We acknowledge the First Nations people of Australia, The Darug people, as the ongoing owners of the land on which we play and learn.

Winston Heights Public School is committed to the pursuit of excellence and the provision of high quality educational opportunities for every child. Through collaborative and collegial practice, we seek to provide a rich learning environment that inspires, challenges and supports students to "Learn, Communicate and Grow" in order to become successful, confident and creative individuals and respectful, responsible citizens. Every student is known, valued, cared and planned for in our inclusive school community. We are committed to working in partnership with all stakeholders to promote continual school improvement and excellence.

Everyone has been full of energy as we dove into another busy fortnight here at WHPS. The past few weeks have been filled with a whirlwind of events and activities that have showcased the creativity, talent, and enthusiasm of our students. I invite you to catch a glimpse of these remarkable moments by visiting our school's Facebook page, where you can find photos and updates on all the latest happenings. Our online community is buzzing with excitement, and I encourage you to join in the fun by liking, sharing, and commenting on our posts.

As we continue to celebrate the diverse talents and achievements of our students, I want to express my gratitude to our dedicated staff, supportive parents, and enthusiastic community members. Your unwavering commitment to our school makes all of this possible, and I am truly grateful for your continued support.

Here's an overview of what's been posted to our WHPS Facebook page over the past fortnight:

• Motiv8 with Year 5 and Year 6
• Happy SASS appreciation week to our wonderful support staff
• K-2 DICSO fun
• 3-6 DISCO fun
• Positional language in maths with KE
• WHET group green thumbs
• 3-6 assembly
• K-2 assembly
• Writing champs in 2G
• Discussing symmetry in 3M
• Yummy fruit and veg platters for students K-6 - thank you P&C canteen for organising!
• Board and card games PBL reward afternoon
• Working bee happy snaps
• Inter-zone debating update - check out our Facebook page to see the outcome of the debate
• Building towns in mathematics with 2G
• Designing pig pens with KE
• Stage 1 rangers exploring Field of Mars on their excursion
• 3B informative posters about Australia's natural and manmade features

I am pleased to share with you the results of the recent uniform review surveys conducted with our school community, staff and students. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us make informed decisions about our school uniform.

Data and comments from parents, staff and student surveys indicate that further consultation with all stakeholders will be needed before any final decisions are made. We value the input of parents, staff, and students, and want to ensure that everyone has a voice in the process.

HATS

One key finding from the survey is that broad-brimmed hats were overwhelmingly the most popular choice among respondents. This feedback will be taken into consideration as we continue to refine our uniform options.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS COMMEMORATIVE POLO SHIRT

There is strong interest in purchasing a 'celebrating 50 years' commemorative polo shirt. We are currently exploring different options for this special item, and orders will open in Term 4. Stay tuned for more information on how to purchase this special piece of school memorabilia.

YEAR ROUND UNIFORM

Another point of interest from the survey is the overwhelming popularity of uniform options that can be worn all-year-round, rather than strict summer and winter uniform items. This feedback will drive the uniform committee as they work through the intricacies of the comments about individual uniform items and proposed changes moving forward.

CONCERNS AND THINGS TO CONSIDER

Comments from all stakeholders mentioned several areas of concern that will be further addressed during the consultation process. These include:

• feedback that the current uniform appears outdated;
• the boys and girls uniform options seem to be from different schools due to vastly different colours;
• girls uniform has too many options and combinations, whereas boys uniform has much fewer choices;
• suggestions for improvements or changes regarding the tartan on the girls' dresses and pants;
• concerns related to the red ribbon stripes and skorts with the sports uniform; and
• issues with the style and durability of the current jacket option.

MOVING FORWARD

The uniform committee will be putting out further information, surveys and options to all stakeholders to gather additional input before any final decisions are made. Your participation in this process is crucial, and we encourage everyone to share their thoughts and ideas as we work towards a uniform that reflects the values and preferences of everyone in our school community.

Thank you to all who participated in the uniform review surveys. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to continuing this important conversation with our school community.

I am delighted to share with you the incredible success of our recent working bee at our school. This past weekend, our dedicated community came together to roll up their sleeves, dig, plant, weed, mulch, and paint, transforming our school into a beautiful, clean, and fresh space for us all to enjoy.

The sense of teamwork and collaboration that filled the air was truly heartwarming. I extend my deepest gratitude to all the parents, students, and staff who generously gave their time and energy to make our school shine. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and we are truly fortunate to have such a supportive and caring community.

From sprucing up the gardens to adding fresh coats of paint, every little effort made a big difference in creating a welcoming environment for everyone. It is moments like these that remind us of the power of coming together for a common cause.

