24 February 2021

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

Parent Information Night

Thank you to all the parents who were able to attend last week’s Parent Information sessions. For those who were unable to attend please check in with your child’s teacher when you can. Thank you teachers for your excellent organisation and information. I know many classes provided information via class newsletters and online communications as well. Parents are always welcome to informally check in with teachers or make an appointment for more detailed meetings. A great relationship with teachers sets up a great year.

The Parent Information Handbook will be out shortly and available on the website.

Music, Choir and Performing Arts

One of many great pleasures for me as Principal are visits to classes to see how children’s learning and engagement is going and to provide feedback to teachers. I am continually amazed by the quality of teaching and how much our students contribute and gain. I would like to share this with parents and the school community through the newsletter.

To start with let us have a look at our fabulous Music, Choir and Performing Arts classes with Mrs Andria Snelson. Mrs Snelson is a ball of fun and energy who just loves to draw in every child’s talents and abilities through a lively, focussed and fun program.

To start with let us have a look at our fabulous Music, Choir and Performing Arts classes with Mrs Andria Snelson. Mrs Snelson is a ball of fun and energy who just loves to draw in every child’s talents and abilities through a lively, focussed and fun program.

I attended the very first before school Senior Choir for the year last Wednesday. There were 45 enthusiastic Years 4-6 students. Another 9 will join over the next few weeks. Choir members bounced in finding their spot. The Year 6’s being privileged with the stage and all the new Year 4’s at the front. They began by listening to a new song ‘You, Me and the Wide Open Sky’ and then having fun singing it. From here Mrs Snelson dissected the song energetically teaching the intricacies of the words, the music and technical aspects of singing.

This was so impressive as the choir demonstrated prior knowledge and how to put the song together as a team. This is so much more than just singing and practising. You could see just how engaged the choir were. Time flew by as the parts of the song were strung together and expectations shared. It was easy to see why so many children want to be in the choir and give of their time. Most impressive is the number of boys and girls and diversity of students. Choir is huge fun, great learning and teamwork fun. The Senior Choir is one of only two choirs from the Telethon Song last year to be selected to sing at the Crown Theatre on Friday 26th February. What an honour and recognition of the Choir and Mrs Snelson! I also visited the Junior Choir with 65 Year 1-3 students and several Senior Choir helpers. There is such a lovely atmosphere with both choirs and in the classes I visited. Enjoy the photos and little video clip of recorder playing with the Year 4’s.

What do the children say?

‘I like choir because it is a great experience and you can learn a lot.’ Rosie Year 6.

‘I like singing different songs.’Amarnn Year 3

‘I like singing.’ Nadia Year 1

‘I like everything.’ Ellie Year 1

‘We get to perform. Mrs Snelson loves teaching and she gets up really early for choir. She wouldn’t do that if she didn’t like helping us perform.’ Elsie Year 6

“I like loud noise, sometimes.’ Nathan Year 4

‘We do a lot of nice songs.’ Ruby Year 3

‘I like performing in front of the whole school and I like Mrs Snelson.’ Max Year 3

‘I like singing and coming to choir because Mrs Snelson teaches us.’ Aylah Year 2

In the next newsletter I will feature Science with Mrs Metcalf.

Sustainability Update

Now the school has settled, Sustainability Leaders selected and COVID restriction over the first few weeks lifted we can recommence our Sustainability programs. This year our main activity will be to have the whole school involved in Tree Planting around the school. This will take place on Friday 30th July, Term 3 Week 2. We’ve lost a couple of our bigger trees through lightening, old age and the new staff car park. Each class will be allocated an area to plant 4-5 established trees and shrubs. We will partner with the City of Stirling, Scarborough Toyota and Planet Ark.

Our new Sustainability Student Leaders are Sally Johnson and Jed Johnson from Year 6.

Containers for Change

Save up your 10 cent containers and bring them in before school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings before school. Starting Week 5, Tuesday 2nd March. These can be sorted and left at the school trailer located near the Canteen. Remember the containers need to be washed out, lids taken off and must have the 10 Cents Refund printed on the side. The photo shows a sample of refund containers aluminium, card glass and plastic. Unfortunately wine and larger fruit and milk containers are not accepted. These can be recycled in your home yellow topped bins.

If you wish to take containers to one of the depots you can use the school’s code and all funds will go into the school’s Sustainability account. All funds will go to our Sustainability program and this year mostly into trees and shrubs for the school.

Batteries

6 and 9 Volt and button batteries can be left in the lime green bin located near the Administration back door/year 6 corridor entry. These are collected regularly by the City of Stirling and full recycled. Unfortunately, the project cannot accept any 12 volt batteries.

