3 December 2020

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

School Board Parent Voting

Parent elections to fill the two retiring Board members, Sean Johnston and Callan Rose has concluded. The count and scrutineering was conducted independently by Jonathon Miller, Research Officer, for Hon. Liza Harvey MLA Scarborough in compliance with the ‘Public School Council and Boards Information Package 2020 Version 1’ on Friday 27 November 2020 at 4:30pm.

Forty-eight parents completed voting slips including a number who attended the Kindy Expo. That’s the most voters in the last four elections. Four were deemed ineligible as they did not indicate who they were and therefore could not be checked against eligible parents on the school’s register.

Congratulations Callan and Rebecca. The Board and I look forward to welcoming them at our meeting on December 7th and completing our full contingency with two new Community Board Representatives

Birak

The lifestyle for the Nyoongar 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 Nyoongar 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.

Christmas Presents

A lot is said about the importance of reading books. I encourage every parent to ask Santa to put at least one book in every child’s Christmas stocking. Book vouchers can also be a good idea they require a visit to a book shop and choices can be made. “Reading is Brainfood.”

1072 Containers Not Going To Landfill

Last week after school Newbie Sustainability Knights Ky K and Jai R joined me as we took our new school trailer loaded with refundable drink containers to the Tomra Recycling Centre at 426 Scarborough Beach Road, Osborne Park. The boys and Lily S who unfortunately could not join us have been training up students and staff to identify and bring in the refundable containers. These are checked and sorted each morning before school and placed in the trailer near the canteen. Remember to be eligible for the refund of 10 Cents the container needs a barcode and should say 10 Cents Refund on it. It’s great if you can rinse out the containers before bringing them to school.

On arrival we met two helpers who guided us through the process of putting the containers through the slots onto conveyor belts and away for recycling. The slots look like teller machines. Firstly you scan in the school code and then the fun begins. Each container is sent through the slot and scanned recording 10 cents back into the school’s Sustainability account. If you are good at mathematics you can work out that this trip earned $107.20. That’s a lot of vegetable seedlings, shrubs and trees, garden tools etc. for the Newbie Knights and school.

In one week we have nearly filled the trailer again thanks to all those who have been saving containers at home and several parents who have set up collections at their work places.

Are there any parents, grandparents or community members who might be able to assist by periodically taking the trailer to one of the depots (There are quite a few in suburbs around us) when it fills? Please contact John Worthy John.Worthy@education.wa.edu.au if you can help.

You can also take the containers to a depot yourself and use the school code C10245611 or the barcode pictured to make a donation to the Sustainability program at Newborough PS.

Keep up the great work Newborough!

John Worthy
Principal

TERM DATES

2021

School Directory

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 (freecall) 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.

2021 Voluntary Contributions

Our School Board have approved the Voluntary Contributions and Charges, in line with Department of Education requirements, which will remain at $60 per child for 2021. These were sent home with family representatives last week

While contributions are voluntary, the quality of our teaching/learning programs will be enhanced by your contribution, which is used to supplement expenditure in the following areas.

• Reading Resources
• Mathematics Resources
• Art/Craft
• Technology

Total Contribution $60

The P&C contribution will remain at $30 per child for 2021

You can elect to pay the 2021 voluntary contributions via your booklist if you are ordering your books through the P&C, or pay the school direct via internet banking to our bank account

Newborough Primary School
BSB 016 350 Account number 3408 71304.

If you are paying the school direct, please ensure you use “your child’ surname and 2021” as the reference so we can credit the correct account.

Thank you to all those parents who pay these contributions early in the year, we really appreciate it.

COVID-19 and Sick Students

We are still amid the pandemic response and the risks are ever present, as witnessed by the recent unexpected outbreaks in South Australia. This means we continue to stick strongly to the health recommendations for social distancing, particularly for adults. Here at school, we actively promote washing hands, cleaning with disinfectant, staying home if unwell and sneezing/coughing into the crux of the elbow. Please do NOT send your child/ren to school if they are exhibiting any cold-like symptoms. The restrictions for social distancing of students has been relaxed by the Education Department on advice from the Health Department for schools. We still apply distancing as much as practical in the classroom and playgrounds.

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.

PICKING UP YOUR CHILD DURING THE DAY

If your child needs to be collected from school during school hours (eg. 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 (the day before or in the morning would be great). 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.

Absentees

Just a friendly reminder that if your child will be absent, please contact the School directly either by:

Please include only the student’s name and room number, reason for absence and the date in any messages – the use of apostrophes, a colon or emoji results in the school receiving a blank message, and we are unable to accurately update your child’s record.

For Example: “John Doe Room 13 absent 1/2/2017 sick with flu”.

Thank You
Administration Staff

Deputy News

PEAC Testing

We would like to advise that testing of Year 4 students has now been completed by all schools and test papers have been sent to ACER for marking.

