Newsletter 22.4.15 - Cottesloe Primary School

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Cottesloe Primary School Newsletter
ISSUE NUMBER 6
WEDNESDAY 22
WHAT’S ON THIS FORTNIGHT?
WED
THUR
nd
April 2015
MON
TUE
27 Apr
28 Apr
29 Apr
30 Apr
1 May
FRI
5 May
6 May
7 May
8 May
ANZAC DAY
Public Holiday
4 May
ANZAC CEREMONY
We will be holding our ANZAC Ceremony at school this Friday
24th April commencing at 9.30am. All parents/grandparents/carers
welcome to attend. We ask that you send a flower or flowers from
your garden (long stem please) with your child on the morning of
the ceremony so that we can make up some wreaths and posies
for the children to place at the base of our flagpole. Please deliver
to the resource room (just past the office). Thank you.
Mrs Simpson & Mrs Mitchell
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Welcome Back
I trust you have enjoyed some quality family time over the holidays and Easter vacation. It is amazing to
see how much taller some students are after a couple of weeks of rest and relaxation! A new term
commences and we have some staffing changes - situation normal at Cottesloe Primary. Kate Fitzpatrick
has been appointed Deputy Principal at Mt Claremont Primary School for term 2. This is a wonderful
opportunity for Kate who well and truly deserves the chance to develop and hone her leadership skills. I
feel very pleased and proud that the opportunities and guidance she has been offered at Cottesloe
Primary have been recognised by the Region and she has been offered the position. Kate’s replacement
web: www.cottesloeps.wa.edu.au
email: cottesloe.ps@education.wa.edu.au
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will be Sam Pallas. Sam completed her long term Practicum at Cottesloe Primary last year. Sam is a very
hard working, passionate and skilled teacher. She has already completed a number of days relief with
Kate’s Year 5/6’s and has developed positive relationships with the students already. Ms Tess Becket has
extended her leave from 7 weeks to the full term. I am very pleased that Mrs Regina Low will take over
her teaching duties for that time. Welcome back Regina. Paul Healey, school Gardener, is currently on
leave. John Tichborne, cleaner, has reduced his cleaning time and has taken on gardening duties. Finally,
Sensei Spicer will be modifying her roster at Cottesloe Primary. She will be delivering the same lessons
on Mondays and Fridays. Jemma was successful in winning a Japanese Language teacher position at
another school. Having an additional staff member on site on Friday offers Cottesloe Primary greater
flexibility meaning we have a win - win situation.
Striving to bring about improved pedestrian safety and parking, I met with Kevin Poyton, Mosman Park
Council CEO and Matthew MacPherson, Manager Technical Services, to explore other ways to ensure
the safety of our students in the area. Matthew will liaise with Donovan Norgard from Peppermint
Grove Shire to improve signage and line marking as well as investigate other strategies to make the area
safer. To assist, I ask that you complete the attached survey (a hard copy has also been sent home with
the eldest child today) and deliver to the Red Box or return email by Thursday 30th April. The survey
seeks information on the means and routes students/families currently use to get to school. My thanks
to Councillor Wesley Davies for facilitating this meeting.
Many of you will have seen some large branches were blown down during the storms of the first week
of vacation. I have arranged a safety audit of all trees on site. This may result in some radical action but
hopefully the integrity and look for our site will be maintained. The community will be informed of any
action.
Morning Routines
Like your homes, it is important classrooms have calm, predictable and productive morning routines.
Staff have reported that classrooms are often quite chaotic between 8.30 and 8.50, due to the number
of people in rooms. To assist your child’s teacher create a smooth start to the day and build your child’s
independence I ask that you drop your child at the door (or school gate) and allow them to enter the
room independently. During this time students will be asked to complete a daily routine which may
involve getting set for the day, changing reading books and/or completing revision tasks. This allows for
a smooth and calm start and sets the tone for the rest of the day. It also allows students to develop their
independence and take responsibility for getting themselves organised in the morning. Of course, if you
need to pass on a bit of information pertinent for the day to your child’s teacher, please quickly pop in.