Shortly each family will receive a fridge poster and business card with details for the Containers for Change.

Food Waste and Worm Farm

Mr Freeman and Mrs Saggers year four class are coordinating the collection of food waste from lunch boxes and the Canteen to feed our new worm farm. Worm juice will be sold at assemblies and used on the vegie patch.

Paper Re-Use and Recycling

Mrs Saggers is coordinating the collection of paper and card waste that is sorted for re-use or recycling. Students and staff are encouraged to use both sides of paper and be creative with cardboard boxes and sheets.

Containers for Change Sally Johnson and Jed Johnson Tuesday and Thursday before school

BUNURU – Noongar Season for February/March

Bunuru is the hottest part of the year with little to no rainfall.

People would stay close to the coast and to reliable water sources due to the drying up of water bodies inland.

Fish were trapped and speared. They made up a large part of the diet and fish bones were a good source of calcium.

Many reptiles including Kurda (goannas) lay their eggs at this time and the Kabart (dugite snake) may be active during long hot days.

Turbo and Speedy

Each year I get new goldfish for my treasure chest fish tank in my office. As the older and bigger fish get too big I take them to the retirement pond at home. This year Dylan Mac Siomoin year 3 from Mrs Farmer and Mrs Saggers Room 5 class, named the new fish Turbo (Gold) and Speedy (Red and White) when he saw them zooming around the tank. Over the years this tank has provided many a soothing moment for children needing a little bit of TLC.

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.

Student Update Forms

Student update forms were sent home with your child last week. Please edit these forms, if necessary, and return them to your child’s classroom teacher by Friday March 5, even if there are no changes.

It’s important that we have the correct information for your child on our school database, should we need to contact you at any time and particularly if your child’s health circumstances have changed.

If you have misplaced this form, please let your teacher or the office know and we will print out a new one.

2021 Student Diaries Available

We have a limited number of student diaries available from our school office for $10. If you would like a school diary, please make payment via direct deposit (see details below). Please email proof of payment to newborough.ps@education.wa.edu.au. Once payment has cleared we will deliver to your child’s teacher.

Newborough Primary School
BSB: 016 350
Account: 3408 71304

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

Parent Representatives

Thank you so much to all parents listed below who have volunteered as Parent Representatives for their child’s class this year. We greatly appreciate your efforts. If your child’s class does not yet have a Parent Rep, please consider becoming one. It doesn’t take much of your time and it helps contribute to the community of our school. Please email myself and the class teacher if you wish to be the Class Rep for this year.

Kindy Green Mrs Murdoch– Sheridan Douche, Cathryn Crooks and Ashleigh McDonald
Kindy Red Mrs Thornett – Noemi Simmonds
Pre-Primary Room 3 Mrs Beatty- Cathy Kneale
Pre-Primary Room 4 Miss Ahrens – Renae Hughes
Year 1 Room 9 Mrs Tennant – No-one yet
Year 1 Room 10 Mrs O’Dea and Miss Anderson – Loren Geary and Chenoa Walsh
Year 2 Room 7 Mrs Murray – Sandra Leach
Year 2 Room 8 Miss Lydon- Kelli Blatchford
Year 3 Room 5 Mrs Farmer and Mrs Saggers – Bianca Birrell and Chenoa Walsh
Year 3 Room 6 Miss Watson – Carly Fowkes and Julia Madden
Year 4 Room 12 Mrs Freeman and Mrs Saggers – Jodi Duval and Miriam Lopes
Year 4/5 Room 13 Mr Blanch - No-one yet
Year 5 Room 14 Miss Kos – No-one yet
Year 6 Miss Danker – Bec Gregory and Fiona McCallum
Year 6 Miss Phillips - No-one yet

Changes to the Assembly Morning Tea: tea and coffee sold for a gold coin donation

Due to still being in the Western Australian Government Phase 4 conditions for COVID and being consistent with not allowing party food of any type being brought into the school, we will trial making changes to the morning teas provided by parents at assemblies. This year, the School will organise tea and coffee for the assemblies and sell to parents for a gold coin donation. This is a change to the tradition of the school where parents from the class conducting the assembly provide morning tea to be sold. (So parents, this year you DO NOT need to run the tea and coffee station at the assembly!)

Money raised through the gold coin donations will be go to worthy and local causes. This term’s proceeds will go towards the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund Appeal https://appealswa.org.au/ for the recent bushfires.

