The West #2 2024
Principal's Preface
After a record-breaking return to school, in terms of extreme heat anyway, we are all enjoying the relatively cooler days of March. Students are well and truly settled in their new classrooms and work has begun in earnest. West Balcatta continues to be a model of good practice and a source of support for other public schools in Perth. Our leadership team recently participated in the Quality Teaching Strategy Conference at UWA and were presented with a certificate from the Director General to acknowledge our work as a lead school. Our appointment as a lead school comes with additional funding from the Department of Education which has enabled us to train a number of our highly effective teachers as coaches. It means that new staff appointed at West Balcatta are guided and supported by a skilled teacher to implement our programs and approaches. As a result, high quality practices are maintained regardless of staff changes. Of course, these qualified coaches will also be called upon to support other schools too. For example, in May our teachers will be presenting professional learning at Lake Monger Primary School and for the Joondalup network of schools. It’s certainly an exciting time to be part of the West Balcatta community.
Refelction Sheets: Over the past few months, a few parents have expressed concern when their child has been asked to complete a reflection sheet. Their main worry is that a permanent record is stored at school on their child’s record and transferred to their high school. I can assure you that this does not happen. The reflection sheet is used to guide a conversation with the student when a poor choice has been made, usually a behaviour that breaches the school code of conduct. The student reflects on what they did and what they could do better in future should the situation reoccur. Where another student is involved, this may include a discussion around the impact of their choice or behaviour on the other person. Reflection sheets support our restorative approach which avoids a punitive consequence and instead focuses on repairing and improving relationships. Completed reflection sheets are not logged, unless there are multiple referrals. In the latter case, the students may lose their good standing, which leads to other consequence, and a record of this is kept. If you do have any questions around reflection sheets or good standing, please contact me. Pop into the office for a chat or email me directly - Caroline.Booth@education.wa.edu.au
NAPLAN is fast approaching and this can be a stressful time for our students. As teachers and parents, it is important that students know we expect them to do the very best they can and nothing more. We should also consider that NAPLAN gives us information regarding student achievement at a particular point in time. This will be taken in the context of the ongoing achievement of our students in their everyday classroom work.
Finally, it was great to see so many of you at the Family Picnic last week. I’m sure you’ll agree, it was a very pleasant evening with the weather cooling just enough to allow us to relax with an ice cream or pizza while being entertained. Thank you once again to our hardworking P&C who organised this, the first of many fun events and fundraisers planned for the year. There are a number of other events and incursions planned later in the year for which the P&C will pay. The AGM is scheduled for Monday 11th March at 7pm and we hope to see some new faces there.
Caroline Booth
Values at West Balcatta
Year 6 students in TA15 have been learning about the our school values, creating posters to be displayed around the school. At West Balcatta, we focus on a new value each fortnight.
Self-acceptance and respect of self ~ Weeks 5 & 6
Liking who you are and accepting yourself as an individual is essential. It means being happy with yourself and treating yourself well. We believe that everyone has special talents and qualities. We want you to feel excited to try new things and be responsible, know what's right and wrong, and feel like you're a special and important person.
TA10 Assembly
On Thursday 15th of February, TA10 performed the first assembly of the year. They have been learning about poetry in Talk 4 Writing this term, and decided to perform their model text poem entitled My Colours, written by Colin West. They also sang a song about the colours of the rainbow. The students did a fantastic job on the stage, well done, TA10!
Ingrid Steppe, TA10 Teacher
Aussie of the Month
Xavier, TA13
Xavier is a student who looks after his peers and fellow class members. He makes sure all students feel included and displays a high level of emotional maturity. Xavier can be counted on to stand up for his friends if he thinks something is not right. If this school was filled with students like Xavier who ensures everyone has a friend, what a wonderful place it would be.
Schools Clean Up Day
Clean up Australia Day occurs on the first Sunday of March each year. Last Friday, West Balcatta held a School Clean up Day, where we all worked together to clean up our school and have some fun while doing it. Thanks to all of our hard work, our school now shines like a diamond! From Years 1 to 6, we all helped clean up and the amount of people joining the clean was amazing!
Jack, Minister for the Environment
Lunchtime Clubs
Lunchtime clubs are an initiative to help students interact with their peers in traditionally unstructured times of the school day. Lunchtime clubs help build student engagement, social skills and inclusion for all students. They support students who may struggle in the school playground.
Lunchtime clubs can have benefits for students and the whole school community, including:
- improved peer-to-peer and teacher-student relationships and wellbeing
- a sense of personal empowerment and student voice
- development of social and emotional skills
- improved academic achievement
- positive school climate and increased student sense of safety
- reduction in bullying and playground behaviour incidents
In 2024 West Balcatta is running lunchtime clubs every day!