Thank you once again to all our volunteers for your selfless contributions and our P&C for organising the working bee. Your commitment to our school community is truly commendable, and I am incredibly proud of the spirit of unity that was on display during the working bee.

Let's continue to nurture this wonderful community spirit as we work together to create an environment where every member feels valued and appreciated.

As we enjoy the beautiful spring weather and the blossoming of new life around us, there is one little creature that has been causing a bit of a stir on our school grounds - the magpie! These charming birds are a common sight in Australia and are known for their beautiful song and distinctive markings. However, during the breeding season, some magpies can become a little overprotective of their nests and may swoop at passersby, including our students.

You may have noticed that a few of our feathered friends have taken to swooping in areas such as the oval, hill, and COLA (Covered Outdoor Learning Area). To ensure the safety of our students, on a daily basis our staff temporarily close off certain playground areas where magpie swooping has been observed. When this occurs, students are diverted to alternate playground areas during playtimes and for sport lessons. We understand that this may be inconvenient, but the safety of our students is our top priority.

Here are a few tips to help protect yourself from magpie swooping:

1. Avoid the area: If possible, try to avoid walking or playing near known magpie nesting sites. This can help minimise the risk of being swooped.

2. Wear a hat or carry an umbrella: Magpies are more likely to swoop at your head, so wearing a hat or carrying an umbrella can help protect you from their sharp beaks.

3. Make eye contact: If you do find yourself in a swooping zone, try to maintain eye contact with the magpie. They are less likely to swoop if they feel you are watching them.

4. Walk, don't run: Running can trigger a magpie's natural instinct to chase, so it's best to walk calmly and confidently through swooping areas.

5. Don't harass the magpies: While it may be tempting to try and scare off a swooping magpie, it's important to remember that they are just trying to protect their nests. Avoid shouting or throwing objects at them.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this magpie swooping season together.

From time to time I become aware of incidents of unacceptable and disrespectful conduct from a member of our parent community toward our school staff, another parent or P&C volunteers (canteen, uniform shop, P&C executive). Everyone in our school community has the right to expect respectful interactions with others. It is important for me to communicate the expectation of mutual respect that we uphold within our school and community.

Collaborative. Respectful. Communication

The School Community Charter sets out clear expectations for members of the school community when interacting respectfully with school staff and volunteers. Here are some key points to remember:

1. Kindness and Empathy: Parents and carers are encouraged to communicate with kindness and empathy towards all school staff and volunteers. Understanding that everyone is working towards the common goal of supporting the students' learning and wellbeing is essential.

2. Respectful Communication: Parents and carers should engage in respectful communication with school staff and volunteers, even in challenging situations. This includes using appropriate language, tone, and demeanour when addressing any concerns or issues. Aggressive, abusive, intimidating, offensive and crude language including the use of obscenities is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Warnings and consequences may be given. In some circumstances, disrespectful communication may result in bans from entering school grounds and communicating with staff under the Enclosed Lands Act.

3. Appreciation and Recognition: Showing appreciation and recognition for the hard work and dedication of school staff and volunteers is important. Acknowledging their efforts and contributions can boost morale and create a positive school environment.

4. Collaboration and Partnership: Parents are encouraged to see school staff and volunteers as partners in their child's education. Collaborating and working together in a spirit of cooperation can lead to better outcomes for all involved.

5. Feedback and Constructive Criticism: Providing feedback and constructive criticism in a respectful manner is welcomed. Parents should feel free to express their thoughts and concerns, but it should be done in a way that is constructive and aimed at finding solutions.

6. Following School Policies: Respecting and adhering to school policies and procedures is crucial. Parents should familiarise themselves with the guidelines in place and support the school in upholding these standards.

In all workplaces, people have the right to feel respected. Unacceptable and offensive behaviour has no place in our school community. To ensure the safety, respect and wellbeing of students, staff and the community in our school, steps will be taken to address unacceptable behaviour. This may include restricting contact with the school community or, in more serious cases, referral to NSW Police.

By upholding these principles and fostering a culture of respect and understanding, parents can contribute to a positive and harmonious school community where everyone feels valued and supported.

Additionally, I kindly request the support of our community in extending respect to all workers within our school, including our dedicated P&C, canteen and uniform shop staff. It is essential that we communicate with each other in a respectful, appropriate and understanding manner, recognising the hard work and dedication of all individuals who contribute to the smooth operation of our school.

Let us continue to uphold the values of respect and kindness in all our interactions within the school community.

