14 March 2019

Newsletter Articles

Byford Primary News

Please assist us in reducing vandalism at the school by contacting one of the telephone numbers listed below if you notice any suspicious behaviour on the school grounds.

Principal’s Report

Dear Families and Friends

P&C President

We have had our first P&C meeting. Thank you to all those who attended. All the positions were filled with the exception of P&C President. If anyone is interested in this position please come and have a chat with myself or Hayley Edwards. The job can be as big or small as you want it to be.

Life Education Van

This programme was run to encourage our young people to make healthy lifestyle choices on a range of important issues. Each class had its own session in the Mobile Learning Centre. Some of the topics covered were:

• Junior Primary: feelings and emotions, building friendships, safe and unsafe situations and people to turn to for help and healthy lifestyles.
• Upper Primary: friendship and positive relationships, bullying, emotions, support networks, cyber safety and identifying and reducing risky situations.

Clean up Australia Day

On Friday 1st March our students were ‘cleaning up’ Byford Primary School and some community areas. Many thanks to Miss Marchetti and all the staff and student who participated. I have noticed that over the years the number of orange bags that we collect are decreasing. This is great as it means that there is less rubbish out there.

Homestart Cheque Presentation

Brendan from HomeStart attended our assembly on Wednesday 27th February to present Cooper with a prize for entering the HomeStart Junior Sports Star competition. Cooper received the award in recognition for all his hard work at school and fundraising for Telethon! The HomeStart Junior Sports Star competition rewards children aged 6-15 years for their sportsmanship or sporting achievement. Cooper has won $250 for his school as well as a $250 prize for himself. As part of his entry, Byford PS is also in the running for the major prize of $5,000. The school also received a cheque for $250.

Walking & Riding Safely to School

Please remind your child to take extra care when crossing the road before and after school. Too many kids are walking, running or riding on the road and not watching out for cars. We have had numerous reports of kids not being safe riding from and to home. Parents, please remind your child about how to ride responsibly and safely.

Drivers, please slow down and keep an eye out for our precious kids.

Student Update Forms

Just a reminder, student update forms have been sent home with students. Please check your details carefully and return your form to the front office as soon as possible, even if there are no corrections required. It is important that student records are kept up to date throughout the year. Should there be any change to address, contact, medical or access restriction details, please advise the school immediately.

Casual Cleaner

If anyone is interested in doing Relief Cleaning, please contact Jill Walker, at the front office or on 9526 6300. Relief cleaners are required to cover staff leave, and will often be required at short notice. Cleaning hours are 5:30 – 7:45am and 3:00 – 5:30pm. If you are not already an employee of the Department of Education, you will need to apply for a Working with Children’s Check and a National Police Check.

School Board

Many thanks to those who nominated for our School Board. It was great to have much interest. We did not have to go to a vote as a couple of people withdrew their nomination. A big thank you to Donna Torrance for accepting the position of School Board Chair.

Our School Board members are:

• Parents: Amanda Shepherdson, Steve Veerers, Michelle Hewitt, Michelle Charlton, Steven Knight, Donna Torrance and Kasey Williams.
• Staff: Sue Heath, Sue Doncon, Stephanie Prosser, Kirsten Sofiled.
• Community: Rachel Kerridge, Chris Cairns.

We look forward to working with the school community. The Board have commenced their first challenge of the year – working with staff to write the Student Leadership Policy. If you have any thoughts regarding this, please give your ideas to any member of the School Board, including myself.

West Coast Eagles Visit

On Tuesday 12th March, Byford Primary School was fortunate to have a visit from the West Coast Eagles. Four Eagles players came to meet the students and kicked some footballs during lunchtime. Then players then introduced our upper school classes to the Eagles Faction Footy competition which students will compete in during lunchtimes next term.

The four players who came to our school were:

• Tom Cole #28, premiership player in defense.
• Tom Hickey a new recruit from St Kilda and Gold Coast.
• Jarrod Cameron a new draftee from Swan Districts.
• Jackson Nelson #30 plays defense and midfield.

Students enjoyed meeting AFL players and had an awesome afternoon playing footy.

Harmony Day

Harmony Day is Thursday 21st March. We are having a free dress day and invite all our students to wear something orange to celebrate.

On a personal note, I will be away on sick leave from Monday 18th March to Friday 22nd March and I am hoping to return to school on Monday 25th March. Sue Doncon and Dan Way will be your contacts during this week.

