The West #12 2024
Principal's Preface
I can’t believe I am writing the final newsletter of 2024. The year has flown by – a sure sign of just how busy we have all been. Despite the busyness, the final events of term are making the countdown to the Christmas break both memorable and great fun. Earlier this week, we were invited to the Kindy Christmas performance and were struck by how confident and independent these little people have become. We are now looking forward to tomorrow’s Awards Assembly where we will see the various ways in which our Year 1-5 students have impressed their teachers throughout the year, as well as learning who will be on our Student Council for 2025. The Graduation Ceremony, always a poignant farewell to our Year 6 students, is scheduled next Wednesday. Our leavers have been great role models for our younger students and will be remembered with fondness. We wish them all the best for adventures yet to come.
Sadly, it isn’t just the year 6 students we are farewelling at the end of this year. Corry Kiely and Hillary Jasper, who have both taken personal leave this year, are officially retiring after more than 30 years teaching – 22 of those at West Balcatta. Ingrid Steppe has also won a position at Balcatta SHS Education Support Unit which will be an exciting new challenge for her. We thank them for their hard work and commitment to West Balcatta. They will be sorely missed, but we wish them all the best for the future. We are also saying a short farewell to Allie Rawlins, Adina Doherty and Laura Booth who begin parental leave. We wish them well and look forward to their return. New teachers, Mikayla Snow and Ashleigh Baum, will be joining our staff in 2025.
I am sure you are all looking forward to receiving your child’s end of year report next Wednesday. In line with Department of Education guidelines, reports have been streamlined, making them easier for you to read and interpret. Students will receive a grade for each learning area measuring their achievement against the expected standard for their year group. Grades will be accompanied by a general comment at the end of the report which will give additional information about each student’s attitude to learning, behaviour and ability.
I would like to take this final opportunity of the year to thank all parents, on behalf of staff at West Balcatta, for your positive support throughout the year. Your efforts make a real difference to our programs and the opportunities we can offer the students. We hope you have a great Christmas and well-earned rest. Class lists will be published on Connect on Monday 3rd February 2025 and students return on Wednesday 5th February 2025.
Enjoy the rest of the week.
Caroline Booth, Principal
Reconciliation Action Plan
We have been busy developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for West Balcatta Primary School. With the help of the Student working group, community working group and our RAP staff committee, the RAP will be ready to start implementing in 2025. A special thank you to our Year 6 RAP team for their input into the RAP, unfortunately they won't be here next year for it's implementation but we value their perspectives and ideas.
Sharon Pearson, Associate Principal
Year 6 Pop Up Stalls
As part of their Business and Economics curriculum, our talented Year 6 students have been learning the ins and outs of running a business. To put their skills to the test, they created their own exciting 'Pop-Up' stalls, offering a variety of goodies, including baked treats, drinks, and other delicious snacks!
On Wednesday, our Year 4, 5, and 6 students joined in the fun, purchasing items from the stalls and supporting the Year 6 students' fundraising efforts for their farewell gift to the school.
A huge thank you to our incredible Year 6 families for their contributions and to our Year 4 and 5 students for their enthusiastic support.
Jasmine Di Cino, Year 6 Teacher
Outstanding Speeches
Fifteen courageous students took to the stage for the Outstanding Speech Awards to compete for the 2024 Patsy Best Shield on Friday, 15th November. Our students spoke on various subjects, including dreams, Six Seasons, Auslan, Pedro the pug, alien coaches, the truth about fast food and autism. Some topics were well-researched, while others bravely chose to share their lived experience.
Each student who presented made a valiant effort to engage and entertain the audience. With such a high calibre performance, choosing a winner was tough. Runner-up Bruno put on a sterling performance, commanding the stage as he informed the audience all about emotions. However, he was pipped at the post by Leo, who claimed the Shield for 2024. Leo not only entertained the audience with his tales of his time as "a liar, liar pants on fire" he also wove in lessons by sharing the consequences of lying.
Congratulations to all of the participants, finalists and winners.
Sandi Parsons, Library Officer
Year 4 and Pre Primary Buddies
During the last couple of weeks of school, TA19's Year 4 and 5 students have buddied up with Pre-Primary students from TA3. The point of the Buddy Program is to help pre-primary students prepare for year 1 and get to know the ‘big kids’ school.
Activities completed with buddies, included reading books with them, giving them a tour of the “big kid's” school, eating lunch with them in the Harmony Garden and playing games at lunch time.
Year 4 and 5 students asked their buddies a few questions about how they were feeling about next year after The Buddy Program, and they responded by saying, “We enjoyed playing with our buddies, and cannot wait for next year!”
TA19 students loved getting to know their buddies and they've done an amazing job showing kindness, support and advice to them before they join lower primary.
Raavi, Elena and Miss Morgan, TA19
BSHS Academic Challenge
On Friday the 22nd of November, 10 of our school’s Year 5s went to Balcatta Senior High School for the BSHS Academic Challenge. They competed against 4 other schools: Takari, Balcatta, Tuart Hill, and Osborne Park. They did many challenges across school topics – English, HASS, Maths, Science, and Dance. Each had their strengths, and each challenged the minds of West Balcatta's students. Through clarity, perseverance, and a bit of luck, they made their way to a tie for first place! However, through a final bonus, West Balcatta was lost in the sea of second, a mere point away from victory. Though West Balcatta could not make it to a win, the reward of making it to the Top 3 was great enough. A special thanks to all the teachers responsible for making this experience possible, especially Miss Morgan, who guided and brought us to Balcatta Senior High School.
Khai Phong and Sienna C, Year 5 Students
Christmas Dress Up Day
On Monday, our school was filled with holiday spirit as students and staff alike donned their best Christmas attire for our annual Christmas Dress-Up Day. From Santa hats to reindeer antlers and sparkling tinsel, the creativity on display was impressive!
The event was not only a fun way to embrace the festive season but also an opportunity to give back. Thanks to the enthusiastic participation and donations from our school community, we raised an impressive amount to contribute toward the Year 6 Leavers' gift to the school.
A huge thank you to everyone who dressed up and donated. Together, we made memories, spread joy and supported a wonderful cause. Wishing everyone a happy and safe festive season!
2024 Student Parliamentarians
West Balcatta Showcase
The annual 'Showcase Assembly' was held on 21 November, with our students from Years 3 to 6 showing off their musical and Italian performance skills. The WBPS School Choir performed two songs, students studying Italian delivered informative and entertaining songs, we were captivated by students playing recorders en-masse, IMSS students played numbers on the flute, clarinet and guitar and we even had a sibling duet perform for us. To finish off this delightful display of talent, the choir led us in the whole-school song. Congratulations to all of our performers and thank you to Mrs Sibosado and Signora Hatton, along with our Year 6 hosts, Sofia and Eden, for making this event a huge success!