Recently we have had enquiries about the procedures involved when cancelling canteen lunch orders and requesting refunds. In the case where a student is unwell and sent home, or is absent from school, the canteen procedure is to pass on the ordered meal to a sibling if possible. The canteen strive to maintain consistency in this messaging to ensure fairness for all students and families.

The online canteen menu in Spriggy will now include clear procedures and instructions for the cancellation of orders to avoid any confusion in the future.

You can cancel any order up until the cut-off time on the day for which the order is placed. Cut-off time is 8.30am. Canteen orders are prepared from 8:30am onward, with some items needing to defrost and start the warming process early in the day. In cases where the food has already started to be prepared, an order cannot be cancelled or refunded, as it is unfortunately too late and a loss of produce is involved. For items where no preparation time is required, such as items from the fridge or pantry (e.g. flavoured milk, chips, etc) a refund may be offered.

If you need to cancel an order after 8.30am please call the school and ask to speak to Leanne in the canteen. Unfortunately, if the order includes a hot meal or hot food item these are usually in the oven by 9am and we cannot refund. We can refund any other items - this will be a partial refund which the Canteen coordinator can request from Spriggy. Similarly if your child goes home sick, we can give the order to a sibling if possible, otherwise we regret will be a loss. Once you have cancelled the order the funds will be appear back in your Parent Wallet.

Should you have any questions about cancelling an order or canteen procedures, please feel free to contact Leanne in the canteen, the P&C or school office.

***the following is an important message from the NSW Department of Education***

The NSW Department of Education is making an important change to help keep our students safe online, reduce the risk of cyber threats and make sure their student email accounts are used for their intended educational purposes only.

What’s happening?

Starting Day 1 Term 4, students won’t be able to use their student email address to sign up for, or recover access to any social media, gaming, instant messaging or similar accounts.

What do students need to do?

If students have signed up for a social media, gaming, instant messaging or similar account using their student email address, please change to a personal email address on each platform by Sunday 13 October to make sure they don't lose access to the account. Here’s how:

1. Log in to each account.
2. Go to the account settings and update your email address to a personal one. Add a mobile number too, if you haven’t already.

Why this is happening?

The department is making this change to ensure all student accounts are being used for their educational purposes, and to help protect them from risks online. Using their personal email address for these platforms instead of their student email address reduces the chances of someone gaining access to information in their school account.

We are thrilled to showcase the fantastic self-portraits produced by 5G. Their creations were inspired by the beautiful illustrations in the book Wonder. Students have focused on character development this term, and they incorporated their own distinct traits into their artworks.

As we approach the final two weeks of Term 3, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our staff, students, and families.

One event that I am excited about is the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) assembly on Thursday 19 September. It is always a highlight for me to see our students being recognised for being safe, responsible, respectful and receiving their well-deserved PBL badges. I encourage all parents, guardians, and members of our school community to join us for this special occasion as we celebrate the achievements and efforts of our students. Your support and encouragement are invaluable in fostering a positive school culture and reinforcing the importance of good behaviour and citizenship.

Thank you once again for your continued support, and I look forward to celebrating with you at the upcoming PBL assembly.

Warm regards,

Mrs Terri Bullock

Principal

The Premier's Reading Challenge is now closed for 2024 but the fun continues for 3M! Congratulations to the students of 3M for having the highest percentage of completed PRC's this year. I look forward to celebrating with you on Wednesday 25 September with a PRC Pizza Party in the library.

A special mention to KE and K/1T with all Kindergarten students completing their first Premier Reader's Challenge this year. Keep reading each year to receive your Gold certificate in Year 3 and your Platinum certificate in Year 6. This year we have 31 students receiving their Gold certificate and 13 students receiving their Platinum certificate. What an amazing result!

Week 7 was a fun session where students used paper towel rolls to make their own recycled instruments. They enjoyed painting their 'instruments' using a variety of colours and patterns. Week 9 is our last craft session. I am looking forward to seeing what is created as any recycled objects can be used.

Thank you to everyone who supported RUOK? Day on Thursday 12 September by wearing yellow to school. It was lovely to hear the discussions around checking in on our friends and the things we can do to help others. We are very fortunate at Winston Heights Public School to be a part of such a caring community.

Please see below for your child's library day in Term 3:

Monday: K/1T, 3M, 5B and 6P

Tuesday: 1/2M, 5G and 6S

Wednesday: 2G, 4N and 4T

Thursday: KE, 1H and 3B

Please make sure your child brings their library bag to school.

To help protect our books, students MUST have a library bag to borrow. Thank you for your support and understanding.

