Newsletter
Term 1, Week 8
Principal's Address
The faction swimming carnival was the highlight of the last two weeks and it was rewarding to see nearly all our students competing in the pool. The staff at Leinster Community School were all committed to providing all students with a carnival that promoted fun and participation. It was the hard work that Ms Donohoe and staff that enabled everyone to have a fantastic day. Our high school students should be applauded for their efforts in supporting and helping the younger students feel confident in swimming in their race. Congratulations to all the champion swimmers and the faction winners for 2022, Waroonga.
Today our Year Three to Twelve students are involved in Spirit Carnival run by Royal Lifesaving and supported by BHP. I hope everyone participating will enjoy this event. Ms Doyle and the high school students will be selling sausages as a fundraiser for the outdoor classroom and garden area. Please support their efforts in making money to improve the environment of our school for all students.
A group of teachers and senior high school students recently trained for their First Aid Certificates with Royal Lifesaving and were successful in qualifying for this award. Three staff members are now trained in their Pool Bronze Medallion. Staff holding these awards will now be qualified to take students to the pool and other water based excursions later in the year.
Harmony Day gave teachers and students the opportunities to focus on unity and diversity in our country and at our school. A display on the notice board outside the high school classroom depicts the thoughts of the students at our school.
We are looking forward to the National Ride to School Day on Friday the 1st April.
I would like to announce to the school community that the process for new principal has been finalised and I have been told that I am the recommended applicant. The process has been approved by all panel members and the report has been sent to the Director of Education to be signed off.
I am looking forward to continuing to work with the students, parents and community to build an educational environment that will provide the best possible education for the students at Leinster Community School.
Leanne Kelleher,
Principal
Harmony Day
Harmony Day is a celebration of our cultural diversity. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone and orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Day. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.
This year to celebrate Harmony Day (Wednesday 21st March), we had a special dress day where students were asked to wear something orange to school for a gold coin donation. In addition to wearing orange, we asked every student to write something about Harmony Day in an orange heart. These orange hearts are now on display in the upper school display cabinet.
Swimming Carnival
On Friday 18th of March, we had our whole school faction swimming carnival. It was a hot but a fun day; with lots of swimming events and cheering.
Waroonga won with 452 points and Percy came in second with 375. Well, done to all the swimmers and award winners. After all the intense and fun races, QUBE donated and volunteered to cook a sausage sizzle, it was a hot and yummy meal to have after our tiring races. Thank you QUBE for your support!
To finish off the day there was a parent, teacher and student race. Well, done to the parents who won the race, the teachers came in a close second and the students finishing strong in third. Overall, it was a great day; thank you to everyone to participated and came along.
Written by: Carmela and Damien
Junior:
Champion boy - Keston Spark
Runner up - Ethan Bula & Leo Arvidson
Champion girl - Samara Haldoupis
Runner up - Amelia Martinovich
Intermediate year 3 (division 1):
Champion boy - Benjamin Whiting
Runner up - Gabriel Walker
Champion girl - Eva-Rose Suckling & Abbi Burton
Runner up - Olivia Parker & Zinab Swarey
Intermediate year 4 (division 2):
Champion boy - Edward Grant
Runner up - Brydan O'Connor
Champion girl - Ava Peating
Runner up - Isabella Hodgson
Senior:
Champion boy - Lachlan Forbes
Runner up - Jordan Tukapu-Taiapa
Champion girl - Tayla Rowan
Runner up - Violet McLaughlin-Anderson
Open:
Champion boy - Sherman Sokra'a
Runner up - Lucas Ballard
Champion girl - Sea Sokra'a
Runner up - Rhiarn Paniora
Learning through Play
‘Play provides opportunities for children to learn as they discover, create, improvise and imagine. When children play with other children they create social groups, test out ideas, challenge each other’s thinking and build new understandings.
Play provides a supportive environment where children can ask questions, solve problems and engage in critical thinking. Play can expand children’s thinking and enhance their desire to know and to learn. In these ways play can promote positive dispositions towards learning. Children’s immersion in their play illustrates how play enables them to simply enjoy being.’ (Early Years Framework for Australia)
At Leinster Community School our teachers plan for intentional play based opportunities in the playground. The activities change constantly and the students have input into choosing the equipment that is placed in the playground. These activities ensure a variety of play opportunities that encourage social, imaginative and creative play. The teachers respond to situations arising in the playground as teachable moments and use these to build on their students learning.
These photos show the students digging in the sand and water, balancing, creating stories at the mini-zoo and turn taking on the swings. Teachers in playground support the learning of conflict resolution, sharing, conversing in a social setting and behavioural expectations.
Spirit Carnival
Following the success of the inaugural Spirit Carnival in 2021 hosted by the Royal Life Saving Society of WA, the second annual event got underway today in Leinster at the town pool. Whilst not all schools from the region were able to attend as originally planned, it was still a very successful event with Royal's placing an emphasis on the vital message of swim and survive. We will publish an update and images in the next newsletter so watch this space!
New sporting equipment!
Congratulations to our PE Teacher Tayla Donohoe who has been successful in her funding applications to update the school's sporting equipment. Over the last fortnight, Tayla received new volleyball equipment from Spikezone, new basketball equipment from Aussie Hoops and was successful in updating the sports shed equipment through Sporting School funding applications. We have no doubt the entire school will enjoy using the new sporting goods throughout the year.
Easter Donations
We are still seeking donations from our attending students to assist with creating prizes and hampers for the annual Easter Raffle in an effort to make this year's raffle even better than last year. So far, we have only received half a dozen donations.
The more items that are donated will enable more prizes to be won so more people have a chance of winning. If you are able to donate, any Easter related items such as Easter eggs, crafts and/or gifts that will be very much appreciated. (No nut products please.)
Donations can be dropped off to the front office and tickets will be available for purchase for $1each before school from next week until the raffle is drawn. The raffle will be drawn on 07th April.
Ride to School Day
Ride to School Day is a special day held each year in Australia to promote and develop physical activity in children. The idea is that children ride all or part of the way to school. Ride to School Day will be held on Friday 01st April with the emphasis being on fun and active bike-themed activities and games. In the lead up to the event, the Year 5 and 6 students will be going around to each classroom to deliver a presentation on bike safety. More details will be sent home on this next week.
School Photos - Postponed
Due to the number of student absences the school photos have been postponed until the beginning of Term 3. If you have already sent back your forms, or paid online, we will keep a hold of these at the front office until the new date has been scheduled.
First Aid Certified
On the weekend of the 12th and 13th March, our school faculty along with the Year 10, 11 and 12 students had the opportunity to participate in First Aid training with Cameron Eglington and Katie Lindquist from Royal Life Saving Society WA. Thank you to everyone who participated, I'm pleased to advise everyone who attended was successful in becoming first aid certified. The skills learned are invaluable and just might one day help to save someone's life.
Events
Under the current Department of Education directive, several planned activities and events are currently on hold so our planned events for Term 1 is looking a little light until such time as it is safe to reschedule activities.
March
25 March - Spirit (Interschool) Swimming Carnival (Y3-Y12)
April
01 April - Ride to School Day (PP-Y12)
07 April - Year 5/6 Anzac Assembly
Leinster Community School
Email: Leinster.CS@education.wa.edu.au
Website: http://leinstercs.wa.edu.au/
Location: 1 Gledden Drive, Leinster WA, Australia
Phone: +61 8 9055 9600