4 May 2022

Newsletter Articles

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents/Caregivers

OUR SCHOOL VISION IS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN BECOMING STRONG, THOUGHTFUL AND INDEPENDENT INDIVIDUALS WHO ASPIRE TO BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE. OUR ETHOS OFFERS STUDENT CENTERED EDUCATION THAT IS FOCUSSED ON BOTH THE PRESENT AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS.

Welcome Back to Term 2

I would like to extend a warm welcome back to students, families and friends of Somerly Primary School. I hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing break. It was fantastic having staff and students back into regular classroom routines last week and we look forward to a less interrupted term continuing our focus on student learning.

With the easing of government restrictions, we look forward to a busy and engaging term. We look forward to having families back in classrooms, our regular lunchtime clubs resuming including, Kapa Haka, Chess Club, Gardening Club, Bluearth and choir, our regular assemblies and the return of our Fathering Project events. Despite the easing of restrictions, the school is still facing challenges by way of finding relief staff. We are doing everything in our power to minimise the disruption caused to students and we thank you for your patience and understanding.

After continued work throughout the holidays it is with great excitement that we announce that the refurbishment to our new Science Room is now complete. New furniture has been ordered and Mrs Mulder has begun fully resourcing and stocking the equipment to ensure the best possible learning experiences. We look forward to sharing these with you throughout the term.

Finally, to our Jewish community members that recently celebrated Passover, I hope it was a time of great happiness. I would also acknowledge our Muslim community with the celebration of EID this week. I hope you had a happy and joyous celebration.

Events Summary

NAPLAN Online

A reminder that next week Tuesday 10th May, our Year 3 and 5 students will be participating in NAPLAN – National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy. NAPLAN is a National Assessment program and is made up of four tests in the areas of Reading, Writing, Numeracy and Language Conventions – spelling, grammar and punctuation. One of the main benefits of NAPLAN online is that it uses tailored (or adaptive) testing. This means that students receive questions better suited to their abilities, so they can show what they know and can do. The NAPLAN assessments make up only one aspect of the school’s comprehensive assessment program. Schools and teachers use NAPLAN data to improve teaching and learning programs in the classroom. NAPLAN can support school improvement by enabling teachers to monitor their students’ progress over time against the national measure, to identify strengths and areas to improve in teaching programs, and to set goals in literacy and numeracy.

There are many ways you can support your child. First and foremost, you can support your child by reassuring them that NAPLAN is a part of their school program and reminding them to simply do their best as it is not a pass or fail test. Ensuring they have a good sleep and good breakfast is also important. Students have had some familiarisation with NAPLAN, so they are familiar with the format of the tests. Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN online can visit the public demonstration site on the NAP website. Some past NAPLAN papers are also available. If your child is unwell on any of the test days, the school will do their best to ensure they complete the missed tests at another time.

Later in the year we will send parents an individual student NAPLAN Report that you can use to view and monitor how your child is progressing. If you have any concerns, please contact Mrs Louise Carroll on 6206 4200.

Please see attached schedule below.

NAPLAN Schedule all students in Yr 3 and Yr 5

Catch up tests will be scheduled during the two weeks for students who miss a scheduled NAPLAN test.

ANZAC Service

On Friday 29th April the Somerly Primary School community was able to hold its first whole school event of the year with its ANZAC Commemorative Service. It was a time for great reflection as the school came together in our memorial garden to remember all the past and present servicemen and women of our armed forces.

The Student Councillors spoke excellently, reading several passages reflecting the experiences of the ANZAC soldiers in World War One. School Board Chair and veteran Arthur Ventham shared some insightful facts about the various animals that also succumbed to suffering throughout the war and the various roles that they undertook. We also were privileged to welcome back Warrant Officer Bruce Williams to share his personal reflections on what ANZAC day means to him. Wreaths were laid to honour the memories throughout the service. At the end of the day, these wreaths were then donated and laid at the memorial at the RAFFA CAMBRAI Retirement Village. I would like to thank all our special guests, Mr Ventham, Warrant Officer Williams and Mark Folkard MLA, Labour Member for Burns Beach for their attendance, we are lucky to have them supporting our school.

