28 August 2019

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents/Caregivers

We celebrated Book Week and Science Week at Somerly Primary School between Monday 12th and Friday 16th August. The eventful week consisted of a Book Fair, Grandparent’s Morning Tea, Fancy Dress Parade and a Stargazing Evening. Thank you to all the families who attended to make it an engaging and successful week for all. I would like to extend a special thank you to Mrs Reyneke and Mrs Ixer who created the Stargazing Evening and ensured there were many exhibitions for families to engage in. Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us next time.

Athletics Carnivals

All students are currently training for our upcoming Athletics Carnivals. There is already a buzz of excitement as students are practising the team games in their faction teams. Families are welcome to attend all events.

• Jumps and Throws events – 4th September 2019
• Athletics Carnival – 6th September 2019
• Interschool Athletics Carnival – 13th September 2019

Feedback on parent meetings

Staff and the School Board have reflected on our first formal parent/student/teacher meeting afternoon, which was held in Term 2. It was a very successful afternoon with over 220 sessions booked. Due to the success and subsequent feedback, we will plan similar afternoon meetings in Term 1 and 3 of 2020. This will enable families and carers an opportunity to discuss students’ academic and social progress at that particular point in time.

Indigenous Breakfast – 12/9/19

On Thursday 12th September, we will host our next Indigenous Breakfast from 8:00am. A further invitation will be sent home with students soon. We look forward to many families attending.

Open P&C Meeting Monday 9th September at 1:45pm

The next Somerly P&C meeting is scheduled for Monday 9th September, commencing at 1:45pm. We would like to extend an open invitation to all families who may be interested in joining our P&C.

Fathering Project

Our Term 3 Fathering Project event will be an opportunity for Dads/Father Figures to engage in a range of technology and coding activities with your children. Please see the advert below for more details.

Parent Parking

Somerly Primary School is very fortunate to have ample parking spaces provided for parent parking around the perimeter of the school. Unfortunately, a minority of parents are parking illegally within car parks, car park gate entrances, on pavements and on grass verges. Please utilise the allocated parking spaces only and be extra vigilant when entering and exiting car parks, keeping an eye out for pedestrians at all times. Disabled bays are not to be used as drop off points for students and the gate entrances are not extra parking bays. The staff car park is for staff use only.

A big thank you to the families who are parking in the correct areas.

2020 Enrolments

To assist our planning for 2020 would you please let the school office know if your child/ren will not be attending Somerly Primary School next year.

Andrew Britton
Principal

Stars

Behaviour Focus

Our behaviour focus for Week 6 is:-
RESPONSIBILITY;

CLASSROOM

• We have our equipment ready and keep our work area tidy
• We ask for help with our school work when needed
• We follow all staff instructions

EXCURSIONS

Preparation for Swimming

• We follow adult instructions
• We take care of our belongings
• We encourage others and actively participate

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.

Attendance

What should I do if my child is sick?

A student’s absence must be explained by the parent or caregiver only. This can be done by:-

1. SMS – Send an SMS to advise of your child’s absence and the reason to 0437 480 486 before 9am.
2. Make a phone call to the front office advising staff of the reason for your child’s absence.
3. Telephone: 6206 4200.
4. Send a note upon your child’s return.
5. Verbally discuss the reasons with the teacher.
6. Send an email to somerly.ps@education.wa.edu.au.

If you are having problems getting your child to school for any reason please contact the classroom teacher and school administration as we are happy to help.

A REMINDER - CLASSROOMS OPEN AT 8:30am

The learning session begins at 8:40am. By arriving at 8:30am students are welcome into the classroom to prepare for the day. During this time, students can organise their materials and speak with the teacher about the expectations of the day. We encourage your child/ren to arrive at school by 8:30am to give them time to get organised.

It’s Time to Enrol

We are now taking applications for enrolment. You need to enrol for:

• Kindergarten - four years old by 30 June 2020
• Pre-primary (first year of compulsory school) – 5 years old by 30 June 2020
• changing schools

Visit the school office now to enrol your children for 2020.

