8 April 2016

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

School Business Plan

Staff and the School Board have commenced the process of preparing our next Business Plan. We have used the available data to determine priority areas that we would like to develop and improve over the next three years. These include: English, Mathematics, Science and Positive Education.

An important part of the new Business Plan are our Vision, Values and Beliefs statements. Over the next few newsletters I will outline and discuss these statements in more detail. For your information the statements are included below:

Our Vision

"Madeley Primary School will nurture and promote life-long learners within a positive school community where respect is valued and independence and excellence are expected."

Our Values

• RESPECT: for self, others, community, environment
• RESPONSIBILITY: for behaviour of self and others, and for learning
• RESILIENCE: in relationships, in learning, being able to bounce-back, learn from failures, take risks and self-reflect

Our Beliefs

At Madeley Primary School we believe:

• Students succeed best when education is viewed as a shared responsibility between home and school.
• That high expectations will promote high standards
• That best practice in teaching should be common practice in all classrooms
• Real-life, purposeful learning is best achieved through well planned, explicit teaching.
• In supporting all community members (staff, students and parents) to achieve their best through reflective practice and collaboration.
• Students learn best when they are fully engaged in the learning process and highly accountable for their own achievement.
• In catering for individual needs through the differentiation of curriculum.
• That respectful, caring relationship will enable everyone to feel safe, valued and supported.
• In clear, open and respectful communication.
• Learning is life-long and is achieved through commitment and resilience.
• The school environment is an ideal social setting in which to teacher positive behaviour.
• Improvement in behaviour is learnt best through positive, respectful relationships and not rewards and punishments
• In developing independent learners

Annual Report 2015:

Our Annual Report for last year was endorsed by the School Board and has been added to our Schools Online webpage. Attached to this newsletter is a summarised version of the report. I encourage all parents to read the full report as it provides a very good summary of the 2015 school year.

ANZAC Ceremony

Our ceremony was conducted yesterday. It was a very solemn occasion where we reminded students to be thankful for what they have as it is built on the lives of those who worked and fought and died to make it possible. Thanks go to Mrs Chester who organised the ceremony again this year. On April 25th, parents are encouraged to take their children to one of the many ANZAC ceremonies being held around our city.

Ashdale Secondary College ANZAC Ceremony

On Wednesday our student leadership team attended the Ashdale Secondary ANZAC Ceremony. This event was well attended by all three cluster primary schools.

Hartman Drive Crossing

Margaret Quirk MLA attended our last P&C meeting and followed up a query about the time it is taking for a crossing to be installed on Hartman Drive. She has informed us that Main Roads will commence construction of the crossing in the school holidays.

School Board

Recently I called for nominations for the vacant position on our School Board. We received three nominations which was very encouraging. At last week's meeting the School Board decided that they would increase the number of parent representatives on the Board by accepting all three nominations. This will provide some succession planning and allow greater input from the community to our School Board. Attached to this newsletter are the minutes of last week's meeting. We will provide copies of the minutes after each meeting so that you are more fully informed about the workings of the Board.

The members of the School Board for 2016 include:

School Website

The school has been working on updating information on our website to make it more informative to parents and the wider community. Please check it out below

P&C

I am very happy to announce that all of the office bearers positions were filled at last week's P&C meeting. This is wonderful news as it means that the important work of the P&C will continue throughout the year. My congratulations go to Peter Withnell who was appointed as President. A list of the appointed P&C Office Bearers is included with the P&C news below.

Policy & Guidelines

The School Board has endorsed the school's Homework Policy and Guidelines. The policy is attached to this newsletter for your information.

Current research shows that homework in primary school has a small impact on student achievement. John Hattie in his book 'Visible Learning' outlines that homework has an effect rating of 0.15 in elementary (primary) schools and 0.64 in high schools (the zone of desired effect is between 0.4 and 1.2). This information was considered by staff when creating the Policy and Guidelines.

Parents have an important role to play in supporting their child's development and learning through homework activities. The policy states that: "Providing children with life-experience is essential at any year level. Parents are encouraged to enrol their children in sporting clubs, promote hobbies and engage with their children in everyday activities like outdoor play, shopping, attending community events etc." Many parents find homework stressful. The policy provides the following suggestions to reduce stress:

• establish a regular routine e.g. homework is done straight after dinner or before bath/shower
• provide a quiet time and place for doing homework
• show genuine interest in homework tasks but refrain from doing the work for your child
• ensure that your child has the tools they need to complete homework e.g. pens, pencils, rulers, scissors, glue, paper
• have a dictionary and atlas available (hard copy or digital)
• being willing to visit a library if needed
• providing supervision of any internet based research activity

Parents are welcome to make a time to talk with their child's teacher if they have any concerns about homework. For those who are interested in exploring this topic further the following link may be helpful:

Pursue Your Personal Best

The key concept of 'Pursuing Your Personal Best' was highlighted this week at our last mini-assembly for the term. Students were reminded that the end of term is a great time for self-reflection as they think about how well they have gone at pursuing their best in all areas. Students were challenged to consider things they enjoy doing as well as other areas that are difficult for them. We encourage our students to pursue their best even in the topics and subject that they don't enjoy or that they struggle with. This week your child received a report on their social-emotional development and effort. We encourage parents to take time to talk with their child about this report and how they can work to achieve their best in this area. Student should strive to achieve 'consistently' in all areas.

Staffing Changes in Term 2

Teaching Staff - Mrs Saddington will be teaching Pre-primary students in LLA3 on Monday and Fridays and Mrs O'Kane will be teaching students in LLA2 on Mondays starting in Week 1 next term. Education Assistants – Mrs Clarke will be working in Kindy Purple and Blue, Mrs Smart in Red Kindy and Mrs Tebbit in WLA3 (PP).