I can't believe there are only 2 weeks left of Term 3! This year is just flying by. As we all gear up ready for a two week break, make sure your children remember their library bag to borrow some books for the holidays. Reading is afterall a super power so don't forget to charge your batteries with some good books during the break.

Kerrie Pennell

Teacher Librarian

Well done to these PBL award winners who have been Safe, Respectful & Responsible Learners:

Shivaay & Kerra

3B: Aliyah, Aaron, Nathan, Anvi

3M: Darian, Lincoln, Jacob, Lillian

4N: Marcus, Orin, Jeremiah, Ethan, Radha, Parmin

4T: Josie, Damon, Payton, CJ

5B: Lora, Zachary, Cormac, Anisha

5G: Aliyah, Eddie, Abby, Jacob

6P: Hannah, Jessica, Penelope, Stacey

6S: William, Emma, Nate, Hailey

Library: Dean 6P and 4N

KE: NFP, Roan, Gwenyth, Alex

K/1T: Evan, Alina, Eleanor, Kylian

1H: Charlie, Joshua, Boris, Isabelle

1/2M: Zayne, Bella, Lawson, Anant, Iverson, Valluvin, Delilah, Austin

2G: Wing, Mariam, Emily, Ari

Library: Roman 1/2M and 2G

Studio:

During even weeks in Term 3, K-2 will have an assembly. This time allows us to recognise the excellent work our students have been doing. We also enjoy including a song or dance performance. Below is the timetable for this term's assemblies.

Weeks 9-10

• I am safe and respectful when participating in sporting activities by accepting decisions made by referees, umpires and teachers.

If your child competed in Winter PSSA sport only this year, make sure the jersey is clean and return it to the office. If your child is competing in the summer competition, please keep and return at the end of the year.

• Library Monitor EOI for 2025 (years 4&5) - permission due asap
• Western Sydney Wanderers Soccer Clinic (year 6) - permission due 25 September
• PRC -Class Pizza Party (3M) - permission due 23 September
• Motiv8sport dance (whole school) - permission due 27 September
• Stage 2 Zoo Snooz Camp - 1st installment due

Payments can be made online or via cash or EFT at the Office.

Mrs Leverton, Mrs Calvar, Miss Griffin & Ms Lowe

*** Dates advertised below for school events and activities are subject to change ***

September 2024

Tue 17 - K-2 Fun Day

Thu 19 - Interrelate for Yrs 5 & 6

Thu 19 - PBL Badge Assembly

Fri 20 - Summer PSSA Round 6

Thu 26 - Interrelate for Yrs 5 & 6

Fri 27 - Sydney West Athletics Carnival

Fri 27 -Last day of Term 3 for students

October 2024

Mon 14 - First day of Term 4 for students

Thu 17 - 3-6 Assembly

Fri 18 - World Teachers Day

Fri 18 - Summer PSSA round 7

Thu 24 - K-2 Assembly

Fri 25 - Summer PSSA round 8

Mon 28 - Grandparents and Friends day

Mon 28 - Tryout Night for Beginner Band 2025 (Year 2 +)

Mon 28 - P&C Meeting

Wed 30 - Kindy 2025 Orientation

Thu 31 - 3-6 Assembly

November 2024

Fri 1 - Summer PSSA round 9

Wed 6 - Kindy 2025 Orientation

Mon 11 - Remembrance Day

Wed 13 - Kindy 2025 Orientation

Tue 19 - Wed 20 - Stage 2 Zoo Snooz Camp

December 2024

Mon 2 - Band Presentation Evening

Tue 3 - Public School High School Transition Day

Tue 3 - Keyboard Presentation Night

Fri 6 - Class Party & Mufti Day

Mon 9 - Presentation Day K-2 & 3-6

Tue 10 - Christmas Carols Evening

Wed 11 - Year 6 Graduation Assembly and Farewell

Tue 17 - Talent Quest

Wed 18 - Last Day of Term 4

Term 3 – Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September

Note: Students return Tuesday 23 July

Term 4 – Monday 14 October to Friday 20 December

***Please note: School development days for staff are included in these term dates and parents and carers should not send their children to school on these days.

2024 school development days

These dates are determined by the department and are scheduled to occur on the first 2 days of Term 1, the first day of Terms 2 and 3, and the last day of the school year.

• Friday 20 December

Term 1 - Friday 31 January to Friday 11 April

Note: Students return Tues 4 February

Term 2 - Mon 28 April to Friday 4 July

Note: Students return Wed 30 April

Term 3 - Monday 21 July to Friday 26 September

Note: Students return Tuesday 22 July

Term 4 - Monday 13 October to Friday 19 December

Note: No Staff Development Day - Term 4 ends of 19 December for staff and students

***Please note: School development days for staff are included in these term dates and parents and carers should not send their children to school on these days.

