5 December 2014

From the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers, Community Members

Thank you to our P&C Members

Many thanks go to the P&C members who spent time installing limestone blocks on the north-eastern corner of the school boundary. This was a P&C initiative designed to reduce the dangerous driving and parking that some parents have demonstrated around our school. There have been some documented ‘near misses’ which have put students at serious risk of injury or even death. My congratulations go to the P&C for the active way they have addressed this issue.

Classes for 2015

This week we have started the process of creating classes for the commencement of the 2015 school year. Teachers are working as a team to assign students to classes based on their knowledge of each child and their learning requirements. We thank parents who have submitted requests/suggestions about their child’s placement for next year. These requests will be considered as part of the placement process. Class lists will be placed outside the Library by Tuesday December 16th. Parents are reminded that there is a very real chance that the classes will need to change at the start of or early in the school year.

When creating classes we need to (where possible) ensure that student numbers in each class do not exceed the recommended numbers agreed to by the Department of Education and the State School Teachers’ Union. If this does occur we need to negotiate with teachers how this will be managed in order to support teachers with additional students. When there is a substantial growth in student numbers a school restructure is required. We cannot commence the school year with large numbers of empty seats as this impacts on the funding that we receive. The challenge is to try and create classes that leave enough spaces to allow for new students who may enrol. This becomes even more challenging when new housing is being built in the area as we do not know how many additional students we will receive or when they may start arriving.

One problem that we always face every year is parents who do not like the class that their child has been placed in. While we do our best to accommodate reasonable requests this is not always possible. The trouble we have is that once class lists go on display it is difficult and often impossible to make changes. This is because we structure classes to try and allow room for new enrolments from all the various year levels. Thus, if one parent wants their child moved it can have a serious impact on the whole structure and sometimes means that another child must be displaced (swapped) which is not fair. I hope this information provides you with an idea about the intricacies of creating classes which we go through every year. Student placements are not made lightly and a lot of experience and professional knowledge goes into creating the best classes possible.

Happy Holidays

This will be the last full newsletter for the year. I wish all members of our school community the very best for the Christmas/New Year season and I thank all the dedicated staff of Madeley Primary School for their work this year. I especially wish our Year 6 and 7 students the very best for their future studies as they leave our school and commence high school in 2015.

Twitter

The school now has a Twitter account. We will use it to post current information and events. Search for @MadeleyPS

Stephen Bevan
Principal

WA Education Awards 2014

Carol Strauss, Principal Ashdale Secondary College

Mia Lennox, Beginner Teacher, Ashdale Secondary College

The Madeley Primary School Community wish to congratulate Carol Strauss, Principal of Ashdale Secondary College for winning the WA Secondary School Leader of the Year Award for 2014. We also congratulate Mia Lennox, teacher at Ashdale Secondary College for winning the WA Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. Further congratulations go to Crystal Nullmeyers who was a finalist in the WA Beginning Teacher of the Year. We are very excited to be part of an independent public school cluster with such outstanding leaders and teachers.

Principal
Madeley Primary School
93023611

Important School Dates

2015 Booklist Requirements

Booklist requirements and Voluntary Contributions and Charges Booklets have been sent out for 2015.

Please read all the information on these forms and place your order by 19 December 2014 to be in the draw for $100 visa card.

Please contact OfficeMax on 1800 004 427 with any queries.

Silver Kindy

Silver Kindy have been very busy getting ready for Christmas. In our classroom we have a Santa’s workshop where the children have been very busy wrapping presents to put under our tree. We have also been doing lots of Christmas art activities and learning fun new Math games on the iPads. Silver Kindy’s graduation is coming up Monday the 15th of December which we have been learning some Christmas songs to sing to all our parents and grandparents on our special day.

Our New Puppet Theatre

A BIG thank you goes to the Catchick family for donating their puppet theatre to Early Childhood. We will treasure it!

A Warm Welcome to 2015 Kindy Kids

On Monday and Tuesday the 2015 Kindy kids visited their new classrooms and met some new friends. An orientation visit is an important part of the transition from home and preschool to Kindy. They can see what a Kindy room looks like, see what the routines are like with a class of other children and see what it feels like when their parents leave them at Kindy for a while. It’s important that parents talk about going to Kindy in a positive way. Involve the children in getting ready by choosing a drink bottle and lunch box, trying on the new uniform, playing with other children and experiencing other new places and things to do.

Parents have been provided with a lot of information during parent sessions and in introduction packages. Please read this information carefully and ask any questions at the front office. A reminder that children start with half days in the first week so please check “An Introduction to Kindergarten” booklet for your child’s group.

Jude James
Deputy Principal
Early Childhood

MY:24 app

Inspired by the stories told with the MY:24 TV series on ABC3 the MY:24 app enables young people to creatively tell their own story through a series of basic templates. This digital storytelling tool puts creative kids at the forefront of a short audio-visual recount of their own significant life-changing event. A great school holiday project. http://actf.com.au/news/10161/so-whats-your-my-24-story

Christmas, New Year, Holidays and Waste

Did you know that household waste increases by about 25% over Christmas and New Year? Including more food waste, shopping bags, wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, packaging from gifts, disposable tableware and decorations.

