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.

We invite you to check out our Facebook page, where you can catch a glimpse of all the wonderful happenings at Winston Heights PS. From classroom highlights to special events, our page is a great way to stay connected and celebrate our vibrant school community.

• Year 6 soccer clinics with the Western Sydney Wanderers
• Band try out night
• Festival of Instrumental Music certificates
• Motiv8 with Year 6
• Maths Olympiad success
• Grandparents and Friends Day
• Geography with 2G

I am delighted to take this opportunity to celebrate the wonderful behaviour exhibited by our students. Each day, I witness our learners demonstrating the values of being safe, respectful, and responsible, which are at the heart of our school community. From supporting their classmates to following school rules, their positive actions contribute to a vibrant and welcoming environment for everyone.

However, I would like to draw your attention to a concerning issue that has recently come to our notice regarding the boys’ toilets accessed by students in Years 3-6. We have observed instances of students wetting clumps of toilet paper and throwing them on the walls, which not only creates an unpleasant and unsafe environment but also constitutes vandalism of school property.

As we instil values of respect and responsibility in our students, it is essential that they understand the importance of using our bathroom facilities appropriately. I kindly ask parents and caregivers to remind their children of the following:

1. Use Facilities for Intended Purposes: Encourage your child to use the toilets for their intended purpose and to refrain from engaging in any behaviour that could damage school property.

2. Respect School Property: Emphasise the importance of treating our school facilities with care. Our toilets are essential resources that should be kept clean and functional for everyone.

3. Report Concerns: Encourage your child to speak up if they witness any inappropriate behaviour. Reporting these incidents helps us maintain a safe and respectful environment.

By working together, we can ensure that our school remains a place where all students can learn and grow without disruption. I appreciate your support in reinforcing these values at home, as it plays a vital role in fostering a culture of respect and responsibility within our community.

As we continue to nurture a positive and respectful school environment, I want to take a moment to address an important concern that has come to my attention regarding some of our older students.

It has been reported that a number of students have been congregating at the Winston Hills Mall after school while still wearing their school uniforms. Unfortunately, their behaviour has not reflected the values we uphold at our school. Instances of loitering, calling out to others, and using unkind language have been observed. This behaviour not only impacts the reputation of our school but also undermines the positive atmosphere we strive to cultivate.

As a school community, it is essential that we all work together to ensure our students represent themselves, their families, and our school in a positive light, both inside and outside of the school gates. I kindly ask parents and caregivers to engage in conversations with your children about the following:

1. Understanding Behaviour in Public: Remind your child that being in school uniform carries a responsibility to act in a manner that reflects our school’s values of respect, kindness, and integrity.

2. Making Positive Choices: Encourage your child to make choices that contribute to a positive reputation, such as being courteous to others and refraining from engaging in behaviour that is unkind or disruptive.

3. Peer Influence: Discuss the importance of surrounding themselves with friends who share similar values and who contribute positively to their environment.

By having these conversations at home, we can work together to reinforce the message that our actions matter, and we are always representatives of our school community, no matter where we are.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring that our students continue to embody the principles we uphold. Together, we can help our children make choices that positively reflect on themselves and our school.

Selective high school and opportunity class applications open from 7 Nov 2024 to 21 Feb 2025

Selective high schools and opportunity classes are 2 of the ways the NSW Department of Education supports high potential and gifted students.

What are their benefits?

• Students learn alongside, and form friendships with, other high potential and gifted classmates.
• Special teaching methods allow students to learn at a quicker pace and in more detail.
• Research shows that students benefit both academically and socially when learning with classmates who have similar abilities.

Selective high schools and opportunity classes are not zoned so you can apply to ones outside your local enrolment area.

Is a selective high school or opportunity class the right fit for my child?

A selective high school or opportunity class might be a great fit if your child:

• learns quickly
• asks complex questions
• is highly motivated
• has a good memory
• is intensely focused in their area of interest

Where are selective high schools (Year 7-12) located?

