The Link Fortnightly News
20 July 2018, Issue #11
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Monday 23 July
Morning Fitness on the school oval 8.30am - 8.50am
Tuesday 24 July
School Banking
Drama program begins Pre-primary - Year 6
P&C Meeting 6.30pm
Friday 27 July
Morning fitness school oval 8.30am - 8.50am
Canteen open
Assembly Room 6
Monday 30 July
Morning Fitness 8.30am - 8.50am
100 Days of School
Tuesday 31 July
School Banking
Thursday 2 August
Inter-school Cross Country
Friday 3 August
Newsletter
Canteen open
Welcome Back to Term 3
Welcome back to another exciting and action packed term at Scarborough Primary School. I have been very impressed to see the students getting straight back into the swing of classroom routines. On Monday of this week our staff were involved with review and planning workshops looking at the ways we can make Scarborough an even better school and expand the strong link between home and school. There is a lot happening during this term so please look out for emails from teachers and keep updated by our website and social media feeds. We look forward to your continued support of our school events and the contribution you make each and every day making our school a great school.
Jason Crofts - Principal
Attendance
You may have seen reports in the media recently about non-attendance when families choose to take a vacation during school term. Attendance plays a big part in student success at Scarborough. Absences such as illness, urgent family matters and medical appointments are classed as reasonable while absences for holidays, birthdays, extra long weekends and going out for a special treats are not.
Our Attendance Target for 2018 is ‘To improve the overall attendance rate to 94.0% for compulsory years each semester.’ During semester 1 we didn’t reach our target in fact our overall attendance rate was only 92.9%. Almost 30% of our absences are unauthorised (vacation, unacceptable reason or reason unknown). 161 days have been lost due to family vacation during school term.
We need your help to give students the best opportunity for success. If you are planning a vacation or a non-urgent absence I ask that you make these after school hours or during the school vacation period. The Department of Education has term dates up until 2023 on their website to assist with vacation planning. https://www.education.wa.edu.au/future-term-dates
Congratulations!
Two of our staff have been nominated for the WA Education Awards in 2018. Mrs Philippa Johnson has been nominated for her work as a education assistant and Mrs Bev Martin has been nominated for her work at our year 5/6 teacher. Congratulations to Philippa and Bev on their nominations.
Cross Country
Thank you to Mr Gordon and all the volunteers who helped out today.
Chaplain’s Chat
It’s Will here, your school chaplain. I hope you had a great break with your kids, and had the chance to find some rest time for yourself in there as well! My wife and I had the chance to take Amos and Toby to Serpentine Falls for some bushwalking over the break, which was pretty special.
This term you’ll hear a little bit more from me in the newsletter. Today I wanted to use this space to share briefly about what my role as chaplain means at the school. Sometimes parents or grandparents catch me in the corridor or at an assembly and ask me, ‘What is it you do as chaplain here?’ It’s a pretty great question, and I find that there’s not really a cut-and-paste answer! Chaplaincy has meant many different things in many different sectors over the years, so I thought it might be useful to clarify what Primary School Chaplaincy means here at SPS.
I’ve been the chaplain at Scarborough Primary School for just over 3 years now, and before my youngest son Toby was born, I was chaplain at Glengarry Primary School for 4 years. Every day proves to be remarkably different. As chaplain, the largest part of my role is to listen, encourage and support all students, parents and teachers of the school community. So on any given day that might see me in the classroom helping out a particular student, or on the playground participating in activities that help foster community and healthy relationships. For two years now I’ve run Glee Club for the graduating year 6 students, as well as coordinated the Wellbeing Council. Chaplaincy also means I have the chance to facilitate social and emotional skills sessions with students across a range of our year groups. Another part of my role is to support students and parents who need someone to talk to. Life gets messy, and sometimes it helps to speak through some of that messiness. So as chaplain I have the opportunity to offer space and time to listen to and support students, parents and teachers.
If you want to know more, please feel free to catch me on a Monday or a Thursday, or email me at willv@youthcare.org.au
Will - Chaplain
Zoe getting a hands on experience
Thank you to the firefighters
Having a close look at the big red engine
From the library - Scholastic Book Club
One Big Voice - Choir Students
Our choir will be performing at the amazing One Big Voice Festival this term! The festival is at the Perth Arena on Friday 17th August, and tickets are available now through TICKETEK. Parents/guests should purchase their tickets in the MOZART section of the arena. Hurry as tickets are selling fast!
A letter to parents will be handed out soon with details of the festival day. Thank you for all your support, and I look forward to seeing you there.
P&C News
Our next P&C meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 24 July in the school library at 6.30pm. There will be tea and coffee available from 6.15pm so come on down a few minutes early for a hot cup. The agenda is available on the school website under the P&C heading.
Have you entered the City to Surf yet? Come and join the Scarborough Sprinters team and do the 4km, 12km or if you’re feeling really energetic why not try the half or full marathon. Come and join in for morning fitness from 8:30 on the school oval and get your training underway. ALL WELCOME!!
P & C Bake Sale. We will be running the bake sale for the Interschool Cross Country on Thursday the 2nd of August and will be looking for donations of sweet, savoury, home-made or store bought good to sell. More details to come!!
Entertainment Books are still available to purchase. Can be purchased as a book or a digital membership. Details in the front office. If you haven’t returned your unwanted book, please do so as soon as you can.
A big thanks to all that came along to the NAIDOC week barbeque at the end of term 2, especially those of you who helped out on the day. These events would not be the success they are without you, the school community.
Champions
Well done to Mia Springer who won GOLD at the state surf life saving championships. Mia competed in the Under 10 Line Throw and won first place in this statewide competition.
Churchlands Senior High School
If your child is going into Year 7 in 2019 you can apply for selection into our school based Academic Extension Program. Testing will take place at Churchlands Senior High School, 20 Lucca Street, Churchlands on Saturday 1 September 2018.
Application forms are available at our front office or www.churchlands.wa.edu.au
Applications close: Thursday 9 August 2018.
This opportunity is only available to children living in our local intake area or accepted into our Gifted and Talented Secondary Selective Music Program
Students are only able to sit the testing once in Year 6 only.