Whitford Catholic Primary School
Newsletter 38 - 28 November 2018
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents
Thank you to all staff and parents who attended the P&F and School Board ACM last Wednesday evening. It is always a fantastic opportunity to share about all that we have been doing and achieved in 2018, and highlight our plans for 2019. We are certainly blessed to be part of such an engaged and strong school community.
I take this opportunity of thanking our Board Chairperson, Mr Brendan Long for his Board Report and Mr Dion Panission for the Board Treasurer’s Report.
Always mindful of the economic challenges facing families, the School Board has again kept fee increases to a minimum. A 2% increase in school fees for the 2019 school year was advised in the Board Treasurer’s Report as presented by Dion Panossian. School fees will go home in the third week of school next year.
I thank all parents who put forward their nominations for Board positions and especially thank outgoing Board Members Mr Brian Briscoe and Mr Brad Ford for their commitment to our school and the valuable contributions each has made over the term of their membership.
School Board Membership 2019
Board Chair: Mr Brendan Long
Board Treasurer: Mr Dion Panossian
P&F Representative: Mrs Pina Pettinicchio
General Board Member: Mrs Karolina Brown
General Board Member: Mr Doug Yek
General Board Member: Mrs Cynthia Bartolomei
General Board Member: Mr Michael Chiera
Parish Priest: Fr Cyprian M Shikokoti
School Principal: Mrs Tamara McGougan
WCPS P&F Executive Committee 2019
President: Mrs Pina Pettinicchio
Junior School Vice-President: Ms Emma Keeffe
Senior School Vice-President: Mrs Desiree von Bergheim
Secretary: Mrs Lisa Briscoe
Treasurer: Vacant
The P&F are still seeking someone to fill the position of Treasurer. If you are interested or are considering the position, please contact the P&F on pandf@wcps.wa.edu.au and we will let you know what is involved.
I thank Mrs Pina Pettinicio for presenting the P&F Treasurer’s Report and Mrs Nadine Cooperwhite for the P&F President’s Report. The P&F Executive and wider parent network have been an amazingly committed group to work with and it is really heartening to see their dedication in supporting our children and strengthening our community. A huge thank you to Mrs Nadine Cooperwhite who has stepped down as P&F President, after 5 years in this role. You can now pop your feet up Nadine, and support from the sidelines!
Congratulations to Mrs Celeste de Rozario:
I take this opportunity of welcoming little Miss Pippa Rose de Rozario into the world! Pippa was born on 12 November 2018 and is another gorgeous little daughter for our Pre-Kindy teacher, Celeste and her husband Mark. Congratulations!
Year 3 & 4 Christmas Concert
Thank you to Mrs D’Adamo and the Year 3 & 4 students who reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas with their fabulous Christmas Nativity Play yesterday afternoon. Their dance and drama lessons certainly bought a contemporary script to life and added such fun and a great start to our Christmas preparations. Each their very own Christmas Star!!!
Handmade Market
Thank you to everyone who came to support the market and local businesses during the Christmas Handmade Market. Thank you to the volunteers Jacqueline Morgan, Jo Lihou, Nicole Woods, Lucy Halsall, Joel Patterson, Dianna Hurring, Pina Pettinicchio and Ian Patterson. It was a massive team effort and Emma Meikle can’t wait to do it all again next year!!
Kind Regards
Tamara McGougan
Principal
End of Year Reports - Do you have your log-in details?
End of year reports will be available on the last day of this term. It is important that you please check your log in for SEQTA Engage as early as possible so that you will be able to access your child's report at the end of this term. To connect to SEQTA Engage, please go to https://whitfordcatholicps.coneqt-p.cathednet.wa.edu.au/
If you have any issues please contact the front office - admin@wcps.wa.edu.au or 9404 4200.
