Principal's Report


Aladdin Success

Aladdin Success

What a joy it was to be at Williamstown Town Hall last Thursday evening to watch 9 classes from our middle and senior school perform Aladdin on stage! Not one student hesitated to seize this opportunity, and for those who were present, it was certainly a privilege to watch them all shine on stage. When we consider that about two thirds of these students had never performed on stage at a venue previously, it was indeed a very impressive performance.

The level of detailed planning that went into the performance was instantly obvious; as guests stepped into the Town Hall foyer they were greeted with the rich splendours of Arabia and were able to download the program for the evening from the QR codes on display. As the curtains opened, everyone was immediately treated to the spectacle of the costuming, which could only be described as sublime. The props and background projections added further grandeur, transporting everyone to the vibrancy of Agrabah. And finally, there were the performances of the students! The months of rehearsing were clearly evident in their execution & precision, but more importantly, their excitement and joy in performing, was palpable.

Last Thursday’s performance was the school’s first steps back into the Performing Arts arena since 2019. It’s so exciting to be returning to these proud traditions of our wonderful school. On behalf of everyone who was present last Thursday evening, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate Michelle Barnes (Performing Arts Teacher) for being the driving force behind this production. The bar has certainly been set very high as we now eagerly anticipate returning to Agrabah again in November for our Semester 2 middle and senior classes.

Michelle was so enthusiastically supported by so many Willy North staff and parents; for those who were able to lend a hand in some way towards this production, we deeply thank you for your support over the last several months. At the risk of missing some names. we would however like to take this opportunity to express some individual thanks to the following people:

Aladdin Background

Acknowledgements

Production Manager, Director & Choreographer: Michell Barnes

Ticketing: Jim Cahill, Dean Pearce, Rachael Burgess

Costumes: Julie Papazisis, Finnia Gray, Judith Coleman, Felicity Hanrahan, Gael Howard, Sara Zanoni, Jan Reed, Nicola Chambers, Prue Florentine, Helen Dixon, Stacey Demery, Catherine Brennan, Melissa Herrmann, Kathryn Samyue, Ros Lawrence

Rehearsals: Michelle Barnes, Georgina Petty, Kylie Missen, Catherine Graham, Giorgia Moss, Anna Boulton, Stacy Szalay

Props/Set: Arlene Lawrence, Jamie Peters, Dale Evans, Bill Manoleras, Melanie Kennie, Simon Radford, Alice Walter, Crissy Samaras, Colette John, Helen Bugeja, Corey Bugeja, Sean Thompson, Alice Arablou

Hair & Makeup: Tahlia Giles, Stephanie Veljanoski

Program: Dale Evans, Luna Liu

Front of House: Helen Atkins

Photographer: Abeer Sadiq

Technical Director: Grant Simonds

Thanks also to: Tinh Nguyen, Bethany Johnstone, Stella Stamatakis, Bronwyn Murray, Belinda Gill, Tracy Carroll, Dianna Lane, Vicki Symons, Amy Brown, Narelle Rabbidge, Ruth Reed, Nadia Kettle, Dianne DiBlasi, Stephanie Veneziano, Kristy Bowles, Melissa Lindsay, Jackie Cooper, Simone Speakman, Van Pham, Marcus Cassidy-Anderson, Garth Sheridan

Thank you to all of the teachers of classes involved. Thank you to all staff, students and parents who have helped in any way to make this production possible.



Welcome Matt Naudi – Acting Principal

As a result of an Expression of Interest process through Department of Education’s Regional Office, I’m delighted to confirm that Matt Naudi has been successfully appointed to the school for next term as Acting Principal.

This year, Matt has been the Acting Principal at Point Cook P-9 College, with prior to this being the Acting Principal at Tarneit P-9 College, both very large schools.

Matt brings a range of experience from both here in Victoria and overseas in the UK.

He is very much looking forward to meeting and working alongside our students, staff, parents/carers and community, to build purposeful and positive relationships to impact on student outcomes.

As part of the transition process for the school, Matt is visiting Willy North today to meet with Wendy and myself and to be introduced to our staff. I know you will also be eager to extend a warm Willy North welcome to Matt when he officially starts on Monday 11th July.