There are 4 types of selective high schools:

• fully selective high schools, where all students attending the school have high potential or are gifted
• partially selective high schools, where there is a mix of students who have high potential or are gifted and local area students
• 4 agricultural selective high schools, including 3 boarding schools
• Aurora College, which provides online selective classes for rural and remote students in their local host schools.

Search for a selective high school near you at Find a selective high school.

Where are opportunity classes (Year 5-6) located?

There are 2 types of opportunity classes:

• full-time opportunity classes in selected primary schools
• Aurora College, which provides online opportunity classes for rural and remote students in their local authorised host schools.

Search for an opportunity class near you at Find an opportunity class.

Students successfully placed attend the opportunity class full-time in Years 5 and 6. In most cases, students who have accepted a place in an opportunity class will leave their current school to attend the school with the opportunity class.

Discuss the opportunity with your child and look through the information together on the Selective high schools and opportunity classes website and in the student resource hub:

• Applying for a selective high school: Student resource hub
• Applying for an opportunity class: Student resource hub

Fair and equitable access

The Equity Placement Model helps make access fairer for more high potential students in our community.

We know that some students may be missing out because they experience educational disadvantage.

Under the model, up to 20% of places in each selective high school and opportunity class are held for:

• students from low socio-educational advantage backgrounds
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students
• students from rural and remote locations
• students with disability.

These students still receive offers based on their performance in the placement test. Learn more at Fair access.

The application process

Complete the online application. Applications close on 21 February 2025.

Once your application has been submitted and processed, your child will need to sit a computer-based placement test. Learn more at Application process.

Ready to apply?

Apply online at shsoc.education.nsw.gov.au

Further information visit Selective high schools and opportunity classes.

The school had been working with a graphic designer to redesign and modernise Winston Bear, and design Heidi Bear. Unfortunately we didn’t get there with what we had visioned.

We are now searching for a new graphic designer. If you know of anyone who may be able to assist the school to design Winston Bear and Heidi Bear, could you please pass on their contact details to Mrs Bullock. Your help with this is greatly appreciated.

I would like to take a moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Winston Hills Bears Soccer Club for their generous donation of stacks of used soccer balls to our school.

Thanks to their kindness, we now have a fantastic collection of soccer balls available for our students to enjoy. The enthusiasm for soccer is palpable among our students, and these balls will undoubtedly enhance their play. In fact, we received such a generous number of soccer balls that we were able to pass some on to students to take home!

We are truly grateful for the support of the Winston Hills Bears Soccer Club and their commitment to our community. Partnerships like this enrich the experiences of our students and help cultivate a love for sports and teamwork.

Thank you once again to the club for their generosity.

As we continue to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our students and community, I would like to take a moment to remind everyone about the parking regulations surrounding our school, particularly concerning the gym car park next to the school entry on Buckleys Road.

Staff from the gym have contacted our school as they have noticed an increase in the number of vehicles parking in their gym car park during the school drop off and pick-up times. While we understand that convenience is a priority for many, it is essential to remember that this area is not designated parking for school drop-offs or pickups. The gym carpark is only for the convenience of customers of the gym.

We kindly request parents and guardians park along the streets surrounding the school. A reminder to pay close attention to the parking signs and regulations in these areas.

Thank you for your understanding and consideration. Your support is greatly appreciated!

This term, 6P has been delving into the art of tanka poetry, a traditional Japanese form consisting of five lines with a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern. Students have focused on using symbols, imagery, and connotation to enrich their poems, expressing their thoughts and emotions vividly. Through this creative process, each student crafted a unique tanka poem reflecting their personal experiences and observations.

As we wrap up another busy fortnight, I want to take a moment to thank our dedicated staff, supportive families, and wonderful students for their hard work and enthusiasm. Together, we continue to create a vibrant learning environment where everyone can thrive. Let’s keep the momentum going as we look forward to the exciting events and opportunities ahead. Enjoy the upcoming weeks!

