16 November 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

Nature Playground

A week ago, I was quite excited that our much-anticipated Nature Playground refurbishment contract was awarded and we were to have a start-up meeting and get cracking straight away. Unfortunately, the contractor has advised Programmed, who are overseeing the project, that they are unable to source wood-based material in a timely manner and that out refurbishment is delayed. The traditional Christmas, New Year break for trades has also impacted the timeline. The start-up meeting is now scheduled for early December and works should be completed in early February.

The school will still go ahead with the ‘Queens’ Jubilee Tree Planting’ commemorative event on 9th December without the Nature Playground opening component. This is a requirement of the grant conditions for the Tree Planting. Some of our major special guests will no longer attend, including the Minister for Education, Ms Sue Ellery. We will still have Noongar Elder, Neville Collard as guest speaker, conducting a fabulous Smoking Ceremony and songs, lead by Mrs Snelson. Touch wood, pun intended, our 60 banksias are doing really well and over time will be a wonderful addition to the Nature Playground.

Parking and Vehicle Movement – Wilding Street

Parents and Carers are reminded to only use designated parking bays when parking around the school. It is advisable not to park on the opposite side of the road when picking up or dropping off students. This is a dangerous practice when students are required to cross roads at the busiest times of the day. Whilst it may not contravene traffic and parking laws it puts students at unnecessary risk. It also creates issues with local residents when the verge is used for parking and their access to the road is blocked. A recent incident on Wilding Street highlighted these issues and the dangers and tenseness it causes for all parties.

Wilding Street is a particular hot spot, complicated by residential building and trades people parking in and across bays. We all need to be patient, understanding and think - safety first. Make use of the round-a-bout on the corner of Wilding and Newborough Streets, look for parking on Newborough Street or the Karrinyup Sports Centre. These are good alternatives. The City of Stirling will increase their vigilance on parking and traffic movement around the school. The Deputies and I will also increase our attentiveness and support. Please report any problems as soon as possible to the school or me.

School Board Nominations

Are you looking for a way to be more engaged in your child’s school? Are you looking to make a positive contribution to the direction of school? We are seeking nominations from parents/legal guardians to join the School Board in the role of Parent Representative. There are two vacant parent positions. You’ll join a team including other parent representatives along with the Principal, staff and community representatives that provides advice to assist the School to identify, plan and resource its strategic objectives.

You do not need any prior experience of working on a Board and we encourage diverse membership that is representative of our varied school community. New members of the Board will be offered training and support. You can find detailed information about the School Board on our school website School Board - Newborough Primary School (newboroughps.wa.edu.au) If you are interested please email or supply in writing your expression of interest to John.Worthy@education.wa.edu.au by 3:00pm, Monday 28th November 2022.

If there are more nominees than positions available candidates will be asked to provide a 250-word brief about themselves and what they can bring to the Board. All parents/legal guardians in the school will then have the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate.

For further information please contact John Worthy (Principal) email John.Worthy@education.wa.edu.au , phone 99278 0450 or Callan Rose (Board Chair) on 0410 490 482, email mc.cjrose@gmail.com

COVID Update

As you may have seen in the media there is a new variation of COVID emerging. Case numbers are expected to peak in December. We have had several cases at school with students and staff. Please ensure you follow the sound health practices of staying at home if unwell with any symptoms, washing hands, social distancing and testing if unwell. The school has a large number of RAT kits available should you need any.

It is not a requirement to inform the school if you or any member of your family have COVID. The Health Department should be informed.

Birak

The lifestyle for the Noongar communities during Birak

Birak season sees the rains ease up and the warm weather really start to take hold. The afternoons are cooled by the sea breezes that abound from the southwest. This was the fire season, a time to burn the country in mosaic patterns.

An almost clockwork style of easterly winds in the morning and sea breezes in the afternoon, meant that traditionally this was the burning time of year for Noongar people.

They would burn the country in mosaic patterns for several reasons including fuel reduction, increasing the grazing pastures for some animals, to aid in seed germination for some plants and for ease of mobility across the country.

As for the animals, there are many fledglings now venturing out of nests, though some are still staying close to their parents. Reptiles are looking to shed their old skin for a new one.

With the rising temperatures and the decreasing rainfall, it is also time for the baby frogs to complete their transformation into adulthood.

“Challenges are what makes life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

CHALLENGE YOURSELF

John Worthy
Principal

DEPUTY NEWS

Pre-Primary - Year Five Presentation Morning

Save the date: Tuesday 13th December 8.50am in the Undercover Area

This year, the Pre-Primary to Year 5 Presentation Assembly will be held on Tuesday 13th December at 8.50am in the school’s undercover area. This Presentation Assembly will recognise students, regardless of the Year Level in split grades, who have achieved their classes’ Academic, Citizenship and Endeavour Awards, as well as classroom Fitness Awards and the new 2023 Year 6 Leadership Team.

Academic Award

This award is presented to students who achieve not only excellent results across all learning areas but displays a true virtue of wisdom. These students show a love for learning; they challenge themselves to do better; they show creativity, curiosity, are a critical thinker and respond and act upon feedback. The winners of this award are not always the student who achieves the highest grades consistently in the class. These students earn this award through both their academic achievement and character strengths to pursue academic excellence. If a student is in a split year level class, this award will go to the recipient who displays these qualities regardless of the year level as this is a class award, not a year level award.

Citizenship Award

This award is presented to students for showing excellent civics and citizenship qualities and the virtue of humanity. These students show kindness, teamwork, respect, warmth and are genuine in their approach to everyone. These students show a strength in understanding others and treating others fairly. They set an example in their understanding of what needs to be done and they use their initiative to help others. They show leadership, and modesty, in encouraging and organising others in an unbiased way. The recipients of this award are community minded. If a student is in a split year level class, this award will go to the recipient who displays these qualities regardless of the year level as this is a class award, not a year level award.

