12 March 2020

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.

Upcoming dates to remember:

Principal’s Report

Dear Families and Friends

Student Toilets

Over the past few weeks we have been having some issues with the use of soap in the students’ toilets which has resulted in safety concerns (soap being put on the floors thus making them slippery). This has resulted in a number of solutions being tried: bars of soap, hand sanitiser instead of soap etc. We are currently waiting on sturdier soap dispensers which we are hoping will help solve the problems. All students have access to hand washing facilities. We are also educating students about how to be safe with soap!

School Board Membership

Thank you to those who nominated for a position on the School Board. Our members for 2020 are:

Parents – Michelle Charlton, Michelle Hewitt, Amanda Shepherdson, Annette Stones, Donna Torrance, Kasey Williams.
Community member – Chris Cairns
Staff – Sue Heath, Sue Doncon, Stephanie Prosser, Kirsten Sofield.

Later in the year we will be inviting parents and community members to come and join us for a meeting and to get to know what the School Board does.

Maintenance Works

Over the past weeks we have had a number of contractors completing a variety of projects (including painting and new carpets) around the school. This will be continuing over the coming weeks and possibly into the holidays. It is great to see our school looking very refreshed!

Raffle Tickets

See the P&C section on how to obtain a raffle ticket so that you have the chance to win $15,000!

End of Term

Our final day for students for Term 1 Wednesday 8th April. School holidays for Byford Primary School commence on Thursday 9th April as staff will participate in a School Development Day. Students return to school on Tuesday 28th April as Monday 27th April is a public holiday.

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

Clean up Australia Day

On Friday 6th 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. Click here to see photos of our efforts!

Room 4 & 5

Harmony Day

To celebrate Harmony Day, students will be placed into groups to rotate through different classes, completing special Multicultural activities highlighting Friendliness, Togetherness and Mutual Respect.

This special whole-school event will be held on Monday 16th March 2020 with classes completing their activities throughout the day.

Harmony Day is celebrated each year on 21st March. Orange is the colour representing Harmony, so all students are invited to bring a gold coin donation and wear their orange free dress or clothes representing other countries to help celebrate this event.

Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant

We’ve been successful with our application for a Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant for our project Compost and Food Waste in the School Environment.

Each day, all classes will collect their Crunch & Sip fruit and vegetable scraps in their allocated scrap bin, which will then be taken to one of the three composting containers, where students will take turns in turning the compost bins as well as helping spread the compost that is created onto the garden beds.

Byford Primary School is one of 617 primary schools and early learning centres throughout Australia receiving a Woolworths Junior Landcare grant to help grow our next generation of environmental champions.

The grants are being funded with money made from the sale of the Woolworths recyclable Bag for good™ which was launched in 2018 when the supermarket stopped using single-use plastic bags.

The students and teachers are looking forward to working and learning from this project and we’ll keep you updated on the results.

Click here to visit the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant website to read about our project and others.

Nurse News

Emily Turner is our new Community Health Nurse, who will be working alongside Jane Skoll.

Emily will be visiting the school regularly throughout the year and she is available to discuss any health concerns you may have about your child. Her contact details are: 9391 2235, 0448 895 554 or through the school. Emily is also available on email:
Emily.turner@health.wa.gov.au

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

I hope that we can all be resilient during the season of change. For everything there is a season. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to be happy and a time to be sad. Presently we are moving from Summer into Autumn. In March 1981 the ZX81, one of the world’s first home computers was launched and 1.5 million were sold. The world entered a new amazing age of technology. The technology continues to change and so does the pace of our lives. Food for thought. Remember to slow down and do some self-regulation. It is easy to keep doing because there is always more to do. Do something that helps you relax, topping up your tank so to speak. Something for you. Take care, have a marvellous week and may the tides of good fortune smile upon.

Chaplain’s Challenge – Lackey Powered Lego Machine

Joe Grida
School 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 30 – The Power of Good Father-Figures

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:

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

P&C

Bendigo bank has given Byford Primary School P&C the opportunity to raise money for our school. They have generously provided raffle tickets to sell at $5 a ticket. The school will get to keep all proceeds. That’s right every ticket you sell the money will go straight to the school! There are great prizes to be won. 1st Prize is $15,000 cash!! as well as one of five $1,000 Bendigo Bank savings accounts.

To get tickets for yourself, friends and love ones please collect money, fill out the order form below and return to the office (with money) to receive your tickets to go into the draw for this amazing prize. Or you are welcome to pre purchase a ticket book for $50. Any tickets not sold must be returned to the Front Office and we can refund your money.

We ask that the form and all money is returned to the school by 6th April 2020. The price draw will take place on 5th May 2020. Click here for order form.

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 QuickCliq ordering system is an easy and convenient way to order your child’s uniform. QuickCliq is approved by the Department of Education, it’s free, safe and secure. You can use Paypal or Credit Card for immediate payment. You can also use Direct Deposit. To sign up, click at the link below.

Orders can still be placed at Uniform Shop which opens 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 at the Uniform Shop. 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.

Community News

Junior Bowls - Byford Bowling Club

Nightfields

The Stephen Michael Foundation are providing free Wednesday afternoon sport in the Shire of SJ at Briggs Park. Nightfields is a multi-sport based activity delivered to kids and youth (aged 8-18) in after school hours with the aim of encouraging positive community engagement and participation, developing healthier individuals and reducing anti-social behaviour. Each participant receives food at every session and is also a good chance of receiving various giveaways throughout the 4-week program.

SJ Serpents Rugby League

Registrations are NOW OPEN and joining the Serpents is easy Head to the link below and join our new club today. We are aiming to field teams in most junior age groups that includes boys & girls turning 4 to 18 years old in 2020 #BelongWithUs