Remember, longer discussions about your child’s progress and learning will require you to make an
appointment with the relevant staff member. Please don’t get the impression we do not want parents
and helpers in the school, your assistance and participation is crucial! The tone of togetherness and
friendship is very much a part of our school ethos, in fact it sets us apart from other schools. We
web: www.cottesloeps.wa.edu.au
email: cottesloe.ps@education.wa.edu.au
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encourage and need community participation as well as your cooperation in ensuring a smooth start to
your child’s day.
After School on the Nature Play
Parents are reminded that they are responsible for supervising students playing on the school site after
school hours. If students are not supervised they are to leave for home immediately. The rules of safety,
not throwing rocks, only using sticks for building, not weapons, not climbing trees, still apply. A number
of students run around the school buildings which affect the work going on inside classrooms and the
office. I ask that you closely supervise your children during after school plays.
Staff will be focussing on promoting good manners this term. Please assist us by guiding and reinforcing
the appropriate behaviour of your children.
Wifi in School
A part of our strategic direction is to improve facilities and to increase the effective use of learning
technologies in the school. To do this we have implemented an “iPad trial” which has proven popular
and educative for staff and students. To grow the program we need to improve the connectivity of and
access to devices around the school. Wifi is seen as the most efficient and flexible way of doing this. I
have asked the P&C to consider funding the school upgrade of the required infrastructure.
A parent has raised concerns about the use of wifi in schools. Please review the contrasting points of
view in relation to the use of wifi, from WHO, Australian Federal Government (Australian Radiation
Protection Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and wifi in schools.org, a group that highlight the dangers
of wifi.
Flu Season
To protect the student body from illness this season please ensure that if your child becomes ill, keep
them away from school. Please also ensure immunizations are kept topped up and updated, especially
your own. The more time children spend at school the more they should learn. The healthier they are
the better they will learn.
Another busy term lies ahead. I hope to see you around the school soon.
Graham Dart
Principal
Cottesloe Primary School
Ph
Mob
Web
93842426
0408914923
www.cottesloeps.wa.edu.au
web: www.cottesloeps.wa.edu.au
email: cottesloe.ps@education.wa.edu.au
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APPLICATION TO ENROL FOR 2016 – NOW OPEN
Applications are now open for Kindy, Pre-Primary and Year 1 enrolments for 2016. Application
forms are available from the office or can be downloaded from our website
www.cottesloeps.wa.edu.au on the ‘Contact Us’ page. Applications will remain open until
Friday 24th July 2015 but we would appreciate forms being returned as soon as possible so that
we can anticipate staff needs for 2016.
Critical and Creative Thinking
The Disadvantages Key is the focus for our thinking this week. We often accept the inadequacies of many
products, without really considering how they can be improved. See if you can improve on the design of the
following by first listing the disadvantages and then suggesting some improvements.
Try this;
List the advantages and then the improvements to a shovel.
Or
List the advantages and then the improvements to an umbrella.
Try using a table;
The Disadvantages
The Improvements
You will probably be using the Habits of Mind “Thinking Flexibly” and “Thinking and Communicating with Clarity
and Precision” as well as “ Finding Humour” and “Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations”.
Show your teacher the best ideas!!
Denise Johnston
web: www.cottesloeps.wa.edu.au
email: cottesloe.ps@education.wa.edu.au
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Talk on the Way to School
I take the kids to school early and I pick up some of the kids a few days a week. I find it a good
time to ask questions about school. This worked out well for Tim with regard to his maths. When
we started to talk I asked him, 'How was maths?' He told me it was really easy and somehow I
knew there was some trouble, because he wasn't being challenged. Turns out he was in the wrong
maths class and I was able to change it at the school. -Craig Serjeant
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Time in the car is a great way to stay connected with your child.
Ask about school and how each subject is going.
If you have concerns or questions talk with your child's teacher.
Thoughts?
Join the discussion on the website. We love to hear from you too!
The Fathering Project Team
NEWSLETTER ITEMS
If you wish to submit an item for inclusion in our newsletter could you please send to Jenni Mitchell, School Officer by Tuesday
afternoon of each week or by email to jennifer.mitchell@education.wa.edu.au
web: www.cottesloeps.wa.edu.au
email: cottesloe.ps@education.wa.edu.au