14 February 2025

The Aquila Feed

Message from Jayne Muir, Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

2025 Class Formations

We are excited to announce that, following the confirmation of our 2025 student enrolments, our classes for the upcoming year have been successfully formed. On Tuesday, 18th February, all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 will be informed of their 2025 class placements. Below is an overview of the day’s organisation:

1. 9:00am - 11:00am: Students will line up with their current holding class teacher.
2. 11:00am - 2:30pm: Students will meet their 2025 teacher and spend time in their new classroom. During this time, they will also be shown where they will line up each morning and their designated dismissal location at 3:00pm.
3. 2:30pm - 3:00pm: Students will return to their holding class to pack up, collect their belongings, and be dismissed by their holding class teacher.
4. A note will be sent home on Tuesday with the name of your child’s 2025 class teacher.
5. On Wednesday, 19th February, all students will meet their 2025 teacher in their assigned location.
   

Stage-based/Composite Class Information

In 2025 we have stage-based classes in Stage 2 and 3. Our qualified teachers are experienced at differentiating the curriculum to ensure content is accessible for all learners. Below is information from the Department of Education regarding stage based/ composite classes.

In primary schools, classes are organised in a wide variety of ways. Stage based classes are one such type. Classes that are made up of children of different year levels have traditionally been called composite classes. In recent times, these classes have also been called stage-based classes, multi-aged or family classes. These classes are formed for a number of reasons such as where there is an uneven enrolment in school years or for educational reasons, where it is felt that the mixing of students of different ages is both educationally and socially advantageous.

When forming classes each year at Wentworth Point Public School, class structures are determined by taking into account: teaching staff; the learning and social needs of students; the size of each ‘Year' cohort at the school; the subsequent staffing formula allocated to the school each year; as well as the most desirable placement of students so that there is minimal disruption to the learning environment and maximisation of on-task student learning time.

Composite classes have been the source of much misunderstanding over the years, with parents often believing that their child is being disadvantaged in some way by being in one. The key to understanding composites is realising that growth is determined by stages of development and not by ages.

Some points worth noting are:

• Children have always been in multi-aged classes. The ages of Kindergarten students range from four and nine months to six and six months; an 18 month difference. Some children start school barely toilet trained where others are quite mature and are already reading at an advanced level, same class but different stages.
• Older students are not held back in composite classes. In teaching we accept that different children learn at different rates. Separate programs are often used in many curriculum areas for the different groups of students according to their level of development.
• Children in composite classes do no better or worse academically than their peers in straight grade class, however, socially, their development is enhanced. They are more confident, can operate better as part of a group, are more assertive, become more independent learners and are better problem-solvers. They also make friends outside of their standard age-groups.

What do we know about composite classes?

• A composite class does not comprise of advanced younger students and older students needing remediation. These practices are outdated, not supported by the research and can have a negative impact on student engagement and academic achievement.
• Composite classes are very common across all Australian schools. Research favours no particular year level structure is superior, and that composite classes are not detrimental to a child’s social or academic development.
• Research suggests there is no difference between composite and straight year level classrooms in terms of academic performance. However, benefits relating to student
• independence, responsibility and study habits have been highlighted. For example, younger children within a composite year level generally aspire to emulate older children in their work, and older children can lift their self-esteem, show leadership and demonstrate high level understandings and complex thinking skills to model and explain their learning.
• The Australian Curriculum is a continuum across all year levels and as such this allows for stretch, flexibility and support as it recognises that all children learn at different rates and have different strengths and areas to improve. 

 The curriculum in NSW is based on stages:

• Early Stage One – Kindergarten
• Stage One – Years One & Two
• Stage Two – Years Three & Four
• Stage Three – Years Five & Six
• Every class is filled with students with different learning needs, rates of learning, interests and strengths in terms of their progress and achievement, depending on what they are learning.
• Our teachers are highly skilled in catering for students with varying academic and social skills.
• We have confidence in and respect the comprehensive work our teachers and leaders have done to place children into classes to enable a sense of belonging where individual needs can be catered for.

Introducing New and Returning Staff

We are thrilled to welcome several new and returning staff members to our school community. Please join me in welcoming them.

Returning staff members

• Karosha Reddy: Deputy Principal of WPPS.
• Jenny Zappavigna: English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EaLD) teacher.
• Erica Sung: Stage 2 teacher.

New staff members

• Olivia Marshall: Year 2 classroom teacher.
• Nikki Phan: Stage 3 classroom teacher.
• Thomas Howard: Support Unit Release from Face-to-Face Teacher.
• Jessica Lay: Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction.
• Elizabeth Innes: School Counsellor (Fridays).

We are grateful to have such talented educators joining our team and enhancing our school community.

Morning and Afternoon Routines

At Wentworth Point Public School, student wellbeing and safety are always our top priorities. To help ensure the safety of all students and maintain a smooth school routine, we kindly ask that all families follow the procedures outlined below for morning and afternoon pick-up:

Morning Routine:

• Music will begin at 8:55am to signal that it is time for students to meet their teacher and head to their classrooms.
• The main gate and back gate will close promptly at 9:00am.
• We ask that parents say their farewells and leave the school grounds before the gates close at 9:00am.

Afternoon Pick-up:

• Please enter the school grounds via the main gate on Ferry Wharf Circuit.
• Collect children from under the COLA, on the basketball court, or from the Kindergarten classrooms.
• Exit via the back gate on Burroway Road.
• Gates close by 3:10pm for the safety of our students attending TeamKids (Out of school hours provider)

This one-way exit system helps maintain smooth pedestrian flow and reduces congestion at the front gate. Your cooperation in following these routines ensures the safety and wellbeing of our students. Your support is appreciated.

