1 May 2026

Welcome to term 2- 2026!

“We remember and say thank you to those who gave so much for others.”

IN THIS EDITION:

• Anzac Day & Ceremony
• Celebrating Our Progress and Looking Ahead
• Education Forum
• Parking, Traffic & Kiss and Drive
• Food for thought 
• Interschool Swimming Carnival 
• Mail Train 
• Join the challenge: Premier’s Reading Challenge 2026
• Helping Hands Wanted Book Covering

• Upcoming events and promotions

KEY DATES     

            🚸 National Walk Safely to School Day: 22nd of May 2026
            🏃 CPS Cross Country: 22nd of May 2026
            👥 P&C Meeting: 13th of May at 6:30 pm
            🗓️ Pupil Free Day: 29th of May 2026

NOTES

Lost Property Reminder! We currently have a large number of unclaimed items in the school office. If your child is missing any belongings, we kindly ask that you come in and check the lost property collection.

As storage space is limited and items continue to accumulate, any uncollected belongings will be donated to the uniform shop at the end of each term.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

ANZAC DAY

“Lest we forget. It is easy to be human, very hard to be humane.” – Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib

ANZAC Day holds deep meaning for many Australians. For me, its significance lies in the opportunity to pause, reflect and feel gratitude for the nation we call home. Australia is an extraordinary country, respected around the world for its loyalty, courage, skill, determination and generosity. At our best, we stand up not only for ourselves but for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

While ANZAC Day is a solemn time of remembrance, it is also a powerful message from the past, calling us to build a better future. It reminds us of the responsibility we have to nurture a society that is strong, compassionate and united. We want our children to grow up believing that what they contribute matters more than what they receive.

At Coolbinia, this message shapes our work with students every day. We support our children to become capable, authentic and emotionally courageous individuals. We encourage them to recognise and accept their feelings, knowing that this self-awareness builds resilience and strength. When students are willing to face difficult emotions such as disappointment, embarrassment and frustration, they develop grit. They learn to persevere, to take risks, to engage in challenging conversations and to stand firm in what they know is right.

ANZAC Day is not only about honouring the past, it is equally about shaping the future. The sacrifices made by those before us were for a better tomorrow, for our nation and for its children. It is our responsibility to carry that legacy forward. Lest we forget!

Anzac Ceremony

Today we held a moving ANZAC Day assembly. We extend our sincere thanks to Brigadier General Philip White for his powerful address, reflecting on the first and second ANZAC Days, four years apart. It was particularly special to share this occasion with his family. His grandson Samuel, a former student, played the bagpipes beautifully, and it is wonderful to have another grandson currently in Year 4 at our school.

Thank you also to Mr Welch for leading the choir in a heartfelt performance of Remember Them and for conducting our ensemble orchestra with such care and excellence.

Lilly Morris, Sebastian Ivanescu, and Thomas Cunningham attending the Mt Lawley ANZAC service. We are proud to see our students representing the school and paying their respects on this important occasion.
 

Celebrating Our Progress and Looking Ahead

Over the past three years, our school has been guided by a clear Business Plan focused on strong teaching, student wellbeing, and positive learning outcomes. As we come to the end of this planning cycle, we are pleased to share some of the key successes achieved and to let our community know that we are now beginning the process of developing our next Business Plan for 2027 to 2029, building on this good work.

What Have We Achieved?
Strong teaching and learning across the school
• We have embedded consistent whole school approaches to teaching
• Writing: Talk for Writing in Kindergarten to Year 2 and Seven Steps for Writing Success in Years 3 to 6
• Mathematics: A clear approach using hands on learning and problem solving, the Concrete Pictorial Abstract approach
• Teachers work collaboratively to plan, assess, and support students, helping ensure consistency and high expectations across all classrooms

Improved student learning outcomes
• Student achievement has shown clear improvement over time, particularly in Reading and Numeracy
• In 2025, our Year 5 students performed above similar schools in
• Reading
• Spelling
• Grammar and Punctuation
• Numeracy
• Early childhood assessment data continues to show strong foundations for learning as children begin school

A positive, safe and supportive learning environment
• Student wellbeing and behaviour have improved significantly
• Students with no recorded negative behaviour incidents increased from 77 percent in 2023 to 88 percent in 2024, and this improvement was maintained in 2025
• Whole school wellbeing programs such as Positive Behaviour Support, Friendology, Zones of Regulation, and Be You are now well established and consistently used across year levels

Strong leadership and planning
• The way our school is led has continued to strengthen, with a clear focus on teaching quality, student wellbeing, and culture
• Our most recent Public-School Review confirmed strong leadership, effective self-review processes, and a clear upward improvement trend
• The School Board continues to work closely with school leadership to support long term planning and sustainability

Responsible financial management
• The school remains in a strong and sustainable financial position, allowing us to carefully invest in staffing, learning resources, and programs that directly benefit students

Looking Ahead: Our Next Business Plan 2027 to 2029
With these strong foundations in place, we are now beginning to develop our next three-year Business Plan. This new plan will build on what has been working well and focus on
• Further strengthening teaching and learning
• Supporting every child to thrive academically and emotionally
• Continuing to improve student outcomes, particularly in writing
• Ensuring our school remains a welcoming, inclusive, and connected community

We will keep families informed as this work progresses and look forward to continuing our partnership with parents and carers as we shape the next chapter of our school’s journey.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Together, we continue to help our students flourish.

