Newsletter 5 - 7 April 2022
Dear Parents and Carers
Dear parents and carers.
There has certainly been a lot of comings and goings this term due to the quick spread of Covid-19 and the growing number of positive cases. We would like to thank everybody for their patience as we have all grappled with the changing situation, rules and restrictions.Mask wearing has reduced the number of close contacts and become the new norm. It has been impressive to see more people wearing their mask properly and leaving them on as much as possible, including our students.We are very appreciative of families who have come to collect their children in an effort to help keep everybody safe. With the added challenge of relief staff shortages, staff have also shown amazing flexibility to ensure children who are at school safe and learning.We remain optimistic that we will reach a peak and then move back to a new normal, however, schools have been receiving additional protective items from Education Department, which indicates that we won’t be out of the woods for the beginning of term two. However, we are prepared and now more practised!We do request your further support in leaving the school grounds promptly at school finish time, for everyone’s safety with regards to COVID and also duty of care. Even with parents present, students are not to play on playground equipment, as has been the case recently in the early childhood playground. Thank you for your co-operation.Although assemblies are very limited to viewing recordings and making presentations over the PA system, it has been a delight to visit classrooms and present certificates to the award winners in person.
CONGRATULATIONS: Gerald (TA11) received his bronze badge for 400 You Can Do It tokens.
Congratulations also, to the selected Campus students who attended pizza with the principals.
TERM 2 STAFFING UPDATEESC:
We are excited to welcome Ms Sharee Paidra to our team. She brings with her education support school and centre experience, in her new roles as art specialist teacher on Mondays, and teaching in EI2 on Wednesdays.We are also delighted to be welcoming back two long-term staff from maternity leave, Ms Renee Locke and Ms Kaila Galati.
Primary School:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Timea Galfi for her role as Year 1 teacher in Term 1 this year in what has been a challenging term. Ms Galfi has worked hard to give the students in TA 2 a smooth transition for Pre-primary to Year 1 and we would like to wish her every success where-ever her career may take her in the future.
In addition, we would like to welcome Ms Angela Martinez to South Ballajura PS as the TA 2 teacher for the remainder of this year. Mrs Marianna Anthony will commence as School Officer Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as of Term 2.
WEST AUSTRALIAN COMPETITIONAs the primary school are not entering this particular competition, ESC would appreciate campus support. If you or family members get the West Australian could you please bring the competition slip to the front office. We are happy to cut it out and fill it in. Only originals are acceptable. Please see the flyer for the dates and deadline.
Term 2 Covid Guideline Changes
As you may be aware, public health and social measures have been eased for schools for Term 2, details at wa.gov.au. We continue to follow the current health advice and I am writing to let you know what the changes mean for our school.
We are pleased to advise that parents/carers are allowed on school sites in Term 2 for the following purposes:
o to attend year group assemblies
o to attend face to face parent/teacher meetings
o to attend indoor and outdoor sporting events, infrequent special events, performances and other interschool events with masks and physical distancing
o to attend face to face meeting e.g. P&C and school board/council meetings
o to volunteer in roles outside of the classroom, including the canteen
o drop-off/pick up outside of classrooms
o visit their children in residential facilities, with proof of vaccination (if required).
Parents/carers attending school sites must wear masks on school grounds and adhere to physical distancing, where possible. Please note parents/carers are not allowed inside classrooms.
A number of school activities can resume, including infrequent special events, and we will provide more detail on these in Term 2.
Please note you do not need to report COVID-19 positive cases to the school during the school holidays. However, all positive RATs must be reported to WA Health via www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/ratregister.
We wish our students an enjoyable holiday break and looking forward to seeing them back for Term 2 on Wednesday 26th April.
Congratulations to students in TA14 for their enactment of a fractured fairy tale ‘The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig’ as well as their informative presentation of an interview in Indonesian. We hope the Campus enjoyed the item as much as the class did and that they give the students of TA 14 some encouraging feedback.
Congratulations to the following Merit Award winners from TA 14’S Assembly
| TA1 Ivy and Evan | TA12 Shuayb and Desmond |
| TA2 Ava and Glenn | TA13 Chase and Vittoria |
| TA7 Lola and David | TA14 Pearly and Sarah |
| TA8 San and Tayton | TA18 Lennard and Justin |
| TA9 Ali and Bryleigh | TA19 Nada and Tania |
| TA10 Grace and Allyxandria |
Board Box
Easter in TA16
We have been learning about Easter traditions and how each one of us do different things with our family and friends. Following an Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) format, children shared what they know and also learnt step-by-step how to put together a basket, decorate and then went onto do an egg hunt. We had such fun while learning, Happy Easter everyone!
The Hungry Caterpillar
This Term TA 3 has explored the book ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ by Eric Carle. We looked at sequencing the story, days of the week, what the caterpillar ate, healthy and unhealthy foods and the life cycle of butterflies’. Some of our favourite activities included learning about symmetry then creating our own butterflies and making our own hungry caterpillars.
Whiteman Park Education Programs Term 2
Due to ongoing Covid restrictions and Education Department guidelines, the Term 1 Parent Picnic at Pia’s Playground will be postponed. Keep your fingers crossed for Week 3 Friday May 13 2022. Look out for the invitation next term.
In the following weeks throughout Term 2, the students will participate in several Whiteman Park Educational Programs focussing on the Environment and HASS at the Revolutions Museum. Students across the Centre will also focus on Technology skills using the school camera and class iPads.
Chatterbox Time with Miss Capelli
Term 2:
School resumes for students on Wednesday 27 th April. The office will open on Tuesday 26 th April.
ANZAC DAY
As a school we will acknowledge ANZAC Day with a small assembly on Friday 29th April. As much as we would love to ask our parents and families to join us for this commemorative ceremony, due to venue capacity guidelines in the undercover area not allowing enough space for parents to physically distance we have made the decision to keep this event to students only. We thank you for your support.
Our thanks to CCYC for helping us to create new Murals on the bike track gazebo. On the outside students have depicted the outdoor activities they like to play and on the inside the theme is dance and music to compliment the music ball.
Next to this is a pipe converted into a drum and covered with students handprints.
The yarning circle is now completed, please come by and have a look. Thank you to Irene Farmer and the students at SBPS for their amazing artwork and dedication. I would also like to thank Lisa and Paul from “Workshed Children Mosaics” for helping me to complete this project.
A great team effort, well done South Ballajuira!
It's hard to believe that we are in the last week of term 1. The term has gone by so quickly and the students have had a busy term.
The last fortnight, Year 3 students have learnt Greetings in Indonesian for various times of the day. Selamat pagi! Good morning, Selamat siang! Good day, Selamat sore! Good afternoon! and Selamat malam! Good evening/night. To help them remember what they have learnt, try using the greetings at home.
Year 4s can name the days of the week and can confidently count to 20 in Indonesian. Test them!
Year 5s have learnt how to use the rupiah and to bargain when shopping in Bali. Will be useful if planning a trip to Bali!
Year 6s have learnt to name clothing and what clothing is appropriate and not appropriate to take when going on a holiday to Indonesia.
Have a lovely and safe holiday. Selamat Hari Libur! Happy Holidays!
Salam
Ibu Francis
We are pleased to announce the winner of our Easter Egg guessing competition is:
Mackenzie from TA 13 with a guess of 108 eggs!!
Thank you to all that have entered. You have helped us raise funds that can go to towards the school in future.
Have a great school holidays and see you in Term 2.
Thanks, Bree & Kath.
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
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.