Staffing 2019
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Principal Tamara McGougan
Assistant Principal Years PK-2 Catharine Hughes
Assistant Principal Years 3-6 Andrew De Maio
Early Years Co-ordinator Tonia McCaughey (Wed)
Middle/Upper Co-ordinator Geoff Clarke (Wed)
TEACHING STAFF
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher Jodie Kelly
Teaching Assistant Tess Thompson
Kindergarten (Blue) Teacher Mandy Rullo
Teaching Assistants Michelle Elders & Jen Billington
Kindergarten (Gold) Teacher Annette Harvey
Teaching Assistants Vanessa Chamberlain & Lori Clairs
Kindergarten (White) Teachers Mandy Rullo & Carmel Homer (Wed)
Teaching Assistants Colette Giles & Suse Massey
Pre-Primary (Blue) Teacher Caroline Taylor
Teaching Assistants Jo Cooper & Suse Massey (Mon)
Pre-Primary (Gold) Teacher Carol Pendlebury
Teaching Assistants Leza McGrath
Pre-Primary (White) Teacher Alex Arundale
Teaching Assistant Tania Hobbs
Year 1 (Blue) Teacher Kirsten Kane
Year 1 (Gold) Teachers Tonia McCaughey & Cath Hughes (Wed)
Year 1 (White) Teacher Genee Wheeler
Year 2 (Blue) Teachers Kate Ryan (Mon –Wed) & Jen Gray (Thurs & Fri)
Year 2 (Gold) Teacher Anita Baric
Year 2 (White) Teachers Rebekah Hannaford (Mon-Tues) & Janine Phillips (Wed-Fri)
Year 1 & 2 Teaching Assistants Kym Hall, Caroline Ristovsky (am),
Emma Hurd (Mon – Thu am) & Vanessa Chamberlain (Fri am)
Year 3 (Blue) Teacher Gabrielle Gelle
Year 3 (Gold) Teacher Tarnica Golisano
Year 3 (White) Teacher Stephanie Limpitlaw
Year 4 (Blue) Teacher Andrew Balding
Year 4 (Gold) Teacher Suzanne Hunt
Year 4 (White) Teacher Stephanie Hopkins
Year 3 & 4 Teaching Assistants Fran Donaldson (Mon – Thurs) &
Anca Puiu (Mon - Wed)
Year 5 (Blue) Teachers Geoff Clarke & Andrew De Maio (Wed)
Year 5 (Gold) Teacher Denise Clarke
Year 5 (White) Teacher Barb Bennett
Year 6 (Blue) Teacher Mike Barns
Year 6 (Gold) Teachers Cathy Ryan (Mon -Thurs) Narelle Sumner – (Fri)
Year 6 (White) Teachers Sam Hales & Erin Hannah (Fri)
Year 5 & 6 Teaching Assistant Deb Arbuckle (Tues & Wed am)
SUPPORT TEACHERS
Julie Danaher
Mellissa Hilton (Mon – Wed)
Narelle Sumner (Wed – Thurs)
Support Teaching Assistants Emma Hurd (Mon – Thurs pm)
Pauline Libardi (Special Needs Support)
SPECIALIST TEACHERS
Physical Education Teachers Adriano D’Adamo & Roberta Lori (Tues am & Wed am)
LIGHTS Teachers Andrea Yeo (Mon – Tues) & Gen Fenlon (Mon)
HASS Teacher Annette Lynch (Tues – Fri)
Science Teachers Bec Godrich (Mon – Thurs) & Rebekah Hannaford (Wed)
Drama / Dance Teacher Candice D'Adamo (Mon, Tues & Thurs)
Music Teacher Steven Ostaszewskyj (Mon, Wed & Fri)
Italian Teacher Antonietta D'Alessandro (Wed – Fri)
ADMINISTRATION STAFF
Finance Officer Jane Hansen
Enrolments Officer & Principal’s PA Allison Falconer (Mon – Thurs)
Administration Officers Claudia Black (Mon, Wed & Thurs) & Michelle Elders (Tues & Fri)
Library Officer Denise Gee
ICT Support Marc Blais (Mon & Tues)
Social Worker Elaine Mahon (Mon – Thurs)
Groundsmen Phil Garner (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) & Trevor Briggs (Wed)
Canteen Nicole Waldmeier (Mon) & Kerry Craker (Thurs)
Class Transition Day - 3rd December
On Monday 3rd December between 11am and 12pm, students from Kindergarten to Year 5 will spend time in the classes they will be going to in 2019 . This will be a good opportunity for staff and students to meet each other and plan for next year.
