Welcome to the 2026 School Year
It has been a joy to welcome our students back to Subiaco Primary School for the start of the new school year. There has been a very special feeling of calm, positivity and optimism across the school in these first few days, and it has been wonderful to see children settling confidently into their new classrooms.

I would like to sincerely thank our staff for the enormous amount of work that has taken place behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and successful start to the year. I also thank our parents and caregivers for the organisation of school supplies, preparation of lunches, and for supporting your children as they embrace a new school year and new learning experiences.

This year, we begin with approximately 670 students from Kindergarten to Year 6, and we are delighted to welcome many new families to our community. In addition to our new Kindergarten cohort, we have 18 new students joining other year levels across the school. I hope you will join me in making all new students and families feel welcomed, supported and connected at Subiaco.

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Staff Professional Learning and Collaboration
At the end of last week, our staff participated in two days of collaboration, learning and planning to ensure a strong start to the year. We are incredibly fortunate to have a highly experienced and dedicated teaching team, and these days provided valuable opportunities to refine practice and align our work across the school.

As many families are aware, in Term 4, 2025, staff engaged in professional learning with The Centre for Excellence in the Explicit Teaching of Literacy.

• Kindergarten to Year 2 teachers continued their work with UFLI Foundations, a highly structured phonics program designed to build strong foundational reading skills through explicit and systematic instruction.
• This learning was led by Ms Cassie Zaddow (PP), Mrs Annie Johnson (Year 1) and Mrs Lia Moroney (Year 1, Level 3 classroom teacher and Centre for Excellence Lead Teacher).
• Years 3–6 teachers worked closely with the Subiaco PS Centre for Excellence team, Mrs Nicole Simons and Ms Jess Rawson, focusing on:

    1. Daily Reviews to reinforce learning and ensure concepts are retained over time

     2. Reading with a Pencil, a strategy that supports students to actively engage with texts through annotation, questioning and discussion to strengthen comprehension

    3. Word Origins, an evidence-informed approach that deepens understanding of  spelling patterns, vocabulary and the history of English words.

It was a highly productive and energising two days, and staff are excited to bring these evidence-based approaches into classrooms to further support your child’s literacy development.

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Key Focus Areas for 2026
Professional learning also provided time to focus on several important whole-school priorities, including:

Visual Arts and STEAM (2026 and beyond)
Staff engaged in discussion and planning around:

• Visual Arts staffing, Department timelines and system constraints
• What this means for classroom practice and curriculum coverage in 2026
• The STEAM program overview and room operation, including the U9 and STEAM spaces
• Staff support and resourcing
• Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond

Setting the Foundations for 2026
A strong focus was placed on clarity, alignment and shared direction across the school.

Communication
We revisited whole-school expectations around communication, including the move to Seesaw as our primary platform for sharing learning, with consistent, purposeful updates once per week.

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)
Staff also worked within their Professional Learning Communities, focusing on shared norms, roles, data and goals. PLCs support collaborative learning and ensure our teaching continues to improve in ways that positively impact student outcomes.
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Strengthening Communication with Families – Seesaw
Strong partnerships between home and school are incredibly important to us. One consistent piece of feedback from parents, the School Board and the P&C is the desire to feel well informed and connected to classroom learning.

To support this:

• Seesaw will be used to share learning, classroom moments and curriculum information
• Compass will continue to be used for administration only (attendance, events, excursions and permissions)
• Over time, Seesaw will replace traditional curriculum letters, with families receiving regular snapshots of learning as it happens
• Teachers will aim to share at least one Seesaw post per week, providing meaningful insight while keeping communication manageable and purposeful
• Further details will be clearly outlined by your child’s teacher at the Parent Information Sessions in Week 3.

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Safety Reminders
A few important reminders as we settle into the year:

• Students are not permitted to ride bikes, scooters or skateboards on school grounds. This also applies to adults — including family cargo bikes — which should not be ridden onto school grounds.
• The beginning of the year brings increased traffic around schools. Please take extra care at drop-off and pick-up times and be mindful of our neighbours.
• While we acknowledge parking can be challenging, please do not park across the staff car park entrance or in the No Standing areas outside the school, as this creates safety and access issues.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community safe.
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Term 1 Dates
Term 1 is a 9-week term, with the final day being Thursday 2 April, as Good Friday falls the following day. The term will no doubt fly by, and there is much to look forward to. I am very much looking forward to a wonderful year ahead at Subiaco Primary School.

Warm regards,
Heather McNeil
Principal

At Subiaco Primary School, we continue to follow the Department of Education’s guidelines around personal communication devices. In line with our “off and away all day” approach, all student mobile phones and smart watches must be switched off and kept safely in school bags throughout the school day unless a documented exemption is in place.

To support students in meeting this expectation, teachers are being encouraged to offer a secure storage option in the classroom. This will include placing devices - phones and watches included - in a locked cupboard or drawer for the duration of the day. This additional layer of security aims to reduce distractions, minimise the risk of loss or damage, and help students remain focused on learning.

