1 April 2025

While this may seem a little premature, this will be the last newsletter for Term 1. As such, I would like to congratulate everyone on a wonderful first term in 2025. It is hard to believe that by next Friday we will be at the end of our first term of learning! Can I especially congratulate our Kindergarten students who, at the end of next week, will have completed their first term of schooling. The first term of schooling is a difficult time of adjustment, and we are all exceptionally proud of how our youngest students have gone about their first term of primary school.

Across the whole school, it certainly has been a very settled and happy start to the year. It is a credit to our dedicated students and professional teachers, along with our supportive school community that we find ourselves in such a special place, and I thank everyone for their support of our school in 2025.

I would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday break, hoping that the weather remains warm, and families can take advantage of this time together.

School resumes for students on Wednesday 30 April 2025. We look forward to seeing everyone return happy, relaxed and ready to learn for what will no doubt be a busy and enjoyable term at Woonona Public School.

I would like to congratulate Mrs Rachel Brown who has been successful in being appointed to the permanent position of Principal of Corrimal Public School. Mrs Brown was our substantive Assistant Principal and has been Relieving Principal at Corrimal since the beginning of 2024.

We wish her all the best as she now looks at Corrimal through the lense of a substantive principal. I have no doubt that Mrs Brown will do wonderful things for the school and community of Corrimal, and she goes with our absolute support and best wishes.

Last Tuesday, 12 school leaders and I travelled to Sydney for the Halogen Young Leaders Conference. It was an amazing day of fun, lots of dancing, and listening to inspiring speakers who spoke about their lives and how they have achieved success as a leader.

I want to thank and congratulate our leaders for their maturity, fun and enthusiastic attitudes and willingness to give things a go. I look forward to seeing how these young leaders implement the things they have learnt, into their 2025 roles. I have great confidence in what they all offer and know that last Tuesday was a positive step in their leadership journey.

Congratulations to Monty and Remi who recently gained selection in South Coast teams. Monty was successful in being selected in the South Coast Hockey team, whilst Remi was selected in the South Coast Rugby 7s team. Both athletes will now train in the coming months, with their respective teams, in preparation for the upcoming state titles. Congratulations to you both and all the best as you gear up for your representative opportunities.

Our school is a complex place at drop off and departure times. We ask that our parents show patience and lead by example by following road rules whilst in your car and crossing at safe and appropriate places, whilst walking or riding. Information on keeping kids safe around schools can be found at: Keeping Our Kids Safe Around Schools - fact sheet (nsw.gov.au). I have again requested the presence of Council Rangers to monitor our school in the coming days and ask that parents adhere to the rules whilst they are here, but more importantly when they are not.

Our next P&C Meeting is Wednesday, 9 April (that’s next Wednesday!). I look forward to seeing many parents, for what will be our third meeting of the year an Agenda will be distributed soon.

The final two days of Term 1 will coincide with the State Swimming Championships at Homebush in Sydney. I would like to wish all our swimmers the best as they compete against the best swimmers in NSW and in many cases, Australia. It takes great commitment to reach such an outstanding level of competition and I’m sure our whole school community is very proud of what they have achieved and will achieve. Good luck to Logan, Amaya, Imogen, Tayla and Harper.

In Week 7, 8 and 9 our Year 3 and Year 5 students completed NAPLAN testing. Congratulations to all students involved for the enthusiasm and positive attitude shown in your approach. We are very proud of your efforts. Results from these tests will be received by the school in Term 3 and then provided to parents.

Tuesday 8 April at 6pm is our 2026 Kindergarten Parent Information Session. It is an opportunity for parents who are planning on sending their children to Woonona PS in 2026, to come in and learn a little bit more about the process and what to look forward to, and plan, between now and the beginning of the coming year. Below is a QR Code to register for the session. If you know of families who live in our catchment and are planning to enrol for the coming year, please let them know. The session will take place in the school hall.

Our school will be having our much-anticipated annual Easter Hat Parade on Friday 11 April at 9:15am. It will take place under the COLA. We can't wait to see students’ creative flair! The Year 6 Easter raffle will also be drawn so be sure you get your tickets! We are looking forward to a fantastic morning and wonderful way to start our school holidays.

Operation Art is a workshop available to students that is highly regarded. Schools I have spoken with, that have had students previously attend, have nothing but good things to say about their students’ experiences. If you are interested in your child attending, please access the below information and register your interest. Families wishing to attend would be required to pay and transport their child to and from the event but would be considered to be at school on the day (but off site). This workshop is available to students in Years 1-6.

Operation Art is coming to Ngununggula Regional Gallery

We are holding full day visual arts workshops for students in Stages 1-3.

Presented by specialist teachers, workshops cover topic areas including painting, printing, drawing, mixed media and sculpture. Workshops are designed to extend skills and art-making experiences beyond the classroom.

Stage 1 - (Year 1 & 2) – Tuesday 3 June 2025

Stage 2 - (Year 3 & 4) – Wednesday 4 June 2025

Stage 3 - (Year 5 & 6) – Thursday 5 June 2025

PLACES ARE LIMITED!