Please be aware that we have a stringent process for allocating students to classes. The needs of all children are considered, with staff members liaising carefully to find an appropriate class balance based on specific criteria, including:
- academic needs
- special needs
- gender balance
- pastoral care and welfare needs
- social and emotional concerns, together with student relationships
Although we are sometimes nervous about change, planning for the future is always an exciting time and one that we do not take lightly, so please be assured that we have your child's best interest at heart. Thank you for your continued support of the staff in all that they do.
Please note that the Kindy 2019 transition will take place in the afternoon from 1.30pm to 2.30pm.
2019 Book List Year 3 - 6 2019
2019 Book Lists are now available at
https://www.officemaxschools.com.au/WA/Craigie/Whitford-Catholic-Primary-School
Book Lists are for students entering Years 3-6 in 2019.
Students entering Pre-Kindy – Year 2 in 2019 do not require a booklist.
ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS
- Enter the school access key W8BT6H
- Complete the student’s details and select the student's 2019 year group
- Review your requirements list and make changes if required.
Please take note of the Subject/Class Notes on this page which list additional items such as tissues, paper towels etc, which should be brought to school during Week 1, 2019.
Please note: For home deliveries only, if you have more than one student at the same school repeat above steps.
Once completed, an order confirmation will be sent to your email address.
If you have any queries regarding Book Lists or need a printed copy of the list, please contact the Office.
Uniform Shop
Please remember that there are only two more Uniform Shop days to go before the end of the year!
The Uniform Shop is open 8.15am – 9.30am on Thursdays during term time only.
You can order online at https://www.quickcliq.com.au/ and request to have the uniform delivered to your child’s classroom (Thursdays).
We also have a Uniform Shop Open Morning on Wednesday 30th January 2018, from 9.00am until 11.00am and you are welcome to visit the Uniform Shop between these hours.
To view the uniform requirements, please visit http://www.whitfordcatholicps.wa.edu.au/images/Uniform_Policy.pdf
Swimming Lessons 2019
Students who will be in Years 3 and 4 in 2019 will commence swimming lessons in week 2,
11 February, 2019. Forms for completing will be sent home this week. Please check your child's school bag for these forms and please endeavour to get them back to the office by the end of the term.
Important Dates
THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER
- Swimming Lessons - Year 1 & 2
- 09:00am - 10:00am 5 White Surf Life Saving
01:30pm - 02:30pm Year 5 Improvisation Survivor
FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER
- Swimming Lessons - Year 1 & 2
- 01:30pm - 03:00pm Year 6 Final Assembly
MONDAY 3 DECEMBER
- 09:00am - 10:00am Year 5 White Surf Life Saving
- 11:00am - 12:00pm Transition Day (K - Year 5) - Students Only
- 01:30pm - 02:30pm Kindy 2019 Orientation
TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER
- 05:00pm - 07:20pm Christmas Concert
WEDNESDAY 5 DECEMBER
- 09:00am - 10:30am Thanksgiving Mass
- 02:00pm - 03:00pm Kindy White Graduation
- End of Year Free Icy Pole
THURSDAY 6 DECEMBER
09:00am - 10:00am 5 White Surf Life Saving
- 09:00am - 10:00am Kindy Blue Graduation
- 02:00pm - 03:00pm Kindy Gold Graduation
- 06:00pm - 09:00pm Year 6 Graduation Dinner
FRIDAY 7 DECEMBER
Important Dates for 2019
- Wednesday 30 January - Uniform Shop open 9-11am
- Monday 4 February - FIRST DAY FOR STUDENTS
- Monday 4 March - Labour Day Holiday
- Friday 12 April - Last Day of Term 1
TERM 2
- Tuesday 30 April - First Day of Term 2 for students
- Monday 3 June - WA Day Holiday
- Thursday 4 July - Last Day of Term 2 for students
TERM 3
- Monday 22 July - First Day of Term 3 for students
- Monday 19 August - Pupil Free Day