Kind Regards

Jayne Muir
Principal

Messages from Daniel Hall, Deputy Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful and restful break. It’s always such a busy but exciting time of year, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone and reconnecting with our families.

This week, I’ve loved walking through the school and joining in on some of the fantastic learning happening in Years 3-6. It has been wonderful to see every child jumping straight back into their learning with enthusiasm and focus. It's been a great start to the term and I'm looking forward to seeing you all settle into your 2025 classes next week!

A very warm welcome to our new families! It has been lovely to see so many of you after meeting you during the enrolment process. We are thrilled to have you as part of our school community and look forward to getting to know you more.

I’m excited for the term ahead and all the learning, events, and experiences we’ll share together. For new and returning parents, please see below our 2025 Parent Handbook.

2025 NAPLAN

Students in Years 3 and 5 will be participating in the NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) assessments on Wednesday 12 to Monday 24 March 2025. NAPLAN is a nationwide assessment that provides insights into students' progress in reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation), and numeracy.

These assessments are designed to support student learning and help schools identify areas of strength and development. For more information you can visit - https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan

While we encourage all students to participate, we understand that some families may wish to apply for an exemption. If you would like your child to be exempt from NAPLAN, please email the school at WentworthP-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au to arrange the necessary exemption process. If you have any questions or concerns about NAPLAN, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Playground Clubs

At Wentworth Point Public School, our Playground Clubs provide students with a range of exciting options during Breaks 3 and 4. These clubs offer a great way for students to explore new interests, build friendships, and develop important social skills in a structured and supportive environment. Many of our clubs also give students the opportunity to participate in competitions and special events throughout the year.

This week, students have had the chance to sign up for clubs that interest them, and we’re excited to see them from next week engage in different activities during their break times. If you’d like to encourage your child to explore a Playground Club, please remind them that they are welcome to attend instead of playing on the playground.

Stage 3 Permission to play on High School Grounds

Students in Stage 3 (Years 5 & 6) have the opportunity to access the High School grounds during their first break of the day in Semester 1. This is a fantastic chance for our senior students to enjoy additional space and facilities during their break time.

Please note that only students with permission will be allowed to enter and use the high school facilities. If your child is in Year 5 or 6 and you would like them to participate, please log into SchoolBytes to provide permission.

Summer PSSA 

This week, students in Years 3-6 have had the opportunity to trial for our PSSA Summer Sports teams. It has been fantastic to see so many students eager to represent our school in competitive sport!

If your child has been selected for a team, today they would have come home with the code of conduct. Shortly the activity will appear in your SchoolBytes accounts. Please ensure you log into your SchoolBytes account to complete the payment and permission process. The competition starts next week, and payments and permissions need to be submitted by  Wednesday 19 Feb to ensure your child can participate.

OC / Selective High School

Applications for selective high school and opportunity class placements for 2026 are currently open.

Selective high school Year 7 entry in 2026: Apply when your child is at the end of Year 5 in 2024 or the beginning of Year 6 in 2025.

Opportunity class Year 5 entry in 2026: Apply when your child is at the end of Year 3 in 2024 or the beginning of Year 4 2025.

Applications close on 21 February 2025 and need to be completed online. Once your application has been submitted and processed, your child will need to sit a computer-based placement test. 

For more information and to apply online visit -  shsoc.education.nsw.gov.au

See you at a gate or a learning space soon. 

Daniel Hall
Deputy Principal

Messages from Karosha Reddy, Deputy Principal

Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to the 2025 school year

Hello to all our families and friends, and a special welcome to those joining Wentworth Point Public School for the first time! It’s wonderful to be back with our vibrant and caring school community after a year of new experiences as a relieving principal in a small rural school. I’m incredibly grateful for the warm welcome and excited for the year ahead.

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated staff, who have been working hard to create engaging and supportive learning environments where every student is known, valued, and cared for. It’s been lovely reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones, and I look forward to all the learning, growth, and special moments we’ll share this year.

SAVE THE DATE - Meet the Teacher

We would like to invite our community to a ‘Meet the Teacher’ evening on site this term. This is an opportunity for you to get to know your child’s teacher, visit the classroom, learn about school routines and expectations as well as better understand how you can continue to support your child at home. We will have individual parent conferences later in the year where you will be able to discuss your child’s progress. There will be many parents attending ‘Meet the Teacher,’ therefore, it is not the time to talk about your individual child. Discussions about your child’s individual progress needs to take place privately. As always, if you would like to talk to your child’s teacher, please email the school to make an appointment.

We have a fantastic year ahead that will be filled with learning, growth, and shared success! 

Kind Regards

Miss Karosha Reddy
Deputy Principal

Messages from P&C Association

P&C Association is a group of volunteers who are parents at the school and members of the local community who want to support the school. The group is committed to supporting and working with the principal and staff to improve the learning experiences of all children. P&C holds meetings once every term of school. It is an informal gathering of parents, citizens, and some staff members where current and future plans for the school are discussed, and how P&C can work together to support and drive common interests related to the school. Members of the P&C committee provide updates and discuss ways to develop and build on a sense of belonging and connection.

• email: info@wpps-pca.org.au
• website: wpps-pca.org.au
• facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wppspca  

P&C Membership

Scan the below QR code or click this link to fill out the P&C membership form.

P&C Second-Hand Uniform Shop

P&C opens a second-hand uniform shop every first Thursday of the month during the school term. Uniforms are from donations or lost property and are priced at approximately one-third of the retail cost. Shop earnings contribute to the P&C, which in turn funds the school for the benefit of our children.

TeamKids

Join TeamKids for the BIGGEST & BEST summer holidays ever!

There’s something for everyone:

• New experiences and activities every day
• Qualified and remarkable Educators
• Healthy and yummy snacks
• CCS-approved care    

Click on the following link to check out Wentworth Point Public's program + secure your spot today –