The West #10 2024
Principal's Preface
Welcome back to what is already proving to be an exciting term. Students and teachers have hit the ground running and evidence of their hard work is already visible. Last Thursday morning, we got to enjoy TA9’s assembly which included an interpretation of the classic tale, Little Red Riding Hood. I say interpretation as their version was filled with sophisticated language and high drama making it much more memorable than the version I read as a child. We learnt that their impactful retelling was the result of a unit of work exploring how descriptive language can be used to depict characters in stories. The assembly perfectly showcased their learning and is a credit to them and Mrs Langley, their teacher. Of course, excellent teaching, particularly in writing, is not confined to TA9. All West Balcatta teachers ensure that their students are exposed to high quality, targeted teaching and this is reflected in the standard of student writing here. Today’s assembly was a welcome reminder of this.
Those of you who attended last week’s assembly will have observed our new mural or at least its early stages. Sally Ridge, mural artist, is currently painting the back wall of the assembly area with a unique design inspired by West Balcatta’s multicultural demographic. The mural incorporates local flora and fauna, as well as the national flowers of Italy, Macedonia and Greece. Sally’s design intertwines these culturally significant flowers in a beautiful bouquet to give the message of welcome and integration. We are very pleased with this addition to our assembly area. The vibrant colours of this personalised artwork has brightened the area just in time for our end of year celebrations. If you haven’t seen it, make a trip to the assembly area next time you are at school. You will be impressed. I’d like to thank our hardworking P&C who have funded this project through their tireless fundraising.
We are in the final term of the year and there are still plenty of innovative learning opportunities ahead for our students. However, we are also planning for 2025. As such, we ask that if you are not returning to West Balcatta next year, please let our office staff know as soon as possible. Thank you! Also, remember that the deadline for 2025 class placement requests, based on educational reasons, is Friday 1st November. All requests will be considered but can’t be guaranteed due to the complex nature of class organisation.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
Caroline Booth, Principal
TA19 Assembly
TA19 ended Term 3 with a powerful assembly all about resilience and what better way to showcase that than through our learning journey of the Olympics and Paralympics.
Both events took place during Term 3 and not only were we able to watch some of the events live in class, but we also learned all about these amazing athletes and their endurance to become some of the best in the world at their chosen sport.
We demonstrated the importance of looking after our mental health, finishing what we start and never giving up by showcasing the trials and tribulations of Simone Biles, Derek Redmond and Neil Fuller.
Well done TA19 on a meaningful and eventful assembly!
Adina Doherty, Year 4/5 Teacher
TA9 Assembly
On Thursday the 17th, TA9 proudly hosted the whole school assembly. They gave an outstanding performance, showcasing their model text, Little Red Riding Hood. This model text was part of a narrative writing unit where students learned how authors create interesting characters. TA 9 students spoke with perfect expression and intonation, bringing the characters of Little Red Riding Hood to life.
Marcelle Langley, Year 2 Teacher
Aussie of the Month
Macy, TA17
Macy comes to school every day with a friendly smile, a positive mindset and a go-getter attitude. She consistently works to the best of her ability and shows great pride in all that she does. Macy is self-motivated and cares about her peers. She always follows our school rules and shows true West Balcatta spirit. Macy, you are to be commended for all your hard work and caring nature in and out of the classroom.
Balcatta Senior High School Art Competition
Five local primary schools came together to submit incredible artwork for this year’s Annual Balcatta Senior High School Visual Art Competition, with the theme “Australian Fauna & Flora.” This theme inspired students to explore the rich diversity of Australia’s natural world and express their unique interpretations through their art.
Each student had the freedom to choose their preferred materials, resulting in a wide array of media, including watercolours, acrylics, coloured pencils, oil pastels, mixed media, collage, and digital creations. The process began with students researching various artworks by well-known artists to draw inspiration, helping them to decide whether their final pieces would lean toward realistic or abstract styles.
After careful planning, students crafted thoughtful compositions, experimenting with different backgrounds and colouring techniques to create truly original pieces. Over several weeks, they refined their skills, explored ideas and developed their artwork with a focus on creativity and technique.
Judging criteria included drawing skills, quality of colouring, overall composition, creative placement of subject matter and effective experimentation with chosen materials. Congratulations to the two winners who were selected from each senior grade; Misri, Shirley, Melody and Evan T.
With the highest number of votes, Charlie's work was selected for People's Choice Award. Congratulations, Charlie!
Ligita Abbott, Visual Arts Teacher
Interschool Athletics Carnival
The Interschool Athletics Carnival was held on Thursday 19th September 2024 at Noranda Sporting Complex. The venue was a great location to host the Interschool Athletics Carnival being the home of the Bayswater Little Athletics Club. All the students performed very well this year with West Balcatta finishing in 2nd place and Dianella Heights Primary School winning the day overall. In the handicap shield based on the number of students at the school we also finished in 2nd place. The Interschool Athletics team should be proud of how well they represented the school showing strong sportsmanship and encouragement for their peers. A special mention to our staff and Parents Volunteers for volunteering to make the day run smoothly. Finally, I would like to thank the parents who came and supported the students throughout the event.
Geoff Dwyer, Physical Education Teacher
Crazy Colour Day
On the last day of Term 3, our school was transformed into a vibrant sea of colours for the much-anticipated Crazy Colour Day! Students, staff and families came together to take part in the fun and celebrate the end of the term with an explosion of energy, colour, and excitement.
During the Colour Run, participants dashed through a colourful course, cheered on by their peers. Each runner was showered with bursts of water and colour powder as they passed various checkpoints, creating a spectacular rainbow of runners by the time they crossed the finish line.
We are thrilled to announce that the event raised an incredible $11,000! This will go a long way in supporting various school initiatives and improving facilities for all students.
A huge thank you to our amazing P&C, whose hard work and dedication made this day possible. From planning the event to setting up and running the day’s activities, their efforts truly paid off. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many volunteers and sponsors, who contributed their time and energy to ensure the success of the day.
The Crazy Colour Day was not only a great way to wrap up Term 3 but also a reminder of the strong sense of community we have at our school.
Values at West Balcatta Primary School
The Western Australian Values of Schooling articulate what educators in Western Australia believe all students should value as a result of the programs they undertake. There are 5 Values Statements, which guide our values program here at school. Each fortnight, we focus on a new value.
The value for Weeks 9 & 10 of each term is
Environmental Responsibility
The commitment to developing an appreciative awareness of the interdependence of all elements of the environment, including humans and human systems, encouraging a respect and concern for Australia’s natural and cultural heritage and for forms of resource use that are regenerative and sustainable.
Congratulations to Anna from TA9, who won the Year 1/2 Poster Competition with
her 'Environmental Responsibility' Poster.
My New Gallery