Harmony Week – Developing Cultural Acceptance through Harmony Week- Week 8

Harmony Day (Sunday the 21st of March) celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. In schools we celebrate inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians, from the traditional owners of the land to those who have come from many countries around the world. The ongoing theme of Harmony Day is ‘everyone belongs’. Harmony Day is a day of cultural respect for all and an understanding how all Australians equally belong to this nation and enrich it.

As part of our Harmony Week activities this year in Week 8, Term 1, we will have open classes in Japanese for parents to attend, a Harmony Day assembly and all students will participate in making Friendship Bands with their colour of their national flag/Aboriginal flag.

We will send out more information in the coming weeks in regards to Harmony Week.

School Musical – Matilda Jr – Week 7 Term 4 2021

I am not sure who is more excited, our students or our Performing Arts teacher, Mrs Andria Snelson but our School Musical is back this year in Term 4. The musical this year is Matilda Jr and all students from Year 3-6 will be performing in it. The musical will once again be held at the Churchlands Concert Hall on Tuesday 23rd November and Wednesday 24th November from 7-8.15pm. A lot more information will come out through the year in regards to the musical.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? The school musical is always a very big production and needs a committed group of parents to assist with us with organising it. Mrs Snelson and I are inviting any interested parents to form a committee with us to help organise the musical for your children please. Parents should have children in Years 3-6 and be willing to help with either advertising materials, ticketing, costumes, sets, props, hair, make-up ect. It is lots of fun and very worthwhile. If you are interested, can you please email me as we will be keen to have a meeting mid term to start the process of organising this year’s musical. (We have seen those great homemade face masks out there this week, so we know some people can definitely sew!!!!)

We wish you all a fabulous year at Newborough Primary. Please do not hesitate to contact either John Worthy, Nick Stenhouse or myself if you have any queries.

Wellbeing ‘The Newborough Way’

As well as the mandatory Western Australian curriculum your child will be participating in the Zones of Regulation curriculum (or "The Zones" for short) which are lessons and activities designed by Leah Kuypers and occupational therapist to help us to gain skills of self-regulation. It is defined as the best state of alertness of both the body and emotions for the specific situation. The lessons and learning activities are designed to help student to recognise when they are in different Zones as well as learn strategies to change or stay in the Zone they are in. In addition to addressing self-regulation the students will gain an increased vocabulary of emotional terms, reading facial expressions, perspective taking, triggers, calming and alerting strategies as well as problem solving skills.

This curriculum will be integrated with our Positive Behaviours learning and Smiling Mind Mindfulness curriculum as well as yoga practices which will be introduced in Term 2 with a Yoga Zoo program to support students to develop a toolkit of well-being strategies. With ongoing practice of these strategies at school and at home, students will be able to independently draw on a personalised toolkit of strategies to cope with setbacks and challenges and to support positive behaviour and well-being.

Lauren Danker, Level 3 Teacher Leader Positive Behaviour Wellbeing

IT News

Cyber Safety

In our last newsletter we advised parents of our responsibilities regarding the use of third party apps at school. This newsletter we are focusing on Cyber safety. This Newsletter we are providing information regarding online cyber safety. Below is information regarding a webinar for parents supporting young people using technology online.

The Safer Internet Day 2021 webinar will look at how parents and carers can support young people to have safe and respectful online relationships and what to do if things go wrong. It will cover:

• starting conversations with your child about their online friendships and positive ways to deal with changing relationships
• understanding the rights, laws and community expectations that govern social media use
• where to seek help if your child is involved in a cyberbullying incident.

The webinar will include case studies, research and targeted advice so you can support the young people in your life to have safe, enjoyable online experiences.

Register here:

Available dates

Tuesday 16 March 7.30 to 8.30 pm
Wednesday 17 March 12.30 to 1.30 pm
Wednesday 17 March 7.30 to 8.30 pm
Thursday 18 March 3.30 to 4.30 pm
Monday 22 March 12.30 to 1.30 pm

Books for Bubs

Are you having or have had a new baby in 2021?

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.

Newboros

1 Hi all Newborough Dad's new and past. The NEWBRO's will be having a 2021 re-launch at Trigg Surf Club Thursday 25th February at 5:30pm-7:30pm.

BOOK NOW (takes less than 1 minute) at the link below:

For those new to Newborough, the Newbro’s are a group of Newborough Primary School dads (and father-figures like Grandads; Uncles and solo-Mum’s) supported by The Fathering Project – Google them or check-out YouTube. Through activities like camping and social nights, Newbros is an opportunity to make new friends (young and old); support each other and most importantly hang with our kids through a range of activities. Come along for a sunset drink and a chat with some like-minded blokes about being the best Dad we can be! See you there. newbrodads@gmail.com

P&C News

The P&C has been busy organising this year's calendar of events. It's looking to be a fun packed year and one that we are hoping will be minimally impacted by Covid from here on in. Some of the events in the diary so far are; the Election Day Sausage Sizzle and Cake Stall (13th March), Easter Raffle, Colour Run, School Disco, Newbros events, Mum's Night Out and fingers crossed for an all school campout and movie night towards the end of the year hosted by our Newbros!

