Newsletter 20 - 16 December 2021
Happy holidays everyone!
We wish to thank all campus staff and families for their contributions and support throughout the year. The past two weeks have been full of celebratory events. Congratulations to students on their progress and achievements this semester.
Mr Tamlin's farewell message
With the 2021 school year finishing today, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday and joyful festive season. My time as Principal of South Ballajura PS, sadly comes to and end today. I have thoroughly enjoyed being Principal of this incredible school. With my family not being able to join me from Esperance over the last six months, I have decided to return to Esperance, spend more time with them and go back to my previous job at Esperance PS. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the entire community for the warm welcome I received and have enjoyed this semester.
I have particularly enjoyed getting to know a large number of our students. After all, our students are why we are all here. We aim to provide our students with the best possible teaching and learning opportunities each and every day. I hope, that in my role of Principal, I have been able to positively impact classroom teaching and students’ learning.
With me moving on, I am pleased to inform you that Ms Karen Burgess, will be Principal here in Term 1, 2022. Ms Burgess is the current principal of Bailer Primary School in Port Hedland. She brings a great deal of experience as a school Principal to South Ballajura PS. I am sure you will welcome her with open arms, just as you did for me.
Reflecting on 2021, there have been many highlights throughout the year, but I would particularly like to acknowledge the graduating Year 6 students, who officially graduated from primary school on Tuesday. They are a delightful group of students and I have had the pleasure of making some very strong connections with some of the students, during this semester. I truly believe this is a testament to the quality of students we have graduating from Year 6 this year.
Your enthusiasm to support each other, in the classroom, playground and on the sporting field, is an admirable quality and a clear indication to the whole school community and your parents and carers, that you’re willing to be there for each other, and that you genuinely care about others. This attribute is one that is often lost in our current crazy, fast paced world. I sincerely encourage you to take this caring attitude with you as you go your own way into high school and beyond.
So, as you graduate from South Ballajura PS, reflect on the positives, keep caring for each other and the new people who come into your life and smile, be positive and look for solutions. Congratulations Year 6, the Class of 2021.
YEAR SIX AWARD WINNERS
As part of the Year 6 Graduation on Tuesday we also acknowledged and celebrated those students who excelled in particular areas of their schooling, in 2021 and were presented with awards. I wish to congratulate them all:











Many thanks to Ms Ngatia, Mrs Underwood, Mr Cooke, Mrs Joseph, Miss Gladwell, Mrs Southerland, our office staff and everyone who played role in preparing the students for the Graduation and all the ‘behind the scenes’ work, that made the day so memorable.
The afternoon’s River Cruise was certainly a great way to celebrate the students’ time at South Ballajura Primary Campus. Thank you to Mr Donegan, for organising this.
Year 6 Graduation Day was such a beautiful, happy day. We cruised the Swan River enjoying the scenery and having lots of fun on board the Crystal Swan.
Natalie, Ruby, Tyler, Kenny and Jordan (TA16).