BOOKINGS CLOSE FRIDAY 23 MAY 2025 UNLESS FILLED PRIOR

THIS IS A TWO STEP PROCESS, ENROLMENT FORM AND PAYMENT PAGE MUST BE COMPLETED

1. ENROL: Parents to complete the online enrolment form via the chosen location at the link below to book and provide all student details, put the receipt number for proof of payment on your booking form. https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/program/operation-art-student-workshops

2. PAY: After filling in the enrolment form follow the prompt to the payment page and complete the payment.

Mr Tim Fisher

Principal

• Choral Festival - permission & money now overdue.
• Southern Stars - permission & money due by Thursday 3 April
• Stage 2 Science Space Excursion - permission & money due by Friday 4 April.
• Hungry Caterpillar - permission & money due by Wednesday 30 April.
• Stage 3 Moving into the Teen Years - permission & money due by Thursday 1 May.

For the very first time, Woonona Public School have entered a tennis team into the PSSA State Knock Out competition!

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of taking Frankie, Tilly, Ranajay and Anton to Bulli Tennis centre for our first round match up with Gerringong Public School. Both teams were keen and enthusiastic to compete, as it was Gerringong’s fist time entering the competition as well.

The rain stayed away, allowing all our players to play a set of singles each, a boys and girls set of doubles and mixed doubles. Our team showed great tenacity and determination, playing 3 consecutive sets in a row, something some professional players don’t even do!

Whilst there were some long rallies that had all the spectators on the edge of their seat and games that went to deuce numerous times, it was the positivity and great sportsmanship from both teams that really stood out on the day.

We managed to come away with a win, 5 sets to 3 after some tense moments. Our 2nd round match is now against Bomaderry Public School, in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for an update!

Alison Strinic

In a thrilling opening round of the PSSA Cricket State Knockout, Woonona Public School faced off against Balgownie Public School in an encounter filled with promising talent and spirited performances. Winning the toss, Woonona opted to bat first, setting the stage for an intriguing contest.

Opening the batting in his debut match, Archer demonstrated commendable courage, managing to score a few runs before falling victim to Balgownie’s bowling attack. Despite losing two quick wickets early on, Oliver stepped up to support Noah, forming a crucial partnership that steadied the ship for Woonona.

Noah showcased his temperament, anchoring the innings with a solid 14 runs, ensuring he held his wicket as teammates came and went. He later added to his contributions by taking a handy wicket, further solidifying his impact on the game. Following his departure, Samuel entered the fray and matched his brother's efforts with a valuable 14 runs, contributing to another vital partnership that added some much-needed stability to the innings.

As the innings progressed, Samuel paired up with Isaac, and the duo electrified the crowd with a flurry of big hits and sharp running between the wickets, pushing the score along and keeping the momentum alive. However, Woonona’s innings faced further setbacks as a couple more wickets fell, leaving Lachlan and Charlie to bat out the final overs.

In a commendable display of resilience, Lachlan and Charlie managed to put together some runs, with Charlie particularly shining as he struck the shot of the day—a stunning four off his pads that raced to the boundary. Ultimately, Woonona was bowled out in the 24th over for a total of 112 runs.

With a defendable target set, Woonona’s bowlers came out with determination, and Oliver made an immediate impact by claiming a wicket in his second over. The opening overs were marked by tight bowling, which restricted Balgownie’s scoring opportunities. Isaac was particularly effective, delivering an excellent spell that focused on line and length, while Lachlan, though unlucky not to take a wicket, remained a constant threat.

Judah, in his first turn as wicketkeeper, impressed with his outstanding performance, effectively restricting byes and taking a well-judged catch that contributed significantly to Woonona’s strong showing behind the stumps. Levi's fielding also stood out, as he displayed enthusiasm and agility, cutting off several boundaries. Meanwhile, Oscar excelled on the boundary, successfully preventing multiple fours from Balgownie’s best batter, showcasing his skills and commitment to the team's defensive efforts.

Despite their efforts, Balgownie proved too strong and reached their target in the 22nd over, winning the match by 8 wickets. While the result was not what Woonona had hoped for, the boys should take pride in the way they conducted themselves throughout the match, remaining positive and encouraging one another.

Mr Argaet

Last Friday saw another edition of the Woonona Classico, as we took on archrivals, Woonona East in Round One of the Football State Knockout on the hallowed turf of Ocean Park.

The boys were the first to kick-off in torrential conditions against a skilful and physical Woonona East side. The boys flew out of the gates as Archer made a scything run, complete with a clinical finish, to put us up after less than a minute of play. From there, it was an end-to-end affair in wet, boggy conditions as both sides created multiple goal scoring chances. Woonona East got on top and stretched out to a two-goal lead before Woonona regrouped and scored three unanswered goals, including two long range drives into the top corner from central defender Dallas. At half time, the Blue and Red were buoyed to be taking a 3-2 lead into the break.

