Another reminder about our Open Night

Please put the Open in Night in your diary. Sausage sizzle orders with money are due this Friday August 29. Money should be paid to classroom teachers. We look forward to seeing you.

Classroom Walkthrough Visits

I have been having a great time visiting classrooms to join in activities and get to know students better as they learn. Here are a few snaps I took in Rooms 3 and 4 (Miss Ricci's Year 1 and Miss Bradley's Year 1).

Spelling

Rainbow Fish

Word Study

Food Chains

An ocean in the classroom

More amazing ocean creatures

Maths

Theme Words

Literacy and Book Week

This week we are celebrating Literacy Week and Book Week. The students have been involved in a number of activities including the creation of a school 'choose your own adventure' story, a book report/cover writing competition and chalk art. Many thanks go to Mrs Growden and Mrs Gabrovec for their work in promoting literacy in our school.

New Signs

This week we have had some new signs placed around the school.

We hope that these signs will help visitors to find our Admin area a little easier.












Signs on the gates remind visitors to come through the office and not wander around our school.













The Tuart Green sign promotes our wonderful fruit and vegetable garden.

School Open Night

The NED Show @ Tuart Hill Primary School

On Monday August 4 the NED Show visited our school. Details of the show can be found at the NED Show website. The show commenced at 9.45am in the Hall. An information sheet about the show was placed in the newsletter.

Lots of students purchased yo-yos in the week following the show. I have been impressed by the tricks that many students have learned how to do with their new yo-yo.

The basketball court has been designated as the play area for yo-yos with instructions given to students to keep a safe distance from others when using their yo-yo.

World of Maths

Today the World of Maths van visited our school. Students in Years PP - 3 particpated in a large number of exciting and motivating mathematics activities.

Welcome Back

Welcome back to school for Term 3. Here is a copy of our Term Planner. Please regularly check our newsletter for changes to this planner.

We have lots of great activities planned for your child to participate in.

Parents are encouraged to talk to their child's teacher about ways they can help in our school. This could include spending time in a class listening to children read or helping at a special event.

School Disco

Last week's disco was a wonderful event with many students, parents and staff attending. The disco was the culmination of our dance lessons which were again provided by the wonderful teachers from Humphreys Dance Studio.

Allergen Aware

Last week our School Board endorsed the school’s ‘Healthy Food and Drink’ policy. Copies of the policy are available from the school office. We will also post a copy on our website. This policy will help clear up the misconception that the school is ‘nut free’. The policy states: “Tuart Hill Primary School is an ‘allergen aware’ school that follows a policy of ‘active avoidance’ . Staff, parents, students and health care professionals work together to create Health Care plans that suit the specific needs of students with allergies. All parents are encouraged to be sensitive to the health care needs of students at our school by being aware of possible allergies and not sending known triggers to school e.g. peanuts, tree nuts.”

Syringe Safety

Over the past few years the issue of syringes being occasionally found in the school grounds has been raised. This is an unfortunate part of living in an inner city area. The issue has been explored by the P&C and the School Board and we are continuing to look at ways to limit this hazard. Our gardeners regularly check the boundary fence and rake the sand pits. Students are also reminded not to touch any syringes that they see and to report them to an adult. We have a sharps container in the office to collect used syringes. 

The issue has been raised with the Stirling Council and I met today with the local chemist who runs an addiction treatment program. He believes that his clients are not the ones disposing of needles inappropriately. The concern is that some local drug users may meet behind the chemist to deal and then inject drugs. His staff regularly check the fence and clear any needles that they find. He has a camera which covers behind the chemist but not the entire fenceline. Together we are approaching the Stirling City Council for additional assistance in reducing the risk to local members of the public and our students.

Parents are encouraged to discuss this issue with their child and remind them that they should never touch a syringe.

Semester One Reports

This week marks the half-way point of the school year. On Friday students will receive their Semester 1 Reports. I ask that you take the time to read the report with your child. Congratulate them on the things they are doing well and encourage them to work hard to improve in other areas. Reports should not contain any surprises. If you are surprised or concerned by any of the grades or comments, please make an appointment to speak with your child’s teacher. Together we can work to help your child achieve their very best in all areas.

Term 3 Planner

Below is our Planner for next term.

Enrolments for 2015

Who needs to enrol?