If parents need to contact their child during school hours, all communication should continue to go through the school office.
Thank you for your support in helping maintain a safe and focused learning environment for all students.

Mr Hayward
Upper Deputy

A reminder that students may place a lunch order, that will be delivered to the school, every Monday and Friday.

An account can be created at https://schoollunchonline.com.au/

If you already have an account please make sure you update your child's class info for 2026, too many students have orders sent to the wrong class.

The 2026 Issue 1 Book Club brochures were distributed this week. If you did not receive a brochure, check with your classroom teacher, or come and request one at the library.

There is no obligation to participate but if you would like to place an order the school library benefits from any purchases made.

Payment for orders can be made in one of the following ways:

• Cash - If paying by cash or cheque please place the completed order form along with payment in an envelope with Student name and Class clearly marked on the front and drop your order into the red letterbox in the front office.
• Credit card - If you would like to pay with a credit card please download the LOOP app or visit the LOOP website https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx to register/login and make your payment. There is no need to fill out and return the order form to school.

All orders are due back to school by Friday 13 February.

If you would like to place an order for gifts you can collect the order from the library rather than having it delivered to your child’s classroom. Just put a note on your order so we know your preference.

For late orders placed after 13 February Scholastic will offer parents a home delivery option for an additional fee. Any items purchased this way will be delivered to a home address – not the school.

If you have any questions or issues, please visit us in the library or email joanne.dumaresq@education.wa.edu.au for assistance.

Welcome to 2026 Family Picnic
We look forward to kicking off our 2026 calendar of events this year with our annual Welcome Picnic, where we can catch up with old friends and get to know all the new families we have in our school community. There will be sausage sizzles and ice-cream treats for purchase, as well as the school pool open to everyone. So, grab your picnic basket and your pool gear – we look forward to seeing you on Sunday 22 February from 3.00pm – 6.00pm.

Get involved with the P&C in 2026!
If you've ever thought, “I should get involved one day” — 2026 is your year!

Joining the P&C is fun, social, rewarding, and an incredible way to be part of our school’s heartbeat. You can give a little or a lot — every bit helps, and we promise you’ll enjoy the ride. We are keen to hear from anyone who has a specialist skillset that could be of benefit to our events in 2026... fresh eyes and faces to make 2026 amazing!

There’s no need for prior experience—just a willingness to get involved! Outgoing members will provide a full handover, and you’ll have plenty of support from both current and past P&C members.

If you would like to find out more about the P&C, what we do and how you can get involved, take a look at our page on the school's website. Let’s make 2026 bigger, brighter, and more connected.

Roles up for grabs this year are:

Events Coordinator: This role comprises of the two Events roles listed directly below however can be taken on in its entirety or as a job share in 2026. 

• Events Admin Coordinator:  Love planning, lists and organising from home? This behind-the-scenes hero helps prepare everything ‘admin’ before the big day. 
• Events Ops Coordinator: Prefer being hands-on and feel like you’re a doer? This role is all about bringing the event to life, guiding volunteers, and creating that fun buzz on the day.

General Events & Fundraising Committee members: Join a great team of volunteers to help organise our fantastic events and fundraising activities.If you have events, graphic design, communications or just enthusiasm to get involved in our school community, please contact our Events & Fundraising team at events@subiprimarypc.com.au

Co-VP/Uniform Shop Coordinator: In 2026, we will be recruiting a new Co-vice President to represent the P&C and support the Coordination of the Uniform shop and other P&C roles and committees. If you think you might be interested, please email Jo van Gorkum at president@subiprimarypc.com.au

Secretary: Responsible for issuing agendas and taking minutes for P&C meetings, twice a term, and maintaining P&C records. If you’re organised and think you might be interested, please contact Co-Secretary Daisy Rowe at secretary@subiprimarypc.com.au

CLP Coordinator: The CLP Coordinator shares information with the CLPs and supports them in fulfilling their role. They also provide a link with the school administration and P&C Executive. If you’d like to find out more about this role, please contact Catie Parsons at clp@subiaco.primary.pc.com.au

There will be plenty of support for the new roles from current and former P&C members, and the outgoing members will provide handovers and assistance as required. Subiaco Primary has a wonderful school community, and we encourage you to be an active part of it!

Class Liaison Parents
We are looking for parents from each class to take on the Class Liaison Parent (CLP) role – ideally two parents per class. This is an important and enjoyable role in connecting the school community. CLP’s also assist the P&C by helping to promote events within their class and year groups and seeking volunteers for these events.

Please notify your class teacher if you would like to volunteer as we would like these roles to be filled as soon as possible.

CLPs are supported by the P&C CLP Coordinator. Please contact clp@subiprimarypc.com.au if you have any queries about the CLP role.