Sue Heath
Principal
Ph 9526 6300 / Mb 040 937 0903
Email: Suzanne.Heath@education.wa.edu.au

Room 2 & 3

Writing Descriptions

This term Room Two and Three have been learning all about how to use descriptive language to enhance their written and oral capabilities. This display showcases their “Lost Posters” and their ability to describe themselves using a range of adjectives displayed on “Concertina People”.

Students were required to accurately describe themselves and draw a self-portrait to reflect their unique features on a Lost Poster. They then wrote five adjectives describing themselves and decorated their concertina person to represent themselves.

The students have worked extremely hard and the end result has been truly impressive. We hope you enjoy our newsletter article.

Adjectives

Merit Certificates

Congratulations to all students who received Merit Awards. Well done and keep up the good work!

Aussie of the Month

Each month two students are chosen as our ‘Aussie of the Month’ and are presented with a badge, certificate and reward at our assembly. It is awarded to an outstanding citizen in our school community.

Chaplain Chatter

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well. When I was young, I remember my dad walking down the street or through town nodding his head and saying g'day to everyone he came across. I would ask him if he knew them. He would say no. I would ask him why? Respect son, they are our neighbours, it's called being friendly. It's part of being human.

It also brings to mind that if you want friends you need to be a friend. Say hello, smile, ask others how they're going. Food for thought.

Kind Regards

Joe Grida
Chaplain

Fathering Project

As part of The Fathering Project involvement with your school I will be including helpful tips and ideas for all fathers and father-figures. I hope these tips will help, inspire and encourage all fathers and father-figures to be the best that they can be, as all fathers and father-figures are critically important in every child’s life. Click here for Tip 15 – Stimulating your kid’s curiosity.

Payment Options for Excursions, Incursions and Voluntary Contributions

To ease the financial burden on families over the year, we encourage parents to make payments throughout the year, to be assigned to fees, excursions and swimming etc. This can be as a regular weekly or fortnightly payment, or whenever you have some money available. See Jill Walker, in the front office to arrange this. Jill will be able to provide a breakdown of payments made, if required.

Direct Bank Deposit

Pay directly into the Byford Primary School’s bank account. Simply access your internet banking service provider and pay to the following account:

Byford Primary School
BSB: 066-040
Account No: 19902028

Please enter the name of your child and the purpose of the payment in the description field i.e A Smith Zoo Exc.

Please DO NOT use this account for P&C payments.

EFTPOS

Byford Primary School have an EFTPOS machine as an option for you to pay for school fees, excursions and incursions. The EFTPOS machine can ONLY be used to pay for Byford Primary School expenses.

• There is NO “cash out” option on the machine, and
• We are unable to take any payments for the P&C

Cash or Cheque

Payments by cash or cheque can be made at the Front Office for Voluntary Contributions. If you are paying for an Excursion or Incursion, please take your payment to your child’s teacher so it can be processed through their money book.

Don’t Forget Your Hat

Please remember to bring your hat to school each day. It is important to protect ourselves from the sun. Your hat must be wide brim or bucket style.

Students who do not have a hat will not be able to participate in sport / fitness or any outside activity and will be restricted to the undercover area. So please remember - No Hat, No Play!

P&C Association & Year 6 Fundraising News

Canteen

The Byford Primary School Canteen is open for recess and lunch on Monday and Friday. Orders can be made direct to the canteen, or through QuickCliq below:

If you have any spare time on a Monday or Friday, volunteers are required to help in the canteen.

New Canteen Menu available here:

School Banking

New to School Banking? There are three simple ways to get your child started.

Banking is held every Friday morning in the Library – we look forward to seeing you there!

Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop now offers a reversible bucket hat which is navy blue on one side and our faction colours on the other side. They are available to order for $15 each. These hats will look great on Faction Carnival day!!

Please note the change to the opening times of The Uniform Shop. It will now open every second Wednesday afternoon from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm. The Wednesday will be on the even weeks of each term, which is also assembly day. Payment can be made by cash or cheque only. If you are unable to visit the Uniform Shop on a Wednesday, order forms (with payment) can be left at the Front Office. Please ensure there is a name and contact number provided.

Icy Pole Fundraising

Icy poles will be on sale every Wednesday at lunchtime from the Wet Area near Rooms 9 & 10. It’s a great way to cool down during the summer months and they only cost 50c.

Donations of icy poles can be made to the school to help support this fundraiser.

Community News

Basketball

Positive Parenting Program