13 December 2023

Principal’s Introduction

Goodbyes and Best Wishes

I would like to take this final opportunity for the year to thank parents, students, community members and staff for your excellent efforts over this year. It certainly has been an interesting year commencing with Miss Tucknott as Acting Principal and Mrs Phillips as Deputy Principal.

There are so many people to thank I would like to single out several who have been absolutely wonderful. Miss Karen Tucknott, Mr Nick Stenhouse, Mrs Sharon Singleton, Mrs Laura D’Alonzo-Barkley, Mrs Jo Cockman, Mrs Dominika MacKenzie and Mrs Wendy Clouston who are fantastic people to work with and do a great job around the Administration area. All the teachers and staff have been fantastic. Aren’t we fortunate to have such a wonderful team of teachers and great support crew backing them up. I cannot speak more highly of this brilliant staff group.

A big thank you to Mr Laurie Mccallum and all the P&C team who work so tirelessly for our school running all the many activities that support our children and the school. The P&C ran a most successful Easter Raffle, Quiz Night, and Colour Run as well as the Canteen, Second Hand Uniform Shop, Bookclub and Booklist right at the start of the year. A special shout out and thanks to retiring P&C members Carly Fowkes, Kobe Koerber, Jacqueline Stott and Sonia Johansen for their wonderful contributions over many years.

Sincere thanks to Mr Callan Rose who has led our School Board for a fourth year. This year we were able to undertake training welcoming new Parent member Mrs Corrine Roberts who replaced Mrs Renae Hughes. I am pleased to announce that Mrs Sammy Preston has been elected to the Board replacing Mr Callan Rose commencing in 2024. Callan will assist the new Board Chair when elected and induct and train new members. The Board ensures the school keeps focus on the Business Plan and supports the governance of the school. Next year is a big review year and setting future directions with the development of a new Business Plan.

We sadly say goodbye to several staff who are leaving us at the end of the year. We of course have our four happy retirees Mrs Mandy Farmer, Mrs Pip Murdoch, Ms Deb Kirton and me. We had a fabulous function put on by staff last week acknowledging our service to the Department of Education and the school. We also say thanks and goodbye to deputy principal Mr Nick Stenhouse. Nick who won a promotion to Wilson Primary School as principal, teachers Ms Georgia Bayne and Ms Laura Hicks; Education Assistants Ms Kylie Cooper and Ms Naomi Ball. We will miss them all and wish them all the best in the future.

All the class structures, classroom allocations and student placements have concluded and are under lock and key till we announce these on Booklist Day – Tuesday 30^th January next year. Classes are not announced any earlier given that late changes are possible.

For all those students, staff and families who are not with us next year please take our very best wishes and appreciation for your contributions to the school. You will always be part of the Newborough family. Keep in touch and know you will be warmly welcomed back as a visitor to our school.

I wish everyone a very safe, enjoyable and Merry Christmas, New Year and holiday break.

School Reopens in 2024

Office staff and Administration commence on Thursday 27^th January 2024 at 9:00am and will be closed for the Australia Day Public holiday on Friday 26^th January. Teachers resume on Monday 29^th January. Class lists will be posted on classroom doors on Tuesday 30th January to coincide with Booklist and Second Hand Uniform Shop. These will be open from 9:00 – 11:00am.

Addressing Vaping in Schools

The Minister for Education, Mr Toni Buti MLA has asked all public schools to provide the attached letter addressing vaping in schools. Unfortunately, this issue has become quite big, particularly in secondary schools. At Newborough we have not had any instances of vaping by students. As students move to high school and the possibility older siblings and friends may be influential it is important we remain vigilant and prepared.

“So this is Christmas and what have we done? Another year over and a new one just began.”

John Lennon

CHALLENGE YOURSELF
John Worthy
Principal

Deputy News

On behalf of the staff at Newborough Primary School, John Worthy, Nick Stenhouse and myself, we would like to sincerely thank you all for your support of us all in 2023. It’s certainly been a big year. 😊

We wish you all a very safe and relaxing holiday and hope your family gets to spend some quality time together.

