25 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents/Caregivers

COVID-19

News about the virus is changing day by day. I encourage all parents to continue to monitor the Health Department website as they have the most current and precise information regarding the virus. At the time of writing this newsletter, schools in WA will continue to remain open. Please check in with our communication channels such as Schoolzine, Seesaw and the school website for any new information.

I would like to thank our staff for their continued focus on meeting the needs of our students through an ever-changing climate. I also acknowledge the uncertainty that parents are experiencing at the moment and I appreciate the support Somerly Primary School has received from the community as a whole.

While the school remains open the Education Department’s advice regarding students working from home is;

“Teachers are not expected to provide work packages for students whose parents have chosen to keep them home without seeking medical advice, before the end of Term 1. The priority for staff is to maintain focus on classroom learning programs.”

Students who are working from home can access Reading Eggs, Origo Stepping Stones, Letters and Sounds online and complete a daily journal.

If the Education Department closes schools in Western Australia at a later date, then a form of work package will be available to students.

Paul Eaglestone
Principal

Merit Certificates

Room 1: Nathan and Mabel; Room 3: Cali-Rose and Artia; Room 7: Kiah and Dharshini; Room 8 Kevin and Maaria; Room 10: Gabriel and Kyiah; Room 11: Lamar, Justus and Austin; Room 12: Devon; Room 13: Ava and Kevin; Room 14: Kieren and Eliano; Room 17: Kalia and Bonnie; Room 18: Moon and Aaleeyah; Room 20: Oliver and Ataria; Room 23: Kobe and Lily; Physical Education: Chloe – Rm.7; Art: Kaylee – Rm.15, Ava – Rm.15 and Chase – Rm.11; LOTE: Moses – Rm.9 and Tyson – Rm.7

Stars

Behaviour Focus

Our behaviour focus for Week 8 is:-

PLAY AREAS

RESPECT

• We agree on and follow game rules before starting
• We share and look after all equipment

SOCIAL SKILLS

• Taking turns equally

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.

Cancelled Activities

As a result of the impact of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Somerly Primary School has reviewed and made the decision to cancel the following activities :-

• Monday Communication Assemblies
• Indigenous Breakfast (Thursday 2nd April)
• Parent/Teacher Meetings (Friday 27th March)
• Assembly Friday 3rd April Room 17 and 18
• Summer Interschool Sporting Carnival 3rd April
• RAC Road Safety Incursion – 6th and 9th April
• ANZAC Commemorative Service

Also, the 2020 NAPLAN due to take place in May will not proceed.

Principal’s Lunch

Last Tuesday the Administration Team had the pleasure of hosting our first Principal’s lunch for the year. The selected students were served a yummy lunch of lasagne, salad, garlic bread, a juice box and an icy-pole.

Congratulations go to the students who were chosen by their teachers for displaying outstanding behaviour throughout the term.

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 2020 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 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.

Learning Focus

Year Two, Term 1

We have had a fantastic start to Year 2 this term and we cannot believe how quickly it has gone. Students have worked hard and it has been great to see so many of them grow in confidence and achieve their goals.

English

This term we have learnt how to write a persuasive text. Students have learnt how to form an argument and then to persuade someone to agree with what they think. To link our science and writing units we read a book ‘Morphing Murphy’. In this text Murphy woke as a tadpole and then turned into a frog. Students then had to pretend they were Murphy and write a diary entry from his point of view.

We are now focusing on report writing and will begin by writing animal reports which will then lead onto writing reports about a place to link in with Geography.

In Reading we have focused on the following comprehension strategies - predicting, self-questioning and comparing texts and characters.

Maths

This term we have been busy learning new concepts. We have learnt how to add and subtract 10 and 20 from numbers, we have looked at numbers to 1000 and have built these numbers using MAB blocks, learnt how to write these numbers in words and numbers as well as on a number expander. We have answered addition and subtraction problems and we are beginning to choose our own strategy to show the best way to solve the problem. We have also looked at time to the hour, half hour, quarter past and quarter to the hour on both an analogue and digital clock. Over the last two weeks we have also learnt about adding coins and notes, students were very excited about this concept and couldn’t wait to use this new skill at the shops.

It was fantastic to see them using their counting on, number facts and skip counting knowledge to help them to add money.

Science

Our science unit this term was ‘living things’. Students were able to observe the lifecycle of mealworms, watching how they change and discussing what was happening. We discussed what they need to survive and how to care for them. Students were very excited to watch them change over the term and see them become darkling beetles. We have also looked at other life cycles and discussed how these animals change throughout the life cycle and what happens to them.

Design Technology

As part of our Design Technology Year 2 have planted a range of vegetables and plants in the school garden. Each week we go and check on how our produce is growing and ensure that we are watering and taking care of it. Students are very excited to see their plants and vegetables growing. Once we have enough food, we are going to make Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls with the garden produce. We cannot wait for this activity; students have been planning their final product.

Chaplain’s Corner

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

It has been a whirlwind week, hasn’t it!!

Dealing with this Coronavirus is new territory for all of us. The unpredictability of this virus as well as the uncertainty, is causing a lot of fear and anxiety for both parents and children.

I came across a wonderful resource that we as parents can use to talk to our children about this awful virus. This resource will also focus on some strategies that you as a family can do together to get through this difficult time.

Please see below.

I will be at the school every Tuesday and Friday. If there’s any way I can support your child/children, or yourself during this uncertain time – please feel free to come and see me in the Chaplain’s Room (the demountable behind the Senior block) or give me a call on (08) 6206 4200.

Have a great week!

Kind regards,
Marilize Basson

P & C