Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the final term of 2026! There is so much to look forward to, including Edu Dance, our Remembrance Day choir performance, the Lap-a-thon and Food Stall, Graduation photos, Speak Up Awards, the IMMS concert and our Year 6 Graduation Ceremony. It promises to be a busy and memorable term.

We finished Term 3 with a wonderful celebration of our students’ learning and achievements at Open Night. I honestly think it was the best Open Night I have seen! The excitement, creativity and pride throughout the school were a joy to see. You must have been so proud of your children.

Thank you for the wonderfully uplifting and supportive feedback. Our teachers put their heart and soul into this school, and your appreciation means so much. Of the 101 Visual Arts survey responses, 73% rated the artwork as good or excellent, and 79% said the displays helped them understand their child’s learning somewhat or a great deal. Comments included: “The standard of art I saw tonight was beyond impressive!” and “Keep it coming. Teachers are doing a great job!” I will share the full findings with the School Board in Week 4.

Our School Development Day on Monday provided valuable time to strengthen our teaching, with a particular focus on mathematics vocabulary and problem-solving, alongside writing, Visual Arts, our school values and planning for 2027. These days are essential opportunities for staff to learn together, review student progress and plan improvements that benefit every child.

Each year, I invite parents to share information to help inform class placements for the following year. You will receive a Compass News Feed today outlining this opportunity for 2027.

A great deal of professional judgement, planning and care goes into forming classes. Staff consider each child’s educational, social and emotional needs alongside the balance and learning needs of the whole group.

Submissions will be open from 16 October to 26 October and should be emailed directly to heather.mcneil@education.wa.edu.au. Please base your submission on educational reasons. Requests for particular teachers will not be considered. If you wrote to me last year and would like that information considered again, please resend it during this submission period.

All submissions will be carefully considered, although we cannot guarantee that every request can be accommodated. Class structures and teacher allocations may change up until the week before school begins if enrolments change over the holidays.

I know parents care deeply about these decisions. Thank you for trusting our professional judgement as we work to place every child where they will thrive.

Warm regards
Heather McNeil

If your child is in Year 5 in 2026, you can apply now for entry into Year 7 in 2028. Limited places may also be available for children entering Years 9, 10 and 11 in 2028.

These exceptional academic, arts and languages programs are available at select public secondary schools. This includes a fully selective academic school and an arts college. Your child will learn alongside like-minded peers and follow an extended curriculum designed specifically for their needs, delivered by teachers with expert skills and knowledge.  

Information about the programs, study options for metro and regional students, and upcoming parent information evenings is available on the website: www.education.wa.edu.au/gifted-and-talented

Apply online: education.wa.edu.au/application process

Applications close 6.00pm Friday 5 February 2027. Late applications will not be accepted.

For more information: 9264 4307 or email gtsu@education.wa.edu.au

Subiaco Primary School students can now visit Rupert Street Pocket Park and find the ceramic tiles they helped create permanently installed within its new public artwork – while keeping a second tile of their own at home.

Each participating Year 3 student made two tiles during classroom workshops with ceramic artist Jenny Dawson and artist Peter Zuvela earlier this year.

One tile was created for Nanninup at Rupert Street Pocket Park, while the second was presented to the child at a school assembly on Thursday 17 September. Students also received a booklet telling the story of the park and its artwork.

The students used soft clay to capture impressions of leaves, seeds, bark, and other natural materials gathered from the local area. Their tiles celebrate the Noongar Six Seasons through colours, patterns, and textures inspired by the environment around the park.

Almost 30 years after local students helped create the Centenary Tiles at Postal Walk, another generation of Year 3 students has become part of that story - City of Subiaco CEO Colin Cameron.

Congratulations to Yoona H (U6) who received an AMC award in the Year 6 Division. 

The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) is a 30-problem school competition administered by the Australian Maths Trust.

The Aussie Bird Count is a fun, easy way for all of us to take a national snapshot of the birds around us as we connect with nature. With just 20 minutes, you can help build a picture of how our feathered friends are faring and contribute to something that really counts.

Right now, one in six Australian birds faces the threat of extinction, making it more important than ever to pay attention.

Just spend 20 minutes in your favourite outdoor space and tell us about the birds you see during that period.

Count the birds - You can submit your results using the app or the web form.

Bird finder - There’s a built-in “bird finder” tool to help you identify birds you’re unsure of.

Submit your count - You can count as many times as you want. Every count helps.

For more information visit https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/

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.

City of Subiaco residents can now collect free FOGO kitchen caddy liners and updated FOGO bin stickers from three City locations.

The City is making surplus liners available to residents while stocks last, giving the remaining stock an opportunity to be used rather than discarded.

The liners are older stock and beyond the manufacturer’s recommended shelf life, so their strength may vary. Residents should check each liner before use.

Free liners and stickers can be collected from:

• Lords Recreation Centre – 5 Wembley Court, Subiaco
• City of Subiaco Customer Service – Level 2, 388 Hay Street, Subiaco
• City of Subiaco depot – 19 Bishop Street, Jolimont

The updated stickers provide an easy reference for what can and cannot go in the lime green-lidded FOGO bin.

Residents are reminded to keep FOGO simple: only food scraps, garden organics, and certified compostable caddy liners belong in the lime green-lidded bin.

The following items should go in the red-lidded general waste bin:

• animal waste and pet poo
• tea bags
• tissues and paper towels
• compostable takeaway packaging.

For more information, visit the FOGO in Subiaco page.

🎉 WA Bike Month Festival
• Date: Sunday, 25 October
• Time: 2.00-5.00pm
• Location: Poolgarla Parkland, Kings Park
• Description: Celebrate WA's annual celebration of bike riding with fun for all ages and abilities. Join us for free bike check, bike skills, scavenger hunts and more! 🚲

🔧 WA Bike Month Bike Maintenance Pop-Up
• Date: Saturday 24 October
• Time: 8.00am-12.00pm
• Location: Subi Farmers Market
• Activities: Free bike safety checks
• Description: Get a free bike safety check and basic maintenance service and connect with other riders at this pop-up event. 🔧🚲

Spookiaco this Halloween
Presented by See Subiaco, the three-day program will bring Halloween fun for all ages, with local businesses joining in through themed menus, best-dressed competitions, and pop-up activities.

At the centre of the festivities is Monsters Can't Fly a colourful installation by artist Matthew Aberline with The Beautiful and Useful Studio. The playful monsters will land at Market Square Park on Friday 30 October and stay until Sunday 8 November, glowing from within after dark.

Visitors can also explore:

• Subi Fright Market on Saturday 31 October, with Halloween-inspired eats and entertainment.
• Haunted walking tours with Oh Hey WA on 30–31 October, uncovering ghostly tales of Subiaco’s past.
• Spooky laneways along Rokeby Road, transformed by multidisciplinary artist Lynzie Bremner from 30 October to 1 November.
• Halloween specials and activities at local businesses, from spooky cocktails to trivia nights.
• Explore the program and plan your visit at See Subiaco.

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