30 November 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 to the Nyoogar season of Birak, with the warmer weather starting to take hold it is time for us all to keep sun safe.

As we are approaching the end of the school year there are many exciting and special events planned for the remainder of the year:

• Book Award Assembly – Friday 9th December 8:50am. Parents are welcome to attend. Parents of students receiving awards have been sent letters in the post this week.
• Graduation Excursion – Monday 12th December. Year 6 students with Good Standing have been invited to attend the Graduation Excursion to Outback Splash.
• Year 6 Graduation – Wednesday 14th December, 9am. Students from Year 3 to 6 will be in attendance. Families of graduating students and special guests will also be in attendance.
• Last day of school- We enjoy a Christmas Concert – Thursday 15th December 8:50am. All classes will attend and present an item as a cohort.

Semester 2 Student Reports

This is a reminder that the Semester Two student reports will be emailed out to families on Monday 12th December. It is extremely important if you have recently changed your email address to please inform the front office as soon as possible. Without the updated details you will not receive your child/children’s reports. This is also a reminder that the link for the student reports only lasts for 4 weeks, and they will need to be downloaded and saved for future reference.

Class Lists and Transition Afternoon

Our staff are busy compiling our class lists for 2023 and these will be displayed on the Library windows on Tuesday 13th December.

Students will have an opportunity on Wednesday 14th December at 1:45pm to participate in a transition afternoon. We aim to use this time to assist students alleviate some of their anxieties about changes next year. Students will move to their new class for 2023 and if possible, meet their new teacher. They will also have an opportunity to see where their play areas will be and who the students who will be in their class.

It is important to remember that a lot of thought and detail goes in to class placements. We endeavour to have balanced classes and consider the needs of all students. For 2023 we have a few split classes due to the distribution of student numbers in different year levels. If your child is placed into a split class, it is important to remember that they will not miss any curriculum and they will be taught the curriculum for their year level. Teachers are provided with collaborative time to ensure consistency across year levels and like in any class, differentiate to the needs of their students.

Lost Property

We have a large amount of lost property located out the front of the medical room. Please check for anything you may have lost. Any items not collected by the end of the year will be either donated to charity or used for spare uniforms.

New students

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Avleen, Hamdan and Ibraham who recently commenced at Somerly Primary School.

Louise Carroll
Principal

Merit Certificates

Room 2: Ryker, Austin and Jack; Room 3: Oscar and Kelsey; Room 4: Oliver and Hunter; Room 7: Josie and Oliver; Room 9: Jade and Summer; Room 10: Jay, Timothy, Shaylee, Sanaver; Room 12: Kora and Zenith; Room 14: Curtis and Ganeve; Room 15: Summer and Maddison; Room 16: Jiya and Cooper; Room 17: Lily and Moniqua; Room 18: Pihu and Mirriam; Room 20: Rylan and Maahipal; LOTE: Sanaver – Room 10 and Zain – Room 13; Science: Jaymie – Room 15; Lynx and Ryleigh; Music: Samanta – Room 20

Stars

Behaviour Focus

Our behaviour focus for Week 8 is:-

SAFETY

• We put our lunch box in our bag
• We eat our own food

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.

Year 6 2023 Student Leadership Speeches

We are currently going through the process of electing our 2023 student leaders. It is an exciting opportunity for the children. As teachers, we have been very impressed by the number of children who have nominated themselves for student leadership positions, including Student Councillors, Factions Captains and Vice Captains and Daily Operations.

The nominees presented speeches to Years 3-6 and shared their understanding of the qualities they possessed that made them a suitable candidate – excellent behaviour, pride in themselves and the school and upholding the school values of respect, responsibility and safety. The candidates were placed on a ballot paper and students in Years 3-6 together with staff voted. From this process, leadership positions will be filled and announced at the Book Award Assembly on Friday 9th December. Parents are most welcome to attend. Good luck to all students!

From the Board

Arthur Ventham RFD MBA CD AFAIM
25 Caldwell Turn
CLARKSON WA 6030
Tel: (08) 9408 6387
Mob: 0402 008 063
Email: arthur.ventham@gmail.com

Chairman – Somerly Independent Public-School Board
Chairman – Northern Suburbs Veterans Support Centre
Master of Business Administration (International Business) – Edith Cowan University
Graduate Certificate (PSM) – Griffith University
Graduate Certificate (Executive) – Monash University
Certificate (PSM) – University of Wollongong

Freedom isn’t free!
It carries a heavy price tag that only a few are prepared to pay ©

Lest We Forget

Well, 2022 is coming to an end and we are all looking forward to the Christmas break. A lot has happened over the past year, some good, some not so good but as a Board we have worked hard with the Principal, Teachers and other Staff to ensure that our students receive the best possible level of education available.

So far this year:

• This year we have finally had a new Principal and Deputy appointed, congratulations to both Zoe and Katia. They have both settled into their new roles and are working hard to ensure that the school is operating at maximum efficiency.
• The P&C has gone from strength to strength and is hard at work supporting the students and school in all areas. Congratulations to the P&C President Dee Bell and the Committee of hard-working parents - keep up the good work.
• Students at our school have represented the school at several events, the most recent one being the Remembrance Day Commemorative Service at the RAAFA “Cambrai Village” on Friday 11th November 2022. All three students represented the school to a very high standard. Their parents, and indeed the school should be proud of the way that they conducted themselves, well done to all three of you.
• We have managed to limit the inconvenience that COVID-19 has caused over the past two years. This may have meant that the school had to amalgamate classes from time to time, which was a bit of a stretch, as was the backfilling of Teachers who had to take time off because they contracted COVID-19. Hopefully everyone impacted by this disease are all fit and healthy and on their way to a good recovery.
• In a few weeks we will be holding our Graduation Ceremony for our Year 6 students who will be heading off to high schools throughout the area and we wish them all well in their future schools, you have had a great start during your Primary School years, which set you up for a marvellous future in whichever Secondary School that you have chosen.
• As we draw close to the end of year 2022 may I, on behalf of the Board wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year. To the students of Somerly Primary School, have a great break, keep safe and we look forward to seeing you all back in 2023.

City of Wanneroo School Holiday Programs

Learning Focus

Mental Health Week Blue Bench Project

During Mental Health Week students have been working towards a collaborative mindfulness project that links with raising awareness about The Global Blue Tree Project. One of our wonderful year 6 students Jessika has been busy collaboratively designing a painting project that is located on one of our school benches. The design is based around the blue tree, being the focus area for people to come together with the dark night sky surrounding it. Each branch is reaching for the golden shimmering stars, as it represents support, courage and empowerment. The bench is truly an amazing piece and once completed will become a special part of our Vegetable Garden for students to have a safe space to come together and reflect with friends and have a chat in supporting each other if they have a problem or concern.

With the community support from Bunnings, Mindarie, who kindly donated some vibrant colourful paints and brushes in helping us to create this community project at Somerly Primary School. Watch this space for our final bench installation coming soon. We hope you enjoy some of our progress pictures so far.

Kinds regards.

Miss Defty - Art Specialist

P & C