Please note the followining dates:

Booklist pick up from the school library: Monday 29^th January  2024 between 9am-11am (All Booklist enquiries to Sandra Leach at sandrakimber@hotmail.com)

Student class lists announced: Monday 29^th January 2024

Students resume: Wednesday 31^st January 2024. Gates open at 8.20am

Thank you, again. We are very fortunate to be in a supportive school community.

Pre-Primary - Year Five Presentation Morning

Thursday 14th December 1.50pm in the Undercover Area

This year, the Pre-Primary to Year 5 Presentation Assembly will be held on Thursday 14^th December at 1.50pm 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 2024 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 regards to the end of year Pre-Primary to Year 5 awards, please do not hesitate to contact me. Karen.tucknott2@education.wa.edu.au

Chaplaincy News

Happy Holiday Greetings School Community

As 2023 ends, I enjoy reflecting and planning for next year. Reflect on what we have achieved and planning to increase those achievements in 2024. I like to do this professionally and also in my family.

Professional Achievements

• Worked with students to gain skills around managing anxiety.
• Assisted students to navigate challenges with moving between homes.
• Showed students how emotions are shown through physical symptoms, which is individual to each person.
• Supported students through grief around death, separation of parents and lost opportunities.
• Helped show student their strengths and build self-esteem.
• Guided students who were amongst family conflict.
• Mentored students through goals they wanted to meet.
• Explored challenging behaviours, as each behaviour has a need behind it.
• Supported students who received a diagnosis thus creating educational challenges.
• Directed students to work through friendship issues.
• Worked collaboratively with families as a whole when working with students.

Goal for next year

• Discover and work more closely with students who might not be noticed as having challenging times due to being shy or not displaying they need help.

I challenge your family to reflect on your achievements and hard times and to plan how you might do things differently next year, just like I have done in relation to your students.

Happy and safe holidays.

Ms Deb

School Board

We held our 6^th and final meeting of the year last Thursday night (30^th November). As with previous years, it is a shorter meeting which is then followed by dinner. It was lovely to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat with my fellow Board members in a relaxed setting. I am pleased that our incoming interim Principal, Robyn Crump, was able to join us for the meeting and dinner afterwards.

As the school year comes to an end, it is a great opportunity to reflect on the previous 12 months, and to look forward to the coming school year, so there are a few things I’d like to mention:

• Firstly, of course, it was our final Board meeting with our retiring Principal, John Worthy. It has been a pleasure to work alongside John during my tenure on the Board. His dedication, passion and commitment to the education of children, development of staff, and supporting our community, has been evident over his long career. I’d like to thank John for the massive contribution has made to our school, and I wish him all the best.
• I would like to acknowledge Richard Goodwin (community representative) and Bev Thornett (staff representative), both whose terms on the Board have come to an end. I thank both Richard and Bev for their contributions.
• I’d like to welcome Sammy Preston to the Board as the newly elected parent representative. During the week, I have also met with some prospective community representatives and I think that they will make a fantastic addition to our Board in 2024.
• After completing two 3-year terms on the Board, with 5 years as the Board Chair, I have made the decision to not seek a third term. It has been my pleasure and my privilege to work alongside John and the other Board members in supporting our school. Over the years it has been an honour to represent the school and to be invited as a guest to events like the annual ANZAC day ceremony and the re-opening of the Nature Playground. I am committed to supporting our new Principal and Board Chair as they find their feet in their new roles, and ensuring that we continue to build a strong Board that supports the school, its students, staff and community.

In closing, regardless of whether they are ongoing, outgoing, or incoming, I would like to thank all members of the School Board for their time and effort over the past year and the year to come. I hope everyone in our school community enjoys a safe, fun and restful break over the summer.    

All the best,

Callan
NPS Board Chair

Uniform Shop News

Please note the extended opening hours for JFE throughout January to help you get your child/dren’s uniforms ready for the first day back on 31^st January 2024!

School Directory

Community News

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.