Year 6 Students - Enrol in Secondary School

Now is the time for Year 6 students to enrol for Year 7 at their local secondary school. Visit Clarkson Community High School’s website for more information.

All children from Pre-primary to Year 12 are guaranteed a place at their local public school.

School Uniform Donations

We are looking for donations of second hand school uniform for use as spares for our students, particularly Kindy to Year 3 sizes. Any donations would be greatly appreciated.

Lost Property

We have a large amount of lost property located in the green buckets outside the medical room. If you have misplaced an item at school, please check the buckets as soon as possible.

National Science Week

National Science Week was celebrated by the whole school participating in a variety of activities relating to the theme Destination Moon. Junior students made planets, rockets and moonscapes, whilst middle and senior students explored the phases of the moon, space scientists and the solar system. The culmination of Science Week saw the students' work displayed at the Inaugural Stargazing Evening. Despite the weather and lack of moon gazing, it was wonderful to see so many families come and enjoy the evening and to experience the amazing work displays and the interactive stations.

The School would like to acknowledge, and thank, the P & C for providing warm food, Edith Cowan University for the loan of the telescopes, Kapa Haka for their wonderful performance and all of the parents and families who came and supported their children and our school in this event.

Somerly Primary School Faction Athletics Carnival - Friday 6th September 2019

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

The Athletics Faction Carnival is almost upon us and the children have been very busy practicing. There are some items that parents need to be aware of for the day.

It is essential you ensure your child wears correct footwear. Children will not be permitted to go barefoot. A shoe for physical activity needs to:

• cup the heel firmly
• provide good support in the heel and mid foot areas
• be laced firmly
• flex at the ball of the foot
• be correct length (a thumb’s width from the longest toe to the end of the shoe when standing)

This is essential to prevent muscle strain and foot and ankle injuries during sport. A shoe which is too big or laced loosely needs to be held on by gripping with the toes, which causes further foot strain. Skate shoes do not meet the standards of a sport shoe designed for running. These shoes together with shoes not laced firmly, can have a detrimental impact on a child’s growing feet and should not be worn to school.

(This information was kindly provided by Australian Podiatry Association)

Please remember to send your child with a water bottle, healthy snacks, a yummy lunch, a sun smart hat and apply sunscreen beforehand.

We hope to see you there cheering your children on.

James Stanton and Belinda Ochieng

SOMERLY PRIMARY SCHOOL
FACTION ATHLETICS CARNIVAL 2019
CARNIVAL TIMETABLE

FRIDAY

9.40 – 10.25 ROTATION 1

10.25 – 10.40 RECESS

10.45 – 11.30 ROTATION 2

11.35 – 12.20 ROTATION 3

12.20 – 12.45 LUNCH

12.50 – 1.35 ROTATION 4

The Fathering Project

Dads / Father Figures and Child Event;
Term 3 – Digital Technology / Coding Activities

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 3 event will be led by our Digital Technology Specialist Teacher, Dyan Mundy. Dads/Father figures and children will engage in a variety of technology activities.

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

Library News

Thank you to all the parents, grandparents, friends and students who bought a book at our Book Fair. As a result of your generosity we will be able to buy $1300 worth of new books for the library which will be enjoyed by all the children. I would also like to thank the Student Councillors who helped with the sales each day; we couldn’t have done it without you.

Our Toddler Reading Group is meeting in the library on Wednesday mornings. Bring your young children along to play, read a story, join in with an activity and borrow a book. Children who are exposed to reading at a young age get a head start on language and cognitive development, so we’d love you to visit our library and use our resources for your younger children too.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia has just announced this year’s best book award winners. The short-listed titles are on display in the library, so you might like to come in and read one with your child/children or borrow one to take home. The library is open before and after school so feel free to come in and browse.