All school-aged children must be enrolled in school and attend every day – this is the law.
In Western Australia, children can start their education in Kindergarten. Compulsory schooling starts the following year in Pre-primary.
All children must attend school up until they are 16 years old. Sixteen and 17 year olds must be enrolled in school or a training organisation, be employed or be in a combination of school/training/employment.
You need to apply to enrol your children in school for 2015 if they are:

• starting Kindergarten – 4 years old by 30 June 2015
• starting Pre-primary, the first year of compulsory school – 5 years old by 30 June 2015
• starting Year 7, the first year of secondary school in 2015
• starting Year 8
• changing schools.

To enrol your child in public school for 2015, you will need to submit your application for enrolment by Friday 25 July 2014.

Every child from Pre-primary to Year 12 is guaranteed a place at their local public school.

For more information please visit the Department of Education website 

Waste Wise students

Mrs Snart received a very nice letter from the coordinator of the Waste Wise Schools Program thanking her and our students for the  'fun and inspiring' way they participated in the workshop on June 12. Our school is a recognised leader in sustainability education and the Waste Wise program is an important part of this.

Junior Primary Adventure Garden Maps and Drawings

During WA Week, students in PP to Year 7 participated in a garden design competition. Younger students drew pictures while older students produced maps.

Teachers selected the best drawings and maps from their class. They are currently on display in the Hall.

Principal's Report to P&C

Our latest P&C meeting was held on Wednesday night. It was great to see the number of parents and community members who attended. Below is the report I tabled at the meeting. 

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT TO P&C

18 June 2014

1.       School Question/Answer Meeting

Our third meeting was conducted on June 5. We had 5 families represented. A lot of positives were expressed. Some useful discussion was held. The next meeting is scheduled for Term 3.

2.       Staffing Update

·         Ms Flajt is still unwell and will be absent until the end of Term 3

·         Mrs Middleton will replace Mrs Brown in Room 8 until the end of Term 3

3.       School Camp

The camp was very successful again this year. Students had the opportunity to learn new skills and challenge themselves through the activities they participated in. Many thanks got to Mr Ralph, Mrs Donald, Mr Raschilla for attending this year’s camp and to Mrs Snart for her planning, organization and attendance at the camp.

4.       Department of Education Website

Parents can access a broad range of information about our school and our school system from the Department’s website e.g.

·         Year 7 transition to secondary schools in 2015

·         Future term dates

·         Available specialist programs

·         Enrollment information

·         Independent Public Schooling

·         Australian Curriculum

·         Policy documents (use search tool)

5.       National Quality Standards in Education

In 2015 the NQS are to be progressively implemented into Western Australian schools. All Early childhood education programs to Year 2 will be required to meet the NQS. Information about NQS can be obtained at the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority website: www.acecqa.gov.au

6.       Allergen Aware NOT Nut Free

Some parents have formed the belief that we promote the school as being ‘nut free’. As this is impossible to ‘police’ we do not promote this message. However, we are allergen aware and ask that parents consider the health of other students by not sending known allergens to school.

7.       School Board Meeting

Our next School Board meeting is on June 25 commencing at 5.30pm. All are welcome to attend this meeting.

Parent Q&A Meeting

Our third Q&A meeting was held for interested parents after assembly today. A range of questions were asked and some useful discussion held. Penny Roberts Craig, P&C President, attended the meeting and shared information about the P&C. These meetings are informal, short and great for sharing ideas or getting information about our school and its operations. We will hold more Q&A meetings in Term 3. Dates will be advertised in our newsletters.

Warm Fuzzy Bags

As part of our celebration of WA Week students have been participating in a range of whole school activities. One if these is the "Warm Fuzzy Bay" activity. The purpose of the activity is to provide students with the opportunity to send positive written messages to others within the school. Students decorated a brown paper bag to reflect who they are as a person. They were assigned a secret buddy to send daily messages too. They were also permitted to send positive messages to others in their class or across the school. This activity is very popular and helps us further develop the positive climate that already exists within our school.

Year 6/7 Camp

Our Year 6/7 students attended their school camp last week. The camp was held at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp. The camp grounds are located on Whitfords Avenue, Hillarys, approximately 1.5km north of the Hillarys Marina. The site is identified in most roadmaps and is situated between Flinders Avenue and Angove Drive.

 Students participated in many team building games. They also visited the Fisheries Department to learn about how to care for our local fish populations and their environment. As part of their visit they were shown how to dissect a fish in order to identify its age.One of the instructors was Glen Jackovich (ex-West Coast Eagles premiership player).