Newsletter 4 - 24 March 2022
Dear Parents and Carers
This has been an interesting first term as we have moved from a High to Very High caseload COVID-19 environment. Finally both Principals are onsite at the same time!
Having recently returned from leave after being declared a Covid close contact and isolating at home (like so many others) I would like to sincerely acknowledge and thank Ms Ngatia and Mr Donegan who did an amazing job keeping the ‘ship afloat’ in my absence; in addition to Ms Larsen and Ms Vlahov who were very integral in the support offered. Their effective and professional decision making is a credit to them and was in no small way due to their intimate knowledge of the school and its context and it certainly helped to know there was a supportive team here at school.
Karen Burgess
Primary School Principal
I certainly must commend Mrs Williams for her willingness to step up from her new deputy position to acting principal during my absence for the first 7 weeks of Term 1. She certainly rose to this challenge with the full support of our wonderful ESC school team, especially Mrs Green, Mrs Field and Mrs Joseph in Administration
Cheryl Lennox
Education Support Centre Principal
COVID-19 Update
School is not business as usual at the moment as schools find themselves more and more undertaking the role of contact tracers. With the move to a very high caseload setting, it is inevitable that the school will need to respond to positive cases and the management of close contacts. We have managed many of these cases to date and would like to thank families for their commitment to responding quickly to information which is sent them with regard to this. Please be aware that the school will initially alert the parents of students identified as a close contact via SMS or email – this will be in the form of a short message advising parents of the situation and suggesting they may like to collect their child for a PCR or a RAT.
Shortly after this a follow up letter will be sent to parents via the same platforms with more detailed information about the steps to take if a child is identified as a close contact. This letter will advise parents that students may return to school if they have returned a negative RAT and are symptom free. Students are not to be engaged in any other activities/sports or visit any other houses/parks/shopping centres during this time for the 7 days of isolation. The letter will provide details of the actions required by parents in this event.
Please remember that students who are displaying symptoms should be kept at home until the symptoms have gone. Students who present at school with symptoms will be provided a mask and moved away from other students until parents can be notified to pick them up.
Please also note:
- Students who are a close contact of a family member living in the same household CANNOT attend school under the above arrangements
- All positive RATS must be registered on the website https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/ratregister
We would like to acknowledge the strong, positive support from our parents and students with regard to the wearing of masks and reinforce the message that it is this support which will enable the school to provide as safe and healthy environment as possible.
We would also like to take this opportunity and thank all staff for the professionalism, commitment, and compassion they are demonstrating in these difficult times towards your children and our schools.
Karen Burgess Cheryl Lennox
SBPS Principal ESC Principal
The School Development Days (Pupil Free Days) for 2022 are as follows:
For the beginning of Term 2, Monday 25 April is the ANZAC Day public holiday, Tuesday 26 April is a School Development Day and both Primary School and Ed Support Centre students return to school on Wednesday 27 April.
For the Primary School beginning of Term 3, Monday 18 July is a School Development Day and Primary School students return to school on Tuesday 19 July.
For the beginning of Term 3, Education Support Centre students return to school on Monday 18 July. The Education Support Centre's School Development Day is on Thursday 28 July.
For the beginning of Term 4, Monday 10 October is a School Development Day and both Primary School and Ed Support Centre students return to school on Tuesday 11 October
At the end of Term 4, the last day for students is Thursday 15 December and Friday 16 December is a School Development Day.
Next term from May 10-20, all year 3 and 5 students will be participating in the National Literacy and Numeracy assessments. These assessments will be done online, with the exception of year 3 writing, which will be a paper and pen test. The tests allow parents to see how their child is progressing against national standards and over time, in the areas of reading, writing and numeracy. All students will be doing the tests, however, parents who have concerns about the test may choose to withdraw their child from the test. If you have concerns about your child doing the tests, please discuss these with your child's teacher as soon as possible. Today the year 3 and 5 students will be bringing home a flyer with further information for parents and carers. If you would like any further information about Naplan you may consult the Naplan public demonstration site or contact Mrs Marshall at school.
Hopefully, your child brought home their NAPLAN Information for Parents and Carers flyer recently. If not, it is attached here: NAPLAN Info for Parents and Carers
Masks & Pick ups
Thank you to all families who continue to wear masks on the school site. If you need to pick your child up early from school, we kindly request that you come to the office to sign them out. We will then arrange for the student to be bought to the office. This is to limit the amount of visitors moving around our school site.
Parking
Whilst we realise that parking around the school can be troublesome at pick up and drop off time we do request that all parents support each other by showing courtesy and not double parking or parking on neighbouring properties. There is additional parking at the back of the school.
Prefect's Blurb
My name is Syrus and I am a Prefect at South Ballajura Primary School. Being a student leader means that I have to be a good role model and it is challenging. My favourite job as a Prefect is raising the flag because it feels like an honour. My favourite sport is basketball. Here is a quote to finish it off “there is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs”.
