23 May 2018

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Online NAPLAN

Congratulations to all our year three and five students who participated in the Online NAPLAN assessments last week. It was wonderful to see all students put in their best efforts and perseverance with the assessments. Results of the assessments will be available later in the school year. The data will assist the school in making informed decisions in regards to future focus curriculum areas in 2019.

School Development Day

A reminder that we will be closed on Monday 28th May to allow all staff to participate in Professional Learning.

Nature Play Ground

I am pleased to announce that the final stage of the nature playground for the senior students is now complete. The space is designed not only to provide the students with a break-out area, but also to improve the aesthetics and micro-climate of the school. Our next area of focus for Nature Play will be in the Early Childhood grounds.

‘In play a child always behaves beyond his average age, above his daily behaviour. In play, it is as though he were a head taller than himself’ - Lev Vygotsky, Russian Psychologist

Travelling to and from school

Recently we had a near miss with a student nearly being hit by a car. As parents and carers, we have a responsibility to keep our children safe when travelling to and from school.

If you are thinking about letting your child walk to and from school alone, please consider:

• their age and ability. Are they at least 10 years of age?
• are they aware of the road safety rules?
• walking with them and talking about hazards.
• how busy and how many roads they need to cross.
• getting them to walk with others.
• explaining the dangers of distractions - using electronic devices, talking to friends, wearing headphones.

Voluntary Contributions Draw

The voluntary contributions prize draw took place at our assembly on Friday 11th May 2018. Congratulations to the Russell family on winning a night at the Joondalup Resort including breakfast.

New students

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Kaylie who recently commenced at Somerly Primary School.

Tracey Renton
Principal

Merit Certificates

Room 1: Maverick and Poppy; Room 2: Noah, Laksh and Jai; Room 4: Harrison and Meyer; Room 9: Bailey and Tyran; Room 10: Daeniel and Asante; Room 11: Ainara and Jordan; Room 12: Tyson and Mwila; Room 13: Liam, Finlay and Kaiden; Room 14: Shayla and Billy; Room 15: Madalyn and Jett; Room 16: Sanaver and Leila; Room 17: Kuol and Canaan; Room 18: Osama and Lukas; Room 23: Jordyn and Zion; PE: Ella-Rose, Lily and Room 18; Art: Harrison, Deacon and Room 8 (Year 4); LOTE: Moses, Taryq and Laiken, Art: Brayden and Osama.

Stars

Behaviour Focus

SAFETY;

CLASSROOM

• We sit on chairs ‘4 on the floor’;
• We clean up work areas;
• We tuck in chairs when they are not being sat on;
• We use equipment appropriately • We walk in the classroom.

Students Late to School

If your child arrives late to school, they are missing critical morning routines and learning activities. The school day begins at 8:40am and students will be considered late if they do not arrive by this time. If your child arrives after 9:00am you are required to enter through the front office and provide us with a reason for the lateness. A late slip will be printed for you to give to the class teacher.

Not Feeling Well?

If your child is not feeling well before school, please keep them home and notify the office by phoning 6206 4200, sending an SMS to 0437 480 486 or emailing somerly.ps@education.wa.edu.au .

Late Collection of Students

Somerly Primary School has a student finish time of 2.45pm each day. If your child has not been picked up before 3pm, you will be required to come to the front office to sign them out.

Kindy Enrolment for 2019

We are now taking Kindergarten applications for 2019, if you have a child that was born between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015 please come into the front office for an application form.

As Kindy is non-compulsory, enrolments will be on a first in basis.

When applying we need a copy of your child’s birth certificate or passport, visa if applicable, current Medicare immunisation details and proof of address.

If you know someone who has a child due to start Kindergarten next year, please let them know that enrolments are open.

Please click on the link below to access the Application for Enrolment for Kindergarten in 2019.

Mother's Day Pamper

The Kindergarten students celebrated Mother's Day by inviting their Mums into class to be pampered! The children completed many fun activities with their Mums including decorating a biscuit, making a necklace, giving Mum a massage, painting a picture, styling their Mum's hair and painting their Mum's nails. It was lovely to see so many Mums come and enjoy the morning.

Aneka Rosielle and Jessica Mason - Kindergarten Teachers

Learning Focus

Art

Art News

Last year our Year 1-4 students studied Japanese artist Maki Horanai’s work to draw, paint and print some of their own beautiful designs. Maki has exhibited locally and internationally, including shows in New York.