There are plenty of small and easy ways to have a simpler, greener, less wasteful but more meaningful Christmas and New Year! Here are a few tips:

• Planet Arks 12 Do's of Christmas has some great ideas (see pdf).
• Reduce food waste - only buy/cook as much as you need, freeze left-over’s, give to the compost, worm farm or chooks what you can’t.
• Choose reusable tableware, napkins, tablecloths, and decorations.
• Choose recycled wrapping paper, cards, and other paper products.
• Reuse and recycle what cards, wrapping and ribbons you receive. Last year’s cards make great gift tags for this year presents.
• Make it or bake it - less packaging and it’s much more personal too.
• Give an 'experience' gift rather than a 'thing' that may end up in landfill.
• Re-gifting is ok! (Just remember who gave it to you).
• Upcycle - make a unique gift from something you already have.
• Shop for recycled and fair-trade items (e.g. Oxfam, charity shops)
• Buy a gift that gives to someone in need (e.g. Oxfam Unwrapped https://unwrapped.oxfam.org.au )

Remember to first Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and then Recycle.

School Banking

All children have the opportunity to utilise the Bendigo Bank or CBA School Banking Service. School Banking is conducted weekly on Tuesdays from 8.30 am – 8.50 am in the Library. Account opening packs are available from the Library on Tuesday mornings.

Walking School Bus

Madeley Primary School participates in the ‘Walking School Bus Program’ and currently has 2 routes servicing different areas of Madeley.

Pick up starts at 8.20am and the WSB arrives at school at 8.45am. If you are interested in joining in, pick up an information package from Administration or download the attachment below.

Uniform Shop

Please note the opening times for the uniform shop for the remainder of Term 4:

The end of Term 4 is fast approaching so it is time to get your school uniform orders in for 2015. We are now fully stocked so should be able to meet all order requirements. We traditionally get very busy in the last weeks of Term 4 so now is the time to come in and avoid the queues.

We are also offering a new Micro-Fibre Short which will be available in sizes 2 – 16. This unisex, light weight short is perfect for the summer months and looks great with the Madeley sports shirt. Stocks are limited at this stage however if they prove popular we can have them delivered on short notice which will minimalize delays.

Julie Hewitt
Uniform Shop Co-Ordinator

P&C News

Allocation of P&C Funds

The P & C are proud to report we have supported the school this year with funds being allocated as below.

Thank you to our Busy Bee Helpers

Thank you to the volunteers who helped out with the second busy bee to plant some trees and install the limestone blocks around the grassed areas near the perimeter of the school. Our volunteers were Jason Rawlings, Rochelle Kelly, Rob & Jenni Cangemi, Kelly Ang, Stuart Rutter, James Dillon, Vanessa Molloy and some junior helpers too. The reason this was done is to prevent parents from parking on the grass. There have been a few near misses of kids being knocked over by cars as you can only get to the grassed area by crossing a footpath and it is not a designated parking area. Please remember to park in marked parking bays or the gravel lot next to the oval only as this is for the safety of our children.

Madeley Cookbook

There is one more cookbook stall before the end of the year! With the reduced price of $20 they are even more of a bargain now and would make an ideal gift for someone as a thank you or as a Christmas gift. Why not personalise it and include a photo of your child/children on the blank page near the front and your child/children could also write a message. The stall will have both cash or EFTPOS facilities and will be held at the Christmas Concert/Book Awards Assembly – Wednesday 17 December (from 8.30 am). Books are also available for cash sales only from the front office.

Next P&C Meeting

The next P&C meeting is on Wednesday 10th December at 7:30pm in the school library. New members always welcome. We do have several more submissions from the school to vote on so if you would like to have your say in how the P&C allocate its raised funds then please come along and join the P&C for the annual fee of $1.

Mariesa O’Donnell
P&C Secretary

Better Health Program

The Better Health Program is a multi component healthy lifestyle program for overweight and obese children aged 7 – 13 years and their families. It is specifically designed to be based in local communities and is FREE for families to attend.

Designed by leading health experts in the field of childhood obesity management. The program delivers fun, interactive sessions supporting children and families to adopt healthy attitudes to food and nutrition and to encourage regular exercise.

Please download the attached flyer for more information about this program.

Summer Reading Club

Girrawheen Library is running the "Summer Reading Club and 25 Mini Adventures in the Library" during the December-January school holidays

25 mini Adventures starts from 1 December 2014 to 31 January 2015

Venues: Wanneroo Library, 3 Rocca Way, Wanneroo. Tel. 9405 5940
Girrawheen Library, 6 Patrick Court, Girrawheen. Tel. 9342 8844

Visit website for opening times and more information www.library.wanneroo.wa.gov.au

Phuong Dang
Assistant Branch Librarian

Landsdale Netball Club

Club Registration Days for 2015 Winter season are Tuesday’s 3rd and 10th February from 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm.

Warridale Community Centre, Southmeade Drive, Landsdale

Kingsway Indoor Stadium’s January 2015 School Holiday Programs

Many options available including Soccer Camp; Triple Footy Hit; Multi-Sport; Netball and Tots Hour of Power.

Registrations open Monday December 8th.

Please download the attached brochure for further information or telephone 9408 1920

Sunday Times Chillout!

The Sunday Times Chillout! Tadpoles are for kids aged 7-12. The events are non-competitive and provide a supportive platform to have a go! All Sunday Times Chillout! Tadpoles get a finishers medal, sausage sizzle and a juice box after their race.

See attached flyer for more information.

Keyed Up Music

Keyboard and guitar group lessons will be held after school again in 2015 at Madeley PS. If you are interested please contact Therese at Keyed up Music on 1300 366 243 or enrol at www.keyedupmusic.com.au/enrolments.html