25 September 2026
Welcome to week 10 - Term 3 - 2026!
"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud" – Maya Angelou
IN THIS EDITION:
• Principal's Message
• Celebrating Growth, Effort and Achievement
• School Voluntary Contributions
• Board Elections
• Kitchen Garden Visit
• Term 3 River Rangers Update
• Fete
• Modern Mona Lisa
• Science Week
• Food for thought
• Upcoming events & promotions
IMPORTANT DATES TERM 4:
• 13 Oct- Edu dance starting
• 23 Oct- Choir Assembly
• 30 Oct- P&C Spooky Disco
KEY DATES:
• 20 Oct- School Board Meeting 6PM
REMINDER NOTES:
Edu Dance: Just a friendly reminder to please ensure Edu Dance payment and permission are made by Sunday, 11th October. Unfortunately, students cannot participate in the class if payment hasn’t been received by then.
Thank you!
Be You Mental Health & Wellbeing Survey: We invite families to complete our annual Be You Family Survey by the end of term, if possible.
The anonymous survey takes approximately 15 minutes and helps us understand what is working well and how we can continue to support the mental health and wellbeing of our students and school community.
https://beyou.syd1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8BrqyFHxHoJ4DXv?survey_id=11923776996
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback!
Principal's Message
Why This Work Matters. As many of you know, I will shortly be travelling to Melbourne to attend the Australian Schools Canteen Association (ASCA) annual charity event in my role as Vice Chair of the organisation. While the event celebrates another successful year of supporting schools across Australia, its true purpose reaches far beyond procurement, canteens or cost savings.
I first became involved with ASCA fourteen years ago because I was drawn to a simple but powerful idea: when organisations work together and act with purpose, they can create opportunities for children who need them most.
Every day as educators, we see the profound difference that care, encouragement and opportunity can make in a child's life. While many children thrive with strong family support and access to resources, there are others who face significant challenges beyond their control. They may experience poverty, instability, illness, trauma or disadvantage that can make learning and wellbeing much more difficult.
One of the things I am most proud of about ASCA is that every surplus dollar generated is directed back into supporting charities that work with vulnerable young people across Australia. This year alone, more than $400,000 will be distributed to organisations dedicated to improving the education, wellbeing and life opportunities of disadvantaged children.
The reality is that none of us can solve every problem facing children and young people. However, we can all play a part in providing a helping hand. As educators, parents and community members, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that every child has the chance to feel safe, valued, supported and hopeful about their future. The work of ASCA reminds me that meaningful change often begins with small acts of generosity multiplied across a community. When schools, businesses, suppliers and volunteers work together with a shared purpose, the impact can be extraordinary.
I feel incredibly privileged to contribute to this work and to represent our school community in doing so. Thank you for your support while I am away and thank you for the many ways our Coolbinia community continues to demonstrate compassion, kindness and a commitment to helping others. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children both within our own community and beyond.
Simon Reid, Principal
Vice Chair, Australian Schools Canteen Association (ASCA)
Celebrating Growth, Effort and Achievement at Coolbinia Primary School
At Coolbinia Primary School, we are proud to celebrate the outstanding progress our students are making and to acknowledge the dedication of our teachers who work tirelessly every day to support learning, wellbeing and success.
Our latest NAPLAN growth data paints a positive picture of a school community that is focused on continuous improvement. Students have demonstrated strong growth across Reading, Numeracy, Spelling, and Grammar & Punctuation, outperforming Like Schools, WA Public Schools and National benchmarks in many areas. These results reflect the commitment of our students to their learning and the expertise of our staff in creating engaging, high-quality learning experiences.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the data is the exceptional progress students have made in Reading. Growth in this area significantly exceeded that of comparable schools, highlighting the impact of the strong literacy foundations being built in classrooms every day. Our students have also shown remarkable improvements in Grammar & Punctuation and continued strong performance in Numeracy. Particularly pleasing is the significant improvement in Spelling, which has moved from a position of lower achievement to higher achievement when compared with Like Schools.
NAPLAN data tells different stories about student achievement and progress. One of the most meaningful measures is the Stable Cohort—students who completed NAPLAN at Coolbinia Primary School in both Year 3 and Year 5. This allows us to track the growth of students who experienced our teaching and learning programs across the full two-year period.
What do the bars represent?
Stable Cohort: Growth of students who completed NAPLAN at Coolbinia Primary School in both Year 3 and Year 5.
Like Schools: Average growth of schools with similar student demographics.
Australia: Average national growth.
The data provides encouraging evidence that our Stable Cohort achieved Writing growth comparable with Like Schools, WA Public Schools and Australia. While overall Writing achievement remains an area for continued focus, the growth data shows that our students are making meaningful progress over time.
Targeted interventions, explicit teaching and increased support for writing development are beginning to have a positive impact. Importantly, the achievement and progress of our current Year 6 students, assessed within their first six weeks of high school, provide further evidence that the approaches and programs implemented at Coolbinia Primary School are supporting improved writing outcomes. This demonstrates why growth matters: students may begin at different points, but the progress they make over time is a significant indicator of the impact of teaching and learning.