In order to run all these events we will be calling for volunteers at certain times. So when you see the volunteer signup sheets being sent out (see below to help on election day) then please take a look and put yourself down for an hour here and there. It really is what makes these events possible for our kids and it's a great opportunity to meet other parents.

On Monday the 15th February the Annual General Meeting was held and the 2021 office bearers and executive team were elected:

President - Wes Gregory
Vice President - Tanya Johnson
Treasurer - Jacob Martin
Secretary - Carly Fowkes
Executive Team - Rebecca Brown, Laurie McCallum, Jackie Stott, Chenoa Walsh

Meetings this year will run twice a term, Mondays in week 3 and Wednesdays in week 8. All parents are invited to attend when you can. If you're wondering if there are other ways you might be able to get involved with the P&C and your school without landing a huge job then please do get in touch with Carly at newboroughpcsec@gmail.com to chat about the types of assistance that is needed. Some events we run literally take a few hours over a couple of weeks and then that's your volunteering done for the year.

Who Likes Coffee? *Coffee Van coming to School Friday 26th Feb 8am*

This Friday morning there will be a coffee van (Split Beans Coffee) at the Nature Play area from 8am. So please swing by and grab yourself a coffee before or after dropping off the kids.

Welcome Morning Tea for New Parents - Friday 26th 8:50am

The P&C are hosting a welcome morning tea for the parents of students new to the school this year. So all kindy parents (including parents with older children already at Newborough) and all new families please come along to say hello, meet some new faces and find out more about our Newborough community. Morning tea treats provided and a coffee van onsite for all your caffeine needs!

Election Day Sausage Sizzle and Cake Stall - Saturday 13th March

Our first big event this year will be the Election Day Sausage Sizzle and Cake Stall on Saturday 13th March. Cake boxes will be sent home soon so get ready to fill these with yummy cakes and treats for us to sell on the day. A note will go home with the boxes with some ideas and letting you know where and when to bring them back.

A small group of superstars have already put their hands up to organise the logistics of this event but we will be needing a lot of help on the day! There are many small jobs and cake stall/bbq shifts to fill, so something for everyone. Click on the link below to see where you can help, get in first and volunteer a significant other before they volunteer you or volunteer yourself and a friend for the same shift so its double the fun!

Sign Up Here:

Events

EASTER RAFFLE

We will be having our very popular Easter Raffle again this year. Notes were sent out today, requesting the donation of Easter goodies ie chocolate, Easter craft, mini games, Easter soft toys, Easter gift bags, baskets (particularly small to medium sized ones) for us to make up as many prize hampers as possible. We also have a need for large baskets for presenting the major classroom prizes. If you are a previous winner or just have a stash of large baskets that you don’t want, can you please return them to your child’s classroom, to be re-used.

The success of the raffle is dependent on your kind donation/s of Easter goodies, so please let’s get the donations rolling. Hand the donations and/or baskets in to your classroom, and we will collect them each morning.

We will send home your Easter raffle tickets with an explanatory note within the next couple of weeks – tickets are only 50 cents each, and each student will receive ten tickets to sell. If you sell all your tickets, please return them with the money to your class teacher. If you’d like more tickets, please see the lovely ladies in the front office.

Many thanks
Jackie

Canteen News

Canteen Open

The Canteen has reopened for 2021. We have nearly finalised the Term 1 Menu and will post it on the School’s website shortly.

New Items

This term we are going to be trying new items on the menu, muffins, bliss balls, picnic snack pack and more. Keep an eye out on Quickcliq, and the whiteboard outside the Canteen for notice of when they are on sale.

Volunteers

We are always in need of volunteers for the Canteen to run effectively. As per last year, we will continue to encourage volunteers via the Parent Reps. However, we will now dedicate a week to each Classroom rather than a Year group. This will mean that each Classroom will only be asked to participate no more than once a term.

Even if it’s not your Classroom’s turn to assist, we are always happy for any time you can spare. Below is a link to the Volunteer Roster. Although a busy environment, it’s a supportive and friendly one. If you’re thinking of volunteering and have any questions, please feel free to pop in Monday/Wednesday/Friday or e-mail me at newborough.canteen.manager1@gmail.com.

Regards
Amanda

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!!