14 March 2025

The Aquila Feed

Message from Jayne Muir, Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Thank you for your continued support throughout the first 7 weeks of Term 1.  It has been an incredibly busy and exciting time, and recently I was delighted to share our journey so far, alongside Dan Hall (Deputy Principal) and Karosha Reddy (Deputy Principal), at our recent Parents and Citizens (P&C) meeting. 

Term 1 Events Overview 

Weeks 1-6 

• PSSA – AFL, Cricket, Softball, T-Ball 

• 3-6 Swimming Carnival  

• Meet the Teacher 

• Scripture started 

• Best Start Assessment for Kindergarten completed 

• Zone Swimming Carnival  

• Regional Swimming Carnival – 10 March 

• Playground Clubs have started 

• NAPLAN for Years 3 & 5 (more details below) 

• Homework Exhibition – More details on our school website
  

Future Term 1 Events 

• Best Start Reports sent home 

• Harmony Day – Whole school event on Friday, 21 March (information to follow) 

• Kindergarten Science Incursion – 25 March (Star Planetarium) 

• 3-6 Cross Country – Tuesday, 8 April (info via School Bytes) 

• Stage 2 History Excursion 

• WPPS Student Leadership Excursion 

• Kindergarten Vision Screening – Notes have been sent home 

• Winter PSSA 

Playground Clubs: A Fun & Inclusive Experience 

Playground Clubs offer structured and engaging activities during playtime. These sessions provide students with an opportunity to engage in a variety of fun, inclusive experiences, from creative arts to active games. All playground clubs take place during Break 3 for Stage 1 and Stage 2, and Break 4 for Early Stage 1, Stage 3, and our Support Unit students. These clubs aim to help build friendships, develop new skills, and enjoy a positive play environment. 

NAPLAN Information 

The National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) testing window started on Wednesday, 12 March, and concludes on Monday, 24 March 2025. This annual assessment is for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9. 

NAPLAN is conducted online (except for Year 3 Writing) and provides a snapshot of students’ abilities in writing, reading, language conventions, and mathematics. We encourage families to support their students as they prepare for these assessments. 

Welcome Hugo 

I am pleased to announce the arrival of Hugo. Ms Hayley Corra, Kindergarten class teacher of the 2024 class Beetles, gave birth to Hugo in February. Hugo weighed 3.8 kilograms and is 51 centimetres long.

Hugo is baby number two for our WPPS staff so far in 2025. Recently Ms Negin Dahoudi and Ms Seray Atas finished work to start their maternity leave. We look forward to sharing with our community the arrival of our next WPPS babies. 

Our WPPS Community: LBOTE (Language Background Other Than English) 

Our school community is diverse, with 40 different languages and dialects spoken. The most common languages spoken by our students are Mongolian, Arabic, Mandarin, and Korean. To support their learning, we are fortunate to have 6 EAL/D (English as an Additional Language or Dialect) teachers who work closely with students, providing classroom support and intensive language assistance. 

P&C Update 

At our recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), all positions were declared open. We look forward to introducing the 2025 P&C Executive Team in our next newsletter. 

Thank you once again for your ongoing support. I look forward to sharing the exciting events ahead. 

Warm Regards

Jayne Muir
Principal

Messages from Daniel Hall, Deputy Principal

NAPLAN

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) is currently in progress, offering valuable insights into students’ literacy and numeracy skills. This nationwide assessment is designed for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, and is essential for tracking student progress over time. It plays a crucial role in shaping future learning experiences.To support your child during this important time, consider the following tips:

1. Rest Well: Ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep leading up to the assessments. A well-rested mind is more focused and alert.
2. Healthy Breakfast: Provide a nutritious breakfast on test days to help fuel their bodies and minds for optimal performance.
3. Be Punctual: Arriving at school by 8:55 AM is vital. This allows students to settle in, reduce anxiety, and be fully prepared to do their best.

By fostering a supportive environment at home, you can help your child approach NAPLAN with confidence and a positive mindset.

Attendance

Regular school attendance is crucial for your child’s academic success and social development. The NSW Department of Education emphasises that "Every Minute Counts" because even small amounts of lost time can accumulate and significantly impact learning outcomes. Arriving late to school can disrupt your child’s routine, lead to missed learning opportunities, and affect their overall educational experience. To ensure your child is at school on time and ready to learn, consider implementing these proactive strategies:

1. Pack Bags the Night Before: Encourage your child to prepare their school bag the evening before. This reduces morning stress and helps ensure nothing is forgotten in the rush.
2. Lay Out Uniforms: Have your child’s school uniform ready the night before to streamline the morning routine.
3. Set Consistent Bedtimes: Establish a regular bedtime to ensure your child gets enough rest. A well-rested child is more alert and ready to engage in their learning activities.
4. Create a Morning Checklist: Develop a simple checklist for the morning routine to help your child stay on track and feel accomplished as they complete each task.