- Wednesday 25 September - Last Day of Term 3 for students
TERM 4
- Monday 14 October - First Day of Term 4 for students
- Friday 13 December - Last Day of 2019 School Year for students
Sacramental Dates 2019
- Wednesday 23 October
- Commitment Mass - 21/22 September
- Parental Workshops - 9,10 and 11 September
Holy Communion
- Saturday 17 August/Sunday 18 August
- Commitment Mass - 29/30 June
- Parental Workshops - 29, 30 and 31 July
Confirmation
- Saturday 15 June/Sunday 16 June
- Commitment Mass - 25/26 May
- Parental Workshops - 13,14 and 15 May
Enrolment Masses
- Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 March
Parent Information Night
- Wednesday 27 March 7pm - 8.30pm
School Fees - Urgent
Reminder statements will be sent out next week so if you have not made arrangements or contacted the office regarding your outstanding school fees, please could this be attended to urgently.
Smoothies for Sale!!
T.J., Ollie and Reuben invite you to come along and vote for your favourite glamour smoothie! Choose from:
- orange, lemon and strawberry
- banana, orange and strawberry OR
- mango, banana and lemon
All smoothies are dairy, nut and gluten free.
You will find us at the canteen on Tuesday 4th December 2018 at recess time, $1.00. All funds raised go to St Vincent de Paul Hampers.
Thanks for your support and remember to vote!!
Music News - Christmas Carols Concert
Christmas Carols Concert
All students in Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 2 and those in the School Choir will be presenting a Christmas Carols Concert Tuesday 4 December 2018 . This will be a whole school event and all are invited to join us. There is an expectation that all students in Pre-Primary, Year 1, Year 2 and the School Choir will participate in the concert. Thank you for understanding and giving your child this wonderful opportunity to perform with their classmates in this rewarding event. The children are certainly excited!
Details are as follows :-
- 5.00pm: Come for a picnic dinner with your family on the school grounds if you choose.
- 6.15pm: Gather with the school community in the central Quadrangle to get your spot for the concert.
- 6.30pm: Carols concert will commence.
- 7.20pm: Conclusion.
Students will sit with their families for the concert and will be called to a meeting point prior to their item. Students must wear their summer school uniform and are allowed to decorate themselves with a Christmas item (eg: Christmas hat, flashing Christmas necklace, tinsel wrapped around their wrists, etc.).
Please forward any questions to me via email at steven.ostaszewskyj@cewa.edu.au
Steven Ostaszewskyj
Music Coordinator
Year 2 iPads
Year 5B Market
This term the students of 5B have been learning about profit and loss in Economics. To help the children understand this concept they worked in small groups to establish a business for a handmade product. They had to identify their target market, create a business logo and design packaging that would appeal to their target audience. Before they could begin producing their product they needed to create a budget so that they could decide on selling price. The children had a day at school to create their product and package it. The following week we opened up the 5B Market Place and the children sold their products to parents, teachers and peers. In total the students raised $326! Overall it was a fantastic learning experience for our budding entrepreneurs, their creativity and enthusiasm was amazing, they should all be very proud of their efforts.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal
In 2018, we will be supporting the Parish with the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal. Each class has been asked to help by donating food items for hampers. To ensure that the hampers have a variety of food items to provide a meal on Christmas Day, we have asked each year to bring in different items. Please feel free to donate other non-perishable food items if you wish.
- Pre-Kindy & Kindy - Bags of lollies, chocolates or packets of jelly.
