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Newsletter 15 - September 23, 2022

 

DOING OUR BEST FOR 125 YEARS

From the Principal

What glorious weather we had yesterday to acknowledge the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. This term has been very busy but also exciting and productive. On Monday, our junior and senior choirs performed in the Mass Choir at the Perth Concert Hall, our students sang and behaved beautifully.  Andrew Angel accompanied the choirs over numerous nights of the Massed Choir Festival, and he wowed everyone with his talent. Thanks to Mrs Green who has supported the choir over the past months and the teachers who have supported the choir during rehearsals and on the night, including Ms Hayley, Ms Gilchrist, Mrs Shane, Mrs Busby and Mrs Walsh.

On Wednesday, the Interschool team represented Subiaco Primary School with skill and sportsmanship competing in games, sprints and relays. The training leading up to the Interschool Carnival paid off as the throwing, catching and teamwork was very impressive.  There were some outstanding individual and team performances on the day.

NAPLAN
Students have received their individual 2022 NAPLAN results. NAPLAN test results provide information on how our students are performing in literacy and numeracy. The data from NAPLAN test results gives schools and systems the ability to measure their students’ achievements against national minimum standards.

Subiaco Primary School’s NAPLAN results in 2022 indicate that we have achieved the NAPLAN targets we set in our Business Plan. In 2022, the data across all areas tested in Year 3 and in Year 5 indicates that the mean performance has improved across all areas tested since 2021.
The performance data in Years 3 and 5 indicated that the cohorts matched or exceeded WA Like Schools in those assessments

School Board Nominations
Subiaco Primary School is calling for nominations for our Subiaco Primary School Board. There are three positions for parent representatives available.
Nominations will be accepted via email to http://melinda.harris@education.wa.edu.au by 9:00am, Tuesday 11 October 2022. Late nominations will not be accepted. Nominees are to include a candidate statement of 3 to 4 paragraphs in length.
Please see the attached flyer for additional information.

Social Justice Fundraiser - Fashionable Friday
On the last day of Term 3, the social justice group helped by Miss Turner and Miss Gilchrist, raised $849.00 for our sister school, Sangkum Siska, in Cambodia.
We thank our students for their valuable efforts in fundraising by wearing colourful clothes and donating a gold coin, these funds will help to make a huge difference to our sister school. Click HERE for photos.

Lego Stem Year 6 Project
This week, two special Lego Brick masters visited the Year 6 classes to talk with the Year 6 students about the process they have completed to create their own LEGO® sets. The brief required the students to create their own LEGO® series, source the parts, provide instructions, make the box and create graphics and title. Two Western Australian LEGO® Master runners-up Owen Davies and Scott Chappell were incredibly impressed with the work that Ms Richardson has been doing with our Year 6 students. I felt that I was walking amongst the LEGO® aisle of a toy shop as the final products are so professional.   

Enjoy the holiday break and keep safe
Dr Melinda Harris

Volunteers Thank You

During such a busy term we would like to thank all our volunteers who have contributed to our school including Athletics food stall, Healthy Hub fruit, Busy Bees, CLPs, New students’ picnic, Scribblers fundraiser, Healthy Hub presentations and fill a cup days.
We thank the CLPs for the voluntary work that they do. Their role is integral to the conduit between the school and our parents. If you would like to get in contact with your class CLP you can view the list HERE.

125th Art Mural

Leith Elliot has been working on numerous 125th visual art projects with the students. A joint submission with the P&C has been successful and the Council has approved a $5,000 grant for the 125th mural. Leith has been working with the artist Melissa McFee preparing the mural that students will work on in Term 4.

Special thanks to Kathryn Vines who worked on the submission to the Council.

The 125th committee plan to have a mural that past students and staff can contribute to leading up to the 125th concert event on Friday 18 November.

Looking Back 125 Years of Doing our Best

A photo of Subiaco Senior School students in 1939. These photos were printed as postcards so they could easily be sent to family members.

Staff News

Mr Allistair Kettell is taking overdue Long Service Leave during term 4. He is travelling across the Nullabor with his family. We wish him and his family safe travels and look forward to hearing about his experiences.

