise upon which we all arrive at work each day.
Have a brilliant weekend!
Regards
Julie
Julie.cooper@ed.act.edu.au
Playground Update
In case you missed it in our last newsletter, we are now looking to stage 2 of our playground update. We will be talking to staff, students, the P&C and our community to work out what will be our next best step. If you would like to have a say, please complete this survey.
Parent Portal at Weetangera
Parent Portal is now available. It is a secure online platform used to share student information between you and your child’s teachers.
Some reminders about Parent Portal:
- If you already have a Parent Portal account, use this Parent Portal access link to start using the great features.
- You can’t access Parent Portal directly through the ACT Digital Account website, you need to use the link above.
- When you are logged into Parent Portal, we recommend saving the browser as a favourite or to the homepage on your mobile phone for quick access in the future.
- The website can only be viewed using a web browser on your computer, mobile phone or tablet. An app is not available at this time.
- If you still need to register, you will need an access key and a Parent Portal registration link via email to link your existing account to your child’s records. If you haven’t received this, please contact the school’s front office team for assistance.
Head to our website for all the details:
https://www.weetangeraps.act.edu.au/For_Parents/parent_portal
School Photos
School photos were sent home last week. There are extra photos available for students that participated in the following activities: School Leaders, House Captains, Year 5 Band, Year 6 Band. For information on how to order these photos, please see the flyer below.
Christian Education in Schools
Christian Education in Schools volunteers will provide a session at Weetangera PS on Monday 16 September, 1.45-2.45pm. This session will be provided only to students that have opted in via the permission note. Please visit the school front office to get a copy of the permission form.
Book Week
Library News
ISSUE 5 IS NOW OPEN!
Keep your eyes peeled for your catalogue.
In the spirit of celebrating readers this issue, we are creating magic with our FREE BOOKS offer. The more families spend, the more free books they can earn, starting at only $20.
This is an exclusive offer for Issue 5 and one not to be missed!
Families who ordered books on Issue 4 can spend the $5 promo code they earned on Issue 5. Plus, they will get another $5 promo code to spend on Issue 6!*
Orders from Issue 5 are due by 12 August 2024
Communication at Weetangera
PBL
P&C Update
Time is running out – get your trivia tickets!
Have you been waiting and hoping someone else will organise your trivia night table for you? It’s only two weeks away, on Friday 9 August from 6:30pm, so now’s the time to take your destiny into your own hands if you don’t want to miss out! Get onto all your parent chats and find your group of trivia buffs (or just people you’d like to spend an evening with), and book in for a great night out.
Your table doesn’t have to be all Weetangera parents, either. Parents, grandparents, teachers, Weetangera alumni, and friends or work colleagues who like trivia are all welcome to join the fun. We only ask that attendees are 18+ as there will be alcohol available for purchase from the in-room bar on the night.
Want to buy a single ticket? You can book any number of tickets and we will match you with some new friends to make a full table! Simply book in to Table 7 or 8 for junior school parents or Table 12 or 14 for senior school parents and let the P&C crew make you a team!
We have some fabulous prizes up for grabs in the raffle and silent auction, including a $500 voucher from Travel Associates Jamison, an $895 Heartstory family portrait experience, a laser tag voucher from Zone3 Canberra valued at $276 and a gymnastics voucher from Canberra City Gymnastics Club valued at over $300. But you have to be there ON THE NIGHT to be able to win any of these or our many other fabulous prizes!
Tickets are $15 each and only available at EventBrite. Book now! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/weetangera-primary-school-2024-trivia-night-tickets-927208183637
Next P&C Meeting
The next P&C meeting is on in the school staff room at 6pm on Tuesday 6 August. We’ll be talking about our second half of the year events, including trivia, Father’s Day goings on, election day bbqs, and the fete.
If you’ve never been before, now is the perfect time to get involved. We will be looking for plenty of volunteers to help us with events in term 4 in particular, so come along and find out how you can help support our fabulous community building activities.
Fete News – White Elephant Stall
No school fete is complete without the White Elephant/Trash and Treasure Stall. We’re looking for a volunteer to lead this stall in 2024. This role is mostly limited to fete weekend and involves:
- Setting up in the new hall the day before the fete (approx 8am-midday)
- Accepting donations of all the interesting and varied things our community would like to offer up to a new home (8am-midday on Sat 16 November and from 8am on Sun 17 November)
- Selling donations during the fete (Sun 17 November 10-2) so that all our fete attendees can truly come with nothing, and leave with everything!
- Helping us with pack up at the end of the fete and celebrate with the rest of our fabulous fete crew.
For more information contact our fete coordinator Susan at weetangeraprimaryfete@gmail.com or come to the next P&C meeting.
Stay in touch!
To keep up with all the latest from the P&C, like and follow us on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/weetangerapandc) and Instagram (@weetangeraschoolpandc).
Canteen News
Dear wonderful families,
As your canteen manager, Martina, I warmly welcome you all back to term 3!
This term, I've introduced some delicious new items to our menu. Be sure to check them out on our service portal, Flexischools.
I've also set up a new notice board located on the stairs in our front foyer. Here, I'll post updates to inform you about our canteen events, special lunches, and our entire menu that's available to purchase.
Our canteen will be open starting Wednesday, 31st July. Our Winter Warmer menu will be available every Thursday and will rotate every fortnight. We will have counter service available during recess (closed 02/08 for Y6 Bake Sale) breaks, and Ice Cream Fridays will be back this term!
I'm so excited to continue providing our school students and educators with delicious, hot, yummy, and healthy food options throughout the school year.
Thank you, everyone, for giving me the privilege to work within this wonderful school community and allowing me the responsibility of feeding your growing kiddos with my menu.
With much gratitude,
Martina Fleeton 🌻
WPS Canteen Manager
Community Notices
Why not keep Warm this Winter - on Wheels!!!!
Come and try our SkateStars Classes - Australia's nationally accredited Learn2Skate program. Join us for a no fee trial session before committing to the term.
Term 3 commences Wednesday 24 July | Queanbeyan High | 5:15 - 6:00 Wednesdays | DM for more info | Skate hire available
Events - National Capital Roller Skating Club - revolutioniseSPORT
Intro to netball program for boys & girls aged 5-7 year old! Perfect for those who want to try netball for the first time! The program will run for 6-weeks on a Thursday from 4pm-5pm at the SolarHub ACT Netball Centre – starting Thursday 1st August and last session 5th September! Program is $70 for 6 weeks of fun! There are only limited spots available so get in quick! Register Here