Mrs Hughes – School Librarian

Reading Parent Information Session

We will be holding a Parent Information session - “Reading at Somerly Primary School - How can I help my child?” on Tuesday 17th September at 2pm in the Library. We will be sharing how we teach reading, what we teach and how you can help at home. We would love to see you there. The session will conclude in time for pickup of students at the end of the day.

ARTS ASSEMBLY

In Week 9, the featured students of the assembly will be the Music and Art students!

The students are currently busy preparing for the Arts Assembly which features and celebrates the Music and Art program at Somerly Primary School.

There will be art displays around the school and the assembly will feature students from the Drumming Group and One Big Voice choir!

The Community Song will be, ‘Sing’ by the Pentatonix, an A Capella band which makes music with only their voices! You can check it out at the video below and the lyrics are below!

Miss Olsen and Miss Bartley are very excited to show off what the school has been up to, so please make it down for this special assembly!

"Sing"

Let me hear you sing Come on, sing it

It doesn't matter if your days are long (Sing!)
It doesn't matter if your night's gone wrong (Sing!)
Just clap your hands and stomp your feet and sing it (Whoa, sing!)

It doesn't matter if he let you go (Sing!)
It doesn't matter if she hurt you so (Sing!)
Come on ya'll
Get up and dance, just feel that beat and sing it (Whoa, sing!)

I don't know what you've been told
But music make you lose control

Sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing it out as hard as you can
Make 'em hear you from LA to Japan
Don't let 'em bring you down
This is how we do it now
Go and roll them windows down

And sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing it with your hands in the sky
Light it up like it's the 4th of July
Don't let 'em bring you down
You know what I'm talking 'bout
A little bit louder now

It doesn't matter if you're way off track (Sing!)
Feel like you're headed for a heart attack (Sing!)
Just raise your voice
And bring the noise
And sing it (Whoa, sing!)

Sing for your mama,
Sing for your daughter (Sing!)
Sing for you sisters, misters, best friends, brother (Sing!)

'Cause I don't know what you've been told
But music make you lose control (Sing!)

Sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing it out as hard as you can
Make 'em hear you from LA to Japan
Don't let 'em bring you down
This is how we do it now
Go and roll them windows down

And sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing it with your hands in the sky
Light it up like it's the 4th of July
Don't let 'em bring you down
You know what I'm talking 'bout
A little bit louder now

Sing it for your mama, ay
Sing it for your papa, ay
Sing it for the whole world
Whether boy or girl, for your #1 bae

KO on the beat, okay?
I'm the human 808
Go ahead, go and sing it, don't talk
'Cause the beat won't stop
No way, way, way, way

Sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing it out as hard as you can
Make 'em hear you from LA to Japan
Don't let 'em bring you down
This is how we do it now
Go and roll them windows down

And sing, sing, sing, sing
Sing it with your hands in the sky
Light it up like it's the 4th of July
Don't let 'em bring you down
You know what I'm talking 'bout
A little bit louder now

You know what I'm talking 'bout
Sing a little bit louder now

Let me hear you sing

Learning Focus

Maths Year 4 Room 8 and Room 13

This term in Year 4 Mathematics, we have been continuing on with our exciting whole-school approach of Stepping Stones.

Topics that we have covered include:

• the rest of the multiplication strategies up to 10 x 10;
• comparing areas and developing a rule for area of rectangles;
• working with picture and column graphs;
• revising the formal subtraction algorithm up to thousands;
• measuring angles using unit fractions and comparing them;
• measuring time intervals in minutes;
• converting between hours and minutes;
• converting between days and weeks and working with timetables.

Here we are completing a problem solving activity. The problem is ‘how many students are enrolled in each year level at your school?’ We surveyed the teachers in each room and then worked independently to total our numbers

A budding Mathematician completing a Check Up assessment.
“I think Stepping Stones is good. I feel much more confident when I am doing Mathematics”
Maaria - Room 8

“I like Stepping Stones. I feel like I have improved my Maths” Ainara - Room 13

Practising our multiplication facts in Ongoing Practice

“I like Stepping Stones. I really like the book work” Deacon- Room 13

Better Health Program

P & C