News

Updated 20/02/15

We have our own News blog which  provides ongoing news posts, rather than a traditional fortnightly newsletter.  We encourage you to subscribe to the News blog (simply click the subscribe button at the bottom right of the page).  This will give you email notifications, at most once a day, if there is news posted on this blog.

We encourage you to explore the use of our Woodend Team App. This will allow you to tailor your notifications about  sports teams, committee, class  and news events.

If you haven’t already joined team app, it is easy to do. The app is available for free on all smart phones and can also be accessed from a computer (teamapp.com). Once you have the app, search for ‘Woodend Primary School’ and select the ‘teams’ that you wish to join. Selecting the teams that are relevant to you (eg your child’s class and sports teams) means that you will get only the notifications that you need. This is an app we are trying to  grow and develop into a useful communication resource.  Therefore it will get better as we start to use it more.

Note that individual classes will also put out a newsletter at times during the term which your child’s teacher will discuss with you.

Car Parking

Woodend Governing Council, in conjunction with the Marion Council, has put in place a number of restrictions around our school. We aim to protect student safety. Parents are asked NOT to use the staff carpark.

There are some parking restrictions along Edward Beck Drive and the drop-off area. There is NO PARKING from 8.30-8.55am.

The speed limit past the school is 25km/h at all times students are present, including for after hours sport and school events.

School crossing are located on Edward beck and Lemon Roads, Please encourage students to cross the roads a these points.

Assembly

Wed 10am fortnightly

Whole school assemblies are held each fortnight as a way of sharing achievements and information.

Classes are rostered to take turns to organise and run assemblies with a high level of student input.

Assemblies are a forum for achievement awards from the Principal, class performances and sharing of information.

Parents are welcome to attend assemblies, which are advertised in the Term Planner. Generally, parents don’t attend all assemblies, but try to attend when their child’s class is in charge of presenting the assembly.

Bell Times / School Hours

School begins promptly at 8.55am. Teachers are on duty in the playground and on the school crossing from 8.30am

Recess is from 10:45 – 11:05

Students eat lunch with their classmates under teacher supervision from 12:45 – 12:55 with lunch play from 12:55 – 1:25

The day concludes at 3.05pm and a teach is on duty until 3.20pm

Students who have not been collected by this time are sent to the school office and parents are contacted. If no contact can be made, students will be sent to OHSC at your cost.

Student Attendance

It is important that students develop habits of regular attendance for many reasons, such as their educational opportunities and active participating in their learning, as well as helping to develop productive and positive relationships with their peers and teachers.

Students should arrive after 8.30am for an 8.55am start.

School finishes at 3.05pm and students should not be on the school grounds unsupervised after 3.20pm

Please let the school know if there is any reason your child will be late or absent. There are a number of ways you can do this.

Phone 83226422

Email dl.1056.info@schools.sa.edu.au

Mobile 0434607153

If you child is absent from school for more than 3 days a doctor’s certificate is required. All absences need to be explained by the parent/caregiver and recorded by the class teacher on the attendance roll. For an extended absence for reasons other than sickness an exemption form must be completed.

If your child requires supervision before or after school you can contact Zoe or Jacki at OSHC: 83877603 or 0411274747. For more information on OSHC click here.

Expectations for Children Starting School

It is necessary that they be able to:

  • Follow simple instructions
  • Have the ability to sit and listen
  • Be able to find their won way around the school
  • Know some rules, e.g. where the no running areas are, when they can/cannot talk
  • Be ready for reading, writing, copying
  • Talk quietly – ability to work as part of a group
  • Be able to pack and unpack their won bags
  • Differentiate between work and play

It is desirable that they:

  • Be able to make friends
  • Be able to tell the difference between a healthy snack, recess, lunch

Within the first few weeks they should:

  • Write their name
  • Be able to open packaging by self
  • Teel the difference between books – maths, rioting, pasting – red, green, white dots
  • Log onto a computer by themselves and type in their full name
  • Be able to count and recognise numbers

 

 

Play is the Way

Woodend has incorporated PLAY IS THE WAY and other social and emotional learning programs such as Community Circle to target wellbeing and learning.

PLAY IS THE WAY® is a practical methodology for teaching social and emotional learning using guided play, classroom activities and an empowering language. It is a process that gives primary schools a way to develop, improve and entrench the personal and social capabilities of students.
PLAY IS THE WAY® is suitable for primary school children of all ages, abilities and ethnic backgrounds.  No particular sporting or athletic ability is required to successfully participate.
The PLAY IS THE WAY® Complete Program uses:
  • a unique program of physically interactive games 
  • key concepts to guide students through life and learning
  • a specific and empowering language to help attain self-mastery
  • a philosophy of behaviour education and student self-regulation that fosters independent, self-motivated, empathetic, life-long learners.

Wilson McCaskill is the Founder/Director of the program, Play Is The Way, and has presented workshops here at Woodend in previous years.

Bill Boylans is the Principal of Tapping Primary School in Western Australia where the purpose and ethos of the whole school centres around development of students social and emotional well being.

Wilson and Bill will work with us to consolidate our work with the programs we offer and support us in the next stages of our journey. We look forward to sharing our successes and using their expertise to improve our practices in the area of social and emotional learning.

For parents and caregivers, some great information, resources and videos can be found on the PLAY IS THE WAY website. For example the THE 4 I’s OF GOOD PARENTING and 10 TIPS FOR PARENTS. There is also a list of upcoming workshops if you would like to attend.

https://playistheway.com.au/content/53-tips-for-parents

 

Our Vision for 21st Century Learners

Through powerful partnerships we will nurture and grow capabilities and dispositions in each student which empowers them to:

Learn with passion and curiosity; anytime, anywhere.

  • Think and reason effectively and creatively
  • Create, innovate and add value,
  • Understand that effort matters.
  • Know how to learn and improve.
  • Demonstrate strength of character.
  • Be good citizens.
  • Interpret and communicate effectively in any media.

We will work together as a community to develop the collective strategies and mindsets to achieve this vision for every student.