5 June 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Altering the Configuration of the School Day – Monday 1st July 2019

Thank you to all the families who completed the ‘Tell Them from Me’ survey in Term One. A summary of the results was published in the Newsletter on Wednesday 22nd May 2019. A common element that arose from the survey findings was to improve the two-way communication between teachers and parents, linked to student progress and achievement.

On Monday 1st July 2019, the school day will conclude at 11:45am to enable three-way conferences to occur - parent/student/teacher meetings. Parents are requested to collect their children at 11:45am. The timing of the meetings will enable you to discuss your child’s academic progress and Semester One Student Report with their classroom teacher.

Further information will be provided soon on how to schedule in a meeting with classroom and specialist teachers.

Online NAPLAN

Congratulations to all our Year 3 and 5 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.

Voluntary Contributions Draw

The voluntary contributions draw took place at our assembly on Friday 31st May, 2019. All families who paid their voluntary contributions in Term 1 were entered into the draw. Congratulations to the Wilson family on winning a night at the Joondalup Resort. Thank you to School Board Member, Mr Mark Folkard MLA Member for Burns Beach, for your generous donation.

NAIDOC Week

As part of our NAIDOC Week this year we will be taking the whole school on an excursion to Kings Park. The excursion will be spread over 3 days Tuesday 2nd July to Thursday 4th July, with each class attending on one of the days. The students will be involved in educational programs looking at the Nyoongar culture as well as experiencing the Rio Tinto Naturescape. The cost of the excursion is $20, which covers the cost of the educational programs and transport. Please refer to the Consent Form for more information.

NAIDOC Week will conclude with an Assembly on Friday 5th July commencing at 10:00am. Students will be seated around the camp fire, adjacent to the Administration Block and Library.

Indigenous Breakfast – Thursday 13th June 2019

We would like to invite all Indigenous students and their families to join us for pancakes on Thursday 13th June, from 8:00am in the staffroom.

Key dates – Camp and Swimming

We would like to take this opportunity to keep you informed of our upcoming Year 6 Camp. This year’s camp will be held at Ern Halliday in Hillarys from Wednesday 25th September to Friday 27th September 2019. The estimated cost for the Year 6 Camp will be $280. The final cost will be dependent upon the selected recreational activities and catering options. Year 6 fundraising will assist in reducing the overall cost. We will inform you of the final cost when we send home the permission form early in Term 3. Further information will also be relayed at this time.

Swimming Lessons

Please be aware that this year’s In-Term Swimming Lessons for Pre-Primary to Year 6 students are in Week 5 and 6 of Term 3 at the HBF Arena.

The dates for this are Monday 19/08/19 to Friday 30/08/19 2019. Please note, the swimming sessions will be scheduled between 10:20am and 2pm.

The cost for the lessons will be approximately $50 per child. Swimming notes will be sent home at the end of the term.

If you would like to discuss a payment plan and/or start making payment instalments, please contact Mrs Susan Rose on 6206 4200.

Reporting to Parents - Electronic Report Delivery Semester One 2019

A reminder to parents that in Week 9 you will receive your child's Semester One report via email. It is important to note that the link to the report only remains active for 4 weeks. This means to keep a copy of the report you are required to download and save a copy ASAP after receiving it.

In Western Australia, student achievement in the learning areas taught, are reported on a five-point scale for all years from Pre-Primary to Year 10. Teachers use the Achievement Standards from the Western Australian Curriculum to assess and make judgements on your child's achievement and progress. Teachers will also include information about your child's attitude, behaviour and effort and will include relevant comments outlining achievement and areas for improvement.

The Achievement Standards utilised by teachers from the Western Australian Curriculum outline the expected achievement for students for that year of schooling. The grades allocated by teachers mid-year are based on the curriculum content that has been taught. If your child receives a 'C Grade or Satisfactory' allocation, according to the Western Australian Curriculum they are achieving what is expected for that year level of schooling.

New students

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

Andrew Britton
A/Principal

Merit Certificates

Room 1: Mia and Oscar; Room 2: Tyler, Alyssa and Jasmine; Room 3: Zaykarliah and Aubree; Room 4: Shayla and Tien; Room 8: Brock and Jacinta; Room 12: Beau and Jessica; Room 10: Daniel and Arhum; Room 14: Madalyn and Kyle; Room 15: Amarni and Kahn; Room 16: Olivia and Kelvin; Room 17: Daniel and Abriana; Room 18: Koby and Mia; Art: Oaklan – Room 16 and Teleah - Room 16; LOTE: Beyla - Room 10, Kahcyn - Room 12; Finlay - Room 7 and Dudi - Room 9.

Stars

Behaviour Focus

Our behaviour focus for Week 6 is: 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 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.

WA Day

Western Australia Day is a public holiday in Western Australia, celebrated on the first Monday in June each year to commemorate the founding of the Swan River Colony in 1829. Students in the lead up to WA Day participated in a variety of activities to learn about the importance of this public holiday. Work has been displayed in each classroom for Parents and Caregivers to view.

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about supports provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019).

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes:

• year of schooling
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive.

This information assists schools to:

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability.

The NCCD provides state and federal governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability.