Mr Brendan Egan will teach U8 during Term 4 with Ms Jess Rawson teaching on Mondays. Both Mr Egan and Ms Rawson have taught many of the students before and are well respected amongst the Subiaco Primary School community.

We congratulate Mr Alan Ramsey and Julia on their upcoming marriage in the holidays. We hope even if Geelong win, Alan does not wear a Geelong scarf to the wedding!!!! High chance that he will though.

Outside Use Of School Grounds And Facilities

Subiaco Primary School has a long history of sharing our school grounds and facilities with the community.  In comparison to local schools and our school networks, Subiaco Primary School has by far the highest level of commitments with outside and community groups using our facilites daily including: Subiaco Farmers Markets every Saturday, Chinese choir, Young Engineers, Chess club, Cricket associations, Subiaco Community Care (before/after school care located in one of our classrooms), Taekwon-Do lessons, Ballet, Tennis, Soccer, Keyed Up music lessons (piano and guitar lessons), IMSS music lessons, netball groups, basketball groups and the Community Pool amongst others.

This is on top of “in school” and “outside of school” hours clubs, coaching, training and tutoring.

The Department of Education and Training requires any use of the school to enter into an agreement that includes insurance and coverage.

Music News

Open Night
Well done to our Junior and Senior Choirs who combined to present a performance for parents during the recent Open Night. Well done to Dhiksha Karthikeyan, Year 5 for taking on the compere role for this event and to Liberty Tapping and Sophia Nattrass, both in Year 6, for being our ‘choral-ography’ conductors!

String Orchestra Performance at The ABODA Festival
Congratulations to all our wonderful students who form the school’s String Orchestra, for their performance at the ABODA Festival (The Australian Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association Festival). This was held on Sunday, 11 September at Churchlands Senior High School.

ABODA is Australia’s premier in-service support organisation for school and community band and orchestra directors, pledging ongoing commitment to the growth of music education and community music making.

Our orchestra performed two pieces, ‘Ghost Ship’ by Stephen Chin and ‘Flight of the Furies’ by Chin and arranged by Nolk.

The performance was adjudicated and the judges gave some very positive feedback on their performance.

Well done to all the students for their preparation in the weeks leading up to the performance and special thanks to Mrs Milner, supported by Mr Angel for their work with the students.

Click the following links for an audio recording of their performance as well as a copy of their performace with adjudication.

https://subiacops.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/String-Ensemble-Performance-.m4a

https://subiacops.wa.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/String-Ensemble-Adjudicator-Recording-20_9_22-7.20-pm.m4a

“I Nu” Melanesian Folk Group
At the beginning of September, the Year 6 students were treated to a performance and workshop by the three person Melanesian folk group “I Nu”

Marianne, Eric and Gustave, on an Australian tour from New Caledonia (a territory of France), played their island music for us, spoke to us in French and helped us use banana leaves to make a traditional percussion instrument. 

Students were then able to join in with the music of “I Nu” as they sang their beautiful harmonies and played the guitar and percussion instruments. 

The morning was infused with warmth, laughter and island vibes.  The Year 6 students who are studying “La Francophonie” learnt more about French around the world.  The collaboration of the French and Music programmes at Subiaco Primary School, was a great success. 

We are very grateful for the generous gift of this incursion organised by Thomas Feldstein, the Director of Alliance Francaise in Perth. 

We hope to see more collaborations between French, Music and Art at Subiaco Primary School.

Click HERE to view a video of one of the songs.

Massed Choir Festival 2022
A huge congratulations to all of our wonderful choir students who gave an amazing performance earlier this week at the Massed Choir Festival 2022.  What a spectacular performance on stage at the Perth Concert Hall.  The students sang in a choir of 500 students to a packed audience at the Perth Concert Hall!

I was extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that all our students gave during rehearsals and the concert!  It was such a joy watching them perform.  They should be so immensely proud of their efforts! 

It was no easy task to learn 12 songs over the course of two terms, but despite lots of sickness and Covid restrictions they managed to delight the audience with an exceptional standard of singing!

Congratulations to Emily Chew, for her great solo singing part during one of the songs.  I would also like to thank the teaching staff who supported the choir during rehearsals and at the concert hall.