As yet, there is not a date confirmed for the results to be received back at PEAC, but we are hopeful this might happen before the end of Term 4. If so, PEAC will ensure results will be distributed to schools. However, if results are not received by Week 10, PEAC will notify schools of identified students as soon as we return for 2021.

Kindy 2021 Expo

Our Kindy 2021 parents attended a wonderful Kindy Expo at school last week, where they had the opportunity to meet the Kindy teachers and other members of the Newborough community, and have a tour of the classroom. Special thanks to the front office team who worked so hard behind the scenes to make this happen, and the members of our P&C, School Board, Newbros, the School Nurse and Mulberry Tree who made our parents feel so welcome.

MUSIC NEWS

Our Senior Choir participated at the WA Massed Choir sing along on the 19th November. It was a fabulous experience with over 1300 students participating outside Perth Concert Hall. Mia S was selected to perform a solo at this event and did so with great success! Congratulations to all our hard working talented choir members, you were awesome and super professional.

Students from both the junior and the senior choir will be performing their songs at the sing along on the 15th December in the Nature Playground between 5pm-7pm.

All students PP-Year 6 will be entertaining you with a couple of their songs from their classroom musicals as well!

Please note that there is no set performance time as this is an informal event, but choirs will be performing on more than one occasion and need to be prepared to go on stage at any time.

Books for Bubs

Are you having or have had a new baby in 2020?

Newborough Primary School would love to welcome you and your new baby to our school. We would be delighted to present you both with a “Books for Bubs” bag with some gifts for you both.

Please fill in the slip below and return it to the office.

If you would like any information about the Newborough Primary School “Books for Bubs” program please contact me via email Karen.tucknott2@education.wa.edu.au or call into the school office.

P&C News

Canteen News

Pizza Day – Wednesday 16th December

The Canteen will be open until Wednesday 16th December. We have decided to finish the year with a special Pizza day. Please note, the remainder of the lunch menu will not be available. Our usual Pizzas will be available to choose from: Margherita, Hawaiian or Supreme.

Term 4 Menu – New Items

Yoghurt Parfait Cup – These are now available for both Recess and Lunch. Made with a choice of vanilla, mixed berry or banana yoghurt, topped with onsite made granola and topped with fruit. (NB. Granola contains Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitas).

Mexican Tortilla Pocket (Monday Special) – Lightly seasoned mince & kidney beans cooked in a tomato based sauce, placed in a warmed tortilla pocket, topped with salad, corn and grated cheese.

Always Baking

Our Banana Bread is very popular and is available for Recess & Lunch (to order and over the counter). Each loaf contains 3 ripe bananas, full of natural flavour and sweetness which means there is less sugar added.

Volunteers – Help!!

A huge thank you to those who have volunteered their time in the Canteen, we couldn’t keep up the pace without your generous support.

We are always in desperate need of help Monday / Wednesday / Friday from 9am - 11am & 11am - 1pm. However any time you can spare (even if it’s not your class year’s turn) is very much appreciated.

If you have any spare time and wish to assist, please register your details at the following link:

Regards

Amanda

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

2021 will see us losing a behind the scenes volunteer so if you are a whizz on the computer and could spare a couple of hours a week next year please let us know at newboroughuniforms@gmail.com. Alternatively, we are always up for more help in the uniform shop on Tuesdays and greatly appreciate your valuable time!

DISCONTINUED STOCK

The following items are being discontinued in our uniform shop as of 2021 – so if any of your child’s favourites are listed below please pop on to the link below to secure yours now at a discounted price, or pop by our Uniform Shop on Tuesday 8:15-8:45am. All items are discounted by $5 and available while stocks last.

• Long Sleeve Polo Shirts Gold
• Long Sleeve Polo Shirts Kindy
• Microfibre Trousers
• Cargo Trousers
• Rugby Knit Shorts

2020 Light Green Kindy Shirts (new) are now available for $5 for any parents sending a little one off to Kindy next year – these are available in store in select sizes only while stocks last.

UNIFORM SHOP CLOSURE

Due to the Presentation Morning on Tuesday 15th December, the uniform shop will be closed - the last open mornings being Tuesday 1st December and 8th December from 8:15-8:45am.

ORDERS

There are plenty of second hand uniforms available in the uniform shop at the moment, all available for under $6 - feel free to check them out on the next Uniform Shop day. For new uniforms, the preferred method of ordering is via QuickCliq (if you know the size) with orders placed by Monday 3pm delivered by that Wednesday to your child’s classroom.

Thank you all for your support during 2020! Every uniform you order through the Uniform Shop helps the P & C support the school in amazing, fun and positive ways that we all cherish as parents!

Schoolzine App

Have all our school’s information accessible at all times – download the FREE Schoolzine app to your mobile device to readily access the latest information in real time.

Newsletter, School Calendar, Term Dates, Dates to Remember – It’s now all at your fingertips!!