Warmest wishes,

Mrs Terri Bullock, Principal

Any celebration that encourages reading is always a good reason to celebrate. This is my main goal as a Librarian and it gives me immense pleasure when I see students excited to read different books. Over the past few weeks, students have enjoyed borrowing some Halloween themed books to read including Australian Ghost Stories for kids, The Not So Scary Monster and Scary Poems. I'm sure you will find your child 'carving' out some time to read this week as we all agree that reading is exskullent .

Please see below your child's library day in Term 4:

Monday: KE, 1/2M, 2G and 3M

Tuesday: K/1T, 5G and 6S

Wednesday: 4N, 4T and 5B

Thursday: 1H, 3B and 6P

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 hope you have all had a smooth start back to school this term after the holidays. Getting back into routine again is enough to give anyone a fright!! Remember, a book a day will keep the monsters away.

Kerrie Pennell

Teacher Librarian

We warmly invite you to join us for our K-2 assemblies, where we celebrate the achievements and talents of our young students. These assemblies are a wonderful opportunity to connect with our school community and support your child's learning journey.

We are excited to announce the upcoming performances by our talented classes:

• In Week 2, 2G will delight us with a special song.
• In Week 4, 1/2M will take the stage with a fantastic performance.
• In Week 6, K/1T will take the stage with a fantastic performance.

Your presence and encouragement mean a lot to our students, and we look forward to seeing you there!

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

Hailey & Emily, Scarlet & Bethany

3B:

3M: Lincoln, Owen, Renny, Addison

4N: Lachlan, Isha, Hannah, Kenneth

4T: Joseph, Divij, Michael, NFP

5B: Ethan, Edmund, Ebony, Nolan

5G:

6P: Ruqayah, Eliza, Georgina, Oliver & Willow

6S: Leonie, Elise, Zoe, Jonah

Library:

Studio:

KE: Roan, Sami, Nehemiah & NFP

K/1T: Jacob, William, Isaiah, Vanya

1H: Alex, Oliver, Joshua, Neel & Aria

1/2M: Bella, Abby, Austin

2G: Rhea, TJ, Kerra, Hamish

Library:

Studio:

Our Kindergarten Orientation sessions will take take place from 9.15am to 10.45am on:

• Wed 30 October
• Wed 6 November
• Wed 13 November

Our last Kindy Storytime for this year will be held between 3.15-3.45pm on:

• Wed 27 November

• Year 6 Mini Fair - permission due 20/11/24
• Year 6 Mini Fair - pre-purchase tokens via School Bytes or Office

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 ***

November 2024

Mon 11 - Remembrance Day

Wed 13 - Kindy 2025 Orientation

Fri 15 - PSSA Semi Finals

Tue 19 - Wed 20 - Stage 2 Zoo Snooz Camp

Thu 21 - K-2 Assembly

Mon 25 - P&C Meeting

Wed 27 - Band Committee Meeting

Thu 28 - PBL Assembly

Fri 29 - Year 6 Mini Fair

December 2024

Mon 2 - Band Presentation Evening

Tue 3 - Public School High School Transition Day

Tue 3 - Keyboard Presentation Night

Wed 4 - Combined SRE Christmas session

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 for students

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.

• Thursday 19 December
• 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 on 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.

2025 school development days

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

The P&C is excited to announce our upcoming activities for Term 4 and we are seeking enthusiastic volunteers to help make these events a success!

Upcoming Events:

• P&C Class Party Day: Friday 6December
• Christmas Carols BBQ: Tuesday 10 December, prior to the Winston's Beary Christmas Carols performed by our children.

Please mark these dates in your calendar. We will be sending out sign-up sheets, so keep an eye out if you're interested in lending a hand!

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: 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.

Term 4

Monday 25 November – P&C Meeting at 7pm in school hall

Friday 6 December – P&C Class Party and Mufti Day

Tuesday 10 December – P&C Christmas Carols BBQ

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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