Weetangera Primary School Newsletter | Week 1, Term 3 2025
From Julie
Dear Families
Welcome to another term at Weetangera PS Our place of learning. Our students have returned happy to be here and ready for the excitement filled term 3 learning programs.
I am hearing stories from our students of holidays that were relaxing, exhausting, exhilarating and fun-filled. With some cool days, cold days, snowy days and depending where you were rainy or sunny days it would appear everyone, almost, was ready to return to get on with the second half of their learning year.
By this stage of the year, having received a semester one report, time to reflect upon learning successes and learning challenges highlights that all staff are well aware of what the next steps in learning for each student will be.
I continue to watch, with interest, the drilling process and anticipate that drilling will continue into Term 3. I have a regular meeting with the GEOTHERMAL project team each Friday and so will have some updates for the next newsletter. While the playpod area is a veritable mud bath progress has been made on the number of holes drilled (A reminder: there will be 30 x 120m holes) and the construction and project teams speak with confidence about the next steps in the process. Let’s cross our fingers in support.
Returning to Term 3 means that there is a new list of upcoming events, to date the items already in the calendar for this term include the following:
WEEK 2:
- 29/7 – Yr 6 Bake Sale – Board Meeting
- 31/7 – WPS Transfer Round Information Session
WEEK 3:
- 5/8 – P&C Meeting
WEEK 4:
- 11-15/8 – SCIENCE WEEK
- 15/8 – Yr 3 Blundell’s Cottage
WEEK 5:
- 18-22/8 – Book Week
- 21/8 – Year 6 Band Excursion
WEEK 7:
- 5/9 – Father’s Day Stall
WEEK 8:
- 9/9 – Come dressed in your ANIMAL ONESIE DAY
- 11/9 – RUOK Day
WEEK 9:
- 16/9 – Global Concept Galleries of Learning 3.30 – 5.30
- 19/9 – PBL Celebration Day
No doubt there will be other events added.
The assemblies planned for this term include the following:
Week | Assembly |
Week 1, Term 3 | Kindy |
Week 2, Term 3 | Year 2 - NAIDOC Week |
Week 3, Term 3 | Year 5/6 |
Week 4, Term 3 | Year 1 |
Week 5, Term 3 | WS Book Week Parade - Kinder |
Week 6, Term 3 | Year 4 |
Week 7, Term 3 | Year 2 |
Week 8, Term 3 | Year 3 |
Week 9, Term 3 | Global Concept Showcase Tuesday 3.30-5.30pm |
Week 10, Term 3 | Specialists - Small Group |
We have had a positive start to the term, there is much learning to focus upon in the next 9 weeks and the team at WPS are well-positioned to continue the engaging learning programs that drive our work.
On Friday afternoon the NAPLAN reports will be sent, via (snail) mail to each of the year 3 and year 5 students’ homes. The NAPLAN Assessment takes place in Term 1, Week 4. When reading the reports please be reminded that there has been almost a further 5 months of learning for each student. The reports reflect where your children were up to in the first weeks of Year 3 and Year 5.
The BIRRIGAI Camp for students in years 5 and 6 was held in term 1. Just prior to the WPS students attending camp the ACT Government announced that camps to Birrigai for ACT students would be free in 2025. All students who attended camp in Term 1 will have received an information cover letter and information regarding how to action refunds. This information was collated by Patricia the Business Manager. I thank everyone for their patience as the processes to refund money was finalized. We got there in the end!
I look forward to a positive term 3 and thank our families for their continued support and encouragement. Our shared commitment to your children is what drives the work that we all do.
The thought shared with staff as we start Term 3:
Have an excellent week and as always if you need to communicate with me see my email below.
Regards,
Julie
Julie.cooper@ed.act.edu.au
Staying Safe Online
Technology, including the use of devices, apps and online resources is a big part of life for everyone, and it is important that we all learn to use technology safely and critically.
At Weetangera Primary School, we use technology for a range of important learning tasks. Before undertaking any learning activity at school that involves technology, our students participate in learning about staying safe online. Each semester, they are required to view specific safety content and agree to safety principles before they can use any technology at school. Below, you can see the page that all students will see when they first log on this term.
With technology changing so regularly, it can be difficult to know how to support your children to use technology safely. The Office of the eSafety Commissioner provides a wide range of articles, videos and practical resources to help you navigate this complicated world with your students. Please click this link for an article about online safety basics.
