4 July 2025

Update from Principal

Dear Families

As we come to the end of a busy and rewarding Term 2, I’d like to thank all our families for your continued support and engagement with our school community. This term has been filled with highlights, including our Semester One reports, Faction Cross Country, Interschool Winter Carnival, NAIDOC Week celebrations, and our Indigenous WA Tours Incursion– all wonderful opportunities for learning, connection, and pride in culture. I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our staff for their ongoing dedication and care. Their commitment to creating engaging, supportive, and inclusive learning environments for every student is deeply appreciated.

Your child’s Semester One report was sent out on Wednesday, I encourage families to take some time over the break to sit down with your child and go through their report together. Celebrate their efforts and achievements, talk about their goals, and acknowledge the growth they’ve made throughout the first half of the year. Please remember to download the copy of your child’s report and save it to your device as the link expires after 4 weeks.

We have a few staffing updates:

• We are saying goodbye for now to Ms Justine Watson (Room 10 Year 2) who is heading off on a six-month sea change to take up a contract in Tom Price. We thank her for her contributions and wish her all the best for this exciting new adventure. We look forward to welcoming her back in 2026. In the meantime, we will be welcoming Miss Mia McDonald who be joining Room 10 next term.
• Ms Samantha Cummins, who has been teaching in Room 13 on Fridays, has secured full-time work elsewhere. From Term 3, we welcome Miss Sarah Dickson, who recently completed her final teaching practice at our school in Room 8 into Room 13.
• We also farewell Ms Roslyn Cresswell, who has been working on Fridays in Room 3, and thank her for her time and support. We will be welcoming Miss Ella Gaunt, who recently completed her final teaching practice in Room 12, into Room 3 on a Friday.
• Mrs Bree O’Dea will be taking Long Service Leave in Term 3. While she is away, Mrs Leah Balding will be changing her days and teaching in Room 4 from Monday to Wednesday, and we warmly welcome Ms Caroline Thorp, who will take the class on Thursdays and Fridays.

We extend our sincere thanks to all these educators for their hard work and dedication to our school.  

Term 3 is shaping up to be just as eventful, with the Athletics Carnival, Book Week, and Interschool Athletics all to come.

Wishing all students and families a safe, happy, and relaxing school holiday. We look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday 22 July.

Warm regards

Denise Jeffs

NAIDOC Assembly

Voluntary Contributions

As we continue to provide the best possible learning experiences for our students, we would like to take a moment to acknowledge the importance of voluntary contributions. I’m often asked what voluntary contributions are used for, and if they are voluntary, why schools request them. This is a valid question and one that has also been discussed at our School Board level.

Voluntary contributions in schools are used to enhance educational resources and programs by supplementing the funding that the school receives from the government. These contributions help schools provide a wider range of learning materials and experiences for students. In essence, voluntary contributions allow schools to go beyond the basic funding they receive and provide a richer and more comprehensive learning environment for all students.

While these contributions are not compulsory, they play a vital role in helping us enrich our educational programs and provide additional resources that go beyond the basics funded by the Department. Your support helps us subsidise excursions, camps, and incursions to make them more affordable for families, as well as purchase extra books, learning materials, and classroom resources. It also supports access to learning technologies and extra-curricular opportunities—ensuring our students benefit from a well-rounded and engaging education.

Deputy News

Week 10, Term 2 2025

Book Week – Week 5, Term 3 Saturday 16th August – Saturday 23rd August 2025

Book an Adventure

Since 1945, the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) has brought children and books together across Australia through Children's Book Week®. During this time schools and public libraries spend one glorious week celebrating books and Australian children's authors and illustrators. Book Week is Week 5 in Term Three. A range of different Book Week activities will happen in classrooms across the school, including a Book Week Dress Up Day on Wednesday 20^th August at 8.50am.  All staff, students and parents are invited to dress up in their favourite book character that has inspired them. Staff will promote the theme and Book Week in their classrooms, and we will send reminders next term.  Please do not feel like you need to spend money on any costume but if you do, also consider Op Shops and borrowing costumes as well. 😊

Book Week Incursion

Newborough Primary School has also organised a Book Week Incursion for Tuesday 19^th August for PP-Year 6 titled ‘Treasure Hunt’ by an educational performance company Perform Education. The cost per child will be $9.50 each and the Incursion Note for this will go home in Week One next term. Thank you for your support on this.

