27 February 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents/Caregivers

I would like to wish Tracey Renton all the best for her appointment at Piara Waters Primary School. I am very grateful and honoured to be leading the Somerly Primary School community over the next 6 months.

We are very fortunate to announce that a new Deputy Principal has been appointed to Somerly PS during this time. I would like to welcome Louise Carroll to the Administration team. Louise comes to us with a wealth of knowledge from her roles as Curriculum Leader and Deputy Principal.

We’re looking forward to a busy and productive year ahead.

School Board

We are calling for parent nominees to join the Somerly Primary School Board. The role of the School Board is one of setting the long term future for the school. The Board has student success and school effectiveness as it’s overarching purpose. A number of key roles of the Board include;

• Review of the school’s performance
• Contribution to the School Delivery and Performance Agreement and the Business Plan
• Endorse and review the annual report
• Promotion of the school through the wider community
• Approval of charges, contributions and fees, items of personal use (booklists) and advertising.

The School Board is made up of members from the school staff, parents and members of the community. The Board meets twice a term and the meetings commence at 9:00am. Parents can nominate to be part of the school board for a period of one, two or three years. Please contact Andrew Britton on 6206 4200, if you would like to nominate for the School Board.

Pre-Primary, Year One and Year Two On-entry Assessment Programs

Students are currently engaging in the On-entry assessment program between weeks 3-6. This assessment is conducted one-on-one with teachers and provides valuable information to support the classroom learning programs.

Harmony Day – Cultural Dress Up Day 21st March 2019

Harmony Day is an opportunity to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. At Somerly PS, we have 30 nationalities represented within our school population. We would like to invite all students to dress up in a way that represents their culture of birth / family origin. Students will also engage in various activities leading up to Harmony Day.

Indigenous Breakfast

We will also host our first Indigenous Family breakfast of 2019 on Thursday 21st March. We would like to invite all indigenous students and their families to join us for pancakes from 8:00am in the staffroom.

Numeracy Open Morning – 28th March 2019

Our first parent open morning will be held on 28th March from 8:30am. This is an opportunity for you to engage with your children in the classroom and view the learning that has occurred this year.

More information on this will be in the Week 6 Newsletter.

Voluntary Contributions

Voluntary Contributions play a significant role in providing resources for students in the classroom. The continuing partnership between the school and parents is vital to ensuring that all students receive a level of education sufficient to carry them forward in today’s society. Voluntary Contributions are utilized to purchase books, resources and equipment for classroom use and to support our school in the delivery of quality educational programmes. To enable the school to continue to deliver our excellent educational programmes, we urge you to consider paying your Voluntary Contribution at your earliest convenience.

Voluntary Contributions for 2019 is set at $60. However, if you pay before the end of Term 1, you will receive a discount of $10.

Would you like a night at the Joondalup Resort?

Thanks to the generosity of Mark Folkard MLA, Member for Burns Beach you could be checking in soon!

We have a voucher for a one night stay for two people with breakfast included on a date of your choice.

To be in the draw to win this fantastic prize, simply pay your Voluntary Contribution before the end of Term 1. If you have already paid, you are automatically in the draw.

Draw will take place week 1 of Term 2.

You can pay by cheque, cash or EFTPOS in the front office any day between 8:30am and 3:30pm. Alternatively, you can also pay by direct deposit to Commonwealth Bank – BSB 066 040 - Account No. 19902052. Please enter surname and room number in description field as a reference.

Toddler reading

Our Toddler Reading group meets in the library on Wednesday mornings from 8:45am. Parents and their young children are invited to come in and read some lovely picture books. We read a story together as a group at 9:00am and then have a small craft activity for those children who would like to join in. Your child may also like to borrow a book to take home for the week. Bringing along a library bag is good practice for kindy.

New students

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

Andrew Britton
A/Principal

Merit Certificates

Room 1: Warisha and Raiden; Room 2: Abraham and Cali-Rose; Room 3: Joseph and Taleeya; Room 4: Ethan and Arnika; Room 7: Erin; Room 8: Maaria and Temwani; Room 9: Chase and Dudi; Room 10: Shanese and Tayliah; Room 11: Taj and Sophie; Room 12: Elvis and Ruby; Room 14: Mia and Wendel; Room 15: Ashlynn and Aaleeyah; Room 16: Moon and Skye-Bree; Room 17: Malakai and Devon; Room 18: Miah and Clayton; Room 23: Laksh and Imogen; LOTE: Shanese and Room 8.

Behaviour Focus

Our behaviour focus for Week 4 is:-

SAFETY;
WHOLE SCHOOL

• We walk on paved areas
• We are allergy aware
• We keep hands, feet and objects to ourselves
• We report dangers to a staff member
• We stay in the school grounds

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.

Fathering Project

Dads / Father Figures and Child Event;

Taiko Drumming

The Fathering Project is an opportunity to have fun with your kids and become part of a strong and supportive network of dads and father figures connected to Somerly Primary School. Our Term 1 event will be led by our Music Specialist Teacher, Kim Olsen. Dads and kids will learn a variety of Taiko Drumming rhythmic patterns played simultaneously together. The Fathering Project participants will also decorate the drums, which will be used in class time and whole school events.

RSVP: There is a maximum number of 15 kids (and their dads) to participate in the event (First in first served). Please RSVP by Monday 25th March, by calling Somerly Primary School on 6206 4200.

The Fathering Project is brilliant and inspires me as a dad. Justin Langer AM, Father of 4 Girls, Australian Cricketer, WA

The Dads’ group has been a wonderful initiative for our school to be involved in. These Dad’s form a very important part of their children’s experiences, and we celebrate that with a wide range of enjoyable and meaningful school and family-based events.” Greg, School Principal, WA

For all women who want their husbands to be more involved in their children’s lives, I encourage you to get involved with The Fathering Project. It will make such a massive difference to your children’s lives; your relationship, your husband’s life, and you will all be better off as a family unit.” Georgie, Mother to 3 children, Loving wife of a Dad involved in The Fathering Project, WA

Chaplain’s Corner

Dear Parents

As I mentioned in the previous Newsletter, this term we will be focussing on Bulling prevention by being part of the National Day against Bullying and Violence. To be part of this initiative, we have planned activities that will spread over 3 weeks. During the next two weeks, teachers will have various activities or class discussions that will focus on what Bullying is as well as strategies you can use if you are being bullied. As parents, we play a vital role in the prevention of bullying. Not just by supporting and listening to our children, but also making sure that we understand what Bullying is.

The national definition of bullying for Australian schools says

Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. It can involve an individual or a group misusing their power, or perceived power, over one or more persons who feel unable to stop it from happening.

Bullying of any form or for any reason can have immediate, medium and long-term effects on those involved, including bystanders. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying.

As a parent myself, I know that it might be overwhelming if your child tells you that he or she is being bullied. And often we don’t know what to do about it. Here are some tips on what you as a parent can do when your child talks to you about being bullied:

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. We have a wonderful support system at our school that will assist you in any way you need if your child is being bullied.

If you need more information or you need some support in any way, please contact me at school or pop in for a chat any Tuesday or Friday.

Have a great week!!

Kind regards
Marilize

Learning Focus

Numeracy

This term Tori, Angus, Drishya and Alisha (from Year 5) are participants in an online Maths competition called Have Sum Fun Online. They are competing against schools from around Australia in three rounds of one hour, which will result in a league table. In the first round these students scored a great score of 94% in under 35 minutes. We congratulate them on their achievements so far!

P&C