Photographs of the concert are now available to purchase online through PRO PHOTOBOOTH.  Password - MC22

A video recording of the performance is also available to pre-order through ‘Polishd Productions’ www.polishdproductions.com.au email: productions@polishd.com.au
Click HERE for the Order Form

Thank you parents, for all your support and for encouraging your child to be part of the choir.

I look forward to working with the choir again next term.

Andrew Angel
Music Teacher

Interschool Athletics Carnival

The sun was out for a magical day at this year’s Interschool Athletics Competition. Over the two days of competition we had a total of 92 students represent the school. Subiaco PS students from Years 1 to 6 competed in long jump, throws, middle distance, sprints, team games and relays against students from Karrinyup PS, Mt Hawthorn PS, Wembley PS and Floreat Park PS.

All the students were super excited and took that energy into their events. We couldn’t have been happier with how the Subiaco students performed and behaved. It made for an awesome and enjoyable day. Subiaco PS managed to finish 4th overall.

Congratulations to the following student who walked away with an individual medal:
Clara (U3), Year 5 Runner Up Champion Girl

Thank you to all the parents who were able to make it down to support the Subiaco PS team. Thanks also to the students and teachers for all their efforts leading up to the carnival. It has been a massive term.

Ash Clancy and Brendan Egan
PE Department

P&C Fundraiser - Parents' Big Night Out!

Join us for a night of music, dancing and games to connect with other parents and raise money for the school!

When: Saturday, 29 October 2022, 7.00-11.00pm
Where: The Palms Community Centre, Cnr Rokeby & Nicholson Rds, Subiaco
Cost: Tickets $40 including food. Drinks available to purchase

Buy your tickets now before they sell out! https://compasstix.com/e/o6fyodbc2e

Gifted and Talented Education Information Event

The Gifted and Talented Secondary Selection Entrance Program extend and enrich learning and let creative talents flourish. Hosted by Balcatta Senior High School and presented by the Department of Education, this is a great opportunity to find out about key dates and application processes when applying for 2024 entry.

Suitable for parents of current Years 5, 7, 8 and 9 students considering entry into Year 7, 9, 10 or 11 in 2024. The information session covers all Gifted and Talented programs at all available schools.

Balcatta SHS will also present information and a brief presentation regarding the Gifted and Talented Visual Art Program at the school.

Date: Wednesday 19 October 2022
Time: 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm
Venue: Performing Arts Theatre, Balcatta Senior High School
Address: 56 Amelia Street, Balcatta

Book online: https://sobs.com.au/pt3/parent.php?schoolid=536

If you have any booking issues, please email balcatta.shs@education.wa.edu.au

Best Ways to Manage Screen Time

There is an informative article in the Digital Parenting section of the Beacon App, outlining some practical strategies to support families in managing screen time.

These include:
• Creating a family media agreement
• Use parental control
• Set up device-free times and zones
• Pause for people
• Choose quality screen time options

Click HERE to follow the link that will take you to the article in the Beacon App.

Healthy Hub Update

Crunch&Sip
Participating in a daily in class Crunch&Sip break, provides an opportunity for children to drink water and eat an extra serve of vegetables or fruit to support good health and help with learning and concentration in the classroom. All while they are sitting at their desks!

Each Newsletter the Healthy Hub team will be showcasing a healthy recipe from the Crunch&Sip cookbook. This week's recipe is Zucchini and Corn Fritters.

Student Presentations
The Fruit and Veg September celebrations continue!

Earlier this month the upper school thoroughly enjoyed a session with Curtin University Student, Dietitian Jeannie. We learned about the amount of sugar in sugary drinks, and how to fuel our bodies with water. Last week, Jasmin spoke to the lower school about eating the rainbow. These fantastic collaborations between Subiaco Primary School, Curtin University and Cancer Council WA help train our future health professionals, and provide the Subi Primary school students some fun learning sessions in their sub-assemblies.

Bring a Cup Day
“Bring a Cup, Fill it up” - Tuesday 13 September.

For the final event of Fruit and Vege month, the Healthy Hub along with Year 6 students and parent volunteers made two delicious smoothies at recess.

