Newsletter 11, Term 4, Week 7
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
At the end of each year, we have a number of teaching and non-teaching staff who move on to different roles or positions throughout the system. Currently Mrs Rebecca Lanzel has been seconded to Regional Office for Term 4 and will be returning next year. Mr Brenton Simmons has replaced Ms Lanzel in the Deputy Principal position.
I would like to thank and acknowledge the following staff for their contribution to the education of students at Wellard Primary School over recent years.
- Mrs Tracey Askevold School Officer (Moving to another school)
- Mrs Jyoti Arora SNEA (Contract Finished)
- Miss Beth Hagen Teacher (Travelling)
- Miss Sarah Kent Teacher (Travelling)
- Mrs Sarah Le Provost Teacher (Moving to another school)
- Mrs Kayleigh Hart Teacher (Moving to another school)
- Mrs Amanda Middleton Teacher (Parental Leave)
- Miss Claudia Emanuele Teacher (Moving to another school)
- Mr Chris Pickering Teacher (Contract Finished)
- Ms Genevieve Churack Teacher (Contract Finished)
- Mrs Dane Kruger Teacher (Moving to another school)
I would sincerely like to thank each of those staff members for their contribution to our school. They have displayed high levels of professionalism and dedication to improving the educational outcomes of all students. On behalf of the school community, I would like to wish them all the best for the future.
We also welcome back a number of staff who are returning from leave:
- Mrs Shailey McGinty (Teacher)
- Mrs Mel Gwatkin (Teacher)
In the next newsletter I will be announcing the new staff commencing at Wellard PS in 2025.
STUDENT REPORTS
The writing of student reports is predominantly done in a teacher’s own time outside of their normal work hours, often taking up much of their weekends. This substantially increases the workload and stress for staff during this time. Consequently, the Department of Education has asked all schools to work with their school community to review the impact of Reporting to Parents on teacher workload and how we might do things differently. After consulting with the P&C, School Board and school community, it has been decided that reports sent home at the end of each semester will now contain the following:
- There will be a general comment only with no learning area comments.
- Grades in strands and sub strands will be provided in English and Mathematics.
- Grades in strands for all learning areas will be provided.
- Effort grade will be allocated to all learning areas.
We will continue to provide a hard copy of the report to all students from Kindergarten – Year 6. A copy will also be sent home through Connect to those parents of Pre-primary to Year 6 students. Parents will be encouraged to meet with their child’s teacher should they require more information than outlined in the report.
CLASS AWARD ASSEMBLY & YEAR 6 GRADUATION
A reminder that our Class Award Assemblies will be conducted on Friday 6th December commencing at 8.50am. The PP – Yr 2 assembly will commence at 8.50am whilst the Yr 3 – 6 assembly commences at 9.50am. We conduct two separate award ceremonies as it is not possible to fit all of our students in the Assembly Area at the same time. Our Year 6 Graduation Ceremony will occur at 8.50am on Tuesday 10th December in the Assembly Area.
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING (OPEN MEETING)
Our next School Board Meeting will be conducted on Monday 2nd December commencing at 3.30pm in the Admin Office Room. This meeting can be attended by any members of the school community. Please contact the office if you intend attending so we can accommodate you.
ASSEMBLY
The next assembly will be conducted by EC5 & EC8 on Friday 29th November in the Assembly Area commencing at 8.50am.
SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAY
Parents and guardians are reminded that we have a School Development Day this Friday 22nd November (Week 7). Students DO NOT come to school this day as staff will be involved in professional learning.
KINDERGARTEN COME AND TRY DAY
On Friday 22nd November our Kindergarten staff will be providing an opportunity for our Kindergarten students and parents of 2025 to visit the early childhood area. An invite was mailed to all respective parents explaining the organisational details. Please contact the school if you have any queries.
CLASS PARTIES
We have decided to conduct our end of year class parties on different days so that we can better manage such events in the context of a large school. PP – Year 2 will conduct their parties on Tuesday 10th December whilst Year 3 – 5 classes will conduct their parties on Wednesday 11th December. Parents are asked to provide healthy food options where possible.
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
Account Name: Wellard Primary School
(Please use the student’s surname as reference)
BSB: 066 040 Account Number 19901412
IF YOU ARE LEAVING
We are currently planning for 2025 and would like for parents to contact us if they are leaving. This is also the case if you are going on holidays and not returning for the first day of the school year. This can be done by contacting the front office.
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Parents are reminded that students finish the school year on Thursday 12th December.
CLASS STRUCTURES 2025
The school is still working on class structures for next year due to the ongoing number of enrolments we are receiving. Class lists will be placed on the office windows at 11 am on Monday 3rd February. Please note the office does not open for the school year until Wednesday 29th January.
Kind regards
Geoff Miller
Principal
geoff.miller@education.wa.edu.au
Physical Education Update
The Interschool Athletics Carnival was completed over two days on Wednesday, October 30 and Thursday, October 31. In extremely trying conditions, especially on the Thursday, the selected students from Wellard Primary School gave their personal best in all activities that they were involved in. There were a number of stand-out individual performances, with two students receiving medallions for their efforts in the Individual Championships (see below). The Wellard Primary School students displayed plenty of Wellard Spirit across the two days of events and a strong sense of support and camaraderie in the team events to finish runners-up to Peter Carnley in the overall schools competition. Well done to all students
who participated in events across the two days of competition.
A big thank you goes out to all staff, students, parents and community members who supported this event; it was great to see so much support given to the competitors. A huge special thank you goes to Mrs Rochelle Protzman, Mrs Kylea Singleton and Miss Amy Della Bosca, who gave up their time to assist the students on the days of competition. Special thanks also go to Mr Brenton Simmons for his support in training the Year 5 students prior to the competition days.
Individual Championship Honours:
Year 5 Boys Runner-Up: Cash
On Wednesday, November 7, our Kwinana District Boys Champion cricket team went to Burrendah Park in Willetton to compete in the ‘Upper Primary School Woolworths Cricket Blast School Cup REGIONAL FINALS’. The ten selected students gave their personal best in variable weather conditions throughout three matches against some of the best cricketing schools in the Perth metropolitan area. Our students performed exceptionally well, winning two out of three games and just missed playing off in the final by percentage; which was a career best result for Wellard Primary School. Every participating student displayed excellent sportsmanship and resilience when required. They also gave up many a lunch time to train for the event in the weeks prior.
A big thank you goes out to all staff, students, parents and community members who supported this event. Special thanks goes to Mr Harsha Singh and Mrs Shitalben Patel, who not only came out and supported the students on the day, but helped to pack away at the completion of the event.
Kind regards,
David McIntyre and Matthew Paparone.
Physical Education Specialists
Wellard Primary School
Some students displaying the produce from our school sustainability garden.