8 May 2026

Welcome to week 3 - Term 2 - 2026!

One of the most beautiful words on the lips of mankind is the word "Mother," and the most beautiful call is the call of "My Mother", it is a word full of hope and love, a sweet and kind word coming from the depths of the heart.
The Mother is everything, she is our consolation in sorrow, our hope in misery, and our strength in weakness. She is the source of love, mercy, sympathy and forgiveness. - Khalil Gibran

IN THIS EDITION:

• The Role of Mothers 
• Health Reminder; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
• Enrolment for Kindy in 2026
• Celebrating Leadership in Teaching Ian Wilson
• Robotics club
• Meet the teacher 
• Food for thought 

• Upcoming events and promotions

KEY DATES 

                📚 Year 6 Assembly: Friday 15 May 2026
               🏃 CPS Cross Country: Friday 22 May 2026

                🗓️ Pupil Free Day: Friday 29 May 2026
                🎉 WA Day Public Holiday: Monday 1 June 2026

                🏅 Interschool Cross Country: Friday 5 June 2026
                📚 Year 4 Assembly: Friday 12 June 2026

 

Friday 29 May is a Pupil Free Day for the school for the staff to undertake Professional Learning. It is also a long weekend for Western Australia Day WA Day, as a result the school will start on Tuesday 2 June. Please make a note of these dates.

NOTES

Winter is coming- Reminder to put names on all winter clothing to help us find the owner when the children take them off after running around at Recess and Lunchtime.

The Role of Mothers

Parents are the first teachers that a child has. As parents we set out with a vision for our children and how we would like our family to be. Mother’s Day is a day in the year where we acknowledge the importance of mothers and the roles they play in our personal world and the community at large.

My early memories of my Mum and my grandmothers are not of what they said to me but are of what I saw them doing for me and for others. They were selfless, hardworking, loving, consistent in their expectations of me and I thought they we clever. They could help me out with anything and most of all they always had time for me.

To me my mum was amazing, and she still is. I don’t always agree with her, but she still says that I am clever, handsome, hardworking, a great dad and is always enthusiastic about what I am doing. These are all the messages I now give my own children. There is a direct synergy here what I saw, I now do. To me the messages I hear from her have strong meaning because they are totally congruent with what I have seen her do herself throughout my life.

What I have described about my personal situation is what I have come to appreciate about all mums. For us fathers and offspring, mums are a true wonder of the world. As fathers we are so grateful for the gift of fatherhood and marvel at what mums do and the opportunity they have given us. As offspring, we are grateful for the unconditional love that comes from all mums. Our mums make our world an amazing place to be, Thank you.

Hoping all Coolbinia Mothers enjoy a wonderful Mother’s Day.
 

A Friendly Health Reminder
for Our School Families

We’d like to let you know that Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is currently in the community, with a few cases at our school.

HFMD is a common, usually mild illness that spreads easily. Early signs include fever, sore throat, tiredness, followed by small blisters on hands, feet, and in the mouth.

Please help stop the spread:

• Keep your child home until all blisters have dried
• Encourage regular handwashing
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Avoid sharing drink bottles and items

If your child is unwell, ensure they get plenty of rest and fluids. Seek medical advice if symptoms are severe or you are concerned.

Thank you for helping keep our school community healthy.
 

Enrolment for Kindy 2027

Students are enrolling every day, and places are filling quickly. Many first time parents are unaware of the enrolment timeline, and in the past, some have missed out on securing a place even when they were within the school boundary. If you know any first time parents, please remind them to enrol now. Enrolments close on Friday 24 July 2026.

Pre-primary is the first compulsory year of schooling. Please return all documents to the School Office by Friday 3 July 2026.
 

Celebrating Leadership in Teaching
Ian Wilson

We are immensely proud of Ian Wilson and the outstanding contribution he continues to make to our school and the wider education community. Recently recognised as the ECAWA Digital Technologies Teacher of the Year (2025), Ian was also a key presenter at the Educational Computing Association of Western Australia (ECAWA) Conference over the weekend.

ECAWA is a long-standing professional association that has supported educators across Western Australia for over 40 years, promoting innovative, inclusive and effective use of digital technologies in schools. To be selected as a presenter at this conference is a significant professional recognition and reflects Ian’s expertise and leadership in this field.

Through his work at Coolbinia, Ian is transforming how students learn by connecting digital technologies to real-world contexts, sustainability and place-based learning. His approach empowers students to work with real data, design meaningful solutions, and engage deeply with their environment.

Importantly, Ian’s influence extends well beyond his own classroom. He is a driving force in shaping best practice teaching across our school, supporting colleagues to design rich, authentic learning experiences that make thinking visible and purposeful for students.

We feel incredibly fortunate to have Ian as part of our team. His passion, innovation and commitment to excellence continue to enrich our school and position Coolbinia as a leader in contemporary teaching practice.

Year 5/6 Afterschool Robotics Club is Go!

RoboClub has kicked off for 2026, with an enthusiastic group of Year 5 and 6 students getting straight into the world of robotics, coding and engineering. Over the first two sessions, students have begun constructing their LEGO robots and are already exploring how to program them to complete a range of challenges.

Students are learning to apply problem solving skills as they test, refine and improve their designs, while also developing confidence with coding and computational thinking. It has been great to see students collaborating, troubleshooting and persisting when things don’t work the first time.

We look forward to seeing how their skills develop over the coming weeks as they take on more complex programming challenges and continue building their robotics expertise.

Meet the teacher 

Chris Dombrowsky - Year 4

Chris is a passionate and engaging teacher who creates a positive, inclusive classroom where every child is encouraged to do their best. He brings strong experience in upper primary and is known for building genuine, supportive relationships with students and families.

In the classroom, Chris combines clear teaching, creativity and enthusiasm to make learning meaningful and enjoyable. He is particularly skilled at connecting lessons to students’ interests whether through real-world problem solving, digital technologies or creative challenges helping students grow in confidence and curiosity.

Chris is also committed to student wellbeing and building a strong sense of belonging. His calm, positive approach helps students feel safe, supported and ready to take on new challenges. He values strong home school partnerships and clear communication with families.

Beyond the classroom, Chris is leading our school chess competition and enjoys creating opportunities for students to develop teamwork, leadership and student voice.

Outside of school, Chris grew up locally and attended Mount Lawley Primary and High School before completing his final years at Guildford Grammar. He is also an accomplished swimmer, having competed at a national level as a teenager and more recently winning the 19.7km Port to Pub swim. His dedication and resilience certainly set a strong example for our students!

We are very grateful for all that Chris brings to our team and know all of our students in the school not just his Year 4 students are benefiting from his enthusiasm and care.

Food for Thought 

Finding Joy in Everyday Moments: In the busyness of school and daily routines, it can be easy to overlook the small moments that bring happiness. For children, joy is often found in simple things such as playing with friends, sharing a laugh, or discovering something new.

At home, taking time to notice and talk about these moments can help children develop a positive outlook. Asking questions like “What made you smile today?” or “What was the best part of your day?” encourages children to reflect on the good things in their lives.

By helping children recognise and appreciate these small moments, we support them in building gratitude, optimism, and a strong sense of wellbeing.

Upcoming events and promotions