Both the 'Bouncing Banana Mango’ and 'Super Strawberry Soy’ smoothies were a big hit! The sun even came out for a brief moment, allowing the kids to enjoy a bit of smoothie in the sun 🌞

If your child loved them, why not try making them together? You can find the recipes HERE.

The Healthy Hub events teach kids that healthy foods are fun and delicious, so assisting the committee during these events is a great way to contribute to the school community, whilst learning some new recipes! These events are only possible with our wonderful parent helpers so keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved.

We’re always keen for new members in Healthy Hub! If you’re interested in joining, or have any questions, please drop us a line at healthyhub.subi@gmail.com

Healthy Hub committee
Rachel Feldhusen (PP- Alex, Yr 3 - Perrie, Yr 6 - Mia)
Anne Finch (Kindy - Henry, Felix)
Natalia Lizama (Yr 1- Sigrid, Yr 3 - Odette)
Doreen Demos (PP - Charlotte)

P&C News

Last weekend the P&C held a sausage sizzle at the Scribblers Festival. It was a great success raising over $1,500 towards valuable equipment and facilities at school.
We had a fantastic turnout of volunteers who helped and it was great to get together and meet some new parents too. Thank you Kath, Chloe, Rex, Cath, Chris, Lindsay, Andrew, Rob, Synth, Gavin, Glen, David, Jackie, Jonas, Caro, Ignacio, Julie, Tim, Sarah, Steven and our very enthusiastic kid helpers!

Thank also to our generous sponsors Lawlers, Woolworths and Coles.

If you didn't make it this year, the Scribblers Festival is a great event which we're lucky to have locally in Subico. Try to come along next year and check it out!

From The School Psychologist

“Make mental health & well-being for all a global priority” (World Health Organisation) is this year’s theme for World Mental Health Day on 10th October. Environmental and public health emergencies, regional conflicts and other significant inequalities affecting whole communities or regions impact on the health and wellbeing of many people around the world.

In Western Australia, a week in October is set aside to raise awareness of mental health issues and to engage in conversations about mental health so as to improve the mental health and wellbeing of our community.  Mental Health Week this year is from 8 to 15 October, with the theme being, "Where we live. How we live. What we’ve lived".  

“Understanding how the body, mind and environment intersect” toward our general wellbeing is important.  The food we consume, the amount of physical activity we undertake, environmental health, quality of neighbourhoods and other factors all contribute to building healthy individuals and communities.  Learning from our experiences, both good and challenging, developing healthy coping skills, building resilience, and having strong connections with others contribute to our overall wellbeing.  For more information and resources visit https://mentalhealthweek.org.au/

This Month On SchoolTV - Online Gaming

Games are an integral part of human behaviour. It is normal and healthy for young people to engage in play as a part of their daily lives, including playing games online. Like most activities, online gaming can have both positive and negative outcomes. It can be intimidating and confusing for carers trying to understand a young person’s online experiences, with many considering that staring at a screen is an unhealthy habit. However, the World Health Organisation does believe that as well as the risks, there are also many positive benefits associated with online gaming and these could be key in nurturing bonds with others.

During the pandemic, there was an explosive growth of gaming as people sought much needed connection during isolation. In the media, gaming often gets bad publicity because most coverage tends to concentrate on the minority of gamers who play to such an extent that it compromises all other areas of their life. However, online gaming can teach young people many skills including teamwork, concentration, communication and problem-solving. It requires a level of interaction and skill from the player; unlike watching television, which is more passive.

Online communities provide opportunities for young people to feel socially connected and have a sense of belonging. At healthy levels, gaming can increase their self-esteem and social acceptance. However, any behaviour, when taken to extreme, can also have a negative impact on a young person’s everyday life. Understanding what your young person experiences online and knowing the warning signs if they are at risk, will help nurture a more positive relationship with online gaming and help your family find the right balance.

If you are concerned about your young person’s online gaming habits, it’s important to consider a number of factors. This edition will provide strategies in how to deal with any issues you may be experiencing. 

