Dear Parents and Carers,

Subiaco Primary School has long been recognised as a high-performing school, and much of our success has come from the shared commitment between our staff, families, and students to pursue excellence. We are proud of this strong tradition and, importantly, we also know that sustained excellence depends on our willingness to evolve and continuously improve.

As I shared with you in our last newsletter, we are honoured to have been selected as an intern school for the Centre for Excellence in the Explicit Teaching of Literacy for 2025/26. This opportunity is part of a broader commitment to the Department of Education’s Quality Teaching Strategy; a strategy grounded in research about what makes the greatest difference in improving learning for every child.

At the heart of this work is a simple but powerful idea: that high-quality teaching, grounded in evidence, is the single most effective way to improve student achievement and progress. To create the conditions for this, we are focusing our collective efforts on understanding the Preconditions for Positive Learning: clear expectations, consistent routines, and strong teacher-student relationships that support every child to feel safe, supported, and ready to learn.

We are sharing this information with you because we know how important clear communication and shared understanding is between school and home. You may have already heard your child talking about some of the consistent approaches we’re implementing across the school. For example, our whole-school attention signal (hand in the air), or how we are learning to move around the school and enter classrooms in a calm, focused, and respectful way. These shared practices are part of a deliberate, research-informed effort to create a learning environment where students are fully switched on and ready to engage.

You may be familiar with some of the research that supports this approach. For more than 50 years, empirical studies have shown that students learn best when instruction is explicit, consistent, and informed by what works, not just what feels familiar or sounds good in theory. It is no longer enough to rely on how we were taught, or on personal preferences about learning. Education is a professional discipline, and just like in medicine or engineering, our practices must be shaped by the best available evidence.

This does not mean a one-size-fits-all approach. It means that all teachers at Subiaco PS are working together collaboratively and purposefully to deliver instruction that is clear, structured, and responsive to student needs. When all staff are aligned in their teaching, the impact is significantly greater than when approaches vary widely between classrooms.

This process of implementation is not about quick fixes or top-down mandates. It is about thoughtful, strategic change built on strong relationships, professional trust, and a shared belief that every student can succeed. Effective implementation also requires a supportive culture: one where time, resources, and collaboration are valued, and where everyone from teachers to students to parents understands the ‘why’ behind the ‘what.’

As parents, you are a vital part of this journey. Your engagement, feedback, and understanding will help shape our success. We truly value hearing your thoughts, questions, and insights. Please don’t hesitate to reach out we are listening and learning together.

There will be much more information shared as we continue our work through the Centre for Excellence in the coming months. As we learn, refine, and grow as a staff, we will keep you informed every step of the way. Together, we can ensure that our school not only continues to perform highly but becomes a leading example of evidence-informed teaching and learning in action.

Our goal is clear: to make Subiaco PS not just a high-performing school, but a truly outstanding one where every student is supported to thrive, and where teaching is continuously improving because it is underpinned by research, collaboration, and clarity.

Thank you for your ongoing support and shared commitment to excellence. We look forward to working with you as we take this exciting next step together.

Warm regards,
Heather McNeil

Creative Schools is continuing in U4 this term, working with Anne Gee, a visual artist. Last term, we explored ‘seeing things with different eyes’, and undertook many different creative projects where we imagined things in different ways to what they seemed.

This term, we began by using our creativity to explore language, storytelling and poetry. On Monday, we had a lot of fun exploring ants. Our first activity was to watch an ant move across a page and track their movements. This not only created a piece of art in itself, but gave us some ideas of how we could write about ants.

We then brainstormed some other traits of ants after creating them in our journals using just an ink pad and our fingerprints. Anne showed us how simple poetry can be by just using a few words about ants, reminding us that poems don’t have to rhyme, don’t need regular punctuation and can be about anything. We cut out words from books, magazines and included our own words about ants to create a simple ant poem. Without realising, the class had created their own poems, and it was not tricky at all, and it was a lot of fun! Next week, we will look at the story that can be told from one image and one word.

Congratulations to the following students on their incredible submissions for the design competition for Telethon. The following 4 designs were selected to be printed onto magnets to raise funds for Telethon. The Wellbeing and Engagement Committee had the difficult task of selecting just four designs from over 40 entries.

Our goal is to help inspire the next generation of community leaders and support Telethon’s vital work to improve the lives of WA kids.

Magnets will be available to purchase for $10 (for a set of 4) at the Book Week event and the Subiaco Farmer's Market on Saturday 30 August. With only 100 sets printed, you won't want to miss out.

Winning designs:
K/PP: Eilish L8B
1/2: Lottie L6
3/4: Aadya M2, Riley M3
5/6 (no entries so an additional entry from 3/4 category was selected).

Click HERE for photos.

We’re thrilled to be celebrating Book Week with a Parade on Thursday, 21 August at 9:00am, followed by a whole-school Book Stall in the undercover area. All proceeds will go towards Telethon 2025, our major fundraising event for the year!

To support this cause, we kindly ask families to consider:

• Donating good quality children’s books (with parental permission)
• A gold coin donation in exchange for a book

Book donations will be accepted from Thursday 7 August to Tuesday 19 August. Each classroom will have a labelled tub or box for students to drop off their books.
Thank you for helping us make this a fun and meaningful event for our school community!

Thank you Subiaco Primary School for your generosity with your donations for the Social Justice Group led Food Drive.

Together we collected 803kg of items for Food Bank WA. This is more than the weight of an adult polar bear!

