Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome Back

Welcome to the 2019 academic school year. I would like to welcome all the new students and their families to Joondalup Primary School. The new students have come from Western Australia, other parts of Australia and overseas. I am sure that our new students’ time at Joondalup will be rewarding, fun and they will learn many new concepts and skills. The year has started very smoothly with all students from Kindy to year 6 straight into work on day one. It was great to see the three year old Play and Learn children borrowing books from the library with Mrs Reddicliffe and their parents on Thursday. The teachers and education assistants spent many hours planning throughout the summer break in readiness for a great start this year, this was evident when I have visited all the classes. I have been very impressed with the students’ positive and constructive attitude towards their work and their confidence to have a go.

One of our major focuses for this year is respect. I want students to display a high level of respect when working individually, in groups and/or as a class. I want students to display a high level of respect in the playground and be responsible for their behaviour and what they say at all times.

Retirement

Last week I emailed out a letter regarding my retirement. Once again I would like to sincerely thank everyone that has helped and assisted me and the school over the last 10 years. Please click on the link to view the letter.

Retirement letter _pdf 685.59 KB

Working Together to Achieve Targets

Academic targets have been set for all classes and specialist areas. Staff have been working with their students setting personal and academic goals for this year. The staff want all students to have high expectations and give 100% in everything they attempt, never give up and always have a go. When your child gets home in the afternoon ask them what they have learnt during the day. Your encouragement and praise will assist your children to achieve their goals and reach their potential. The education of a student is a three-way partnership between parents the school and the student. If everyone works together the student will be on the road to success and working towards reaching their potential.

Lateness

The teachers are targeting students arriving late to school (late is arriving after 8.50am). Did you know that 44 students have been late so far this year? That is 11% of the school population. If your child arrives late 5 or more times in a term, you will be contacted by the school. Arriving to school on time sets up positive habits for the future schooling and part time jobs when they are high school.

The benefits of students arriving on time include:

• Being organised at the start of the day.
• Being calmer and more receptive to learning.
• Maintaining better relationships with peers and teachers.
• Accessing the full curriculum through continuity of learning.

The doors are open from 8.35am so that your child can unpack their bag, participate in activities and get organised for the day.

Code of Conduct

Our Code of Conduct works very successfully for the majority of the student population and a very high percentage of students are very well behaved. Our Code of Conduct is very simple to follow. The expectation is that all students will be, safe, respectful and responsible at all times.

Voluntary Contributions

At the beginning of each school year we ask families to pay their Voluntary Contribution. The amount is only $60 per student, this equates to only $1.50 per week for a great education at Joondalup PS. The Voluntary Contribution pays for numeracy and literacy equipment, reading and library books, sporting equipment, laptops and iPads etc.

You can pay by credit card at the office or cash from Monday to Friday or direct deposit at any time, details are:

BSB: 016338 Account No: 340952796 (remember to put your child’s name and email the school on Joondalup.ps@education.wa.edu.au when you have made a payment.

The School Board is seeking 3 parents to be School Board members. Some of the item that you may learn about are the

• School governance
• 2019 school budgeting process and analysis
• Business Plan writing and review
• Independent Public School Review
• School programs
• Staffing

If you are interested in being part of a high function School Board please contact contact Russell Hahn or Tammy Hanrahan on 9233 5800 or Russell.hahn@education.wa.edu.au or tammy.hanrahan@education.wa.edu.au

Cambodian Sister School-Angkor Project

During the Summer break I volunteered to visit 9 of the 24 Angkor Project Sister Schools to conduct an audit of funds spent during 2018. The audit found that all fund raising money that was spent followed the strict expenditure guidelines set down by the Department of Education and the Cambodian Government. You can view what our sister looks like by searching for the Angkor Project on Facebook, just search for the Angkor Project with this logo. You can then sit down with your children and discuss the school.

Joondalup Primary School has been supporting our sister school Srang Primary School in Cambodia for ten years. During that time staff have visited and taught in the school and we have raised money for teaching and learning equipment, playground equipment, reading books, mathematics equipment, connected electricity to the school, built a basketball court and have hired an English teacher to teach English to the students. These are just a few of the projects that fund raising money has enabled.

Did you know?

• The annual salary of an English teacher in Cambodia is $1200 per year?
• The amount of money the Cambodian Government gives the school annually to run the school is approx $1000.

Our 2018 fundraising has purchased Early Childhood equipment, furniture, a laptop and printer and domestic lawn mower to mow the soccer pitch. Every year teachers from Western Australian schools participate in a study tour to Cambodia. They visit and teach in some of the 24 schools in the Angkor Project. The project has the full backing of the Department of Education.

Kiss and Drive

I would encourage parents to use the Kiss and Drive to drop off and pick up and not park there to wait for your child. A number of parents are dropping off children in the staff carpark. This is a very dangerous practise because at the beginning or end of the day there are cars, buses, trucks and work vehicles driving through the carpark. Please do the right thing and keep your child safe.