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to this month's edition https://subiacops.wa.schooltv.me/newsletter/online-gaming

Important Dates and Information

We welcome parents to attend all community events as spectators. Our students love nothing more than their families coming to support these special days in the school calendar. Events and assemblies are also continually updated on the Term Planner on our website and on Compass. https://subiacops.wa.edu.au/information/term-planner-and-calendar/

Upcoming Event - Mystery of the Mathematical Menace
Come along for the Mystery of the Mathematical Menace, and solve some fun maths puzzles with your child(ren) to ultimately catch the culprit! It can take anywhere from 20 to 80 minutes to solve all the problems, and the session will run for a total of 1.5 hours. Thursday 27 October 4.00-5.30pm.

125th Concert Term 4
The 125th Committee has organised a concert for the students on Friday 18 November. The students will come down to the oval at lunch time and enjoy an afternoon of cultural activities and entertainment including an Indigenous smoking ceremony, naming of the Nature Play and a concert, amongst other activities.
This day will conclude at the normal time for students.

Children Leaving the School
If your child will be leaving Subiaco Primary School, please email your child’s destination school and leaving date to subiaco.ps@education.wa.edu.au as soon as you have the required information.

Newsletters
We have a fortnightly newsletter that is emailed to parents in Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Copies can also be found on our website at https://subiacops.wa.edu.au/information/newsletters-and-newsfeed/.

Call Education Security If You See Anything Suspicious On School Grounds
On weekends and holidays, we often have unwanted behaviour and vandalism on our school grounds. Please call Education Security on 9264 4632 or 9264 4771 if you see anything suspicious.

Vacswim Swimming Lessons

Enrolments are now open for VacSwim swimming lessons during the summer school holidays.

VacSwim offers fun lessons at beach or pool locations during the long break. It’s a great school holiday activity that teaches valuable safety skills to help keep your child safe in the water.

Your children can start as young as five years old.

Places are limited, so get in early. Enrol your children in VacSwim now at www.education.wa.edu.au/vacswim

Reminders

Unwell Students
In line with WA Government advice that students and staff who are unwell should stay at home, we are asking all parents to keep their children at home if they show signs of cold or flu-like symptoms. If students become unwell during the school day we will contact parents to collect their child.  Students and staff should not return to school until they are completely well or have clearance from a medical practitioner.

Health Conditions & Allergies
Upon enrolment, if a child has a health condition or allergy (eg. diabetes, seizures, asthma, anaphylaxis etc)  parents fill out a Student Health Care Summary form and an action plan is written.  At the start of each year, the action plan is updated. Please contact the front office if you are unsure whether your child has a current action plan in place and they require one.

Students Arriving Late or Need to Leave Early
Parents are required to sign their child/ren in at the front office if arriving after the siren (8.50am). Additionally, parents collecting children or returning children throughout the school day are also required to sign their child in/out at the front office.

Student Absences
Please be aware that a note of explanation for all student absences must be provided in Compass.

School Grounds After Hours
A friendly reminder that students should head home after school and not stay on the grounds after 3.40pm (exception - a scheduled and approved activity). There have been a number of injuries, near misses and issues after school including unsupervised children who have required assistance.

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 request a change of the permission status then you will need to notify the office in writing.

E News

Meet The Animals At Native Animal Rescue
Native Animal Rescue is a not-for-profit organisation which cares and rehabilitates sick, injured, orphaned and displaced native animals so they can return to their natural habitat. They have a variety of animals on site throughout the year including Black Cockatoos, owls, Tawny Frogmouths, Nankeen Kestrals, Australian Hobbys and Redcapped parrots, Woylies, Western Ringtail Possums, snakes, lizards and frogs.

The tour will begin with a wildlife interaction with some of the educational animals and exploration of the education area before heading to the Black Cockatoo area and lake, weather permitting.

Please book as spaces are limited. Click HERE for more information. For all inquiries contact the Sustainable Environment Officer via (08) 9267 9282. Native Animal Rescue, 170 Camboon Rd, Malaga.

Please note that this is a program for young people aged 6 - 14 (no parent/guardian supervision required), and is an educational talk and guided tour. Photographs and videos may be taken of the event. Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for the weather and bring a drink bottle.

Community News

Click HERE for Community News and School Holiday activities. This document includes information on activities available around our community for children and families.

Contact Details

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