If you'd like to talk more about online safety, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Mel
Year 6 Bake Sale
Book Week
Children's Book Week 2025, themed "Book an Adventure!", will be held from August 16 to 23. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of Children's Book Week.
The Weetangera Primary Book Parade will be held Friday August 22nd at 9:20am on the enclosed oval. Families are welcome to stay and enjoy the parade.
School Photos
School photos were sent home with students at the end of last term. 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.
Library News
Scholastic Book Club Issue 5 is out and all orders are due by 11/08/2025.
You can view the online catalogue at ISSUE PREVIEW | Scholastic Australia
Spare catalogues are available from the library or front office counter.
The term 3 catalogue from local bookseller The Book Cow in Kingston is available at: Calaméo - Term 3 Kids Book Club Schools
Spare catalogues are available from the library and front office counter.
SORA SWEET READS 12 May – 25 August, 2025
OverDrive’s annual reading program, Sora Sweet Reads, is designed to encourage students to keep reading all year long. They’re offering a collection of free, simultaneous-use ebooks (and select audiobooks) for primary and secondary school students. These titles are prominently displayed in Sora so it’s easy for students to find their next sweet read.
To borrow e-books and audio books visit https://soraapp.com or download the free Sora app for android or IOS. Students can also access SORA through the digital backpack.
To access click on Find My School and select ACT Education and Training Directorate, then sign in using your school credentials. (student ID and password)
Once logged in students can access 100s of e-books and audiobooks on almost any device.
Christian Education in Schools
Christian Education in Schools (CEIS) will be visiting Weetangera Primary School this term on Monday 22nd September.
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.
2025 Uniform Price List
Workin' Gear Schools is the new uniform supplier for Weetangera Primary School. New uniforms with the new SPW logo can be ordered using the link. Students are still able to wear uniforms with the old WPS logo. There are still limited sizes available for sale at the front office. Please contact the school after 22 January to organise a time to purchase these.
Parent Portal at Weetangera
News Flash! Our school calendar is now available through the parent portal. Please keep an eye out for upcoming events.
Parent Portal is a secure online platform to share information between parents and carers and their student’s teachers. It’s available via a web browser and a mobile app.
Parent Portal has been rolled out across all ACT public schools and allows parents to:
- notify the school when their child is sick or to explain an absence
- book parent-teacher interviews (coming soon to WPS)
- receive academic reports
- receive the school newsletter
- make payments
- access the school calendar and their child’s student timetable (coming soon to WPS)
- update their contact details.
One of the many benefits of the Parent Portal is that it is used by all ACT public schools from preschool through to year 12, so there will be no need to use a different system as children change schools during their public-school journey.
If you have children attending other public schools, you don’t need to sign up to the system twice.
Parent Portal is linked to the Student Administration System (SAS) used by the ACT Education Directorate for administering student data at ACT public schools.
How to register for Parent Portal
- Sign up for an ACT Digital Account if you do not already have one. This is an important step in securely verifying the identity of parents and carers. It will not be possible to set up an account without undertaking this step. Detailed instructions including identification documents required to verify your account are listed on the Education Directorate's website in the Frequently Asked Questions.
- You will be sent an access key (code) and a Parent Portal registration link specific to Weetangera Primary School via email to enable you to link your ACT Digital Account to your child’s records.
Sentral for Parents app
The Sentral for Parents app is the mobile app version of Parent Portal. You can access Parent Portal through the Sentral for Parents app, or using a web browser on your computer, mobile phone or tablet.
You can download the Sentral for Parents app for free from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Parent Portal – Changes to ACT Digital Account ID requirements
The ID requirements for accessing Parent Portal have changed to make it easier to register your account.
If you have had trouble signing up to Parent Portal because of the ID requirements, we invite you to try again.
To access Parent Portal, you need to verify your identity via the ACT Digital Account. Previously you needed two forms of accepted ID and now you only need one. To register, use the Parent Portal access link and create or log in to your ACT Digital Account.
Please contact the front office via Email: info@weetangeraps.act.edu.au if you haven’t received an access key.
Communication at Weetangera
Community Notices
Child Players ACT is very excited to open group bookings for our Spring Holiday production of The Marvellous Land of Oz.
This show will run for approximately 2 hours (with a 15 minute interval) at Belconnen Community Theatre Canberra Rep Theatre and is suitable for children of all ages.
Tickets are just $18 per a child when booking as a school group and supervisors are free at the recommended student/carer ratio.
If you would like to join us in October please return the booking form below as soon as possible to secure your preferred date and time.