Join Us for the P&C Annual General Meeting!
Want to get more involved in the school community? Come along to our AGM to meet other parents, learn what the P&C does, and even step into a role if you're interested!

When: Tuesday, 3 March | 7:00pm
Where: Subiaco Primary School Library

We’ll wrap up 2025 and vote in the 2026 Committee. Whether you’re keen to join or just curious, we’d love to see you there!

How to Join the P&C for 2026
✅ Fill out the P&C Membership Form and email it to secretary@subiprimarypc.com.au
✅ Pay $1 membership (with your name as reference) to:

Subiaco Primary P&C Association
BSB: 016 460 | ACN: 340889723

💡 Or simply sign up in person at the AGM!
Be part of something great—we’d love to have you! 😊

Birthday Celebrations
If your child’s birthday falls on a school day and you would like bring in a treat for the class, please consider healthy, nut free alternatives. Commercially bought, individual cup cakes are acceptable but due to our healthy eating policy we would rather parents not provide chocolates or lollies.

Student Absences
Enter an Attendance Note on Compass
A parent explanation is required for all student absences. Please enter this on Compass. Parent reminders will be emailed every Monday for any unexplained absences.

Updating School Records
If your address, telephone number or email address has changed, please contact the school office.

Publications Permission
Upon enrolment, parents decide whether to give consent for their child’s name, photo or work to be published in school newsletters, school related activities, promotional material for the Department of Education and articles for the West Australian and community newspapers. This consent continues for your child while enrolled at our school. If at any stage you want to change the permission status, then you will need to notify the office in writing.

It has been a pleasure to help all our new families and returning students in the Uniform Shop.

The lead into Term One is always very busy and I was grateful for the assistance of two former students, Gigi B and Sabine K. It is lovely that both girls, who are now Year 11 students, are still happy to be involved with their much loved primary school!

Special thanks to volunteer Bev Singleton for her constant assistance in the Uniform Shop. It is much appreciated!

School Choir will commence shortly. For special occasions and performances all children are required to wear our Music Polo.
They are available in the Uniform Shop in sizes 6 through to size 16 and priced at $40.

For all the new parents asking about Sports Faction Polos. The three factions are:
Julius - Gold Polo
Klein - White Polo
Llewellyn - Maroon Polo

The polo is worn on your child's sports day each week and at all sports carnival events. All sizes from size 4  to 16 are currently available instore and priced at $25. Alternatively, you may find a "preloved polo" on the rack for as little as $5.

Uniforms can be ordered online via the school website at
shop.subiprimarypc.com.au

Thank You for all the donations I have received for the "Pre-loved Rack". If you are donating items please ensure they are washed, free of stains and in good condition. No damaged items such as backpacks with broken zippers or dresses with faulty zippers can be accepted. The rack is currently very full, so it's a great time to shop and pick up a bargain!

I look forward to helping you with all your childrens uniform needs through the year!

Shan
Uniform Shop Coordinator.

National Lunchbox Week is an initiative of Nutrition Australia that aims to inspire Australian families to create enjoyable and nourishing lunchboxes.

​Throughout the campaign we're celebrating the lunchbox and how it reflects diversity, enjoyment and nourishment.​

Encouraging enjoyable and pressure free lunchbox experiences supports children’s wellbeing and helps build a positive relationship with food.

National Lunchbox Week helps families, schools and early childhood settings by:

• Promoting positive lunchbox experiences for children
• Keeping lunchbox packing simple
• Providing reassurance for parents and carers
• Supporting budget friendly lunchboxes
• Getting kids involved

Nutrition Australia offers a suite of practical tips, ready-to-use resources and simple recipes to support families and carers.

For more information visit www.lunchboxweek.org/

Redhage Basketball School Program
This program is designed to give boys and girls in years 1-6  the opportunity to play basketball at the convenience of their local primary school. The program runs for 8 weeks with classes grouped by grade and age level.  The 8-week course costs $140 and has been designed so children can learn and advance their skills throughout the 8 weeks.

Location: Subiaco Primary School
Duration: 8 weeks
Date/Time: Feb 6 to Mar 27 / 3.15pm-4.15pm
Cost: $140

Year 1-6 students can participate and they are split into age groups

Register at www.redhagebasketball.com

For other community classes, activities and events that are available to families in Subiaco please click HERE.

Saturday 7 February 2026

This weekend at Subi Farmers Market, come and grab warm cinnamon scrolls, fresh orange juice, and all your favourite market goodies. Whether you’re stocking up on fresh fruit and veggies or just popping by for a relaxing Saturday morning, there’s plenty to enjoy.

Wander the stalls, say hi to your local farmers, and soak up the market vibes — it’s the perfect way to start the weekend!

SUBIACO PRIMARY SCHOOL
271 Bagot Rd, Subiaco WA 6008.
Phone: 08 9207 7900
Email: subiaco.ps@education.wa.edu.au