2 June 2022

Newsletter Articles

Dates to Remember

Please refer to the side panel “School Calendar” section for the “live” calendar of events for information

Principal’s Introduction

Updates

Classrooms and Learning This is our core business. I am so impressed at how every classroom is focussed on learning and learning work. Every day as I go into classes I see how settled and engaged students and staff are. It is wonderful, especially given the number of absences and distractions that could easily take over. Parents, your support is greatly appreciated. Teachers are busy completing reports at the moment. I encourage parents to come and visit classrooms before school, see children’s work, have a brief chat with teachers or make an appointment if you need deeper discussions.

COVID continues to impact our students and staff with absences and illness hanging around. There seems to be a general spread across the school with an occasional cluster of absences in individual classes. We are very conscious that even when students and staff come back from illness they are struggling with health and recovery. This was very noticeable with year 3 and 5 students who returned during the NAPLAN testing period.

After School Play This is quite a dilemma for me at the moment. I want to open up for after school play as we had previously with a few adjustments to allow improved play opportunities and respect that staff are still working. We will do some work with students about appropriate play and expectations, some workshops for parents around the rules and supervision and develop some simple infographics to help and guide everyone. In the meantime, please make good use of the Nature Playground. This is a fabulous area where all children can play, make a bit more noise and still have access to water fountains and toilets till 3:30pm.

Nature Playground The P&C and staff have provided our architects Four Landscape Studio, with lots of feedback and soon we should have a plan within budget and tailored for the needs of students and community. If all goes well I will authorise this ready to go to tender. I have applied for and I am confident we will be successful for a Queens Jubilee Tree Planting grant of $8 000 for 45 banksia trees, temporary fencing, guards and reticulation that will go around the western and northern fence lines. This will provide a very natural boundary and habitat.

If you haven’t been down to the Vegetable patch lately go and have a look. The Newbro Dads are doing a fabulous job replacing the old beds. We’ve planted two beds as they have become available and there will be more to come.

Containers for Change The Newbie Knights are ready and waiting for your 10 cent containers. Bring them in and place them at the trailer or in the purple bin ready for sorting.

Newbro Dads Report

Newbro Dads
Paper Planes and Pizza Night

Last Friday the Newbro Dads held our inaugural Paper Plane and Pizza Night. Still not sure who had the most fun, the kids or Mum and Dads? We had kids of all ages full of excitement, creating colourful planes that zipped, twirled, crashed and loop-the-looped in every direction. It was high energy stuff at times as kids ran about throwing and fetching their planes.

The Mum and Dads played it cool, helping the kids make planes whilst quietly making their own aeronautical masterpiece… or so they thought. Stepping up to the throw line it was obvious that practice makes progress in plane design and execution. Planes went left, right, crashed, looped or didn’t fly at all, but as the evening ticked along the grand masters started to shine. After crashing into stage lights, the BA Fan and becoming perched in the rafters, the planes began to glide gracefully towards the glory of going ‘coast to coast’ in the undercover area. Well done to those that reached this pinnacle of Paper Plane flying glory, who knows how far your plane might have gone, if not for the wall 17m away.

The paper carnage and noise subsided for a few moments when the pizza arrived and everyone had a few slices. There was heaps to go around and the ‘carb coma’ was short-lived as competition time arrived. With distances mapped out along the floor our fliers stepped up to the line and gave it their best throw.

Eventually we had to pick up lots of planes, a few egos, a bit of pride here and there but it was all good fun.

An honourable mention must be made of Mike who achieved ‘Legend’ status by skilfully landing three planes on the rafters, yes ON the rafters, we were all in awe of this feat, three cheers for Mike!!

Thanks to everyone who contributed, came along, helped out on the night in any small way and made the night super enjoyable.

The Newbro Dads

Makaru -Six Noongar Seasons Cold and wet time of the year (fertility season) June - July

Makaru sees the coldest and wettest time of the year come into full swing. Traditionally, this was a good time of the year to move back inland from the coast as the winds turned to the west and south bringing the cold weather, rains and occasionally snow on the peaks of the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges.