2024 school development days

These dates are determined by the department and are scheduled to occur on the first 2 days of Term 1, the first day of Terms 2 and 3, and the last day of the school year.

• Friday 20 September bus to Murray Farm Reserve, Carlingford
  
• Friday 18 October walk to Gooden Reserve, Baulkham Hills
• Friday 25 October walk to Gooden Reserve, Baulkham Hills
• Friday 1 November bus to Torry Burn Reserve, Baulkham Hills
• Friday 8 November walk to Gooden Reserve, Baulkham Hills

Students will catch a bus to Ted Horwood Reserve, Baulkham Hills

• Friday 20 September
  
• Friday 18 October
• Friday 25 October
• Friday 1 November
• Friday 8 November

What a wonderful morning was had at the P&C Father’s Day Stall held on Wednesday 28th July. The children all made excellent choices for the special someone.

Thank you to the amazing volunteers for helping with selections on the day. You’re all fantastic!

Congratulations to the Father’s Day Raffle winners!

Did you know our Father's Day raffle was sponsored by PRM Property Maintenance? Patrick is one of our amazing local dad's who is a big supporter of our school and P&C. We would love to take this opportunity to give him a shout out!

Reminder: Winston Heights Public School P&C Association is on Facebook! Follow us here

Our aim is to provide WHPS parents/carers with information about P&C news, events, meetings etc.

REMINDER: As we fast approach the close of term 3, term 4 students will wear their Summer uniform.

Uniform shop is open on Wednesdays 8.30am - 10am. Orders can be placed using Flexischools by Monday 4pm for delivery to the student on Wednesdays. Cash or EFT payments can be made at the uniform shop however we do request you bring close to correct amount for orders as we carry limited change.

Work is available maintaining our schools

School Infrastructure NSW manages a large maintenance program for more than 2,000 schools across all parts of NSW. To do this work, we are looking to engage local businesses, including Aboriginal owned businesses and people.

We want to go local

We are moving towards direct management of facilities maintenance, bringing in new facilities maintenance contractors and tradespeople to work directly under contract with us.

Why go local? We want to:

• be more responsive to maintenance issues reported by schools.
• ensure we are working with local trades and spending our money in our local communities.
• provide better working conditions for local tradespeople, including faster payment terms.

Opportunities for Aboriginal businesses

In addition to increasing our engagement of local contractors, we are also seeking to grow the number of local Aboriginal businesses we work with and increase employment opportunities for Aboriginal employees, apprentices and trainees.

We have Aboriginal Senior Program Officers who are able to help Aboriginal businesses, and local contractors who already employ or are looking to employ Aboriginal employees, apprentices, and trainees.

The trades and services we are looking for include:

• Multi Tradespeople
• Plumber (including roof and gas)
• Electrician
• Lift Technician
• Refrigeration mechanic
• Glazier
• Hazmat
• Arborist AQ3 / AQ5
• Locksmith
• Cleaner
• Pest control
• Carpet / vinyl
• Data technician
• Security technician
• Painter
• Plasterer / renderer
• Tiler
• Landscaper
• Brick layer
• Fire management
• Sheet metal
• Concreter
• Removalist
• Playground specialist
• Pool technicians and cleaner
• Carpenters
• Gasfitters
• Test and tag
• Lighting
• Construction
• Gutter cleaning
• Equipment construction and maintenance
• Engineering
• Fencing services building and repair
• Roofing

How can I participate?

We’re looking for a wide variety of maintenance services and trades to start with us from 1 July 2023 including electricians, plumbers, painters, and many others. It’s easy to work with us!

Reach out to our team to find out more and access the documents to apply to work with us.

On approval you’ll be setup in our systems and onboarded, with induction covering how to work with us and use our systems. Then start getting work orders allocated within 48 hours!

Contacts - To register your interest send an email to:

Southern NSW Regional Office – snsw.fmct@det.nsw.edu.au

Hunter Central Coast Regional Office — hcc.fmct@det.nsw.edu.au

North Coast Regional Office — nc.fmct@det.nsw.edu.au

Northern Sydney Regional Office —ns.fmct@det.nsw.edu.au

Sydney Regional Office — syd.fmct@det.nsw.edu.au

Western Sydney Regional Office — ws.fmct@det.nsw.edu.au

South Western Sydney Regional Office — sws.fmct@detnsw.edu.au

North Western NSW/New England Regional Office — nwnsw.fmct@det.nsw.edu.au

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