Holidays

On behalf of the staff at Madeley Primary School I wish all our students and their families a safe and happy holiday period. We look forward to seeing our students all back safely on Tuesday 26th April.

Stephen Bevan
Principal

Term 2 Commences Tuesday 26th April

Madeley Primary School 2016 Anzac Ceremony

Our Anzac service was held on Thursday 7th April to commemorate 101 years since the Gallipoli campaign. It was a beautiful and moving ceremony run by a confident group of School Councillors and Year Six students.

Among the invited guests was The Honourable Liz Behjat, Senator David Johnston and representatives from the Madeley School Board, the P&C and Joe Hawkins from Bendigo Bank.

The guest speaker this year was Mrs Edna Johanson from the Wanneroo Joondalup RSL. Edna's heart-warming speech was well received by all who attended the ceremony.

Following a flag procession that included the Australian, the Aboriginal and the New Zealand flags, 16 doves were released to represent the symbol of peace.

ANZAC Ceremony

VIEW GALLERY

ANZAC Ceremony

Click images to enlarge

From the Canteen

Library News April 2016

Thankyou

We have recently ordered about $1200 worth of free books and resources from Scholastic. This was made possible with the generous support the school community gives to the annual Book Fair during book week. Resources we have ordered include picture books, information books on topics relating to curriculum, Geography resources for staff, replacement of much loved and worn out copies of novels including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Roald Dahl and Tom Gates.

Kindy classes have started borrowing recently – they come into the Library fortnightly on Wednesdays.

Library bags

We ask that all students have a library bag or plastic folder to protect books to and from school. Library Bags are available to purchase on Fridays from the school Uniform Shop in Pink, Red, Purple and Navy for $7.00. Any carry bag is OK – including reusable supermarket green bags. If a book is lost or damaged while issued out to them, a note will be sent home to pay for replacement cost.

Volunteering in the library

We are looking for volunteers to come and help out in the library – shelving and book covering.

Book covering can be taken home to do, if that is more convenient for you.

If you are able to help out, even for a short time, please come and see me in the library Monday to Thursday or call me on 9302 3611

Erna Cabrera
Library Staff

Request From The Science Lab

The Science Lab is after clean, empty baby food jars and empty chip packets.

It would be greatly appreciated if you could save any unwanted empty baby food jars with lids as well as empty chip packets.

Any size chip packets with the silver lining would be great. Some individual cracker snack (like Jatz) also have the silver lining and would be appropriate.

Both the jars and the chip packets can be left in the box in the wet area outside the Science Lab. (LLA1).

Your help is much appreciated.

Thankyou,

Mrs Jones
Science Specialist

West School Supplies

P&C News

P&C Executive Committee Update

There were lots of new faces at the P&C meeting held on 30th March. Thank you to all who attended.

We are pleased to announce that as all positions for the P&C Executive Committee have been filled, the P&C will be able to continue to serve and represent the school community in 2016.

President: Peter Withnell
Vice President: Paul Wright
Secretary: Aimee Ingram
Treasurer: Joanne Daniel
Canteen Treasurer: Jenelle Collins
Canteen Coordinator: Robyn Walton
Fundraising Officer: Tania Leach
Executive Members: Steven Young, Sophy Oatey, Jacqueline Murray and Mariesa O'Donnell.

The P&C wishes to extend their sincere thanks on behalf of the school community to the 2015 Executive Committee – Sophy Oatey, Jenni Cangemi, Mariesa O'Donnell, Jason Rawling, Shannon O'Farrell, Rochelle Kelly, Tania Leach, Jacqueline Murray, Jeremy Nipps, Tracey Rutter and Paul Wright.

Disco - Save the Date!

The Madeley Primary School disco is scheduled for 17th June 2016.

Kindy – Year 2: 6:00pm – 7:15pm.
Year 3 – Year 6: 7:30pm – 9:00pm.

If you are able to help out either with preparations or on the evening, please contact Tania Leach (madeleypandc@gmail.com).

Next P&C Meeting

The next P&C meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th May at 7.30pm in the staffroom. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Facebook

Did you know that the Madeley P&C has a Facebook group? Please look us up at "Madeley P&C" to join and keep up to date with the latest P&C information.

Entertainment Book

Flyers have been sent home with children this week and you can also click on the link below which will direct you to pre order online.

20% of every membership sold contributes to our school. Help us achieve our goal by sharing this link with your family and friends. Thank you for your support.

Before and After School Camp Australia

The last two weeks were great at Camp Australia. We refreshed our room and made it more spacious for children. The feedback was great and we will continue to work on improving and making our environment organised and inviting for children so they have a greater choice of the activities and areas for play.

As children show great interest in cooking and construction our program is focused on designing and planning some yummy recipes and art and craft construction activities. This week on our menu we had banana muffins, carrot cup-cakes, pancakes and more. We encourage children to use a range of natural materials and so further extend their creativity and interests in this area. The children had the opportunity to paint with fabric paint, make nature collage 3D art, animal masks and costumes, interact and communicate with their peers and educators in a positive and effective way.

We continue encouraging children to participate in everyday group games to build on their social skills and self-esteem.

Our Holiday Club program will be running over the school holiday with a range of exciting activities, club based days, incursions and excursions. We are looking forward to see you then.

How to Get Started at Camp Australia

Before using our programs register online for an account. This enables you to make bookings, view your statements and manage your details anytime of the day. Registering is quick and easy. Visit the link below:

We would also like to wish all children and their families a fantastic School Holidays.

Sincerely,
Camp Australia Team