The NCCD will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information. To find out more about these matters, please refer to the Australian Government’s Privacy Policy

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal

If you have any questions about the NCCD, please contact the school.

Kindergarten Enrolments 2020

We are now taking Kindergarten applications for 2020. If you have a child that was born between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016 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 History Statement letter 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 2020.

Woolworths Earn & Learn

Somerly Primary School is taking part in the Woolworths Earn & Learn program. For those parents who aren't aware of the program, if you shop at Woolworths between 1st of May and the 25th of June you can earn stickers. Our school will be collecting these stickers which we'll be able to swap for new school equipment; things like art and craft supplies, sports gear, teaching aids and more.

So for any parents who shop at Woolworths, please collect the stickers and drop them in to our collection boxes, which are located in our school library or at Woolworths in Ocean Keys Shopping Centre.

Learning Focus

Music

“MUSIC COUNT US IN! SONG WRITING COMPETITION”

During Term 1, two Somerly Primary School students from Year 5 entered a song in the Music Count Us In Song Writing Competition. Music Count Us In is a program that celebrates the power of music programs in schools through unity and belonging, by having all students across Australia sing one song at the same time.

Chanda and Ifeoma both wrote and recorded their own songs for submission which reflected the themes of unity, celebration of diversity and Australia. Both girls did an amazing job and received a certificate for their submission at our assembly.

I hope that Ifeoma and Chanda continue writing and making music and submit more songs in the future.

Miss Olsen – Music Specialist

Reading to our Children

The importance of reading cannot be emphasised enough in young children, and we as parents need to make every day reading a high priority.

Many studies show that toddlers and pre-schoolers who are read to every day have a larger vocabulary than those who aren’t read to at all. It turns out that there are many advantages and benefits of reading.

Not only does reading enhance a child’s vocabulary, and help them understand how to read and write, but reading aloud to children also helps them to understand different topics about the world and everyday life.

In the Early Years

Reading a book to your child is a wonderful bonding experience for you both, and it is very educational.

Reading to your child does not always have to involve a book. In fact, if you make the most of the writing you see on signs, posters and food packets, you will find opportunities to read to your child every day.

You are your child’s very first teacher and through your voice your child learns different words and sounds, which will help them with speech and reading.

Listening to you read helps them with their memory, concentration and comprehension.

Here are our tips on how best to read a book to your child:

1. Pick a time to read that suits your routine. Reading a book does not have to occur at bedtime, although reading with your child is a great way to help them settle down for bed.
2. Choose a book to enjoy with your child. Young children appreciate vibrant coloured illustrations with lots of characterisation. If they are old enough, let them choose the book they would like you to read.
3. Read the book to your child, and make sure to put plenty of variations in your voice for different characters and events. The sillier you can be with voices, the better.
4. Change the pace of your voice depending on what is happening in the book. For example, if the character is sleepy, speak in a slower voice. If the character is in a hurry, talk faster.
5. Use book reading to really interact with your child. Ask open-ended questions like, ‘Who is the biggest, the cat or the mouse?’; ‘Why do you think the cat is frowning?’ and ‘What do you think is going to happen next?’.
6. Enjoy your special reading time together!

In the Primary Years

Reading books out loud with your child is great for their learning and wellbeing, no matter what their age or reading level. Here are some benefits to reading aloud with your child – even after they can read for themselves!

Learning by Listening

As your child begins to read, they learn much more about what words mean by hearing books read out loud and discussing new words with you than from reading on their own. Reading aloud together can help build vocabulary, improve reading skills, and increase attention and listening skills.

Even after they can read for themselves, reading out loud to your child can show them what proficient reading sounds like, with pacing, intonation and expression. It also helps them experience the pleasure of sharing stories and develop a lifelong love of books.

Books are Great Teachers

Reading books together can teach your child about different emotions and situations and lead to great discussions. Talk to your child about the stories you read together – what do they think and feel about the characters and what happened in the story? This can help your child express their thoughts, feelings and imagination.

Books don’t just have to be ‘fiction’ to be a great read – books with facts and true stories can be fantastic too. Reading your child history books, science books or biographies out loud can be just as entertaining, and give your child insight into different people, things, places and historical events.

Time to Connect

Sharing a good book is a great way to spend one-on-one time with your child – you are giving them your undivided attention, being close and sharing experiences and ideas with them. As your child gets older and your schedules get busier, reading together can be a way for you to connect on a regular basis.

Reading your child a bedtime story is a great way to get them relaxed and ready for sleep – but if night-time reading doesn’t work for your family, there are plenty of other times to read together. For example, you could have a regular snuggle on the couch with a book on the weekends, read out news stories over breakfast, read out recipes or the TV guide – or listen to audio books together in the car or on public transport.

Extend and Challenge

As your child becomes a more confident reader, you can read books that your child could read alone (so they can re-read them independently later) as well as books that are above your child’s reading level. Listening to you read more challenging books exposes your child to more complicated stories and advanced vocabulary.

When deciding what to read to your child, let them choose – or look for books on topics your child is interested in, ones written by their favourite author, or your favourite stories from childhood.

(From Australian Government ‘Learning Potential’)

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