Wangaratta Primary School

On Monday the grade 5/6’s had a visit from the Koori Education Development Officer named Rosie
Schultz .

She taught us about traditional koori weapons and tools. She called someone to come up and they would
choose an item on the floor and they would say what they thought that item was and what it was used for.
Some of the items were the nulla nulla, carrying and eating trays, a shield which was used to protect them
from their enemies’ weapons such as a spear, and other types of weapons. Other items included boomerangs, stone axes and a grinding stone.

She told us that you don’t have to be black to be a koori. She also told us that some of her relatives were part of the stolen generation.

By Riley and Jaidyn

Amelia & Carla have been working with children around issues pertaining to bullying, peer group pressure, being assertive and being a proactive bystander.

These are important life skills that build resilience in your child.

The most effective schools that deal with bullying involve the education of children, teachers and parents.

Thank you to those parents who attended the session last week. I am sure you will agree with me the information was invaluable in supporting your child to be more resilient.

Presentations will be made at assembly and in the newsletter.

To maintain a zero tolerance to bullying at Wangaratta Primary School, we need home and school to work together, so we share a common understanding of how we behave towards one another. A great start to the year to ensure we maintain a safe environment for everyone.

Anne Fahey

A warm welcome is extended to all members of our school community to what promises to be an exciting and high achieving 2009.

A special welcome to our new families of children in preps and in other year levels. We hope that you will quickly feel part of the Wangaratta Primary School community.

The school has commenced extremely smoothly. The children are eager to learn and full of holiday adventures to share. The Preps have settled incredibly well, proudly wearing their new uniforms and already demonstrating their reading and writing skills!

I would like to wish all our families a safe and happy Christmas and relaxing holidays with family and friends.
Thank you for all your support this year.
We can look forward to beginning our new strategic plan in 2009.
This will be available on our web page in the New Year.
Anne Fahey
Principal

On Wednesday, all of the Grade 3’s,4’s,5’s and 6’s went to the Appin Park Athletics Centre for our athletics day. We arrived early so we could have a whole day of athletics. We were divided into our age groups and gender. Some of the events that we participated in were discus, shotput, 80m sprint, hurdles, 200m, high jump, long jump and triple jump. After all of the events were completed we began our relay races. Throughout the day we were fortunate enough to have some volunteers from Galen College, who helped run a number of events. Some of the students who did really well participated in the Zone Athletics, where they competed against other school’s from the North East (some even making it to Regionals). It was a fun and enjoyable day.

By Nick

This week celebrates literacy and numeracy learning. Like other Victorian schools, we are involving students in games and activities that engages them in literacy and numeracy skills. Each unit—junior, middle and senior have set aside sessions for games as part of the weeks celebrations. The older children are even involved in designing their own fair and equitable games with accompanying rules.

It is amazing what children can learn through games. When playing board games they are not only having fun but learning about cooperation, team work, strategies, problem solving skills and tactics.
A number of educational advocates emphasize the most productive way of learning is through fun and hands on experience, and that game playing provides the perfect tool.

Games help children to think for themselves, wait their turn and hold a conversation with adults. On the other hand, educators are concerned that computer games and television can discourage children from activities that better stimulate their imagination.

Below is a list of ideas to help you bring many benefits of game playing to your family.

• Dust off the old favorites such as Draughts, Checkers, Connect 4, card games, etc. These are not only terrific fun but stimulating, challenging and involve concentration.
• Choose a convenient family time slot to sit down together and play a few games.
• Start with games that are suited to the youngest age group present. Make sure everyone understands the rules and aims of the game and give everyone the benefit of examples of good moves.
• Explain that to enjoy games we all have to play by the rules, respect our partners and respect the outcomes of the game regardless of winning or losing.
• Show interest and enthusiasm, giving it concentration and effort both for your own enjoyment and as a role model for children. Rather than playing ineffectively to let your child win, instead help the child learn to play from your playing skills. Discuss the strategies you are using.
• At the end summarize by asking “What did you learn from that game?” “What would you do differently next time?”
• Keep the game time fresh by bringing in new games. Surprise everyone by giving the family a new game present every few weeks.

We hope you enjoy and learn from having “Game Time” in your family!

On Friday 15th of August Wangaratta Primary’s J-Rock team got up really early to meet the bus at 6:45am. After we all found a seat on the bus and got on the road we all got our J-Rock t-shirts. Later we watched Monsters Inc. When we got to the Hisense Arena we all lined up in our order and went inside. Inside we learnt all the rules and where all the exits were. Then we found our dressing room and ate morning tea. It was now time for the first meeting. At the meeting we all found out when we were performing and what time we had our dress rehearsals. After the meeting some of us started to get our hair and make up done. By then it was time for lunch.

After lunch some of us went outside and played, Mrs. Sessions looked after us. Then we went back and most of us had our make up done. Emily’s hair looked like an animal on her shoulder. Next we got our “Be Healthy Get Active” passport. We struggled to choose what fruit or veggie background we wanted. Our choices were bananas, oranges, strawberries, carrots, apples and corn. After you chose your food you would line up for your photo to be taken. When you had your photo you would go back and get costumes on in the dressing room. When we had our costumes on we ate dinner. We had some nibbleys and rolls.

After dinner we were all ready for our performance. We watched some performances by other schools on the T.V. Then a person came to get us. We waited in a tunnel for the other school to finish. We walked to the wings of the stage. Annie then said her speech and we started to dance. First it was the Solider ants, followed by the Fire ants, the Bull ants, the Honey ants, the Queen ants and then every one went back on stage and did the final dance. After our performance James, Annie, Nick, Hayley and Bethany went to answer some questions from the host. After that we had our photos taken and most of us got changed. We then went to watch the last of the performances. Then it was time for Nick, Hayley, Ruby, Annie, James and Bethany to accept the awards. We all met in the foyer to get picked up by friends or family or return to the bus. Most of us got home at about quarter past 1. It was a great experience and we would like to thank everyone that helped with J-Rock.

By Bethany, Emily and  Jessica

Wally Cooper attended After School Care on Curriculum Day. Wally went around the school with the children and collected branches, leaves and gum nuts which were stuck onto calico to make a mural.
Wally showed us some indigenous artifacts which are used in hunting and living in the bush. All the children had a great time.
By Olivia

Note: If anyone wants to get in touch with Wally to visit their school or organisation, he can be contacted on: 0488 034 380

On Thursday the 26th of June there was a disco in the music room to raise money for J Rock. In the Prep/1/2s the best dressed were Freya and Aiden. “5c Refund” played at the 3/4 and 5/6 discos.

We would like to say a big thank you to the teachers for giving up their own time to supervise. We’d also like to thank Tim and his brother for doing the music and the light display on the wall, “5c Refund”for playing and Eagle Boys for providing free pizza for the SRC and “5c Refund”. We raised $120 for J Rock.

We hope everyone enjoyed it. We all know the teachers did, ESPECIALLY ANNA!

By Kristy 5/6L