The second half continued in the same manner, as both teams created some great chances, and Olli made some incredible saves between the sticks. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough as WEPS proved too strong and took home a 5-3 victory, eliminating WPS from the competition.

The sun parted the clouds and conditions improved dramatically for the girls’ game, with Woonona taking advantage of the great conditions with some slick, beautiful football. Straight out of the gates, the Blue and Red showed their class with Amaya scoring early to provide the girls with a quick lead and they never looked back. The goals flowed, with highlights included long range strikes from Lainey and Rheon, who celebrated with an equally incredible knee slide.

The girls played beautifully as a team, trading positions, passing and moving into space and supporting each other on and off the field. Eventually, they ran away 8-0 winners and are now looking forward to their Round 2 match early next term against local PSSA heavyweights, Waniora, in the Battle of Bulli.

Come on Woonona!

Staff and students at Woonona Public School would like to express their congratulations to Peter Currie and Hazel Nisbet who have both retired from teaching Combined Scripture after 37 years and 17 years, respectively. That's an impressive 54 years combined! We wish them both the very best for the future and hope their retirement is filled making wonderful memories.

Over the last few weeks, our Aboriginal students have had the opportunity to engage with community in several meaningful ways. This has been organised in line with students' personal goals for their learning and to help foster strong cultural and community connections.

The other week, Aunty May Button visited the school to talk to our Aboriginal students. She is a local Aboriginal Elder who shared her own experiences and knowledge with the students and discussed her journey as an Aboriginal Australian. Students enjoyed having the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about her life, particularly her Aboriginal art-making. Aunty May has offered to work with our Aboriginal students and the school this year to create a shell art mural.

Last week a representative from CSIRO, along with students and a teacher from Woonona High, visited the school as part of the Deadly in Generation STEM program in which the school is participating. Emily and Lani are student ambassadors for the program and demonstrated a science experiment that focused on Indigenous knowledge and its relation to science. Students learned about the plant Lamandra and how it was used by Aboriginal people in weaving, rope making, and net making. They explored different weaving techniques, made predictions, and tested their strength using weights. Afterwards, students discussed practical real-world applications and possible STEM pathways in high school that they could pursue. A fun afternoon was had by all, and we thank Woonona High School and the CSIRO for being part of this transition program, which will be run again later in the year.

The Woonona Public School P&C has once again partnered with Bakers delight to bring you our annual Hot Cross Bun drive. Please jump on board and grab a pack or a few to support the P&C!

We will be offering 4 fantastic flavours:

Fruitless

Traditional

Apple & Cinnamon

Choc Chip

at a price of $9.50 per 6 pack!! Online Orders preferred and are due back to school by Friday 4 April.

https://wpsuniforms.square.site

Orders will be delivered to classes on Thursday 10 April. Please ensure you put your child's name and class on the order.

(If paying cash please have the correct money).

It has been a very busy term in the Library with lots of reading happening with the start of the Premier’s Reading Challenge. Most children have recorded over 10 books already on their reading lists and we even have a few super enthusiastic students who have completed the 20 books for PRC already. Well done to all students for their reading efforts this term. If students read additional books over the holiday break, they can head to the PRC student site to logon and record their books.

End of term overdue notices for books borrowed will be sent out over the next week. Can parents please help your children locate any overdue books and return to the Library as soon as possible. If a book has been lost, parents can pay for a replacement at the office. Book prices are listed on the overdue notice form. Thank you for your cooperation.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday break and look forward to seeing students back in the library next term. Remember even though students are on holidays encourage them to continue to read for enjoyment over the holiday break.

Happy reading,

Mrs Carroll

Librarian

The Woonona Community of Schools Band Program has been running successfully since 2012 and last year we had 25 students from several local primary schools participating. Each Wednesday morning from 8:00-9:15am, primary students come to Woonona High School to learn an instrument and rehearse as a band. Our current and ex music students and outside tutors provide small group tuition on flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, bass, keyboard or drums. The program is open to Year 5 and 6 students. Please email rhiannon.sharp@det.nsw.edu.au with any questions. New applications are now open and you can register your interest here.

Woonona High School have announced that the Year 7 Academic and CAPA Enrichment applications are now available! Applications will be accessible on the Woonona High School website for your convenience. Woonona High School Application forms

Please note, students that applied for the Year 6 HPGE program may choose to use that application for the Year 7 Academic Class by signing the first section of the Academic form, or they can update their application by completing the entire form. All students that are applying for the Creative & Performing Arts Class will need to complete the full CAPA application form and follow the audition requirements, including HPGE students.

Students may apply for both the Academic and CAPA programs and may choose their preference if they are successful in both.

All applicants must return completed forms to the Woonona High School front office by close of business Friday 4 April 2025.

If you have any questions please contact Woonona High School on 4284 1513.

Uniform orders are filled weekly by P&C volunteers.

School hats/caps are available to purchase from the front Office, cash payments only.

Further information on ordering uniforms can be found on the school website.

Please be aware that there are students in our school with allergies to nuts. We ask that you give consideration to voluntarily agreeing not to send nut products, in particular peanuts and peanut butter to school.