As the waterways and catchments started to fill, people were able to move about their country with ease and thus their food sources changed from sea, estuarine and lake foods to those of the lands in particular the grazing animals such as the kangaroo. As well as a food source, animals provided people with many other things. For example, 'Yongar' or kangaroos not only provided meat but also 'bookas' (animal skin cloaks that were used as the nights became much cooler). Nothing was left; even the bones and sinews were used in the manufacturing of bookas and for hunting tools such as spears.

Makuru is also a time for a lot of animals to be pairing up in preparation for breeding in the coming season. If you look carefully, you might now see pairs of 'Wardongs' (ravens) flying together. You also notice these pairs not making the usual 'ark ark arrrrrk' that these birds are well known for when flying solo. Upon the lakes and rivers of the South West, you'll also start to see a large influx of the Black Swan or 'Mali' as they too prepare to nest and breed.

Flowers that will start to emerge include the blues and purples of the Blueberry Lilly (Dianella revoluta) and the Purple Flags (Patersonia occidentalis). As the season comes to a close, you should also start to notice the white flowers of the weeping peppermint (Agonis flexuosa) as the blues start to make way for the white and cream flowers of Djilba.

(From the Bureau of Meteorology website)

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
John F Kennedy

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

John Worthy
Principal

2023 KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS

Applications are now open for our 2023 Kindergarten program at Newborough Primary School.

Children born between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019 will be eligible to start Kindy next year and applications should be made before Friday 22 July 2022.

If you have a child or know a neighbour who has a child with a birthday between these dates, please complete an Application for Enrolment before Friday 22 July this year.

To make an application to attend Newborough Primary, a parent applying to enrol a child in a public school should complete an Application for Enrolment and submit it together with the required documents listed.

• Child’s Birth Certificate
• Up-to-date Australian Immunisation History Statement
• Proof of Residential Residence (1 document from list below)
     O City of Stirling Rates
     O Electricity & Gas Account (e.g. Synergy or Alinta Gas - dated within the last 3 months)
     O Signed Rental Agreement – Must show both parties signatures
• If born overseas - Visa Documentation for Child and Parent (if applicable)
• Family Court Orders (if applicable)

Application forms can be downloaded from our website, or click on this link:

alternately you can collect one from our front office.

Our administration office is open from 8:00am – 3:30pm, Monday to Friday.

TERM DATES

School Directory

Useful School Information

SIREN TIMES

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

Department of Education (Western Australia) policy states that all children from Pre Primary attend school for 5 full days as from the commencement of the school year.

Attendance details are entered electronically twice daily by classroom teachers and the information fed onto a school database. An SMS messaging service endorsed by the Department of Education operates to enable parents to inform the school by text message if their child is going to be absent. The system also automatically sends a message to parents if their child has not arrived at school and no notification has been received. This service assists parents to advise the school of absences and also ensures the safety of children by letting parents know that the child has not arrived at school.

If your child will be absent/sick or late, please contact the School directly either by:

Please include only the student’s name and classroom number, reason for absence and the date in any messages. For Example: “John Doe Room 13 absent 1/2/2021 sick with flu”.

Notes are requested from parents for:

• Any absence from school
• Permission to go on vacation during term time
• Permission to leave the school grounds at any time including lunch time
• Non participation in sport and physical education lessons

LATE ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

Parents/guardians are reminded that students should not arrive at school before 8:20am. When gates open. Teachers open classrooms at 8:30am. There is no play before school.

School commences at 8:40am Sharp. Late arrivals need to go to the front office with their parents to sign in and get a LATE PASS.

SIGNING OUT EARLY

If your child needs to be collected from school during school hours (e.g. attending an appointment or leaving early), can you please email the school at newborough.ps.absentee@education.wa.edu.au and your child’s class teacher ahead of time - at least 24 hours beforehand, where possible. Please include a reason for early pick up and the approximate time you will be here. This will help with coordinating your child to be waiting at the office when you arrive and lessen your wait time

EXCURSIONS AND INCURSIONS

During the year teaching staff plan a range of suitable excursions and incursions to introduce, develop or reinforce learning experiences for their class.