NEW ATTENDANCE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

Automated absentee SMS from the school

For the past month, all absentee SMS messages came from the new SMS contact ‘Newborough’. The system sends parents an automated SMS to their mobile phone when their child is marked absent without an explanation (example below). The message contains a unique hyperlink that is only valid for 48 hours – parents click on to the hyperlink (no log in required), add any attendance notes about their child’s absence, and this comes through to the school’s attendance system. Please ensure your phone is connected to an internet data plan or has WIFI access to use the hyperlink.

If the child is absent again without a prior explanation, parents receive a new one-time hyperlink.

If parents do not use the hyperlink provided, they can notify the school of their child’s absence via the absentee email newborough.ps.absentee@education.wa.edu.au .

Advising the school of your child’s absence – changes from July 7, 2025

Parents were still able, however, to continue to use the old NPS absentee SMS number to advise the school of their child’s absence and/or future absence, as well as the absentee email address newborough.ps.absentee@education.wa.edu.au .

As of July 7, 2025 this old absentee SMS number will no longer be operational, which means that the school will not receive any messages sent to this old number. We strongly suggest that parents delete the old absentee SMS number to avoid confusion – it can no longer be used to communicate with the school.

From July 7, 2025 parents will need to email the school on newborough.ps.absentee@education.wa.edu.au or phone the school, if their child is going to be absent, either on the day or for a future absence. There is no longer an absentee SMS available. Please ensure the absentee email is used as this is received by the attendance team for data input -  you are also welcome to copy your child’s teacher on the email.

If you have any other queries regarding attendance SMS communication, please contact the school on 9278 0450 or email newborough.ps.absentee@education.wa.edu.au .

P&C News

Save the Date - P&C Quiz Night - 16 August 6:00pm 

Scarborough Sportsman's Club - upstairs 

Tables of 6-8 people 

Tickets $20 + booking fee

Tickets available now:  https://www.trybooking.com/DDDEX 

Containers for Change

Canteen Operations – Term 3 Update 

During our recent P&C Meeting, the school leadership team and P&C members reached a consensus regarding the ongoing operation of our school canteen.  

Unfortunately, volunteer sign-ups continue to remain lower than what is needed to maintain our current level of service. To ensure the canteen can continue to operate without reducing the number of service days, it has been decided that drinks and jelly cups will be removed from the regular canteen menu, commencing Term 3. 

This change is intended to significantly reduce the time required to pack and distribute lunches and to minimise potential errors. With this adjustment, we will be able to continue running the canteen with just one volunteer per shift, making filling the roster more manageable. 

Please note that “Meal Deal” days will still be offered, and on these occasions, one type or flavour of drink may be included as part of the special offer. 

Positively, this revised menu brings us into closer alignment with the Department of Education’s Healthy Food and Drink policy, further supporting the wellbeing of our students. 

We appreciate your understanding and continued support. Please consider filling the remaining gaps on the Term 3 canteen roster via https://volunteersignup.org/E4MMX .  

Given this new arrangement, it is important that volunteers notify the roster coordinator at canteen@newboroughpc.org.au as soon as possible if they are unable to attend their shift, as there will no longer be additional helpers on standby.

Canteen

Please find below the instructions for how to create an account through Flexischools. 

You will be able to order from Flexischool every Tuesday and Friday. Orders will close by 8am each canteen morning. 

The Canteen will continue to run in Term 2 using Canteen Kings food delivery service. The volunteer roster for sorting the lunches into class baskets needs to be filled for the term (12:20PM-12:50PM each Tuesday and Friday) to ensure the canteen continues to run smoothly. Please do your part by signing up for a 30 minute shift via this link:

Thanks!
Georgia
Newborough P&C Secretary 

Uniform Shop News

This is the offsite uniform shop.

School Directory

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

SOCCERPLAY

CHURCHLANDS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL