FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Thank you to all parents and carers for being tolerant and patient when dropping off and picking up their children before and after school. Please ensure you drive slowly through the carparks, follow the directional arrows of the car park and park your vehicles in the bays provided. Please DO NOT drop off or pick up your child by stopping in the middle of the carpark. With the additional number of cars around the school this increases the danger for all pedestrians particularly from those vehicles reversing out of a bay. We have a Kiss and Drive on Jaspar Bend and McWhirter Promenade so parents can drop off and pick up their child (Yr 1 – 6) in a safe environment. 

The “dirt” carpark on McWhirter Promenade will not be available as of Monday 17th March. This area is going to be fenced off as the construction of the new pavilion begins on this day. It is anticipated this carpark will not be available for at least the next 12 months. 

WELLARD EAST PRIMARY SCHOOL 
Mr David Paine, the Principal of the new school opening in 2026, will be at our assembly on Friday morning to introduce himself. Parents will then have the opportunity to meet with him in the staff room immediately after the assembly. There is an attachment to this newsletter introducing Mr Paine.

PARENT INTERVIEWS – EARLY CLOSE
Wellard PS has gained approval from the School Board and the South Metropolitan Regional Office to close the school early (11.45am) on Wednesday 2nd April (Week 9) to conduct parent interviews. Parents will be able to book a 10-minute time slot online with your child’s teacher. You may also make a time to meet with specialist teachers including, Music, Science, Visual Arts and Physical Education. This interview will provide an opportunity for your child’s teacher to provide you with an update on your child’s progress and achievement. OSHClub will open during this time to provide after school care for those parents who have work commitments. Parents/carers who are unavailable this day can arrange a meeting on another day that is convenient to both parties. More information to follow.

BOOK FAIR
Thanks to the organisation of Mrs Rogers, our Book Fair will run from Wednesday 12th March through to Monday 17th March in our library. Students, accompanied by their parents, can purchase books, stationery items etc. from 8.30am to 4pm. Thanks again to Mrs Rogers for organising this event.

HARMONY DAY 2025
Wellard Primary School will be celebrating Harmony Day on Friday 21st March. On this day, students will be participating in a variety of activities designed to foster an understanding of the amazing diversity of cultures that make up our school community and the Australian society at large. Students are encouraged to wear cultural or traditional dress on the day or the colour orange. Keep an eye out for this year’s whole school project; it will be a work of heart!

SOCCER AND BASKETBALL 
It has been brought to my attention that some parents have the perception that basketball and soccer have been banned at lunchtime and recess. I want to reassure parents this is not the case. Students are still free to play with a soccer ball (using goals) or play with a basketball on the courts. They are still free to make up their own games involving these sports. The only restriction is they are not to set up a formal field with teams as there is insufficient room and that students do not have the capacity to oversee a game where rules are adhered to and played in a safe manner. Mr Paparone and Ms Tunnacliffe oversee a soccer program for our older boys and girls before school where they are provided the opportunity to participate in a formal game environment. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further queries.

P&C AGM 
Recently the P&C conducted its Annual General Meeting to fill all office bearing positions for 2025. Thank you and congratulations to the following:
President: Mrs Nasim  Salakjani
Vice President: Ms Ivonne Tshuma
Treasurer: Mr Satin Sidhu
Secretary: Ms Aisyah Nozi

Our next meeting will be held on Monday 24th March (Week 8) commencing at 2.00pm. The P&C is always looking for new members so please come along, have a cup of coffee and become involved in fundraising at Wellard PS.

NEXT ASSEMBLY
The next assembly (Pink) will be conducted by Miss Barrett and Miss Foster’s classes commencing at 8.50am this Friday 14th March. Rooms 23 (Miss Matier) and 24 (Mrs Neidig) will perform their assembly (Pink) on Friday 28th March.

NAPLAN (THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM – LITERACY & NUMERACY)
All students in Years 3, 5, 7 & 9 across Australia in both public and private schools will participate in the NAPLAN tests beginning this week.  As per last year, students will participate in online testing other than Year 3 Writing which will still be written. NAPLAN will be conducted between Wednesday 12th March (Week 6) to Monday 24th March (Week 8)

I would like parents and guardians to note that as a school we try to play down the importance of these tests to students. We are conscious of the impact these tests may have on the anxiety levels of some students and for that reason we don’t make a “big deal” about them. The major purpose of NAPLAN is to provide schools, parents and caregivers with information about student performance in relation to nationally-agreed proficiency bands and benchmarks.  The results also allow schools, parents and caregivers to monitor students’ achievements over time.  

SWIMMING LESSONS TERM 2 (PP – Yr 6)
Students in all public primary schools have the opportunity to attend swimming lessons for two weeks of the school year. These lessons are very valuable and provide students with the opportunity to become competent swimmers over time. I strongly recommend that all students participate so they have increased confidence around water and are able to help themselves (and others) if they get into difficulty. It is well known that children who do not learn to swim as a child do not take the time to learn as an adult. Having your children learn to swim as a child is doing them a favour for later in life. Students from Wellard (PP – Yr 6) will be participating in swimming lessons in Weeks 3 & 4 (Group 1) and Weeks 7 & 8 (Group 2) of Term 2. More information will follow outlining when exactly your children will be attending later this term.

KINDERGARTEN/PRE-PRIMARY BIKE RACK
I want to make parents aware that we have a bike rack behind the Kindergarten and Pre-primary area where younger students can place their bikes or scooters. The entry is in between the oval and the early childhood area. The external gate is locked early in the day but I do suggest you lock up your child’s bike or scooter to ensure no one is able to remove it.

BEFORE SCHOOL READING
We have a wonderful program in place where adults throughout Wellard PS listen to children read before school. This begins after children unpack their bags and organise themselves for the day. The program begins around 8.40am and concludes at 9.00am. I strongly encourage parents to have their children at school by this time so they have the opportunity to participate. When we listen to students read we focus on fluency, accuracy, expression and comprehension. Over the years I have seen children develop in confidence and gain real interest in reading for enjoyment. This becomes noticeable as children move through the grades into upper primary. A child who accesses this reading time will experience approximately an extra 12 hours of reading time a term which equates to 48 hours over the year. A Year 6 student leaving our school after completing all years of school at Wellard will have had the opportunity to read for a maximum of 336 hours (51.6 school days of reading)!!

ON ENTRY ASSESSMENT
Over the next few weeks our pre-primary students will be doing the On-entry Assessment Program. Conducting this assessment early in the year ensures that the teachers have information about the current skills and understandings of each child to assist in the planning and delivery of targeted learning programs that address the needs of each individual, especially those who may require early intervention or extension. The assessment period is during Weeks 3 – 6 of Term One.

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.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS – HATS AND JACKETS
It is great to see all of our students wearing the school uniform to school. Parents are reminded they need to purchase the school jacket prior to the arrival of the cold weather. Hats are now available to be purchased online. ALL students are expected to wear the school hat with the emblem. 

CRUNCH AND SIP
The Crunch & Sip program is an easy way to help kids stay healthy and happy! Crunch & Sip is a set break to eat fresh fruit or salad vegetables and drink water in the classroom. Students re-fuel with fresh fruit or vegetables during the morning or afternoon, assisting physical and mental performance and concentration in the classroom. This gives kids a chance to refuel, a bit like putting petrol in a car. Each day students bring fresh fruit or salad vegetables to school to eat in the classroom at a set time. Each child has a small clear bottle of water in the classroom to drink throughout the day to prevent dehydration. Through Crunch & Sip, schools demonstrate their commitment to nutrition education in the classroom, by making links with the curriculum and creating a supportive school environment. The Crunch & Sip break gives children the opportunity to eat the piece of fresh fruit that might otherwise be left in their lunchbox or not be eaten at all.

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
Account Name: Wellard Primary School

STRANGER DANGER
As it is the start of the school year, I urge you all to talk to your child or children about walking safely to and from school. Following are some suggestions to help your child/children stay safe.  Please ask your child to:

•    Always travel in company
•    Walk on the right hand side of the road so you face oncoming traffic
•    Wherever possible, leave space between yourself and the roadway
•    Stay in areas that are well lit
•    Stay in view – avoid going into areas that are hidden from view (such as parkland bush or behind shopping centres) and plan trips to avoid such locations
•    Be alert – earphones and headphones can reduce your awareness considerably
•    If you have a mobile phone, have it turned on and ready to dial an emergency number
•    If a passing car stops nearby never get too close
•    Do not hesitate to run from a situation in which you feel at risk
•    Provide this advice to brothers and sisters, especially if younger
•    Report suspicious behaviour to parents, school and the police, noting number plates of cars and/or clothing or distinguishing features of individuals.

Remember to call 131 444 or the local station to report an incident to police or 1800 333 000 to reach crime stoppers. Only call 000 in case of an emergency.

Geoff Miller
Principal
geoff.miller@education.wa.edu.au