Whitford Catholic Primary School
Newsletter 1 - 31 January 2018
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is with pleasure that I welcome new and existing students and families to the 2018 school year. I hope that everyone had a wonderful break and that the new year has started well for families. As we come together, I also welcome our new staff members – Miss Gabrielle Gelle, Miss Stephanie Duffy, Mr Steven Ostaszewskyj, Mrs Sarah Knox, Mrs Kate Ryan, Mrs Emma Hurd and Mrs Tessa Thompson to what should be a wonderful 40th Anniversary year for the school and community.
School Car-Park
I take this opportunity of thanking parents for your support today and over the next month as construction and road works continue in our school grounds. Although disruptive at this point in time, the end result will not only provide extra parking, but will also define and make drop-off and pick-up in the front of the school safer for our children.
Social Media
As we all know, the internet today is imbedded in the lives of our children, with few beyond its reach. I believe that we would generally see this as a positive with connectivity giving our children extraordinary opportunities and bringing the entire world within their reach. It does however carry risks and threats that parents need to be aware of. As the new year begins I ask that parents monitor student use in this area and stay informed about the cyber world. It is together, as a team, that we can support, educate and keep our children safe.
School Farewell to Fr Joseph Tran
Families will be advised of the day and time once this has been confirmed with Fr Joseph. In the meantime, please remember the parish farewell that is being organised for Saturday 10 February.
It is a privilege to work with your children and I wish everyone well as we continue to journey together with a shared sense of hope, purpose and excitement!
Many blessings
Tamara McGougan
Principal
Important Dates
09:30am - 10:30am Pre-Kindy Orientation
07:00pm - 08:00pm The Fathering Project Launch
TUESDAY 6 FEBRUARY
House Captain Voting (Year 6)
THURSDAY 8 FEBRUARY
09:00am - 10:00am Surfing - 6 Blue
06:30pm - 07:30pm Pre-Primary Parent Meeting
FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY
02:15pm - 03:00pm Whole School Assembly (Presentation of Semester 1 Student Ministries, House Captain Badges & Merit Awards)
SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY
WCPS Dads and Kids Campout
03:00pm - 09:00pm Father Joe's Farewell Celebrations
SUNDAY 11 FEBRUARY
WCPS Dads and Kids Campout
MONDAY 12 FEBRUARY
Year 3 & 4 Swimming Lessons
06:30pm - 07:00pm Year 5 Parent Meeting
07:00pm - 07:30pm Year 6 Parent Meeting
TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY
Shrove Tuesday
Year 3 & 4 Swimming Lessons
06:30pm - 07:00pm Year 3 Parent Meeting
07:00pm - 07:30pm Year 4 Parent Meeting
Term Dates 2018
Please be advised as per our school calendar, that the tentative final day for students is
7 December 2018. This is yet to be confirmed and we await confirmation from the Catholic Education Office.
NO PARKING
Please refrain from using the Mercyville car park for parking and also when using Albion Park drive through please exit the same way you entered.
Parking Update
Unfortunately, as building work continues to expand and improve the schools parking and drive-through systems, we have had to temporarily modify parking and drive-through points.
We apologise for the inconvenience this will cause families but we ask you to remember that this is only temporary and once building work in complete, the new systems will benefit all!!
PARKING
- There will be no parking available on the oval or the front carpark of the school.
- Parking is available at the following locations:
- Albion Park (entrance along Camberwarra Drive – will be signposted)
- Tennis Courts (off Barradine Way)
- Barradine Way (parking in the bays AM only)
- Legal street parking (including Vive estate opposite the school and through the underpass on Culwalla Close)
- Parents who need to park may want to consider parking away from the school (e.g. Barwon Park (Barwon Road) or Gradient Park (Gradient Way then cross Craigie Drive and take the footpath walkway to the top of Barradine Way)) and walking a few minutes to the school.
PLEASE REMEMBER THAT CITY OF JOONDALUP WILL BE PATROLLING THE AREA AND WILL ISSUE FINES TO THOSE PARKED ILLEGALLY.
DRIVE-THROUGH
- The drive-through system at the front of the school will be severely limited.
- Drive-through systems are also available at the rear of the school (Barradine Way) and the Underpass (Culwalla Close)
- All drive-through points will be supervised by staff until 3.30pm so you may want to consider collecting your child at a later and less busy time.
School Photo
All students will take part in an all school drone photo /video Thursday 1 February to form part of a farewell gift for Fr Joe. Parents will be able to view this on our Facebook page.
ZuluDesk Enrolment
On Tuesday, February 6th, we will be enrolling Year 3 iPads into the ZuluDesk Management System. We ask that parents drop off their child’s iPad either Monday afternoon or Tuesday morning at the front office with the following:
iPad is clearly labelled with student’s name and class
NO PASSCODE
SIGNED OUT OF iCloud and iTunes.
The iPads will be returned to the students in the classroom.
WCPS Fathering Project School Group
Hi WCPS Mums and Dads!
We welcome you to the WCPS Fathering Project Schools Group Information Evening. An informal but informative event just for WCPS Parents (Dads and Mums welcomed). The evening will provide information about what The Fathering Project is, what they think are important things about being a Dad and how they are helping us to start a Fathering Project Schools Group at WCPS. On the night we will hear from the Fathering Project WA School Group Coordinator. You will also hear about ideas for WCPS Fathering Project Schools Group activities and events. Feel free to ask questions and share ideas on the night.
Refreshments including alcohol will be served, so this is a student free event.
See you on Monday 5th Feb from 7:00pm in the WCPS School Library. Book your free ticket at https://www.trybooking.com/336151
WCPS 2018 DAD & KIDS CAMP OUT Saturday 10th February
Save the Date for the 2018 WCPS Dads Campout. Bring your tents or swags along for a great time together! Plenty of time for fun and games on the day, or to just hang out! The slippery slide is back for the kids as well!
Back at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp again for 2018, from Saturday 10th – Sunday 11th February 2018.
Tickets - $35 per family – book at https://www.trybooking.com/336271 (or the WCPS Office for cash or credit card)
Newsletter Advertising
If anyone is interested in advertising in the newsletter for 2018 would you please send an email to admin@wcps.wa.edu.au.
Kids of Mercy
Kids of Mercy: Last year we had 153 students from Year 1 to 6 participating in “Kids of Mercy” and in this our 8th year, we are anticipating that this outreach program will be just as popular. The visits are brief, only 20 minutes, but they bring a lot of joy to the Sisters and ladies at Mercyville. Children should expect to be rostered on at least 3 times per year. On the Fridays they do attend, they would need to meet promptly in front of the office when the second lunch bell sounds. We then proceed to Mercyville and meet with the ladies in their common room for a chat, show and tell or music performance. We leave in time to start classes at 1.20pm. As I must cap the participant numbers at 150, please enrol quickly. If you would like your child to be involved please fill out the slip below and return it to the office or the library or email me on annette.lynch@cewa.edu.au Visits will start mid-February 2018.
All participants from last year, wishing to continue, need to re-enrol. We don’t carry over from 2017.
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KIDS of MERCY PERMISSION 2018
__________________________ from Class _________ would like to be included in the Kids of Mercy Program for 2018.
I understand this entails leaving the school grounds to walk to Mercyville, next door.
Signed _____________________________
Parent Signature
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Library/History News
The Library is History: During History classes children will have ample time to browse and borrow but the library is also a place to reflect on our personal history, the history of our school, the history of the Sisters of Mercy and the history of Australia and the World. Everyone will be bringing books home in the next week. Kindy won’t be borrowing until Week 5 but everyone else is ready to roll. Please remember to bring your school library bags to each lesson. If your child has lost theirs “permanently” we can loan them one from our “Graduate Stash.” If you have any spares at home we are always grateful. Please note that this year's Pre-primary and Year 1 library bags were kept over the holidays and will be distributed in their first History class.
We provide plastic shopping bags for those children who have forgotten their library bags but remembering a library bag each week is an organisational practice that holds students in good stead. These bags keep the book clean and dry and make it easy to find in a hurry.
Library Days are: Tuesday: Year 4 White, PP Gold & Blue, Year 2 White and Year 1 Blue & Gold.
Wednesday: Year 5 White & Gold, Year 1 White, Year 3 Blue and Year 6 Gold.
Thursday: Year 3 Gold & White, Year 2 Blue & Gold, PP White and Year 4 Gold.
Friday: Year 5 Blue, Year 6 Blue and Year 4 Blue.
Overdue Books: On the afternoon of your child’s library day, reminder emails will be sent to those families whose children have forgotten to return a book. Your support in reminding your child to return the book as soon as possible is appreciated. The cost of the book is only listed in case the book has been irreparably damaged. This is not a fine.
Book Swap will take place in the last week of Term 2 in support of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Book Week activities in August (theme: Find Your Treasure) will once again include a musical performance.
Book Fair this year will continue in its usual time of 3rd week in term 4.
“yourtutor” The City of Joondalup offers all students from Year 4 to Year 12 (and TAFE), access to an online tutoring service with expert tutors for real time, one-to-one tutoring assistance in core subjects with a professional tutor via the internet from home or the City’s libraries. The tutoring service covers the core subjects including English and Writing, Business, Essential Skills, Maths, Science and is available Sunday to Friday 1.00 pm – 10.00 pm. All students require is a FREE library card to access the service. You can go online at www.joondalup.wa.gov.au > Libraries> Your Tutor and Homework Help> anytime and check out the simulation to see how easy it is to use.
Recycling Batteries: Unfortunately Battery World are no longer able to take our batteries due to the cost of recycling. Batteries can be taken to the Joondalup library for disposal, along with mobile phones and corks.
See you in the Library
St Jerome, pray for us
Mrs Annette Lynch
HHISTORY TEACHER/LIBRARIAN
Community News
OUR SPONSORS
Tennis Lessons at WCPS
Instyle Tennis are offering Term 1 Hot-Shots Tennis lessons at WCPS! Held each Tues 7.35-8.20am, starting week 2 of term 1. Great fun and all ages/ levels welcome! Details and online registration at instyletennis.com.au/ 0433 777 195 (Richard). Cost $135/8 weeks “learn the shots, play the game, meet new friends & have fun!”