WILLIAM STIMSON PUBLIC SCHOOL

Weekly Newsletter

Newsletter: 1294 Friday 15 March 2019

Dear Parents and Carers,

On Thursday 7 March

our School Captains,

Vice Captains, Prefects,

House Captains and

Library Monitors were

inducted formally into their positions for 2019. Class SRC

representatives also received their badges. Proud

parents and relatives of these students joined us for the

Induction Ceremony and light refreshments. There is

already a real ‘buzz’ coming from these students about

their roles and responsibilities in these positions. We are

looking forward to working with them as the senior

leaders of our school.

SSW Regional Swimming Carnival CONGRATULATIONS to Caleb Day when

representing WSPS at the Sydney South

West Regional Swimming Carnival on

Tuesday 12 March at Gordon

Fetterplace Aquatic Centre, Bradbury.

Caleb competed in the 50m Freestyle event, we are

incredibly proud of his efforts! Well done Caleb!

National Day of Action against Bullying and

Violence On Friday 15 March our school took an active part in the

National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.

WSPS students joined millions of other students across

Australia to stand united and send the message that

bullying, and violence is unacceptable. We asked our

students to imagine a world free from bullying and to

share their big ideas with others in our school

community. All of our classes worked on posters for their

rooms, some published anti-bullying statements, some

created murals whilst others created pledge posters

where students pledged to make our school free from

bullying.

I am extremely proud of our students’ efforts!

William Stimson Public School - ‘Honest and Respectful Learners’

BE SAFE * SHOW RESPECT * TRY YOUR BEST * TAKE PRIDE

‘That’s My Team’ Day

Next Tuesday 19 March, Year 6 will

be holding a special fundraising

event called ‘That’s My Team’ Day.

Children are asked to donate a

gold coin and the money raised will

go towards the Year 6 Farewell,

which this year will be held again at Fairfield RSL.

Children can wear their favourite team jersey or come

to school dressed in their favourite team’s colours.

Harmony Day The Student Representative

Council and the wider

school community are

celebrating Harmony Day

on Thursday 21 March, this

week. We are asking

children to wear ORANGE to

celebrate communication and respect. The theme for

Harmony Day is, ‘Everyone Belongs’. We are not asking

for money as this is an awareness day not a fundraiser.

Tell Them From Me Student

- Feedback Survey This term, our school, like many

other public schools in the state, will

participate in a Department of

Education initiative: the Tell Them

From Me student feedback survey. The survey measures

factors that are known to affect academic achievement

and other student outcomes. The focus of the NSW-wide

survey is on student wellbeing, engagement and

effective teaching practices.

More information about the survey is available at:

http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au

The survey is a great opportunity for our students to

provide us with valuable and quick feedback on what

they think about school life, how engaged they are with

school and the different ways that teachers interact with

them. Schools in Australia and around the world have

used the Tell Them From Me survey to help improve how

they do things at school.

I want to assure you that the survey is confidential. The

survey is conducted online and will typically take less

than 30 minutes to complete. It will be administered

during school hours between 11 March and 12 April.

Participating in the survey is entirely voluntary!

A consent form and FAQs for parents/carers about the

survey is being sent home with students. If you DO NOT

want your child or children to participate, please return

the form to school by Friday 8 March. Copies of the form

and FAQs are available from:

http://surveys.cese.nsw.gov.au/information-for-parents

Crossing the Road - Dangerously! In recent weeks I

have had many

parents approach me

concerned at the

unsafe behaviour of

adults and children who are choosing to cross Lily Street

at random points along the road and not making use of

the wombat crossing. Please understand that this

practice is extremely dangerous and that with one small

move left or right, we are going to have a significant

accident that should have been avoided. Parents, I urge

you to support our school in insisting the students cross

at the crossing. You may feel that it takes too long to

walk to the crossing then double back to the entrance of

the school, but I can guarantee you all that no amount of

time saved is worth an injury to you or your child

because you refused to cross the road safely. We are

talking and teaching about safety regularly in our

classes, let’s lead by example.

Please also be mindful of parking across private

driveways, we have many local residents frustrated at

not being able to enter or exit their premises.

William Stimson Public School - ‘Honest and Respectful Learners’

BE SAFE * SHOW RESPECT * TRY YOUR BEST * TAKE PRIDE

Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL)

William Stimson has begun their PBL (Positive Behaviour

for Learning) journey! This journey is ongoing and will

take some time to set up. Separate phases will be rolled

out at various times.