Year 6 Camp

It is with great pleasure that I inform you our Year 6 Camp will be able to proceed. There are some strict conditions and planning required for this event and we will be working through these organisational requirements. The camp will take place at Ern Halliday in Hillary’s from 27th to 29th July 2022.

Students will engage in a variety of recreational activities. The aim of the camp is:

• To give students the opportunity to experience outdoor educational activities in a natural environment
• To promote an appreciation of the environment
• To foster teamwork and to improve communication skills
• To meet new and varied challenges

The estimated cost of the camp will be $280 with the final cost dependent on student attendance, the recreational activities chosen and catering costs. Further information will be given towards the end of Term 2. If you would like to discuss a payment plan / or start paying instalments, please contact Mrs Susan Rose in the school office.

Fathering Project – Save the Date

It is with great excitement that we can announce we are able to hold our first Fathering Project event of the year. The event will be a Pizza, Popcorn and Movie night held in the undercover area. More information will follow over the coming weeks but please save the date - Friday 24th June, Week 9.

New students

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Amal, Amina, Raffa, Zamia and Will who recently commenced at Somerly Primary School.

Zoe Hadley-Hawley
Principal

Stars

Behaviour Focus

Our behaviour focus for Week 2 is:-

PLAY AREAS

RESPONSIBILITY:

• We seek help when we solve problems

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.

Cross Country 2022

The Years 4-6 Cross Country Run will be held at Somerly Primary School, around Riverlinks Park on Wednesday 11th of May 2022.

All Years 4-6 students will participate in the Somerly Primary School Cross Country Run. The top ten students from each year level will be selected to compete in the Interschool Cross Country Run on Friday the 20th May at Gumblossom Oval. Mrs Ochieng will notify parents if their child has been selected to compete in the Interschool event.

The Interschool Quinns Rocks Cross Country Run will be held at Quinns Rocks Primary School, (Gumblossom Oval) on Friday 20th May 2022 - 9:45AM - 12:30PM.

Students from Years 4-6 are selected to compete in this event based on results from the school-run cross country events.

Schedule of the day

9:00am-9:30am - Schools Arrive at Gumblossom Oval (Quinns Road), Quinns Rocks Primary School

9:45am Briefing and Welcome

Year Level Races

10:00am - Year 4 girls 1500m
10:15am - Year 4 boys 1500m
10:30am - Year 5 girls 1500m
10:45am - Year 5 boys 1500m
11:00am - Year 6 girls 2000m
11:20am - Year 6 boys 2000m

11:40pm - Close and final announcements/presentations of overall winning schools and individual place getters.

12:15-12:30pm - Schools leave Gumblossom Oval and return to school

This timetable is based on a prompt start at 9:45am. Weather and bus schedules may cause delays. The event will only be cancelled if there is thunder and lightning or hail on the day. If there is rain the event will still go ahead.

This event is run to develop skill, endurance and good natured competition for our students. The spirit is simply to achieve a goal by finishing. Although it is a team event the first four place getters are awarded a place certificate and place ribbon and all competitors receive a participation certificate. All participating students are to wear closed in shoes without studs or spikes during the races. No exceptions will be made on this issue. You are most welcome to come along and join us for the morning.

Waste Wise Schools - Gardening Club

Students attending Gardening Club on Wednesday lunchtimes have continued planting seedling such as brown onions and broccoli. Our existing seedlings have been growing and hopefully will be harvested soon.

Thank you staff, students and our Somerly families for your participation in our weekly challenges. Term one total containers collected was 13747 raising $1374.70. This money was spent directly on the community pantry and for funding 50% of the Japanese drumming incursion. Thank you!

Our challenge winners

Week 10 challenge winners
Congratulations

Miss Hamand’s room 18!

Term 2 challenges started with our Holiday Family Challenge and continued into weeks one and two. So far we have collected 573 containers! This challenge finishes on Friday and our winning class will be announced for collecting the most containers!

Community Pantry

Just a quick reminder about our Community Pantry located in the undercover area, right next to the canteen area.

The Community Pantry is accessible to all parents or carers of students attending Somerly Primary School and is open every day. The door will be left unlocked so that any parent or carer can go and help themselves to food items they need. If you are visiting the school between the hours of 9.20am and 2.30pm, please call into the front office to sign in and out.

P & C