These foods, toiletries and other essentials will go to support people in need.

Click HERE for photos.

Get Involved With the P&C!

We Need You! 💛

At Subiaco Primary, we’re incredibly lucky to have a strong, caring school community — and so much of what makes our school great comes down to the efforts of our amazing volunteers.

As a government school, the majority of our upgrades rely on fundraising events and voluntary contributions. Unfortunately, our events don’t run themselves — they need people like you to bring them to life! We have such an amazing community of families and teachers who make Subi great. Whether you can give a little time or a lot, every bit helps, and it all has a ripple effect on how fantastic we can make our school for all our kids — now and in the future.

Getting involved with the P&C or one of our sub-committees is a great way to meet other families, support the school, and feel more connected to this wonderful community. You’ll be part of a friendly, supportive team, and we’d love to have you on board! No experience needed — just a willingness to pitch in. 💪

👉 Find out more on our P&C page or email us at secretary@subiprimarypc.com.au.

Let’s make great things happen together!

🎉 Save the Date 🎉
Athletics Carnival Food Stall – Friday 29 August

Get ready! Our much-loved Food Stall will be back at the Senior Athletics Carnival on Friday 29 August. 🍎🍰

There’ll be a call-out soon for homemade food donations and sign up for volunteers to help on the day — so stay tuned for more details!

Thanks in advance for your support — we can’t wait to make it a fun and successful day!

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.

ABC celebrates Australia's underrated animals for Science Week

What would you say is Australia's most underrated animal? To mark National Science Week (9-17 August) the ABC is trying to find out! And spotlighting the plight of some of our incredible wildlife - but not the usual cuddly crowd-pleasers. We're talking the ugly, annoying or lesser-known critters that are often overlooked, under-conserved... and underrated!

A starting "Top 10" has been compiled by ABC Radio National's science journalists, in consultation with wildlife scientists and audiences. The list includes animals from across the continent and the animal kingdom, from invertebrates to marsupials - all of whom are in need of a little more love, and some of whom you may have never heard of. A public vote will launch on Friday 1 August, accompanied by a series of social media videos and special episodes of the podcast What the Duck?! with Ann Jones, profiling the contenders. The results will be announced live on Radio National at 12.00pm on Friday 15 August 15.

Vote now at www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-08-01/science-week-underrated-australian-animal-vote/105582104

The Sports Carnivals for Junior and Senior students is scheduled for late August and I have had queries from new parents regarding the different shirts worn for sports days and the lightweight microfibre shorts.

The three Factions are: Julius wear Gold Shirts, Klein wear White shirts and Llewellyn wear Maroon. All polos are available in the Uniform Shop in sizes 4 to 16. There are also a few pre-loved polos available for a very low price!

The Microfibre Shorts are a great choice for sports days. They are a quick dry fabric, featuring a shorter leg length and are suitable for boys and girls. Shorts are available in sizes 4 to size 16 and priced at $25. 

Our Sports Socks are a breathable cotton, very durable and look smart with maroon trim. The socks come in 3 sizes 13-3 for age 7-10 years, size 2-8 for 10 years and size 7-11 for over 10 years. There are 2 pairs in a pack, priced at $15.

Please order online shop.subiprimarypc.com.au or visit the Uniform Shop before the Sports Carnivals in Week 6.

I am currently seeking pre-loved Backpacks in both small and large sizes. If you have a Backpack your child has outgrown, please donate it as I have none to offer new students!  The Backpacks must have good working zippers, no tears and be in a clean condition so it is fit for another child to use.  Many thanks!

I look forward to helping you with all your children’s needs.
Shan : )

Do you reycle right?

What’s in?
Only these 5 – rinsed, loose and with lids off.

• Cans – aluminium and steel
• Glass bottles and jars – lids removed
• Plastic bottles and containers – lids removed
• Cardboard – flattened
• Paper – not shredded

What’s out?
Everything else. That includes plastic bottle lids.

Common recycling bin contaminants

Aerosols	Drop off for free at the West Metro Recycling Centre as part of Household Hazardous Waste program.
Disposable coffee cups and lids	Put in your general waste bin. Avoid the waste in the first place by bringing your own reusable cup or taking a moment to dine in and enjoy your coffee.
Food scraps	Put in your FOGO bin if you have one, or compost the plant-based ones. Otherwise, all scraps can go in your red-lidded general waste bin.
Plastic bags and soft plastics	Due to the suspension of REDcycle activities in November 2022, we advise residents to stop separating soft plastics and put them in your general waste bin instead.
Plastic bottle lids	Plastic bottle lids are too small to be recycled through kerbside collection. Drop off at the West Metro Recycling Centre or take them to your local Containers for Change depot when you drop off your eligible drink containers.
Polystyrene	Take bulk polystyrene to the West Metro Recycling Centre for free.

 

Subiaco Library Kids Corner
Subiaco Library is thrilled to be hosting the launch of Kylie Howarth's latest release Kev & Trev: Snot Scary Jungle Stories. Join us for a morning filled with jungle tales, snacks, a sneaky scavenger hunt, games and crafts.

Saturday 16 August | 10.30am
Subiaco Library | Free
Info and bookings at www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/see-do/good-to-know/events/book-launch-kev-trev-2-by-kylie-howarth-458b5409

Children's Book Week
Join us as we celebrate Children's Book Week at Subiaco Library! Visit our interactive display between 16 and 29 August while we host over 1000 school kids listening to local authors and illustrators. Storytime and Baby Rhymetime will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays only during this time.

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

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