ESC Board Nominations 2022
We are delighted that our current board members are continuing on for 2022. We really appreciate the time and knowledge our retiring Community member, Glyn Davies has contributed to the SBESC Board. A huge thank you to Jen Quigley who has now completed a second term as a valued staff representative. Letty Salerno, one of our new Lead EAs has agreed to COME ON BOARD (pun intended) as a staff representative (TBC). A bonus from the Public School Review process last year was having a participating parent, Jade Amonini, nominate to join our board team in 2022.
If you are another parent who is also keen to become parent representative on the Education Support Centre Board, please phone the Principal, Cheryl Lennox during school time on 9207 0150 to discuss your self- nomination by TUESDAY 29 March.
The Board meets approximately four times per year. Currently, this is once per term on Wednesday evenings 6 – 7.30pm. However, every attempt will be made to set meeting times to suit members. The purpose of the Board is to: work with the school towards achieving identified targets in our 2021-2024 Business Plan priority areas; promote our school within the community; contribute to policy development (e.g. dress code); and ensure that financial management matches the school’s strategic direction. Subcommittees may be formed at times and outside experts co-opted to focus on particular priorities/projects.
The main prerequisite is that you want to contribute to the decision making process and to improve outcomes for all children at SBESC. Induction and training will be provided; we will continue to learn together!
We need and appreciate your perspective as a parent.
Our 2022 AGM is on THURSDAY 7 April (week 10 Term 1)
Please note the change from Wednesday on this occasion
Everyone is invited to attend our AGM to learn more about what is happening in the school and to confirm new Board members. If you are not a board member or nominated person, please call reception on 9207 0150 if you are planning to attend, so that we can ensure COVID restrictions are adhered to.
Thank you
ESC Hospital Incursion
The ESC Community Access Program visits from the Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital finished up with TA5, EI1 and EI2 on Friday 4 March. Collaborative work once again from so many “doctors in the house”. Patient Josie (cloth doll) has kept with the times and modelled receiving a Covid vaccination instead of an influenza vaccination as in previous years. Drs Havish, Kiden and Ian provided medical assistance to patient Josie. Dr Ariyeti’s favourite activity was the Barbie doll ambulances. Dr Savannah-Skye was determined to connect all the bones of the skeleton puzzle. 
ESC Ambulance Visit
We were very lucky to have a special visit from the Community Youth Education Ambulance for the Education Support Centre students on Friday 11 March. All the classes had the opportunity to investigate the ambulance and see the flashing lights. EI2 complemented their visit with an ambulance puzzle activity later in the day. Isaac was very excited to see the ambulance and to take his puzzle home.
Community Access Co-ordinator
Mrs Natalie Harney
ESC Science
In Science this term, we are learning about how living things change as they grow. We have been tracking the growth and change of mealworms and whether a change of temperature affects their growth. We have also looked at how humans change as they grow and students have fun matching baby and adult photos of teachers. Awesome observation work, young scientists!
Ms Fen Tan
Learning in EI2
We have been reading the story of the Three Little Pigs. This has linked to lots of classroom activities. In Literacy we have matched and sequenced pictures and clapped out the syllables in words from the story. In Science we have learnt about the properties of materials, learning about the concepts of soft, hard and waterproof. In STEM we chose a material to make a house out of – straw, sticks or bricks. Sticks was by far the most popular choice! We went walking on the oval to find sticks and then students built their own house. We worked together to build a house out of bricks. Once we return from isolation, we will use a hair dryer to see if our houses keep standing in the wind!
This term we have started our ICT learning with Dash the robot. Dash and Dot are robots which help students learn the basics of robotics and coding. We are learning that we can make the robot move by sending instructions through the iPad. Some students also enjoyed changing the colour of Dash’s lights and giving Dash instructions to make sounds!
Lunch Orders
Learning a new language enhances comprehension and ability to read and write.
Year 3 students have learnt to sound the Indonesian alphabets and can answer to "Siapa nama kamu?" (What is your name?) They have also learnt to respond to a few teacher instructions. Currently they are learning to greet in Indonesian through song and activities in their student portfolio.
Year 4 students have made puppets of characters in the Indonesian story "The mousedeer and the crocodile" and have used them to retell the story. Next, they will be moving on to using prepositions e.g. above, under, beside, in out etc.
Year 5 students are learning numbers to millions to assist them when using the rupiah for buying and selling. They will then be working on activities from a challenge from Language Learning Space entitled 'The Banjarmasin Diamonds," which is to do with shopping and bargaining in Indonesia.
Year 6 students will be continuing to work on activities on clothing from the challenge 'The Golden Headdress' from Language Learning Space.
Happy Learning! Selamat belajar!
Salam, Ibu Francis
This week we have been discussing the term “ Persistence”. Persistence is when we are working on a task until it is finished, no matter how hard it is or how long it takes.
Please discuss this with your child. How do you deal with a task when it is too hard? Share your stories with your child. Ask them how they deal with a task when it’s too hard.
From Mr Donegan and the “You Can Do It” Crew.
Special Easter Recess Items
From next Monday Week 9 we will be offering special Easter recess items (until sold out)
Hot Cross Buns (2x types – Chocolate & Fruitless) $1.00 each
Chocolate crackle nest - $1.00 each
We will also have a Easter Egg guessing competition running.
$1.00 a guess or 6 guesses for $5.00.
Available to buy before school, at recess and lunch.