Thank You & Farewell to Primary School Staff:
Mr Paul Cooke has been on ‘sick leave’ for some weeks but we did get to say good bye to him at the graduation ceremony on Tuesday. Mr Cooke will head into 2022 on leave, as he transitions to retirement. Mr Cooke has been as SBPS since 1998, teaching a range of year levels for those 23 years. He is well known for his bright shirts, having a kick on the oval when on duty, his Bernard the Bikie, dress up during Bookweek and his passion for sport. As a long-time chief judge or starter at athletics carnivals, coach and umpire of many sports, he will be sadly missed. Mr Cooke really embraced the Jump Jam phenomena and it forms part of his class daily fitness regime. While Mr Cooke loves to teach maths and science, although, technology isn’t one of his favourite areas, he much preferred the days of blackboard and chalk! The staff, students and parent community thank Mr Cooke for his role in educating many, many students over the years and for the positive impact he has had on many young lives. We wish him all the very best as he recovers from ankle surgery, and starts his adventures in his Winnebago!
Ms Bron McElroy - Canteen Manger and 'head chef', is also moving on from South Ballajura PS in 2022. Bron epitomizes our school community, friendly, caring, and welcoming. In my short time here Bron has made me feel very welcome, fed me and been an integral part of the feel of the school. She is going to be sadly missed as she begins some study to pursue a new career path. Thank you for the six years you have dedicated to the entire South Ballajura community, you are going to be sadly missed Bron.
Ms Deborah Jones - Chaplain is moving on to a fulltime chaplain positon, at another school. We wish her all the best in her new role, and she will be missed by so many of our children who have enjoyed spending time with her talk on a regular basis.
Ms Bronwyn Sinclair, School Officer is also moving on to another school as she also increases her work roster. We will miss her efficiency in the school front office and we wish her all the very best in her new role.
Pre-Primary Assembly
The ‘cuteness factor’ certainly made the last assembly of the year one to remember. The Pre Primary’s focus and attention to detail with their dance moves was so delightful and entertaining! Many thanks also, to our Prefects who supported the Pre Primaries in hosting our assembly.
ESC Staff Updates for 2022
Mr Hume is leaving us to be full time Deputy at Durham Road School. He started teaching a year 2/3 class when he arrived at South Ballajura ESC 5 years ago and some of those students graduated this week. Just as he has watched those students develop, he has also developed his expertise, leadership skills and talents as a Learning Support Coordinator, Information Communication and Technology Coordinator, as well as a specialist classroom teacher, most recently in HASS. He has a passion for AUSLAN and is also a Team Teach trainer. He became our part time Deputy and now he’s moving to a full-time position at Durham Road School. We wish to thank him for his invaluable contribution to SBESC leadership team & SBESC community & wish him all the best.
Congratulations to Mrs Williams who will be our part-time deputy next year.
We have 3 teachers returning to South Ballajura ESC: Mrs Angelevski, our Level 3 Classroom teacher, will be a fulltime classroom teacher. Ms Samarin will work 2 days in classes and has taken over the HASS' specialist role, which will give her the opportunity to share her knowledge of complex communication. Ms Sherrard will be returning 2 days for the start of term 1 before taking Maternity Leave. Health and Protective Behaviours will be her specialist role.
We welcome Mr Johnston who will be a new fulltime classroom teacher, coming to South Ballajura ESC from Aveley North P.S., Education Support.
Primary School 2022 Classes:
Teachers, Year levels and Classrooms
Kindy Shana Leeson M-W Natasha Adams Th-F
PP 1 Tracey McKay Emily Ingley (Th)
PP 2 Vicki Boffa Emily Ingley (W)
Year 1 Eileen Green (TA 1)
Year 1 Grace Mountford (TA 2)
Year 2 Gwen Davis (TA12)
Year 2 Kalee MacLeevernan (M) Rachel Doyle T-F (TA13)
Year 3 Azza Ibrahim (TA9)
Year 3 Morna McDonnell (TA10)
Year 4 Lucia Chodiman (TA7)
Year 4 Ann-Marie Merrington (TA8)
Year 4/5 Penny James M-W Lina Hamid Th-F (TA28)
Year 5 Craig Sutton-Smith (TA14)
Year 5 Paul Watson (TA15)
Year 6 Taryn Underwood (TA19)
Year 6 Kelly Gladwell (TA18)
Physical Education Lina Hamid Mon – Wed
Music Helen Southerland Mon – Fri
Visual Arts Hollie Joyce Tue – Thur
Yr 3 – 6 Languages Daphne Francis Mon - Wed
Yr 1 – 2 Science Cade Donegan Mon - Tue
English and Maths Support Bronwyn Banfield
Principal Karen Burgess
Deputy Principal Grace Ngatia
Deputy Principal Jodie Marshall Mon – Wed
Deputy Principal Cade Donegan Tue - Fri
Covid-19 Preparation for 2022
As you may be aware, all school staff are required to be double dose vaccinated before Term 1, 2022 starts. The State Government has issued Education Worker (Restrictions on Access) Directions (No. 3), which are published on wa.gov.au. These Directions include vaccination requirements for visitors entering school sites.
Students are not required to be vaccinated.
Parents/carers are not required to be vaccinated when:
- dropping off or picking up their child from school;
- volunteering at school on an ad hoc basis;
- attending an event such as an assembly or parent teacher interview; or
- entering the school after hours.
‘Ad hoc basis’ means attendance at no more than one education facility no more than once per week.
Parents/carers are required to provide vaccination evidence (single dose vaccinated from 1 January 2022 and double dose vaccinated from 31 January 2022) or exemption when:
- volunteering at the school more than once a week (this includes volunteering at the school canteen, uniform store or an in-class literacy or numeracy program);
- working in an unpaid capacity at the school more than once a week; or
- participating in an endorsed program at the school where parent attendance is required (such as KindiLink).
The following are acceptable forms of evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or exemption:
- written confirmation of the COVID-19 vaccination issued by the Department of Health;
- the COVID-19 digital certificate, which shows only your COVID-19 vaccinations. Services Australia has information on how to get your COVID-19 digital certificate;
- your immunisation history statement, which shows all vaccinations you’ve had. Services Australia has information on how to get your immunisation history statement;
- an International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate issued by the Commonwealth Government. This shows the COVID-19 vaccination recorded on the Australian Immunisation Register;
- medical exemption issued by the Australian Immunisation Register; or
- temporary exemption granted by the WA Chief Health Officer.
We are committed to ensuring our school is a COVID-19 safe space. We have been provided with a clear direction of what we all need to do to keep students, colleagues and our community safe. If you have any queries, please contact the school office.
Thank you for your support.
EI1 and mainstream kindy had a fantastic day celebrating International Day of Disability! We created some beautiful Christmas collages and enjoyed learning and playing together in EI1 classroom.