Education Forum

We were honoured to recently host the Hon. Sabine Winton at our school for a special Education Forum, bringing together community representatives from Government, Catholic, and Independent schools. This was a valuable opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion about the future of education, share perspectives, and strengthen connections across our broader school community.

The forum was arranged by our local member, Frank Paolino, whose ongoing support for our school is deeply appreciated. Frank is a passionate advocate for education, and his commitment to creating opportunities like this ensures that the voices of our community are heard at the highest levels.

We thank both the Minister and Mr Paolino for their time, insights, and dedication to supporting quality education for all students.

Parking, Traffic & Kiss and Drive
A Quick Reminder

A gentle reminder as we head through another busy term: patience, courtesy and calm driving make a big difference at drop‑off and pick‑up. We know mornings and afternoons can feel rushed, but everyone’s time matters equally, and safe, predictable driving helps things run smoothly for all.

We’ve recently noticed a few moments of frustration on the road (such as honking, cutting queues or rushed manoeuvres). We ask families to please slow things down, follow the Kiss and Drive process, and support one another especially as children are moving around vehicles.

The Kiss and Drive works best as a quick stop, stay‑in‑your‑car, drop‑and‑go zone. Parking or leaving cars in this area causes congestion and delays for everyone. If you’d like a quick refresher, this short video explains how Kiss and Drive systems work most effectively: 🎥 KissDrive 

Note: Times shown in the video are not 100% accurate.
Drop-off time: 08:15 AM – 08:35 AM
Pick-up time: 02:50 PM – 03:15 PM
 

Thank you, as always, for your cooperation and care. When we work together calmly and patiently, we help keep our school community safe and respectful.
 

Food for Thought

As we begin a new term it is a good time to pause and reset as a family. The start of Term 2 brings new routines learning goals and opportunities for children to grow in confidence and independence. In the busyness of school life, it can be helpful to take a moment at home to talk with children about the small things that help each day run smoothly such as being organised in the morning showing care for belongings and making safe choices on the way to and from school. These everyday habits build responsibility and set children up for success.

It is also a valuable time to reflect on how we interact with others in our school community. Simple conversations about respect kindness and looking out for one another help children understand the impact of their actions and the importance of being considerate in all situations.
 

Interschool Swimming Carnival

Well done to our Swim Team, we came fourth overall, a terrific accomplishment given it was we are competing against much larger schools. There was great spirit and drive to do their best, individually and collectively. Many of our team swam personal best times which was a wonderful result and a true reflection of the hard work and training the students put in leading up to the carnival.

Thank you to Brandon Picaro for his organisation ensuing a smooth operation of the day and a big thank you to the parents who volunteered on the day.

Meal Train Service
Supporting Our School Community

The Meal Train Service is now up and running in Term 2. It is a simple yet meaningful way to show kindness, build connections, and support one another within our community.

The family we are supporting is a family of five adults and one child. Families are invited to contribute by providing a meal and selecting a suitable date using the link below. Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a meaningful difference and is greatly appreciated.

To sign up and choose a day to provide a meal, please visit:
https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/5wr0ew

Thank you for your kindness and ongoing support of our school community.

 

Premier’s Reading Challenge 2026

Start your exciting reading adventure and be in the running to win weekly prizes in the Premier’s Reading Challenge.

After you finish your reading material, sign in to your account to log and track your progress. Our booklist is full of great reading inspiration with suggestions for all ages. You can also log any other books or reading material you enjoy during the challenge. 

The challenge runs for 12 weeks from 23 March to 12 June 2026. Make sure you reach your reading goal. To complete the challenge and go into the draw to win major prizes:

• Kindergarten to Year 6 students read 12 or more books
• Year 7 to 12 students read 6 or more books.

Keep track of your reading adventures with a Premier’s Reading Challenge account. How to register: The challenge - Premier's Reading Challenge
 

Helping Hands Wanted Book Covering

A stack of brand new books has landed at school, and they’re bursting with adventure! Our Year 3 students are about to grab their passports and travel all around Australia, our Year 4 students will make first contact with a friendly (and very surprising) alien from Jupiter, and our Year 5 students will brave icy winds on a far‑off Arctic island where a remarkable friendship with a polar bear awaits.

To keep these treasured tales safe and snug, we’re calling on any parents or grandparents who might enjoy helping with book covering. Your time and care will help these stories last for many years of young readers.

If you can lend a hand, please contact our Librarian, Kendra Mewett.
Kendra can be found in the library on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Alternatively, email her at kendra.mewett@education.wa.edu.au.

We’d love to hear from you. Thank you for being part of the journey!

Upcoming events and promotions

Before School Soccer is Back

Mark Lee Football Coaching is back for another term of Before School Soccer.

The program has been running at the school each term since 2018 and it’s the ideal way for your child to start their school day.

Mark was a former professional player in England, Scotland & Australia & his team & him will provide dynamic, positive & fun coaching sessions

Dates    Wednesday’s 13 May to 17 June 2026
Time      7:30-8:30am
Cost      $129 per child for 6-week program

Children can be walked to class after the session if you wish.