22 May 2026
Welcome to week 5 - Term 2 - 2026!
Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.
- Dalai Lama -
IN THIS EDITION:
• Remembering Chris Rowett
• Values Award Winers
• Coolbinia Cross Country
• Coolbinia Meal Train
• National Volunteer Week
• Food for Thought
• Ewww...Rubbish!
• Upcoming Events and Promotions
KEY DATES:
🗓️ Pupil Free Day: Next 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
📚 Leaders Assembly: Friday 26 June 2026
NOTE:
⚠️ Please be aware that students should not share food with each other at any time to help reduce the risk of illness ⚠️
Community Song – Untamed
Our next Community Song performance will take place at the Week 10 assembly. Students will be learning Untamed, a song about inner strength, voice, and spirit. Families are encouraged to support students in practising at home by accessing the lyric video below: Untamed – Lyric Video
We look forward to hearing our students sing together at the assembly!
Remembering Chris Rowett
It is with sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Chris Rowett, a long-serving and highly valued member of the Coolbinia Primary School community.
Chris dedicated many years to the school as Manager Corporate Services, making a significant contribution to the life and operations of the school. She was respected for her professionalism, reliability and the care she showed to staff and the wider community.
We extend our sincere condolences to Chris’s family and loved ones at this time. She will be
remembered fondly and with great appreciation for the legacy she leaves at Coolbinia.
Values Award Winners
Each year, we proudly recognise students who consistently go above and beyond through our Australian Spirit Award and School Values Award. These awards are presented to two students in each year level at the whole school assembly.
The Australian Spirit Award celebrates a student who embodies the core values of Australia, including respect, fairness, democracy, cultural diversity, mateship, compassion, and respect for the rule of law, as outlined by the Department of Home Affairs.
The School Values Award recognises a student who consistently demonstrates our school values of Respect, Character, Strive, and Responsibility in their daily actions. Award recipients receive a $50 book voucher, enabling them to choose a $25 book for themselves and contribute a $25 book to our school library, supporting both personal reading and our shared resources.
Congratulations to this year’s Year 6 winners:
Reeva – Australian Spirit Award
Natalia – School Values Award
We are incredibly proud of their outstanding contributions to our school community.
Coolbinia Cross Country
Our Cross Country Carnival was a wonderful success, with all students from Kindy to Year 6 participating. It was incredibly heartening to see every child giving their best effort, not only striving to finish but also challenging themselves to improve their times. Well done to all students on a fantastic effort.
A sincere thank you to our parents/carers and grandparents who came along to support and cheer on the runners. Your presence truly makes a difference and adds to the positive atmosphere of the day. We are grateful for the support of the Mount Lawley Senior High School students, EdConnect volunteers, Camp Australia staff, and our parent helpers, with many hands working together to ensure the success of the event.
Special thanks to Brandon Porcaro, our Physical Education Specialist, for his careful planning and organisation, and to all staff and volunteers who contributed to such a smooth and enjoyable day.
The five fastest girls and boys from Years 3 to 6 have been selected to represent Coolbinia at the Interschool Cross Country Carnival in week 7, based on times recorded across the term and on the day. Congratulations to those selected!
Cross Country Carnival Results
1st – Lewis with 169 points
2nd – Martin with 159 points
3rd – Charlesworth with 111 points
4th – Aitken with 91 points
Coolbinia Meal Train
Over the past 12 months, the Coolbinia Meal Train has become a wonderful example of the strength, care, and generosity within our school community.
This P&C-led initiative supports families who may be experiencing a difficult time, often due to unexpected circumstances beyond their control. Whether it’s illness, recovery, or a period of significant family challenge, the simple act of providing meals helps ease the load and allows families to focus on what matters most.
Our community has responded with remarkable kindness. Many families have contributed time, meals, and thoughtful support, demonstrating the true spirit of connection and care that defines Coolbinia Primary School. The families who have been supported through the Meal Train have expressed deep gratitude, and the impact has been both practical and deeply meaningful.
National Volunteer Week
This week is National Volunteer Week, and it is a wonderful opportunity to recognise and thank all the people who generously give their time to support our school community throughout the year.
The school would like to extend a sincere thank you to all our volunteers, including parents, teachers, students, staff, EdConnect volunteers, and the Friends of Coolbinia Bushland volunteers. Your support, care and commitment make a meaningful difference to our school and community.
As part of the week, the Friends of Coolbinia Bushland kindly hosted a morning tea in the staff room last week to thank and acknowledge everyone for their ongoing contribution and support.
Whether helping with school activities, supporting events, caring for the bushland, reading with students, mentoring, or contributing behind the scenes, every effort is greatly valued and appreciated.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support and community spirit.
Food for Thought
Never Give Up - A Simple Message for Our Students
At Coolbinia, we talk a lot about helping our students grow into confident, capable learners, and one of the most important lessons we can teach is this: successful people don’t give up.
Whether it’s learning something new, building friendships, or having a go at sport or the arts, all children will face challenges along the way. What makes the difference is how they respond. Just don’t give up.
History is littered with many more similar examples:
• Milton Hershey failed in his first two attempts to set up a confectionery business.
• H.J. Heinz set up a company that produced horseradish, which went bankrupt shortly after.
• Steve Jobs got fired from Apple, the company he founded, only to return a few years later to turn it into one of the most successful companies ever.
At school, we see our values of Strive, Respect, and Responsibility come to life every day:
• Strive – when students keep trying, even when learning feels tricky
• Respect – when they support each other and celebrate effort, not just success
• Responsibility – when they take ownership of their learning and learn from mistakes
Many well-known successful people faced setbacks before they achieved their goals, but they kept going. That’s the mindset we are building in our students.
When children understand that it’s okay to fall short of expectations, they become more willing to take risks, share their ideas, and keep improving. This is at the heart of strong student voice and agency, helping every child believe they can have a go, make progress, and succeed. Together, we can support our children to keep striving, show respect, take responsibility, and, most importantly, never give up.
Ewww… Rubbish!
This month, our brave Sustainability Leaders took on the important (and slightly smelly!) job of checking our Containers for Change bins, sorting through items such as food scraps and unwanted liquids. Their efforts help us continue building strong habits around recycling and responsible waste management across our school.
As we continue to educate students about reducing waste and recycling correctly, we encourage families to support these habits at home. A simple reminder goes a long way: finish your drink, remove the straw, and place items in the correct bin or container. Thank you for helping our students make a positive difference for the environment.
Upcoming events and promotions
Camp Australia Winter Holiday Program
Camp Australia’s Winter School Holiday Program is now live and open for bookings! Families can explore a range of exciting activities and experiences planned for the winter break.
View the full program here: view the program
If you would like further information or a hard copy of the program, please contact Camp Australia directly.
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