PBL is an evidence-based whole school framework that

actively promotes positive behaviour. It enables students

to develop a clear understanding of required

expectations, become responsible for their own

behaviour and work together to create a positive,

productive and harmonious learning community.

The PBL committee have been working hard surveying

staff, students and the community on what core values

our school would like to pursue. Behaviour expectations

are also in the process of being developed with positive

and consistent language. Once these expectations have

been established posters will be designed to be displayed

across the school.

This week we introduced the 3 core values we will be

promoting and encouraging in our learners - RESPECT,

RESPONSIBILITY & RESILIENCE.

High School Applications - EOI’s

Our Year 6 students were issued with their High School

Applications - Expression of Interest last week.

ALL applications MUST be returned by Tuesday 19

March. Please do not hesitate to ask for any support or

guidance you may require.

Garden Club Students from our Garden Club have been hard at work

readying the garden beds, planting up seedlings and

creating a gorgeous potted plant for my office!

William Stimson Public School - ‘Honest and Respectful Learners’

BE SAFE * SHOW RESPECT * TRY YOUR BEST * TAKE PRIDE

Crunch and Sip Don’t forget to keep on trying different fruits and veggies

during our ‘Crunch ‘n Sip’ time. Drink bottles filled with

fresh water is another great habit for your child to

establish.

Stewart House Donation Drive 2019 Envelopes will be sent out this week.

In order for your family to be eligible

for a chance in a $4000 holiday

draw, you must contribute $2.00.

Please return the Stewart House envelopes by Friday 17

May.

Celebrating Learning Stage One students visited Mrs Simmons to tell her

about the book they had been reading and to show her

the wonderful ‘Potato People’ they had created. They

were so enthusiastic and engaged, all trying to get their

voices heard at once.

William Stimson Public School - ‘Honest and Respectful Learners’

BE SAFE * SHOW RESPECT * TRY YOUR BEST * TAKE PRIDE

Term Two - Athletics Program

Next term, students will be

once again participating in

an exciting athletics program

organised by an experienced

external provider, ‘Dancefever Multisport’.

Dancefever Multisport will provide staff who will teach

the students sprinting, long jump, high jump, shot put,

discus, relays and hurdles so that the students are

prepared for their athletics carnival. The program is

structured for all ages and abilities and the students will

not only learn the event techniques, but the rules and

safety aspects for each event. The program is aligned

with the PDHPE curriculum and the students will be

assessed accordingly. We are really looking forward to

having Dancefever Multisport continue to work with the

staff and students of WSPS!

The price of $28.00 for the ten-week program is

discounted. We are asking to pay the fee in a single

payment. Please make payment by Friday 12 April.

Stay Connected Remember you can keep updated with everything that is

happening at William Stimson PS through accessing our

WSPS Skoolbag app or following us on Facebook or

Twitter. Our addresses are as follows:

www.facebook.com/WilliamStimsonPublicSchool

Twitter handle - @OurSchoolWSPS

Melissa Vallorani

CALENDAR DATES - 2019

19 Mar That’s my team - Year 6 Fundraiser

Completed High School Application EOI’s are to

be returned to school

21 Mar Harmony Day

Peer Support

22 Mar PSSA Summer Round 6

25 Mar NAPLAN practice test fortnight

28 Mar Peer Support

29 Mar PSSA Summer Round 7

1 Apr Parent / Teacher Learning Conferences - all week

2 Apr Cross Country Carnival - Emerson Reserve

4 Apr Peer Support

5 Apr PSSA Summer Round 8

Library News - Term 1 Week 7

Library Monitors - Last week our Library Monitor’s

received their badges during the Student Leaders’

Induction Ceremony. Congratulations on this great

achievement.

Students and parents signed a library contract which

outlined the expectations of a library monitor and the

consequences for not meeting these expectations.

Library monitors have started training which includes

collecting books, shelving books and stricting.

Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) - The Premier’s

Reading Challenge (PRC) has started! All students are

encouraged to participate and complete this year’s

challenge by 30 August 2019. Last year, we had 233

students complete the challenge. Our aim is to improve

on this figure and have more students reading.

Last week, classes discussed the 2019 PRC, for example,

where to locate PRC books, how to identify the PRC ID

number and what our Premier is responsible for in NSW.

All students received their yellow personal reading log

with detailed instructions on how to complete the

challenge online. The yellow card must be filled in and

returned to Miss Lavorato.

Please come and see me if you have any questions or

concerns. Happy Reading!

William Stimson Public School - ‘Honest and Respectful Learners’

BE SAFE * SHOW RESPECT * TRY YOUR BEST * TAKE PRIDE