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Dear Parents
A reminder: Tomorrow is a school development day so children do not come to school. We will see everyone on Tuesday 3 March. (Monday is a public holiday.)
Open Night and student update forms
The school will be open next Tuesday 3rd March for the annual Open Night. There will be a sausage sizzle and drinks for sale from 5.00pm. Classes will be open from 6.00pm until 7.00pm. Come to the school for a chat with teachers and see some of your children’s work.
When you visit the classrooms, you will also be given your child’s contact update forms for you to check phone numbers, emergency contacts, your address etc. If everything is correct, sign the back and return it to the teacher. Alternatively, write the changes on the paper and we will update this on the computer.
Everyone who returns the form before Thursday 5th March 2020 goes into a draw for a prize.
Changing the School Development Day in Term 4
The new school development day is now Friday 6 November 2020 which is in Week 4 of Term 4. It is not Monday 2 November 2020 as previously advised. Children do not come to school on 6 November 2020.
The date has been changed to allow teachers from Years 3-6 to attend “Sounds-Write” professional learning. The program is currently being used in the K-Year 2 classes and it is important that we extend it into the middle and upper years of the school. “Sounds-Write” is a phonics program that helps children learn to spell, read and write.
Faction Athletics and Interschool Athletics
The annual Faction Athletics Carnival is getting closer. Please mark these dates in your diary:
| Monday 16th March | Long Jump |
| Tuesday 17th March | Throws |
| Wednesday 18th March | Tuge of War |
| Friday 20th March | Faction Carnival |
We are planning to have all of the events at the school and a program will be sent out prior to the carnival. If you have not purchased a faction t-shirt, now is the time to get that organised. On the day of the carnival children need to bring their own recess and can order their lunch at the canteen.
The Interschool athletics is taking place on Wednesday 1stApril for the long jump and Friday 3 April for the running and team games. We are competing against Beaumaris and Currambine primary schools. The carnival is for Year 3 to 6 children only. Information about who is in the team will be sent home in the coming weeks.
Clean Up Schools Day
We are participating in the Clean Up Schools Day on Friday 6thMarch 2020. In the afternoon, everyone will come out of their classrooms and take some time for a cleaning blitz in a section of the school. There is a poster competition and classes are talking about how to keep the environment clean. The children are going to discuss the kinds of rubbish they have found in the school and how we can reduce and recycle our waste. Once we are finished, everyone will enjoy an icy pole.
Parking around the school
Some things to remember:
- Follow the rules for Kiss and Drive. You need to stay in your car and be prepared to drive around the block if your children are not at the gate. Information has been included with the newsletter.
- Don’t park across any driveways as the local residents need to have access to their houses.
- Don’t block access to the bins.
- Make sure you do not block the view of other drivers. Drivers should be able to check for oncoming traffic so that they can drive out.
- Watch out for children. Children are unpredictable and can easily run out between the cars.
- Once your children are in the car, leave the area so that next family can have your parking area. Do not stay at the school.
Be aware that enforcing the parking rules is not a school responsibility and any fines will come from the City of Joondalup. If the ranger comes and checks parking they are able to issue on the spot fines.
As a school we have had and are continuing to have conversations with the Department of Education and Department of Finance to find a longer term solution.
Class news
Last Tuesday the children from Mrs Tucker and Mrs Lahti’s classes went to Native Animal Rescue Centre.
Zane, Caden and Eshaal recounted the experienced to me:
“Yesterday we saw a baby possum which was so cute. They are going to release it when it gets bigger. We touched a snake and it was soft and smooth. We weren’t allowed to touch the snake too close to its head. We saw lots of owls. We learnt that if a baby bird falls out of the nest we should pick it up with gloves and put it back in the nest, if it doesn’t have feathers.”
Student Behaviour
Be Respectful Be Responsible Be Safe
This fortnight’s focus is on play areas.
Being respectful means we are polite and well-mannered, include others in games, respect property and take pride in our school grounds.
Being responsible means we report unsafe behaviour, help others when needed, move promptly to class when the siren goes, and resolve conflict with our words.
Being safe means we keep our hands and feet to ourselves, we talk to an adult about ‘big concerns’, and look out for others.
If you notice any suspicious activity on School Grounds, please contact Security on 9264 4771 or the Police on 131 444.
Ollie is a dedicated student who is the perfect role model for all of his peers. He is a conscientious student who follows all school rules, models exemplary behaviour and cares for all. He always uses whole body listening, takes on all advice and works hard to complete tasks. Ollie enjoys a challenge and will persevere until he reaches his goal. You are an absolute star Ollie!
