FROM THE PRINCIPAL

WELCOME BACK

Welcome back to 2021 at Wellard Primary School!!  I would sincerely like to thank staff, students and parents for such a smooth start to the school year. We were all thrown into turmoil when our school year was put back a week due to an outbreak of Covid within the Perth Community. We had to quickly review how our school was to open and the extent to which parents were able to access classrooms. To the credit of all school community members, we have had a wonderful start to the year and I look forward to this extending throughout the year.

The school continues to grow with an increase of over 100 enrolments from the beginning of 2020. It was such a delight to see all the children’s smiling faces as they arrived at their classrooms on the first couple of days of school. The beginning of the year is such an exciting time and, across our school, we are quite intentional in the ways that we support children to transition to their new teacher and quickly learn to love being at school. The school has a really good feel about it and we are all looking forward to another excellent year. Having spent two days with all staff prior to the students returning, I am extremely proud of the quality of teachers, education assistants and non-teaching staff we have at Wellard - they are truly second to none. If I had three pieces of advice to give to parents and carers, it would be: 1. ‘talk to your child’s teacher,’ 2. ‘talk to your child’s teacher,’ 3. ‘talk to your child’s teacher.’ They are a great resource for you and they want your child to be successful as much as you do.

We have been rather fortunate to retain most of our staff from last year. However, an increase in enrolments has resulted in an increase of 13 new staff to Wellard PS. A special welcome to Miss Denielle Borcich, Miss Rebecca Ffoulkes, Miss Natasha Graham, Mrs Kayleigh Hart, Ms Lauren Kenworthy, Ms Judith Mamansag, Ms Christina Mant, Mrs Crystal McDonald, Mrs Vilma Mendoza, Miss Clancy Micale, Ms Bhrabhahee Piratheepan, Ms Shailey Rushton and Mr Brenton Simmons. Mrs Sarah Le Provost and Mrs Emily Cobbett have returned from leave.

TRAFFIC CONGESTION BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL

Thank you to everyone for your patience and cooperation when dropping off and picking up your children. The increase of an extra 100 students has obviously increased the amount of congestion before and after school and this is not going to improve anytime soon. It is most important that we just accept that picking up your child after school may take up to 15 minutes. I encourage those families who live close to school to walk or ride to try and reduce congestion. Parents of Yr 1 – 6 students are encouraged to use the “Kiss and Drive” on Jaspar Bend.

“No Parking” signs will soon be erected on the Eastern side of Jaspar Bend (in front of the houses) to prevent vehicles from blocking/slowing the traffic along this road. Please be aware that you may receive an infringement notice if you are parking on the verge on Jaspar Bend or within nine metres of a bend or intersection. Also, I ask that you do not park on the footpath causing pedestrians to walk on to the road. I want to reassure parents that we are always looking at how we can improve the flow of traffic around the school.

NEWSLETTER

Newsletters will be published every fortnight on a Tuesday and will be distributed via Connect and our school website. This newsletter is quite lengthy as I want to inform the school community of many organisational matters associated with a new school year. Future newsletters should only be 4 - 5 pages in length.

SCHOOL VISION

Wellard Primary School is to be a high performing school that is renowned for its commitment to meeting the educational and individualised needs of its students. In partnership with the school community we aim to deliver a high quality diverse learning program in a caring, nurturing and technology rich learning environment that ensures all students have the opportunity to become successful learners, creative and confident individuals and people who make a positive contribution to the world.

OUR BELIEFS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING

• Every student is entitled to receive a quality education in a nurturing caring environment
• Every minute of every lesson counts
• Quality teaching produces higher performing students
• Explicit teaching practices contribute to quality teaching and learning
• The school works in partnership with parents and guardians to maximise learning and social outcomes
• Literacy and Numeracy are our core business as they form the foundation of learning in all other Learning Areas
• A focus on the implementation of effective literacy and numeracy strategies in K – 2 will form a solid foundation for future learning.
• Technology will be used to enhance learning and satisfy the curiosity of students.

INVOLVMENT OF PARENTS/GUARDIANS IN WELLARD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Wellard Primary School aims for parents and carers to feel welcome, to be listened to, to be actively involved and supported in their child’s education and to support the school in providing the best possible education for their children.

THANK YOU

I would like to thank and acknowledge our gardener and cleaners for the great job they did over the holiday period.  It is great to have a work environment which is clean and tidy.  We are most fortunate to have Ms Donelle Noonan (Head Cleaner), Ms Vilma Mendoza (Cleaner), Ms Annette Nevermann (Cleaner), Ms Judith Mamansag and Mr Ivan Ricci (Gardener).  All of these make a significant contribution to our school and go beyond what is expected in their everyday duties.  Their efforts are greatly appreciated.

ENROLMENTS

We currently have an enrolment of 711 students in K – 6 making up 32 classes. This is 103 more students than we had attending at the beginning of 2020. We just keep on growing!

GATE TIMES AND BIKE RACKS

In the morning, gates and bike racks will be opened at 8.15am and then locked at 8.50am. In the afternoon gates and bike racks will be opened at 2.40pm and locked at 3.15pm. The gate to the left of Teaching Block 2 (left of admin building) will be open before and after school for OSHClub. This is only to be used by those families accessing before and after school care.

ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

Students arriving at school (without parents) between 8.15am – 8.30am are to sit outside the office area under the verandah where they can be supervised. Students arriving with parents can sit outside their classroom until doors are opened at 8.30am.

OSHCLUB

Parents can access OSHClub on 0458 001 770 to access outside school hours care before and after school. You can enrol online via oshclub.com.au

CANTEEN

A reminder that our Canteen Manager, Mrs Linda Horsten, will be opening our canteen next week on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The canteen menu is in its final stages of development and will be sent out to parents/carers via Connect by Thursday this week. Please note you are able to place online orders through Quickclik.

STATIONERY ITEMS

Parents are asked to ensure that students come to school with all of the stationery items as per the booklist.  If students do not have the appropriate items they are at a disadvantage and become anxious because everyone else has the right equipment and they don’t.

UNIFORMS AND HATS

It is fabulous to see all of our students wearing the school uniform to school. Students are reminded they are required to wear a hat at all times at recess and lunch. Please ensure all items of clothing (especially jackets and hats) are clearly labelled. Uniforms and hats can be purchased online through Uniform Uniforms.

CELEBRATION OF STUDENT BIRTHDAYS IN 2021

As per last year, parents are reminded not to send in any food in celebration of their child’s Birthday. This is because we have an ever increasing number of students with allergies, and as a school we need to guarantee their safety, health and wellbeing. Also, our Healthy, Food and Drinks Policy requires us to provide children with healthy food at every opportunity. Consequently, we will be acknowledging each child’s birthday (provided the child wants this) in a variety of ways depending on the age of the children. This will be initiated by the actions of the teacher not parents.

SCHOOL STAFF 2021

Mr Geoff Miller	Principal
Ms Rebecca Lanzel	Deputy Principal
Mr Lincoln Matrozis	Deputy Principal
Mrs Nicole Beaman	Manager of Corporate Services
Mrs Marina Claasen	School Officer
Mrs Kelly Meheux	School Officer
Mrs Jane Rogers	Library Officer
Mr Ivan Ricci	Gardener (Tues & Fri)
Mrs Donelle Noonan	Cleaner in Charge
Ms Vilma Mendoza	Cleaner
Ms Annette Nevermann	Cleaner
Ms Judith Mamansag	Cleaner
Ms Katie Tunnacliffe	Teacher EC 1 Kindergarten Groups A & B
Ms Tracy McDermott	K Education Assistant EC 1
Ms Caroline D’Mellow	Teacher EC 2 Kindergarten Groups C & D
Mrs Helen Benson	K Education Assistant EC 2
Miss Suzy Chessell	Teacher EC 3 Kindergarten Groups E & F
Mrs Deborah Chalmers	PP Education Assistant EC 5
Mrs Crystal McDonald	PP Education Assistant EC 5
Miss Sheridan Evans	Teacher EC 4 Pre-Primary
Ms Lauren Kenworthy	PP Education Assistant EC 4
Mrs Janelle Campbell	Teacher EC 5 Pre-Primary
Ms Justine Iucalano	PP Education Assistant EC 5
Mrs Jess Gibson	Teacher EC 6 Pre-primary
Mrs Bhagyashri Katambale	PP Education Assistant EC 6
Ms Erindra Balage	Teacher EC 7 Pre-primary
Miss Ashleigh Sims	PP Education Assistant EC 7
Mrs Emily Cobbett	Teacher EC8 Pre-primary
Mrs Deb Bywater	PP Education Assistant EC 8

Miss Lucy Graham	Teacher K/PP Support Teacher
Miss Shayleigh Rushton	Teacher K/PP Support Teacher
Ms Christina Mant	Teacher K/PP Support Teacher
Mrs Mia Cammarano	Teacher Yr 1 Rm 1
Miss Caitlyn Roper	Teacher Yr 1 Rm 2
Miss Clancy Micale	Teacher Yr 1 Rm 3
Mrs Melanie Sayer	Teacher Yr 1 Rm 4
Mrs Deb De Groot	Education Assistant Jun Primary
Mrs Sarah Le Provost	Teacher Yr 1 Rm 7 (Mon, Tues)
Miss Alanna D’Ascanio	Teacher Yr 1 Rm 7 (Wed, Thurs, Fri)
Mrs Pradeepta Joice	Teacher Yr 2 Rm 8
Mrs Glenda Tucker	Teacher Yr 2 Rm 5
Miss Natasha Griffin	Teacher Yr 2 Rm 6
Miss Denielle Borcich	Teacher Yr 2 Rm 12
Miss Victoria Cahill	Teacher Yr 3 Rm 13
Mrs Elyce Gooden	Teacher Yr 3 Rm 14
Mrs Kayleigh Hart	Teacher Yr 3 Rm 15
Ms Teri Magistro	Teacher Yr 3 Rm 16
Miss Nina Scheer	Teacher Yr 4 Rm 17
Miss Rebecca Ffoulkes	Teacher Yr 4 Rm 18
Miss Bella Vinten	Teacher Yr 4 Rm 11
Mr Brenton Simmons	Teacher Yr 5 Rm 9
Miss Ash Alden	Teacher Yr 5 Rm 10
Miss Laura Heuer	Teacher Yr 6 Rm 19
Miss Megan Collins	Teacher Yr 6 Rm 20
Mrs Kylie Kirby	Special Needs Education Assistant
Mrs Deborah Bywater	Special Needs Education Assistant
Mrs Ruth Donsworth	Special Needs Education Assistant
Mrs Erica Mutch	Special Needs Education Assistant
Miss Kaitlynn Shoppee	Special Needs Education Assistant
Ms Praba Piratheepan	Special Needs Education Assistant
Mrs Nicole Radcliffe	Special Needs Education Assistant
Mr Matthew Paparone	Teacher Physical Education
Mr David McIntyre	Teacher Physical Education
Ms Amanda Makanza	Teacher Music
Mrs Melissa Cochrane	Teacher AUSLAN
Mrs Rochelle Protzman	Teacher Visual Arts
Miss Keelley Bradshaw	School Psychologist (Thursday)