Incursions are an opportunity for the children to experience high standard performances covering a wide range of learning areas. The children are able to see national, and sometimes international, performers including musicians, storytellers, artists and many others at a reasonable cost. Particular attention is given to developing the social skills of the children, as well as their confidence and independence.

Formal written permission is required before any child can be taken on an excursion. Every endeavour is made to space excursions/incursions during the year to avoid costs being too great at any one time. If payment is not received by the due date and a payment plan has not been entered into, students will not participate in that particular excursion/incursion and will join a buddy class on that day.

MONEY COLLECTION

When paying for incursions, excursions or other school activities, please pay via direct deposit into the school bank. Newborough Primary School does not accept cash payments.

Money can be paid by online banking (please include your child’s surname and incursion/excursion name as reference). eg K Smith Edu-dance. Our school bank details are:

BSB: 016 350
Account No: 3408 71304

SCHOOL DIARIES AND LIBRARY BAGS

If your child still needs a school diary and/or green library bag from their booklist they can be purchased from the front office.

Please make payment via direct deposit to the school’s bank account (diaries are $10 and the green library bags are $6.95), including the child’s name and the item in the reference section eg Janet Smith, diary/bag. Once the transaction appears on the next morning’s bank statement, we will deliver the item/s to your child in their classroom.

DEPUTY NEWS

GIFTED AND TALENTED: Primary Extension and Challenge (PEAC)

ASSESSMENT OF YEAR 4 STUDENTS FOR THE PEAC PROGRAM

The PEAC Program provides part time extension and enrichment for exceptionally able students in Years 5 and 6. PEAC offers a range of courses that provide identified students with work that is intellectually challenging.

All students in Year 4 will have the opportunity to be assessed for suitability for the PEAC Program. Testing at Newborough Primary will occur on Monday, 1st August 2022

The scores from the test will be used in the selection of students for PEAC courses and extension programs during 2023 to 2024 and also to inform educational provision in schools.

If you do not wish your child to be included in the PEAC assessment please notify the school in writing by Monday, 25th July 2022.

MUSIC

At last! With restrictions lifted, both the senior and junior choirs have resumed rehearsals:

Years 1-3 Junior Training Choir – Tuesdays 8:00am-8:30am
Years 4-6 Senior Performance Choir – Wednesdays 7:45am-8:30am

Our first performance (junior and senior choirs) will be at the NAIDOC Assembly on Friday, 1 July at 8:50am in the Undercover Area.

Uniform:

• Senior choir members are required to wear their choir shirts (to be handed out at rehearsals in week 10)
• Junior choir members will wear their yellow school shirt (no faction shirts!)
• Students can wear any neat school green shorts, skirts or pants, black or white short socks and clean trainers (not too flash or bright if possible)
• Hair neatly groomed – no big bows or headbands, please!

Please note that attendance is critical at this stage as we have only five rehearsals left to polish our performance.

In week 10 - the last 15 minutes of both Tuesday (8:15am-8:30am) and Wednesday (8:15am-8:30am) will be open for attendance by all choir members (junior and senior choir) in the Undercover Area. This is not compulsory, but it does help us prepare for the performance on the Friday if as many juniors as possible attend the last 15 minutes of the Wednesday rehearsal.

We look forward to entertain you with our rendition of Brolga Dance!

P&C News

Election Day Sizzle

Saturday May 21st was a magical day to get out and about and cast our votes. Perfect weather and an even better sausage sizzle and cake stall at Newborough. The day was a huge success, with the latest figures coming in at a whopping $2800 profit for our School. 