These students have produced some amazing work and we would love to share their work with you.

How to become a Scientist.

Scientists ask questions about how the physical and living world around us works. The answer to these questions can be found in textbooks and the Internet, BUT a major part of being a scientist is finding out the answers to questions by making observations, performing experiments and looking for answers to all of our ‘WHY’ questions. At Joondalup Primary, students from PP to Year 6 classes embarked on an investigative journey that will equip them with the necessary skills to become future scientists.

Students have started 2019 by exploring the disciplines of science through a mind-mapping task. After completing a collaborative learning session, a mind map was developed as a reflective tool that students will build upon each week as their knowledge grows (this is in their Science Journals). Over the course of 2019, Biological Science, Chemical Science, Earth and Space Science, Physical Science and Inquiry Science will be explored.

The lesson objective for weeks one and two, was to allow students to become Biologists. Biology is the study of living things. A Biologist is a scientist who studies Biology. Biologists try and understand the natural world and the things that live in it. These include subjects such as plants, animals and micr-organisms. The Science Lab has been converted into a biome and students have been actively engaged in activities that explored different habitats, skeletal structure of plants and animals, the microscopic structure of plants and animals, food chains, classifications and animal adaptations. Biology has opened up the doors of science for the start of 2019.

Mrs Phillips

Music News

Welcome back. I hope you had a lovely break and that you are ready for the new school year. Music lessons have hit the ground running this term. Our lower years have begun exploring the different elements of music and our upper school students have launched into instrument skills, such as the piano and ukulele. I am looking forward to what will be yet again another exciting year.

The Choir is making its return! We are inviting students from year 3 to year 6 to come and join our team of dedicated and committed Choir students. Choir will now be taking place on a Tuesday morning at 8am and Thursday during school hours at 11:50. The first Tuesday session will commence Tuesday 19^th, week 3. The permission slips need to be returned before Thursday the 14^th of week 2 to Mrs Butler or Miss O’Connor. If your child is interested in Choir but did not receive a form, please see Mrs Butler or Miss O’Connor. We are very excited about the upcoming year.

Abstract 

Working with the Primary Colours

Created after viewing the work of Piet Mondrian Paper Collage

Pre-Primary

Hot Dogs and Cool Cats

Working with Warm and Cool Colours

Felt Pen and Dye

Year 1

Rooms 14, 15 & 30

Cool Landscape

Working with Cool Colours

Felt Pen and Watercolour

Years 5 & 6

Rooms 10 & 11

What does your YouthCare Chaplain do?

A YouthCARE chaplain cares for the social, emotional and mental wellbeing of students, families and staff. This support helps students achieve their potential, both academically and in their social and family lives.

A YouthCARE chaplain is there for the whole school community. Our role is not just about helping the kids. We also support teachers, parents and families, providing pastoral care and showing people that they really matter.

  YouthCARE chaplain builds relationships with the students, parents and staff to be a trusted listening ear in times of need. Confidentiality is important in all pastoral care situations, unless a situation may hurt them or someone else, in which case, will be reported to the principle as required by the Department of Education and by law.

A YouthCARE chaplain empowers people, helping to build resilience to work through challenges.

A YouthCARE chaplain is there to help when things aren’t going well, to be a supportive person to encourage and to offer hope.

A YouthCARE chaplain is available to students, parents and staff to talk through issues, to celebrate successes and to refer to outside agencies where necessary.

A YouthCARE chaplain is involved in most school activities like sports carnivals, assemblies, excursions and other special events. This is a great time to build relationships with students, families and teachers.

A YouthCARE chaplain will run various programs in the school that will help students improve social skills, conflict resolution, inclusiveness, respecting others and learning about themselves.

A YouthCARE chaplain understands that everyone is different and is inclusive of all individuals and their belief systems. We reach out to those in need by providing services aimed at inspiring hope. 

A YouthCARE chaplain is not a teacher. Chaplains come along side students so students know there is someone independent to turn to.

Your YouthCARE chaplain, Amanda Wendt is available on Mondays and Thursday 8am – 3:30pm

Recently, the toilet blocks at JPS received a makeover.

The P&C initiative funded two local, talented artists to brighten up the toilets with inspirational quotes for the students. Each toilet block has a different quote and amazing artwork to compliment it. Feedback to date from the students and staff has been extremely positive. Scroll through the gallery of photos below to see all of the designs.

If you have any ideas you would like to see happen at the school, please come along to one of our P&C meetings which are held on the third Wednesday of every month in the School Library at 7pm. 

School Banking has already started in the B Block wet area on Wednesday mornings between 8.15am - 8.45am. Any volunteers that are interesed in helping out with School Banking every fortnight, please contact Kirsty Harris on 0401 282 696.

Thank you.