CLASS PARENT MEETINGS

These meetings will NOT be taking place in the usual format of after school meetings. Due to the size of our school and Covid restrictions we have decided that we WILL NOT be conducting these meetings. Instead, an information package will be sent home to parents via connect providing parents/carers with important information about the daily operations of the classroom and the expectations of students. Parents will then have the opportunity to organise a meeting with their child’s teacher if they have any further queries.  It is most important that the school works closely with parents to ensure students have the best possible opportunity to work to their potential.

SPECIALIST AREAS

Students in Years 1 – 6 will access specialist programs in Music, Physical Education, Visual Arts and Auslan. Please note that we have added Visual Arts to our specialist areas for the very first time. In total, students will have access to 250 minutes of these learning areas.

ASSEMBLIES

Current Guidelines state that we are able to conduct assemblies but parents are unable to attend. Hopefully this may change in the near future so that we can accommodate those parents of the class performing and winners of Merit Certificates.

We have divided all of our Pre-primary to Year 6 classes into two groups and will be conducting an assembly most weeks. Dividing the school in two will enable all students to watch assembly performances from different year groups and hopefully create more room for parents when they are able to attend.

Our first assembly for this year will be conducted by Miss Alden’s Yr 5 class (Rm 10) at 8.50am in the undercover area on Friday 19^th February (Week 3).  Thank you Miss Alden for volunteering to conduct the very first assembly at Wellard PS for this year. Mrs Joice’s class (Rm 8, Yr 2) will then present the assembly on Friday 26^th February. More information will follow in regards to the attendance of parents.

SCHOOL SIREN TIMES

The following times operate for Yr 1 –  6 children:

8.30am              Classroom Doors are to be opened

8.40am              Warning siren – students to organise themselves.

8.50am              School commences

10.40-11.00am  Morning Recess

12.40pm             Lunch

1.17pm               Toilet/drink/ return to class

1.20pm               Lessons commence

3.00pm              End of Day

Kindergarten and Pre-primary students are to arrive at school between 8.20 – 8.35am with school commencing at 8.35am. There is some leniency around these times for the first two weeks of school until such time as students have settled into their classrooms. Students in K & PP finish at 2.45pm. I ask that if parents then go and wait outside an older sibling’s classroom the noise is kept to a minimum so the teaching and learning program is not interrupted in surrounding classrooms.

Parents are reminded that students should not arrive at school before 8.15am unless they have made prior arrangement with Administration or are attending OSHClub.

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

Payment of Voluntary Contributions is now due. Funds raised through these contributions are used to purchase resources etc. to complement the educational programs we run throughout the school. Thank you to those families who have already paid their contributions. As a school we are always conscious of the costs we seek from parents in relation to educational activities.

Kindergarten – Year 6 - $60 per child per year

Our preferred way of payment is by using our Qkr App, please see attached PDF for details.

 

 

 

 

School contributions can also be paid at the office or

by direct deposit as per the details below.

Account Name: Wellard Primary School

(Please use the student’s surname as reference)

BSB: 066 040    Account Number 19901412

Account: Contributions are as follows:

Kindergarten – Year 6 - $60 per child per year.

TERM DATES FOR STUDENTS FOR 2021

Term 1  Monday 8^th February – Thursday 1^st April

Term 2  Monday 19^th April - Friday 2^nd July

Term 3  Monday 19^th July - Friday 24^th September

Term 4  Monday 11^th October - Thursday 16^th December

 

SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAYS FOR 2021

Term 1 - Thursday 28^th January and Friday 29^th                       January

Term 2 – Friday 4^th June (Week 7)

Term 3 – Monday 16^th August (Week 5)

Term 4 – Friday 26^th November (Week 7) and Friday 17^th December (Week 10)

TERM PLANNER

A copy of our Term Planner will be sent out to parents/carers via Connect in the next week. The Term Planner can also be found on our school website at www.wellardps.wa.edu.au

 

Thanks everyone and have a great year!

Regards

Geoff Miller

Principal

E-mail: geoff.miller@education.wa.edu.au