- Pre-Primary - Packets of biscuits (sweet or savoury) or bags of chips/crisps, mixed nuts
- Year 1 - Tinned fruit or vegetables, potatoes (tin or powdered)
- Year 2 - Christmas cakes or puddings
- Year 3 - Tinned meats (e.g. ham, tuna, corned beef)
- Year 4 - Long-like milk, custards (long-life carton), cream (long-life or tube) or coffee(instant)
- Year 5 - Drinks (e.g. cordial, fruit juice, soft drinks), cheese (non – chill packet)
- Year 6 - Fruit mince pies, Christmas crackers
Please place the food items in the basket in your child’s classroom beginning on Monday 12 November ready for collection on Thursday 6 December. Thank you for your continuing support. Hopefully, we can help make someone’s Christmas a little brighter this year.
Kids of Mercy
Year 6 Kids of Mercy Final Visit
Last week marked the Year 6, Kids of Mercy, final visit to Mercyville, as students from WCPS. (Back: Leah, Jasmine, Juliette, Tristan, Riley, Chris, Niamh; Front: Jasmin, Sr Bronagh, Grace) These eight students have given of their time each year, since they were in Year 1, and have brought much joy to the ladies over those years. They have been committed to the task, at times giving up some exciting lunchtime activity, because they knew that the 20 minutes they spent with the ladies would make an impact that could last many days and even weeks. We are proud of them and how they have reached out showing fine example of what Catherine McAuley envisaged as the Mercy tradition. We wish them all the best for their years at high school where we are sure they will continue to be the ‘Hands of Jesus’.
Kids of Mercy Certificates
Every year a certificate is issued recognising the children's participation in the Kids of Mercy.
It has been experienced over, the last eight years, that parents have liked to keep these certificates as a memento and to use for their child's application to high school, as an example of community service. These certificates will be sent home this week, Week 8. They can be found in your child's library bag. It is strongly suggested that after their 'time on the fridge' they are filed carefully as reissuing is time consuming. They are not laminated so please ask your child for it on History/Library day.
Thank you so much for encouraging your child to be part of the Kids of Mercy in 2018. Please talk with your child about how they feel about attending in 2019 before you sign them up next year as it is important that children are motivated to attend. Time wasted, waiting for children to be called over the PA, takes away from our time with the ladies and children reluctant to chat can feel very uncomfortable.
Enrolment for 2019 will be open in February via the link in the first newsletter and restricted to 150 children.
Library News
Library Bags
Any Year 6 families who no longer have a use for their library bag could donate it to the library and we would see that it goes to a good home. (most likely to Year 5s who have lost one!)
Overdue Books
Please finalise any overdue books as soon as possible. Remember a full refund is available when you find a lost book.
Book Borrowing
All books are due back during History/Library time this week, Week 8. Let’s make an effort to return all books on time. Please check your child’s library day and ask them to put their books in their school bags. Some students’ books are more than two months overdue.
The Great Jelly Snake Off
Help your class to win the Jelly Snakes. Return your books now.
See you in the Library.
St Jerome, pray for us.
Mrs Annette Lynch
TEACHER/LIBRARIAN
Parish News
We are looking for children to be involved in the Nativity Play, which is a feature of the Parish Christmas Eve Mass on the Whitford school oval. Those children who feel they would like to do a reading, and/or play the parts of Mary, Joseph, Herald, Innkeepers, Shepherds, Angels and Archangels are invited to a practice on WEDNESDAY 19TH DECEMBER AT 10 AM in the church.
Characters will be chosen from those present at the practice. All children are welcome to join us. Please note that photographs may be taken during the Mass by a parish photographer for the Parish Just Faith magazine. If this is a problem you should speak to Leanne at the rehearsal.
Enquiries: Leanne Fragomeni 0424 584 460
Dance and Drama
Year 3/4 Nativity Play
What a FABULOUS and entertaining performance by our very talented Year 3 and 4 students. It was such a wonderful way to begin our Christmas celebrations with such enthusiastic performers. Thank you to the families and friends who came to watch and the staff for their help side of stage! The students have enjoyed their term of Drama as much as I have teaching them!