We would like to celebrate the effort that some of our students have put into the annual colouring in Christmas competitions that are sponsored by our local community and govt leaders. This Year one of our students in Year 2 came runner up in Basso’s Real Estate sponsored competition. Congratulations Vanessa S. We hope you enjoy your prize during the school holidays.
Santa has Autism
Best Wishes for the festive season and for a safe and refreshing holiday break.
Mrs Lennox and SBESC Staff
Christmas Concert
Once again the Christmas concert was a highlight of the ESC school year. What a buzz there was in the Undercover Area on Wednesday 8 December when students and staff ‘rocked the house’! Even the rehearsals leading up to the performance this year were amazing. Staff did a fantastic job of coordinating and making the change overs and transitions smooth. For the first time ever, the kindy students joined in and what little Super Stars they were. We had a very enthusiastic audience of nearly 80 family members attending and enjoying the 14 item show. It was a jaw-dropping experience! and a wonderful finale for 2021.
















Can You Spot the Difference?
Delighted that this welcome signage is now inclusive of disability as well as multicultural. The grant from Rotary for CCY to run this project is also acknowledged.
Thank you Mrs Quigley and Sam at CCY for the additions.
ESC Classroom Transition for 2022
" Helping the new Kindy students to their new classrooms was a fun morning for Tyler and myself. Talking to them while walking to EI1 was exciting for them and for us."
Ruby and Tyler
Great to see how settled all the new 2022 class combinations were last Tuesday. Thank you to parents who brought in the new students and we hope you enjoy the social story over the holidays to help get your child ready for the new school year. Staff are full steam ahead planning for 2022.
Staff did a fantastic job of coordinating and making the change overs and transitions smooth. A Wonderful finale for 2021.
JESC Foundation Skills Assessment
Once again our students were amazing during the day-long demonstrations of the JESC Foundational Skills Assessment to be introduced next year. This is an ABA evidence based way of identifying students needs for “learning to learn“ and will inform IEP goals goal setting.




WAESPA Recognition Awards
This event on IDPwD, was a great celebration of all the wonderful staff in our Ed Support Association & the extraordinary work being done in our schools daily. It was a great opportunity to recognise some SBESC staff doing fabulous things at our campus. Congratulations to Mrs Williams, Mr V, Mrs Harney and Miss Sam. Well deserved!



















Chaplain's Appreciation Breakfast
This morning was Avram’s last Chaplain’s Appreciation Breakfast at South Ballajura ESC. It was a scrumptious breakfast spread with a large number of staff and a key Board Member attending. Avram leaves us for new adventures in the South West in 2022. We farewelled several other staff members heading off on new journeys. New staff members incoming for 2022 were also warmly welcomed.










Recycling Campus Collection Competition
There has been an amazing effort put together by the whole school in this Campus Collection Competition in the last two years and I am very proud of what we have achieved so far. Together we are making a difference to our environment.
Congratulations to TA12, the winning class from the mainstream campus and to TA3, the winning class of ESC for this term. Thank you everyone for the collective effort and have a Happy New Year.




Farewell
Dear School Community,
It is with a heavy heart that I have to say farewell to South Ballajura ESC in the capacity of School Chaplain at the end of this term.
The reason is to move with my family South of the River in order to be close to where my son’s family lives with their three amazing children.
I do regret that I have to leave SBESC where I had the privilege to provide pastoral care support to the staff, parents and students for the last three years.
I am taking with me great memories from this school and I do have a high level of satisfaction and gratefulness in my heart for being part of it.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for having me at SBESC and for the way you made me feel by treating me with respect. I will miss you and wish you all a safe New Year and all the best for the years to come.
Regards, Avram
YouthCARE School Chaplain
Please advise us if your child/ren in Kindy to Year 5 are leaving at the end of the 2021 school year, by advising the school office in writing as soon as possible.
This is vital for 2022 school planning.
School commences for 2022 on
Monday 31 January.
We have come to the end of another school year and hasn't the year gone so quickly!
Here's wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas, a Happy and Safe New Year. A Happy and safe holiday too.
Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru! Selamat Hari Libur juga.
Home Delivery orders can be placed online past the "Return Date" but it may incur at late fee.
2022 Booklists are on our school website.
School Collection - Tuesday 25 January 2022 - 2pm to 3.30pm
INFORMATION DAY
Saturday 18th December 2021
10:00am to 1:00pm
Free Sausage Sizzle (Halal) 11:30 to 12:30
Ballajura Community College, Corner of Pelican Parade & Cassowary Drive Ballajura
Come Join the Team
And chat with our Local Rotarians from the Ballajura–Malaga Club & Community Connecting Youth Inc. Members.
Our Rotary Club President (Sam Mesiti) will give a short overview of the concept & history of the Ballajura Community Garden Concept.
Our main goal on the day will be to encourage YOU to volunteer and commit to work with us in clearing the site of weeds and preparing for the garden plan over the school holidays. The BCC is a COIVD 19 responsible location. The Ballajura Community Garden is for ALL, we welcome Senior Citizens, Our Fist Nations People, All Cultural groups, local district school groups, BCC students and their families who are interested in supporting the garden and becoming part of a positive community. Our official Volunteers will be supported in acquiring Working With Children Cards as well Police Clearances etc. with cost reimbursement’s for financial Members.