A huge thank you to all the parents who got involved and volunteered their time on the day at the stall, we couldn't have done it without you. We also had a large group of parents baking cakes to contribute to the stall, it was very much appreciated and definitely boosted our profits! Both the cake stall and BBQ went absolutely crazy throughout the day, selling out fast and resulting in a mad dash to Coles for some extra supplies.

As always there were many familiar faces; families past and present, staff, and community members who came to spend some cash and support us. So to everyone that showed up, THANK YOU.

Special mention to Bec Brown for doing all the behind the scenes organising, ordering and securing of gift vouchers. 

To our local businesses who contributed through gift vouchers, cost price supplies and cash donations, we thank you:

• IGA Doubleview
• Coles Karrinyup
• Woolworths Karrinyup
• Sunday Club Coffee

Canteen Position

Canteen Assistant – Casual (Friday weekly)

Are you passionate about nutrition? Do you love working with children? If the answer is yes then read on!

Newborough Primary School (NPS) is committed to delivering educational excellence through a safe, respectful and stimulating environment that inspires our students to unlock and fulfil their learning potential. NPS has 380 students from varied backgrounds and cultures enrolled at the school.

The Newborough Primary School P&C Association are seeking a Canteen Assistant to work side by side with our Canteen Manager, 1 day per week (8.30am - 1.30pm, Friday), during school terms. The right person will also possibly have the option for extra hours on Monday and Wednesday in the future. The role is best suited to a community minded individual who enjoys working with food and children. NPS adopts the WA Schools Canteen Traffic Light System which promotes healthy eating in schools.

The Canteen Assistant will be responsible for:

• Assisting the manager in implementing the Department of Education’s Healthy Food and Drink policy
• Providing pleasant and positive interactions with school students and staff
• Ensuring that all food goods are stored and handled in accordance with correct food and hygiene standards
• Preparing student meal orders as instructed by the canteen manager
• Assisting with the cleaning of equipment and surfaces
• A view to possibly working Monday and Thursday (possibly 3+ hours each day)
• Up skilling to provide absentee coverage of the Canteen Manager

Skills and knowledge
Essential criteria:

• Competent computer skills
• Current Working with Children Check (funded by the P&C, approved and issued prior to commencement)
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination

Desirable criteria:

• Experience working in a school canteen or similar
• Experience preparing food in a commercial kitchen
• Knowledge of the nutritional requirements of school aged students
• Current ASCIA Anaphylaxis training
• First Aid training

Applicants are encouraged to apply with their CV and a brief covering letter, explaining why you would like to work in our school, and what would make you a great addition to our canteen team.

Please send completed applications via e-mail to laurie@atlaspacificgroup.com.au

Applications close Sunday 5th June 2022

Canteen News

The school canteen operates on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for morning recess and lunches

Regards
Amanda
Canteen Manager

Uniform Shop News

Great news! Our polo shirts have arrived and are now available in every size. Outstanding orders have been filled – if you have not yet received your outstanding order, please email newborough.ps@education.wa.edu.au and we will forward your email to the Uniform Shop contact for investigation. Thanks to everyone for their patience while we’ve been waiting for the stock, which was ordered last year!

The Uniform Shop is no longer open on Tuesday mornings – we are currently sourcing an external supplier. In the meantime, all uniform orders can be made online via Quickcliq and will be delivered to your child’s classroom.

Netball

Sonia Johansen
Newborough Netball Club Coordinator

Birthday Cakes/Gifts for Students

A reminder that we are not allowing the sharing of birthday cakes, presents etc. for birthdays or other celebrations due to the COVID restrictions. It remains too risky.

No Dogs on School Grounds

DoE Security

Keep an eagle eye on our school!

School Watch encourages the school community to report any suspicious activity in and around school grounds, after hours and on weekends, as well as during school holidays.

Telephone 1800 177 777 (free call) or 13 14 44 (WA Police).

Please do not approach any individuals, just contact security and they will investigate the situation or contact the Police. Working together will help protect our school.

Community News

Barnes Karate

Target Sports

Bricks4Kids

Our enrolment page is located here: