Kaya families

Staffing news

I would like to welcome Miss Nessa Flynn to the school. Miss Flynn is teaching in Year 4, Room 6.  Miss Flynn has returned to the metropolitan area after teaching in Kalgoorlie for a number of years.

Welcome back to Ms Michelle Goodridge! Ms Goodridge had a wonderful 2023 travelling, spending time at home, being with families and friends and pursuing her hobbies of swimming and cycling.

The name may have changed but it is still the same person. Congratulations to Miss Ross who got married during the holidays. Miss Ross is now Mrs Lindemann.

Smoking Ceremony

Last Friday we welcomed the start of the school year with a Smoking Ceremony presented by Jason Barrow and his daughter, Caitlyn. It was a respectful and significant way to acknowledge that the year ahead can be filled with positive energies given by the traditional owners of the land.

Positive Behaviour Support

Yesterday we officially launched the school’s Positive Behaviour Support program. It is a multi-layered framework that the school has used to better promote positive behaviour.

We have four behaviour expectations for all students:

Lucca says, “We are Responsible.”

Billie says, “We are Respectful.”

Zanda says, “We are Kind.”

Maali says, “We Do Our Best.”

Underneath these behaviour expectations we have several specific actions that we want to see from students every day. For example, Lucca says, “We are Responsible when we are prepared, organised and ready to learn in the classroom.”

This fortnight’s focus is – We Do Our Best – We return to class promptly and safely. Everyone participated in a specific lesson that taught the children what returning to class promptly and safely looks like, sounds like and feels like.

Your children might have told you about Class Dojo, the reward system being used across the school. The children get a point when they show our behaviour expectations. The staff have access to Class Dojo on numerous devices so points can be given freely and often. There are also coloured tokens that can also be used. Students get a reward to 20, 40, 60 etc. points. The staff were so enthusiastic about giving points that many children received numerous rewards which is exactly what we want for every student!

All families received a fridge magnet so that there is an at home prompt about what we are doing at school.

Everything that is now in place and the further work that is needed is being driven by a number of key staff members who have given freely of time and expertise. A huge thank you goes to Katy Harding, Harry Cutler, Heidi Cobbledick, Hannah Reddicliffe, Tayla Lindemann, Maureen Lahti and Rhys Sutherland for making PBS possible. I would also like to thank all staff who have been quick adopters of PBS and making it work in classrooms.

PBS is a very exciting journey for the school and I hope that you enjoy hearing about from your children and staff.

With the whole school commitment to PBS and frequency of the rewards and the additional rewards coming (watch this space), we have reviewed how we give out honour certificates. We made a decision that not every class member will get a certificate during the year. Honour certificates will be given to those who truly deserve the recognition for significant achievements.

Things for families to do

Last week there were lots of messages sent home to families. Here is a reminder:

Compass – Make sure that you have created an account and can login. Compass will be the one platform for school and class information and attendance.

Third Party Service Approval Form – Please complete the online form so that your children can have access to a range of online services and apps.

Locavora – If you would like to order lunches for Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays it can be done with Locavora Schools – Lunch Orders for School. Check it out!

Updated student information forms – Please check the paper form, update the details and return it to the school ASAP.

Detailed information is available on Compass.

School Board Parent Representative

The Joondalup Primary School School Board oversees the implementation of the Business Plan and discusses and supports the school in its journey to become a successful school that enables students to become respectful, responsible and safe life-long learners.

I would like to call for the nomination for one parent representative to accept a three-year position on the Board.  Ideally, members see out their tenure, but I understand that circumstances change.  Don’t let the three-year tenure put you off!

Being a Board member is not difficult.  All you need to do is attend one or two meetings per term on a Wednesday night between 6:30-8:00 pm (sometimes we finish early), do some quick reading before the meetings, and be prepared to discuss what we are doing at the school.  The fact that your children attend the school is all you really need to know because you can learn the rest.

All new Board members are required to complete a Criminal History Screening and cannot officially be on the Board until this is completed.  

I am happy to just talk to you about the role and there will be no pressure if you simply want more information.

To nominate, please contact the school on 9233 5800 or send an email to carol.selley@education.wa.edu.au.  Nominations will close on Tuesday 20 February 2024 at 3:00 pm.

Nut friendly

We have a number of children who have serious allergies for nuts and nut products. For the safety of children, it is important that nuts are enjoyed at home.

P&C News

The first General P&C Meeting will be held on Wednesday 21 February at 7:00 pm in the staffroom. Please come along to find out how you can be involved in the school. Please bring $1.00 so that you can become an official member.

The P&C will be selling icy poles on Fridays at lunchtime for $1.00 (cash only).

Carol Selley

Principal