Endeavour Award

This award is presented to students that show the strengths that help them persevere, apply consistent effort and set goals to improve. They challenge themselves regularly, face difficulties with a growth mindset, finish what is started, shows valour and bravery and reflects on and talks about their learning and growth. These students want to improve and want to learn, and they work hard to do so. Their academic achievement may be at any level as this award recognises student aptitude over academic grades. If a student is in a split year level class, this award will go to the recipient who displays these qualities regardless of the year level as this is a class award, not a year level award.

If you have any queries in regard to the end of year Pre-Primary to Year 5 awards, please do not hesitate to contact me. Karen.tucknott2@education.wa.edu.au.

Parent/Carers Pick Up and Drop Off Changes

Now that COVID restrictions have lifted we are changing the process to allow Parents/Carers to drop off library bags, hats, lunchboxes etc. to classrooms/students/bags. Parents/Carers sign in at the front office on Passtab (will be given a Visitor sticker to wear), drop the item off to their child’s class, and then sign out from Passtab at the front office.

Parents/Carers continue to advise teachers and the front office via email for pick up for appointments etc. so children can be made ready and on time. Parents/Carers sign the child out at the front office, will be given a ‘Sign Out’ card (to hand to the classroom or specialist teacher so they know the student has been signed out), and then go to the classroom to pick up their child.

The new process will commence at the start of term three. This process will reduce the need for staff to bring children to the office for collection. It will also reduce the number of children waiting in the office corridor.

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
• Nonparticipation 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). e.g. K Smith Edu-dance. Our school bank details are:

BSB: 016 350
Account No: 3408 71304

MUSIC NEWS

The next exciting musical event at Newborough Primary School will be the Instrumental and Choir Concert on Friday morning at 8:40am the 9th of December in the Undercover Area. The morning promises to be a feast of music with performances by the Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Marimba Ensemble, Brass, Clarinet, Flute and Classical Guitar and our Newbeatz Bands performance. We hope to see you all there!

Year One Educate by Nature Incursion

On Wednesday 9th November, the Year One students took part in a very fun and hands-on incursion in our outdoor classroom with the awesome Isaac from Educate By Nature. Students attended the ‘Tinkering Zones’ session down at the open-air classroom, next to the veggie patch. The incursion was designed to connect the students with the natural world through play. The students had the opportunity to use hammers, hand drills, saws and whittling tools to carve, cut, drill, saw and tinker. They all had a fun and exciting time and were able to bring a huge range of wonderful and creative ideas to life. 

The Year One Teachers would like to say a big thank you to Ashleigh, John, Rebecca, Fiona, Bianca, Denise, Charlotte, Gwen and Jocelyn for all volunteering their time to come and help the students. It was a great day!

Gifted and Talented Secondary Entrance Programs

Free Dress Day

Tuesday 6 December
Please bring along a $2 Gold Coin for donation on the day
All proceeds going towards the 2023 Year 6 camp!

P&C News

Save the Dates

• Final P&C Meeting for the year - 30/11/22
• Newbros Big Camp Out - 3/12/22

Laurie McCallum
P&C President

Festive Fundraiser

Great news… Our Festive Fundraiser is back!

This is your chance to stock-up on some delicious wines just in time for the silly season.

This year we’ve chosen Killerby /Ferngrove wines. Firstly, because the wines are great and secondly, they’ve agreed to donate $20 for every 6-pack sold – which is pretty amazing.

Plus, the wines are reduced from $20 per bottle to $12.50 just for us.

So, jump on board and get organised for Christmas. There’s red, white, bubbles & even pink wines available – something for everyone.

Friends, family, neighbours are all welcome to take advantage of the special prices – so feel free to share the link below.

Cheers and thank you for supporting the 2023 Year 6 School Camp.

Booklists 2023 and Beyond

As many of you may know, Newborough Primary School organises students’ booklist/stationery requirements through the Newborough P&C. This is a major fundraiser for the P&C, providing valuable resources to the school.

Processing of orders occurs towards the end of Term 4, with packing and distribution occurring in the two weeks before school starts.

We require helpers for packing in the following time slots please:

• 3 people to help on delivery day – Thursday 19th Jan (11:00 at this stage)
• 8-10 people on packing day – Monday 23rd Jan (9:30 until done)
• 6 people on pickup day – Monday 30th Jan (9:00-11:00)

If you have that time available and are interested, please contact me on 0400 098 303

Jackie.stott@westnet.com.au

Canteen News

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

Volunteers

We are always looking for help Monday / Wednesday / Friday from 9am - 11am and 11am - 1pm. However, any time you can spare is very much appreciated. Please contact me at anmeyer18@gmail.com or come over to the Canteen.

Regards
Amanda
Canteen Manager

Uniform Shop News

The Uniform Shop via Quickcliq and the Newborough P&C has now closed. The P&C will continue to run a second hand shop which will be open on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30 - 3pm - starting week 7.

The school will be outsourcing uniforms and using a uniform supplier in Osborne Park. The transition will (hopefully) take 2-3 weeks and the new service will aim to be up and running for both online sales (with delivery and pickup options) and store purchases before the end of term.

Any questions email: newboroughuniforms@gmail.com

Thank you

Uniform Shop Volunteers

Birthday Cakes/Gifts for Students

A reminder that we are do not allow the sharing of birthday cakes, presents etc. for birthdays or other celebrations.

No Animals (Including 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