Year 5 Improvisation Survivor Afternoon
Year 5 parents don’t forget that you are welcome to come to our very first Improvisation Survivor Afternoon, Thursday the 29th at 1:30pm in the gym. Watch the groups battle against each other to win the ultimate title of “Improvisation Survivor” with the prize of a rubber chicken!
Year 6 “Cirque du Six”
Roll up, roll up!! It’s Year 6 students final assembly!!! Please keep in mind that we are starting at 1:30pm NOT 2pm as previously mentioned. All students must bring in their costumes ASAP!! Please refer to school stream for information.
Mrs Candice D’Adamo
Drama and Dance Coordinator
Canteen
Summer Menu please click here to view
Please be advised that due to the summer holidays we will be running our stock in the canteen down, and certain items might not be available anymore in the last weeks.
End of Term Special
Thursday 6th December
¼ Pizza + Juice Box $5.50
Choice of Simply Cheese, Hawaiian or Meatlovers.
GF Pizza available - please contact the Canteen directly
If order is sent in without a bag please add 10c to your order. Orders must be in by Thursday 29th November noon. No late orders accepted.
Thursday 29th November
Recess:
Mini Pizza $1.50
Choc Yogo $1.80
Roster:
Claire Cherian, Erica Hamilton, Sofie DeWolf
Monday 3rd December
Recess:
Chicken Goujons $1.40
Mini Cupcake 70c
Roster: Caroline Rose’Meyer, Donna Leen, Rene Dineen
Thursday 6th December - End of Term Special 1/4 Pizza and Juice Box
No other lunch orders available on this day
Recess:
TBA
Roster: Carissa Tang, Erica Hamilton, Daniela DeLima
P and F News
Each year our school community prepares a lunch for all WCPS staff in recognition of the wonderful work they do in teaching, guiding and supporting our children This year the luncheon will be on Tuesday 4th December. If you are able to provide a savoury or sweet dish or assist with the set up and clean up could you please contact the P&F on pandf@wcps.wa.edu.au
As a thank you to the school community for their support, the P&F are also offering a free sausage sizzle to all students lunchtime Tuesday 4th December.
Please look out for the School Stream message to let us know of any dietary requirements.
If you would like to view the latest P and F Newsletter please click here
Thanking you for your support
P&F Committee
Whitty Dads
School Banking
Banking Helpers Needed
We are looking for more lovely volunteers to take a turn counting the dollars our kids are saving and processing it. Tea, coffee and chats with other parents are all part of the couple of hours it takes, our current helpers do 2-3 turns a term. If you have a little bit of time to volunteer please email Wendy.scanlan@gmail.com.
Rewards
The bank have cut off ordering any new rewards from 23rd November until 2019 as there is a backlog of items to be distributed. We will endeavor to get any rewards that come in out to you before the 7th Dec.
Thanks for your patience!
Whitford Out of School Kids Care
Newsletter Advertising
If anyone is interested in advertising in the newsletter for 2019 would you please send an email to admin@wcps.wa.edu.au.
OUR SPONSORS
Community News
Sacred Heart College Community Consultation
Sacred Heart College has employed Creating Communities and developed a survey seeking views on the community’s use of our College facilities. Recently the City of Joondalup Councillors voted to refuse our application to allow the community to hire our RNDM Theatre and Gymnasium. The survey only takes 10 minutes to complete and there is a $250 prize on offer. We would appreciate the support of our local Catholic school parents whose children may have danced in our theatre or seen shows there.
Your feedback will greatly assist us in better understanding the key issues and opportunities to improve our school and our place in the community. http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/sacredheartcommunity
Any questions can be directed to Mr Peter Bothe, Principal on 9246 8201
Early in 2019, Mercedes College will commence interviewing Year 5 students who are due to start Year 7 in 2021. If you are considering enrolling your daughter at Mercedes College and have not yet requested an information pack, please contact Mrs Julie Lamb on 9323 1340 or email jlamb@mercedes.wa.edu.au as soon as possible. Further information about enrolments is available on our website, www.mercedes.wa.edu.au.