Remember, lateness can add up to hours of lost learning over time, affecting both your child’s academic progress and their sense of connection with their peers and teachers. By fostering strong attendance habits, you are setting your child up for success both now and in the future.

School Mural + Harmony Day

We are thrilled to share that we have commenced an inspiring project to enhance our school community with a series of vibrant murals along the temporary fence of our construction site. Our first mural, will be created in celebration of Harmony Week 2025 and embodies the theme "Harmony – We All Have a Role to Play." Harmony Day, is celebrated on March 21 every year and is a significant occasion that promotes inclusivity, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. This mural stands as a testament to our shared values and the importance of unity in our diverse community. Every student and staff member will play a vital role in bringing this artwork to life over the next week, contributing their creativity and perspectives to create a piece that truly reflects who we are as a school.We can't wait to unveil this beautiful mural and celebrate the spirit of Harmony Day with you. With that in mind, I'd like to take the opportunity to  warmly invite all parents and carers to the unveiling of Part 1 of our school mural, 'Harmony' on Friday 21 March at 9:30am on our school basketball court.

Kind Regards

Dan Hall
Deputy Principal

Messages from Karosha Reddy, Deputy Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

Each passing week brings a growing sense of joy and pride as we witness the incredible progress our students have made over the past seven weeks of Term 1. Every week brings new achievements, big and small, and we couldn’t be prouder of their progress.

It’s especially wonderful to see our Kindergarten students settling in so well, growing in confidence, and developing a strong sense of belonging in their new learning environment. Their enthusiasm, curiosity, and smiles remind us just how special these early learning moments are. A huge thank you to our families and staff for the support and encouragement that makes this progress possible. The partnership between home and school is what helps our students thrive, and we are so grateful to be on this journey together.

Ready for the learning day

We recognise and appreciate the effort of our parents and carers in supporting school routines by ensuring children arrive before 9am and having parents and carers leave school, when the music signals the start of learning.

Arriving by 8:45am provides students with valuable time to connect with friends, build social confidence, and prepare for the day ahead. This calm, unhurried start makes a significant difference to their focus and wellbeing, setting them up for a successful day of learning.

Your support in helping establish these positive routines is truly valued and plays an important role in a child's overall success.

Leading EAL/D Education

This week, I had the privilege of attending the Leading EAL/D Education workshop at the NSW Department of Education office in Parramatta with Mrs Del Rizzo, Miss Nam, Miss Yeung, Mrs Russell, and Miss Issa.

Last year, our EAL/D team submitted an expression of interest for our school to be part of an Action Research Project, which encourages school teams to reflect on and improve teaching practices to enhance student outcomes in different learning areas. Our school focus will be Science. The workshop focused on research-based strategies to support students who speak a language other than English, empowering them to engage confidently across all areas of the curriculum. At Wentworth Point Public School, over 87% of students speak a language other than English.

As part of the Leading EAL/D Education project, we are excited to build on our professional capacity to ensure all our students have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential. At the end of Term 3, we’ll share the progress we’ve made and the impact of this work at a special showcase with all schools involved in the Leading EAL/D Education project. And we are equally excited to share our learning journey, with our whole school community as well. Stay tuned!

Lost Property

A quick reminder to all parents and caregivers: please ensure that all personal items – including clothing, hats, lunchboxes, and drink bottles – are clearly labelled with your child’s name. This simple step helps us return lost items quickly and prevents items from piling up in the lost property boxes.

Lost property can be found in the boxes located at the COLA, just in front of the main learning block. We encourage you to remind your child to check these boxes if they have misplaced anything, as this also helps develop personal responsibility and the habit of looking after their belongings. Together, we can ensure that lost items are swiftly returned to their rightful owners.

Kind Regards

Karosha Reddy
Deputy Principal

The Hounds Measure Up!

The Rabbits Learn Their Sounds!

Since starting Kindergarten, the Rabbits have been learning their SATPIN letter and sounds. They have been practicing hard every morning and have engaged in different interactive activities. The Rabbits have also been learning how to form letters correctly and are proud to show off their skills.  

Chimpanzees Can Measure

The Dingoes Dig Deep for Knowledge.

What an exciting start to the year! Time is flying by, and we’re already in Week 7. Each morning, the Dingoes dive into their Daily Review, where they revisit key concepts and showcase their growing understanding. Recently, they’ve been exploring different types of sentences, practicing them in their writing, and seeing how they can bring more variety and flair to their work. During partner reading sessions, students are not only improving their fluency but also becoming great listeners, offering valuable feedback to one another.  

Hydras Love Reading

Stage 2 STEM Club