These results in this newsletter are not simply numbers on a page. They represent thousands of hours of learning, teaching, planning, feedback, practice and perseverance. They reflect students who challenge themselves every day, families who support learning at home, and staff who continually refine their practice to achieve the best possible outcomes for every child.
I would like to sincerely thank our teachers, education assistants and support staff for their professionalism, expertise and unwavering commitment to our students. I would also like to congratulate our students on their hard work, resilience and determination to do their best. Every gain in learning begins with effort, and our students should be proud of what they have achieved.
Together, we have much to celebrate and every reason to be optimistic about the future. At Coolbinia Primary School, we are not only achieving strong results; we are building a culture where every learner is encouraged to grow, strive and succeed.
Outstanding teachers make the greatest difference to student achievement, but their impact is strengthened when students have access to high-quality learning resources. Voluntary Contributions and P&C support help make this possible.
Why Are School Voluntary Contributions Important?
One of the strengths of Western Australia’s public education system is the Government’s commitment to ensuring every child has access to a quality education. While tuition is free, the Government funds staffing, buildings and essential school operations. Every child is entitled to participate fully in the school’s educational program, regardless of whether voluntary contributions are paid.
However, Government funding for many classroom learning resources is limited. This is where School Voluntary Contributions and P&C Contributions make a valuable difference. At Coolbinia Primary School, the voluntary contribution is $60 per student, the maximum amount permitted for primary schools under the School Education Regulations 2000. These funds supplement expenditure across learning areas and support resources that enhance teaching and learning.
The $60 contribution is distributed across our learning areas, with
$10 supporting The Arts (Music and Art)
$10 for English and Library
$15 for Mathematics, $5 for Humanities and Social Sciences
$10 for Science
$10 for Physical Education and Health.
These contributions help fund library resources, mathematics equipment, science materials, art supplies, digital learning tools, educational subscriptions and other classroom resources. At Coolbinia Primary School, our highly skilled and dedicated educators have the greatest impact when they have access to quality resources that engage students, support differentiated learning and bring the curriculum to life.
We sincerely thank the families who support our school through School Voluntary Contributions and P&C Contributions. Your support directly enhances learning experiences and helps us provide engaging, high-quality educational opportunities for every child.
Board Elections
I want to congratulate, Leonie Harris, Marisa Orr, and Sam Dib-Milston on being elected on to the Board. Each of our new Board Members has a wealth of experience in a range of areas and will be positive additions to the Board.
I want to thank them for being part of the Board. They are all outstanding people who will make a great contribution to the school as we now venture on the implementation of our Ten-Year Strategy to ensure our school remains at the forefront of education.
Further, I want to take this
opportunity to thank the outgoing Board Members Louise Markovic, (Chair), and Gail Martinovich. These two people have made an extraordinary contribution to progressing the Board and the school. Louise’s leadership as the Board Chair has resulted in the streamlining of practice and process for Board Operations and has worked tirelessly to improve the standing of the school. I am very grateful for their contribution and support. Please join me in thanking them.
Kitchen Garden Visit
We were delighted to welcome Minister Hannah Beazley and Kitchen Garden CEO Rob Rees to Coolbinia Primary School for a special visit to our Kitchen Garden program.
Mrs Sari, Mr Rea, Mrs Parke, our Sustainability Captains and Room 7 students proudly took our guests on a tour of the vegetable gardens. Students then used freshly harvested produce to make delicious pesto and shared their Kitchen Garden learning with our visitors in the Kwobadarn.
Term 3 River Rangers Update
It has been a busy and rewarding term for our Year 6 River Rangers, with a strong focus on biodiversity, waterways, sustainability and environmental action.
Students have taken part in a range of hands-on learning experiences, including biodiversity investigations, fungi-focused Biological Sciences learning, Dolphin Watch, SERCUL environmental science and Eco-Action incursions. They have also explored the UN Sustainable Development Goals and prepared sustainability displays and activities for the Year 6 Fete.
This week, River Rangers staff Mr Wilson, Mr Rea, Miss Moon, Mr Porcaro and Mr Joyce attended the Cadets WA 30th Anniversary Statewide Conference. The two-day conference brought together cadet leaders and instructors from across WA for professional learning, networking and environmental education experiences at the Swan River, Kings Park and Perth Zoo.
It was a wonderful opportunity to gather new ideas and inspiration for future River Rangers learning at Coolbinia. We look forward to continuing our environmental education and student leadership work in Term 4.
What a Fete!
Last Wednesday’s school fete was a huge success, and we couldn’t be happier with how the day turned out! We raised over $6,000, with half of the proceeds going towards a great charity.
There was plenty of fun and laughter throughout the day, including the very popular foam throwing, where some teachers and our gardener Dave bravely took turns getting covered in foam! Of course, it didn’t take long before the students joined in on the fun too!
There was something for everyone, with lots of delicious food and treats, from Japanese inspired dishes and Aussie style fries to coolies, cupcakes and plenty of other goodies. There were also lots of games, activities and entertainment to keep everyone busy and having fun.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the fete such a fantastic day. Our staff, students, families and volunteers all played a big part in making the day so special. Thank you for helping us make it such a great success!