Student Reports & P/T/S Conferences

If all goes according to plan, mid-year student reports will be available to access on Compass from 4pm next Thursday 23rd June. A newsfeed will be issued to confirm this availability . For Years 1 – 5, a proficiency scale will accompany this report to provide further curriculum depth about each child’s achievements. (Foundation and Year 6 proficiency scales will be distributed early next term.) We sincerely hope that these reports provide a clear and succinct summary of each child’s achievements during the first two terms of face to face learning this year.

In addition to the mid-year student reports, you will have the opportunity to book a P/T/S Conference for your child/ren next term.

Years 3 – 6 P/T/S Conferences are scheduled for Monday 18th July

Years F-2 P/T/S Conferences are scheduled for Wednesday 20th July

Guidelines for booking your P/T/S Conference/s will be distributed on Monday 11th July via Compass. Please mark these dates in your calendar to support your future planning for next term. We are pleased to confirm that these Conferences will be conducted face to face at school.

Please note that P/T/S Conferences for students in 4S will be held next Wednesday 22nd June, as Vicki Symons will be on long service leave next term. We are delighted to confirm that Lisa Caulfield has been engaged to replace Vicki for Term 3. This will be a very seamless transition for students in 4S as Lisa has worked at Willy North for many years and knows many of our students.

Alternative arrangements for P/T/S Conferences for FB (Tania Brown) & 6K (Patrick Kelly) will also be facilitated, as both of these teachers will be on leave early next term. Separate newsfeeds will be issued to these classes when next term resumes.

End of Term Arrangements

The last day of Term 2 is Friday 24th July.

Please be aware that students will be dismissed earlier than usual, at 2:30pm.

There will be a short assembly at 2:15pm in the Gymnasium to finish off the term. Students will be dismissed directly from the gymnasium.

School will resume on Monday 11th July for the start of Term 3.

Enjoy the rest of the week. Jim Cahill - Principal

Victorian Premier's Reading Challenge

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge

The Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge is open and Williamstown North Primary School is excited to be participating. The PRC application offers a range of exciting features including:

· access to a library catalogue (including book images and blurbs),

· a modern user-friendly interface,

· rewarding students with badges as challenge milestones are achieved,

· the option for students to mark books as a favourite, give them a star rating or complete a book review.

The Challenge is open to all Victorian children from birth to Year 10 in recognition of the importance of reading for literacy development. It is a personal challenge for children to read a set number of books by 2nd September 2022.

Children from Foundation to Year 2 are encouraged to read or ‘experience’ 30 books with their parents and teachers – with 20 from the list. Children from Year 3 to Year 6 are challenged to read 15 books – with 10 from the list.

All children who meet the Challenge will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the Victorian Premier and former Premiers.

All students have been given a unique username and passcode.

To log on to the Premier’s reading challenge:

· Click on this URL: https://vprc.eduweb.vic.gov.au/home

· Click on the VRPC login.

· Fill out your child’s log in details

· Log any books that your child reads.

JSC Term 2 Fundraiser Event

On Friday the 17th June we are having a whole school fundraiser organized by the 2022 JSC reps, entitled Kooky Coat Day!

Kooky coat day is an event where you decorate your coat in a fun, crazy or Kooky way.

We recommend using things like streamers, pom-poms and ribbons to make your coat look authentic and festive.

It is also a full free dress day!

Keep in mind that this wonderful day is happening on a Friday, which is an inter school sports day. Therefore, any students in Year 5 and 6 should wear clothing appropriate for playing sports.

This time around, we aren’t looking for your gold coins!

We are on the lookout for any unwanted Coats, Jackets, Beanies, Scarves, Gloves etc.

We are also after long life milk, penne pasta, Asian Vegetarian sauces (soy sauce, ketchup etc).

Items are to be dropped off to the large box outside the front of the library, any time during Week 7 and Week 8 (30th May-17th June.).

Everything bought in will be donated to a worthy charity called “Reaching out in the inner west of Melbourne.”

They are an amazing charity group, who donate many things to those living on the streets of Melbourne. They help all kinds of people. You can find out more about them on their Facebook page or by Googling them.

This recent bout of freezing weather is a great reminder to us all, how much a warm coat means to the homeless. So please have a hunt through your wardrobes or anywhere else at home where you think you may be able to find some warm winter items to donate in both adult and child sizes.

We can't wait to see you in your ‘Kooky Coats’ on Friday 17th June!

Glowing Hearts Yoga

Creates a calmer, happier, more cooperative classroom! Calm minds, Glowing hearts!

Youth Sport Program

Youth Sport Program