Merit Award Winners
27th February 2020
Term Dates 2020
| Start Date | End Date | |
| Term One | Monday 3rd February | Thursday 9th April |
| Term Two | Tuesday 28th April | Friday 3rd July |
| Term Three | Monday 20th July | Friday 25th September |
| Term Four | Monday 12th October | Thursday 17th December |
Staff Development Days 2020
| Term One | Friday 28th February |
| Term Two | Friday 29th May |
| Term Three | No School Development Day |
| Term Four | Friday 6th November |
In Music, the Pre-Primary and Year One students have had a lot of fun exploring the percussion instruments as they have looked at the first element of music-beat. They have played through a song called Monkey Drum and each student had to listen and wait for their section in the song to join in.
The Year Two students have continued with their xylophone work. This week, they have started to play the song Star Light Start Bright. They have so far looked at different ostinato patterns, how to play a bordun on the xylophone and worked with two notes.
Along with learning xylophone skills, we have discussed how to be an good ensemble member. The students have learnt different positions- resting, listening and playing- to help them better learn and play the xylophone.
This is Room 18 demonstrating what listening position looks like.
The senior students have been continuing with their ukulele skills. The last two weeks they have been playing a traditional Japanese song, Kaeru No Uta, or the Frog Song, as they have practised different strumming patterns and playing the ukulele in a round.
Room 4 had a special treat in their Music lesson this week. One of our students, Nina, brought in a melodica, which is an instrument similar to an accordion and harmonic. It has a musical keyboard on top and is played by blowing air through the mouthpiece that fits into a hole on the side of the instrument. This instrument is used all over the world and particularly in Japan. Nina performed for us the Frog Song.
The senior students have had fun playing as an ensemble with different instruments as they continue to explore the ukulele.
Miss O'Connor
Music Teacher
Summer
The students in Years 2, 3, 4 & 5 explored soft pastels and then created their own artwork on the theme “Summer”.
Last week we had a boobook owl visit the school. The students in rooms 14, 15, 10 & 11 worked with oil pastels to create colourful owls. They used short lines to create a feathery texture.
Helen Sweet
Art Teacher
Welcome back for 2020. This year is going to be jam packed with lots of activities and events happening during and after school. So stay tuned.
NEWS FLASH
Our Edible Bush Tucker Garden Project - Out of the 538 schools across Australia that received funding for Woolworths Junior Landcare grants, we were amongst the two in WA selected to write case studies about. These will be included on the Junior Landcare website, they will write articles for newsletters, do some social media and Woolworths may want to also look into doing some further communications with these. This has been a tremendous effort from students, parents, staff and Tucker Bush who provided the expertise to our After School Garden Club.
The after School Garden Club commenced in Week 2 and finishes in Week 8. Numbers are limited, so pick up a form from the office and return to your teacher. There are only a few places left. Parents, siblings, grandparents are all very welcome. This club would not be possible without the volunteer time of 4 staff including myself. So a thank you in advance to Stacey Green, Kylie Granville and Rory Critchley who will assist and pass on their knowledge.
This term we will make insect homes, bird feeders, tend to the garden and worms, cook with our produce and have a bee incursion.
Classes will be encouraged to take a more active role in sustainability responsibilities around the school. This includes organic gardening, collecting paper and cardboard for recycling, to tending to the worms and compost systems. This will enable your child to learn about the impact of caring for the environment and promotes thinking about how waste is disposed of and the most sustainable ways to use products/produce. So ask you child what responsibility their class has.
Recycling Programs – Near the front office
Please continue to bring in:
- Batteries
- Dental hygiene packaging including toothbrushes
- Coffee pods (make sure they are DRY)
- Ring pulls from cans of drink (collection point is in the library)
- Plastic bottle tops (leave on the Grow Free Cart)
Remember that our Grow Free Cart is set up near the office.
"How does the cart work?" We have a simple answer: you give what you can, and take what you need. There are no prices, no bartering, no trading, no value, like you would to family and loved ones.
What can I put on the carts?
- Homegrown or homemade produce: fruit, veg, herbs, preserves, eggs, etc
- Preferably grown with organic principles, without toxins. Grown with love is a strict prerequisite!
- Seeds, seedlings, cuttings and rootstock (Please label all, and heirloom seeds are best, as they can be saved from)
- All things gardening, whether it be gardening magazines, planters, worm tea, etc.
- Jars, paper bags and small boxes for seeds or produce.
Happy gardening and recycling,
Sandra & Stacey – Sustainability Coordinators
