Visual Arts Opportunities for 2026 – Community Partnerships in Action
At our recent Visual Arts 2026 planning meeting, I shared my strong desire to deepen authentic community involvement in our Arts program, particularly by engaging artists within our own parent community to work alongside teachers and students in meaningful ways.
I am excited to share two wonderful opportunities that reflect this vision.
In My Pocket – FREE Incursion (Years 5 & 6)
The City of Subiaco, through its Community Grant program, is offering to fully fund the In My Pocket incursion for our Year 5 and 6 students in 2026.
This engaging two-hour workshop includes:
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A book reading
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Guided discussion
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A creative art workshop
The program encourages empathy, kindness and inclusivity within diverse communities - values that are deeply important in today’s world.
All books and art materials are provided free of charge.
The project links directly to curriculum areas including:
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Civics and Citizenship
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Migration and Refugees
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Multiculturalism
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Literary devices
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Visual Arts skills
It also connects beautifully to key events such as Harmony Week, HASS Week, Refugee Week, Book Week, Kindness Day and Tolerance Day.
Inclusion of Education Support, CALD, IEC students and students with disabilities are strongly encouraged as part of the workshops.
I have submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI), which closes at the end of February. I will keep you informed if we are successful.
Example of In My Pocket Incursion in action 2025.
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🌸Subi Blooms x Gather – 2026 Opportunity
Many of you will remember the incredible impact of the 2025 Subi Blooms x Gather festival - a vibrant floral takeover of Subiaco that attracted thousands of visitors.
Led by SWITCH Agency, a boutique PR and creative agency based in Perth, the festival concluded with a beautiful community gesture. Leftover flowers were repurposed into bouquets for new mums and healthcare staff.
Volunteers from Recycled Blooms wrapped the flowers in paper lovingly decorated by our Subiaco Primary School students under the guidance of Rachael Robertson. These bouquets were delivered to families and healthcare workers at King Edward Memorial Hospital and St John of God Hospital Subiaco.
Steph, from SWITCH Agency, has reached out to see if Subiaco Primary would like to be involved again in 2026 — and whether we would like to propose additional ways for our students to participate.
This presents a wonderful opportunity for a visual artist (potentially from our parent community to collaborate with a classroom teacher and work with an entire class on a creative installation or project connected to the festival.
It is exactly the kind of authentic, community-connected arts experience we discussed for 2026.
We Would Love Your Support
Here we have two powerful arts opportunities that align strongly with our school values and our future direction.
If:
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You are interested in being involved in Subi Blooms x Gather 2026, or
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You are a visual artist (or know one within our parent community) who would like to collaborate with a class and teacher
I would love to hear from you.
Together, we can continue building a vibrant, inclusive and community-connected Arts program at SPS.
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🌲 Year 6 Camp – Forest Edge
This week our Year 6 students headed to Forest Edge for three wonderful days of challenge, adventure and connection.
On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of spending the day at camp and my group was awesome! Across the day we tackled abseiling, the flying fox (wait until you see the videos!), raft building and kayaking. There is nothing quite like watching students step outside their comfort zones and realise just how capable they are.
I am incredibly proud of our Year 6 cohort. This has been the smoothest start to a year we have experienced. The Year 6 teachers have commented on the remarkable collegiality, support, care, diligence, respect and teamwork these students demonstrate every day. Camp simply puts those qualities to the test, particularly so early in the year, and they absolutely shone through.
Holding camp early in Term 1 is intentional and important. Research consistently shows that early shared experiences:
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Strengthen peer relationships and accelerate friendship formation
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Build trust between students and teachers
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Establish positive group norms and behavioural expectations
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Increase resilience and independence
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Improve engagement and academic outcomes across the year
When students connect deeply early on, it sets the tone for everything that follows. Camp gives them the opportunity to make new friendships, strengthen existing ones, and develop confidence in a supported environment — and we see the benefits ripple through the rest of the year.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff who made this experience possible:
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Chris Shorter
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Michelle DeLestang
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Allistair Kettell
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Alessia Princi (Chaplain)
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Anneke Hall-Strickland (Special Needs Assistant) — for staying the full three days
Thank you also to:
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Ella Morgan (Year 1 Teacher)
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Shannon van der Merwe (Year 5 Teacher)
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Peter Hayward (Year 6 Teacher/Deputy)
Camps require enormous organisation, energy and care, and I know that every one of us had an absolute blast! Read more below for the full student reflections and photos.
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School Board Update
I would like to sincerely thank our School Board Chair, Hannah McKelvie, for her three years of dedicated service to our Board, including her leadership as Chair throughout 2025.
As Hannah’s three-year tenure has come to its conclusion, and with increasing work commitments, she has made the decision to step down from the Board. While we completely understand, she will be very much missed.
On behalf of our entire school community, I would like to sincerely thank Hannah McKelvie for her commitment and contribution over the past three years. Hannah has given her time generously and approached her role with care and professionalism. We are grateful for the steady support she has provided to the Board and to our school community.
We are also farewelling Gabrielle Kotai, who has made the difficult decision to step down for family reasons. We thank Gabrielle for her valuable contribution and commitment during her time on the Board.
As outlined in the School Boards WA governance requirements, a School Board must comprise more parent members than staff members. As a result of these resignations, we will be calling for nominations for new parent representatives to serve three-year terms.
We will be sending out further information regarding the nomination and election process to the community in the very near future.
Serving on the School Board is a meaningful way to contribute to the strategic direction and ongoing success of our school. I encourage parents who are interested to consider nominating.
Thank you again to Hannah and Gabrielle for their outstanding service to Subiaco Primary School.
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Morning Supervision Update – Commencing Monday 23 February
A reminder to families that from Monday 23 February, classroom doors for Pre-Primary to Year 6 will open at 8:45am, with lessons commencing promptly at 8:50am.
Kindergarten arrangements remain unchanged, with Kindy students entering their area from 8:30am.
This adjustment is designed to support a calm, orderly and well-prepared start to the day. Opening doors at 8:45am ensures students enter settled classrooms, with teachers ready to begin learning at 8:50am.
Students who arrive at school prior to 8:45am will continue to be supervised in designated areas.
Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring students arrive on time and ready for a positive start to their day.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend.
Warm regards,
Heather McNeil