Modern Mona Lisa and
T Shirt Competition
It’s that time of year again when students and families come together to create their very own Modern Mona Lisa masterpieces.
With the Italian soccer teams recently visiting Perth, students were also inspired to create their own soccer jerseys and memorabilia tops. The creativity and artistic flair have once again been truly amazing, making the judging a very difficult task! We are now excited to announce our winners!
Modern Mona Lisa
1st Place: Daniel Family, Year 5 / Year 3
2nd Place: Kassandra, Year 5
3rd Place: Rahaf, Year 4
4th Place: Robert, Year 3
T Shirt Competition
1st Place: Natalia, Year 6
2nd Place: Emily and Hayley, Year 4 / PP
3rd Place: Mila, Year 4
4th Place: Zion, Year 3
A huge congratulations to all our winners and to everyone who took part.
We were so impressed by the creativity, effort and enthusiasm shown by our students. FANTASTICO! ECCELLENTE! Signora Zeiser - Italian Teacher
Science Week
This term we celebrated Science Week with a special focus on fungi.
Every class across the school, from Kindy to Year 6, explored the fascinating world of fungi and had the opportunity to watch their very own species grow from almost nothing into something edible!
Students were amazed to see how quickly their fungi grew and enjoyed learning about the different types of fungi and how they are different from other living things. Some classes even cooked their fungi and had a taste, with varying degrees of enjoyment!
Students also discovered just how important fungi are to our environment and the role they play in nature. Our Year 6 students took their learning even further by exploring how fungi can be used to create sustainable materials, including leather.
It was a fantastic week of growing, learning, experimenting and, of course, a little bit of tasting! Have a look at some of our photos to see what we discovered during Science Week.
Food for Thought
As we head into the school holidays, we have a little challenge for our students: What will you discover?
Learning doesn’t only happen in the classroom. Explore somewhere new, read a book, cook something, build, create, spend time outdoors or simply ask questions about the world around you. Take time to rest, play and enjoy time with family and friends, and perhaps come back ready to share one new thing you discovered during the holidays!
We wish all our Coolbinia families a safe, happy and relaxing break.
Upcoming events and promotions
Before and After School Activities – Term 4, 2026
There are lots of exciting opportunities for students to get active, learn new skills and have fun with friends before and after school in Term 4.
Run & Walk Club
Run & Walk Club is back from Week 2 of Term 4 and will be held every Wednesday at 7:30am on the school oval. It is a great way for students to build fitness, prepare for the Athletics Carnival and Interschool events, and have fun with friends. Parents and staff are also welcome to join us, with a coffee van on site each Wednesday morning.
Day: Wednesday
Time: 7:30am
Location: School oval
Starts: Week 2 of Term 4
Young Engineers After School Club
Young Engineers is back for Term 4, offering students the opportunity to take part in hands on STEM activities while building motorised LEGO® models. Students will explore engineering concepts while creating racing cars, earthmovers, amusement park rides and much more.
Day: Tuesday
Time: 3:00pm to 4:15pm
Location: The Kwobadarn
Dates: Tuesday 20 October to Tuesday 8 December 2026
Cost: 8 sessions
Enrolments: A few places are still available. Visit bit.ly/YEPerthNorth to find out more and enrol.
Before School Hot Shots Tennis
Play Tennis is offering an eight week Before School Hot Shots Tennis Program for students aged 5 to 12 years in Years 1 to 6. The program provides a fun and engaging way for students to develop their tennis skills, hand eye coordination and confidence through games and activities.
Day: Friday
Time: 7:45am to 8:30am
Starts: Friday 16 October 2026
Duration: 8 consecutive weeks
Cost: $140 per child
New players can join at any time during the term and will only pay for the remaining weeks. All equipment is provided. To enrol, visit https://allsquads.com.au/classes/coolbinia-ps-term-4-2026-mu8fl4j3 and select Coolbinia Primary School.
Before School Soccer
Mark Lee Football Coaching is excited to be back in Term 4 and welcomes all children to join us for a fun and active start to the school day. focuses on developing soccer skills, confidence and a love of the game. Sessions are play based and include small sided games in a fun, engaging and supportive environment. Children are grouped by age to ensure the best experience for everyone, and younger participants can be escorted to class after the session.
Dates: Wednesday 28 October to Wednesday 2 December
Time: 7:30am to 8:30am
Cost: $139 per child
To register: Contact Mark on 0430 788 703 or mark@mlfc.com.au
Visit our Coolbinia website: Community Notices – Coolbinia Primary School
MT LAWLEY DENTAL THERAPY CENTRE
September to October School Holiday Notice
Mt Lawley School Dental Therapy Centre will be open during the upcoming school holidays from Tuesday 29 September to Friday 9 October.
For emergency treatment only, please contact 9271 5561 between 8am and 4pm. For emergency treatment outside these hours, or on Monday 28 September, please contact your private dentist or 1800 098 818.
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