I was thrilled to visit Maki at her home studio during the April holidays, located on beautiful Tamborine Mountain in Queensland. She was busy preparing ceramic work for an open weekend, where visitors are invited to view a string of different artists while they work.

I shared some of our student work with Maki, and she was deeply touched and inspired by their work. Her son (a budding ninja!) also showed me around, and I brought home some of her lovely, thought-provoking ceramic work to share. It was a pleasure to meet and share student work with her and to hear student responses to her creations that I brought home.

Walk Safely to School Day

Walk Safely to School Day was a great success! Thank you to all the families and students who walked safely to school on Friday the 18th of May. It was lovely to see many smiling faces come to the undercover area to receive a sticker for walking safely to school and enjoying some breakfast supplied by our Breakfast Club. Walking to school is a great habit to develop, incorporating daily exercise into your child's life. When commuting to school, please take the time to remind and teach your child about the importance of road safety. Great effort everyone!

A message from our Traffic Wardens

Lynne, Mike and Jack work hard to keep families safe at our school cross-walk. Each morning and afternoon they carefully watch and assess traffic to ensure safe crossing. Jack the dog is a friendly, calm and quiet supervisor!

Lynne and Mike shared their reasons for choosing to be Traffic Wardens with me for Walk Safely to School Day:

• First and foremost, we are here to ensure the children can cross safely as we have been specifically trained to do this;
• We are also here for the safety of all the other people that use the crossing;
• The reason it’s safe to cross is that we control the crossing, vehicles and pedestrians alike;
• We also think it’s important for the children to see a happy face on the way to and from school, plus Jack is there to greet them as well;
• We also will participate in some school activities e.g. Red Nose Day, Book Week etc, as we feel that being involved will encourage more to use our crossing and therefore make them safer on their way to and from school.

The best and safest way to cross Connolly Drive is with our Traffic Wardens. Be sure to thank them and wish them a nice day too!

Police Caring for our Community

A big thankyou to Senior Constable Lance Munckton, Senior Constable Chris Kerep and the Traffic Enforcement Group 3 Police that have been regularly attending our School Zone area. Their aim is to educate the public and keep our students safe by reminding drivers to drop their speed to 40km/h in School Zones between 7.30am-9am and 2.30pm-4pm or as per signage. We thank them for their valuable time and effort - it is much appreciated.

Rhiannon Bartley - Art/Health Teacher

Kindergarten Room 5

Reading Comprehension

The Kindergarten students have been working very hard in Reading this term. We have read the Lynley Dodd book Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy. One activity the students completed asked them to decide "Which was your favourite character and why?" and another was "What would you do if you were Hairy Maclary and came across Scarface Claw?". Room 5 students also completed a craft item and made a Hairy Maclary face. All Kindergarten classrooms display the many reading activities and crafts students complete for parents and carers to view.

Science

Wednesday is our Science day and this term we are learning about Physical Sciences - Exploring ways that objects move on land, through water and in the air. We took advantage of the beautiful Autumn weather and went outside to discuss "How do we move?" Students drew a picture of themselves and told me which was their favourite movement whilst on the playground. We then made a class graph of the results to compare which was the most popular type of movement.

Mrs Jessica Mason – Kindergarten Teacher

Kindergarten Room 6

Reading Comprehension

The Kindergarten students have been working very hard in Reading this term. This term we are reading Mem Fox books and are currently reading her story, The Magic Hat. One activity the students have completed, involved them choosing an animal that they would turn into if the Magic Hat landed on their head. Room 6 students drew this animal, completed a directed drawing of their magic hat and then creatively decorated it. They did a fabulous job and all look very individual. All Kindergarten classrooms display the many reading activities and crafts students complete for parents and carers to view.

Miss Aneka Rosielle – Kindergarten Teacher

Kurlangas Aboriginal Playgroup

This term in playgroup, we are learning about different animals and the noises they make! We will be making cotton wool sheep, feather ducks, animal stamping, and paper giraffes.

We will also be reading books and singing songs about animals.

For our babies, there will be tummy time (to strengthen their back and neck muscles), push and pull toys, some wonderful books to look at and songs to sing.

Playgroup is FREE , and held every Wednesday at Somerly Primary School during term times between 12.30-2.30pm, for Aboriginal children up to 5yrs of age and their carers.

A morning tea of fresh fruit is provided for the children and tea, coffee and biscuits for the adults. You do not need to have a child attending this school to attend.

Hope to see you there!

ABORIGINAL EARLY YEARS TEAM.

P & C