Monday Mindfulness ~ Mondays just got a whole lot more zen and serene. Tired of the hustle and bustle of the usual lunchtime chaos? Come unwind with Mrs Dimitrovski and Mrs Morana in the tranquil setting of the Music Room. Say goodbye to noisy playgrounds and hello to a peaceful oasis where you can recharge and relax. Our lunchtime line-up is designed to soothe your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. From calming breathing exercises to guided meditations, mindful colouring, and even stacking stones, there's something for everyone to find their inner peace. Plus, we'll sprinkle in the occasional nature walk to reconnect with the great outdoors. So, take a break from the rush and join us for a slice of serenity every Monday. You deserve it!
Building Buddies (Tuesdays) ~ Looking to add some creativity and camaraderie to your lunch break? Look no further! Join Mrs Sibosado for an epic lunchtime gathering where students from all year levels come together to unleash their inner builders with LEGO! It's not just about stacking bricks – it's about collaboration, problem-solving, and having an absolute blast. Dive into a world of imagination as you work in small groups, sharing LEGO sets and ideas. Encounter challenges? No worries! We believe in finding solutions together and respecting each other's perspectives. So, whether you're a master builder or just starting out, come join the fun and let your imagination run wild! See you there!
The Picasso Pals Lunch Bunch (Wednesdays) ~ Calling all art enthusiasts! Get ready to unleash your creativity and let your imagination soar with our free-choice art sessions led by Ms Abbott and Stephanie! Dive into a world of self-expression and endless possibilities as you make your artistic visions a reality. With a wide range of subjects, materials, techniques, and media to choose from, the only limit is your imagination. These sessions are all about empowering you to explore, experiment, and create in your own unique way. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, everyone is welcome to join in the fun and discover the joy of artistic expression. Come be a part of our inclusive community where personal growth is celebrated, and connections are made through the transformative power of art. Let's create something amazing together!
Thankful Thursdays ~ Ready to give your body some love and gratitude? Join Mrs Morana and Stephanie every Thursday at lunchtime in the Music Room! It's time to honour all the amazing things our bodies do for us by getting them moving and grooving. From gentle yoga poses that'll stretch and soothe to dancing like nobody's watching, we're here to celebrate the incredible vessel that is our body. Let's bend, wriggle, and dance our way to a happier, healthier us! By the end of our session, we'll leave the room with a spring in our step and a smile on our face, ready to take on whatever comes our way. So come on, let's show our bodies some well-deserved appreciation and have a blast while we're at it!
Fun Fridays ~ Looking for some fun at lunch time? Join Mrs Tanner and the parliamentarians in the Peace and Harmony Garden for some great games. Picture this: giant Jenga towers teetering on the edge of suspense, Connect Four battles heating up under the shade, and laughter echoing across the school during a limbo battle. It's the perfect opportunity to unwind, socialise, and showcase your strategic prowess in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. So grab your friends, head outdoors, and let the games begin!
Uniforms at West Balcatta
The school uniform is a visible representation of the standards expected of students and plays an important role in promoting a positive image of our school. Items can be ordered through Tudor Uniforms.
Please ensure your child/ren has the correct uniform items, particularly school hats! We have a number of students present to the office each day without a hat and have completely depleted our collection of spare school hats. For sun safety, students who do not have a hat are not permitted to play outside and must remain in the undercovered area during break times.
In preparation for the cooler mornings, and an influx of jackets in lost property, please ensure that uniform items are labelled with your child's name! This makes it much easier for our Lost Property Managers to return them to the correct student.
Our West Balcatta uniform consists of:
- Grey West Balcatta polo shirt
- Red school shorts/skorts (no shorter than mid-thigh)
- Black tracksuit pants/leggings during cooler weather
- Grey West Balcatta jumper/jacket
- Red West Balcatta bucket hat (remember 'no hat, no play')
- Faction-coloured polo/t-shirt (on PE/Sports/Special days)
- Black West Balcatta leavers polo/jacket (Year 6 students only)
- Suitable footwear (sneakers preferred)
- Red, grey, black or white socks
- Red, grey, black, white or natural-coloured hair ties/accessories, where appropriate. Please note that hair below the collar should be tied up and hair falling over the face should be pinned back.
The following items have been identified as NOT acceptable for students to wear at school:
- Jewellery / Earrings (except for small, plain studs or sleepers)
- Make-up / Nail Polish
- Footwear that children cannot easily run in
- Denim or multi-coloured pants, shorts or skirts
- Bulky jackets, scarves or gloves (except for travelling to and from school in cold weather)
- Clothing with large logos or branding
Swimming Lessons
West Balcatta are excited to have the opportunity to attend swimming lessons again this year! First up are lessons for our years five and six students. Lessons for these students begin on the 22nd of April and end on the 3rd of May. The following week, our Pre-primary to year four students (including all students in TA19) get their chance! These students will attend lessons from the 6th to the 17th of May. Information, payment details and enrolment forms about this were sent home via Connect last Wednesday. If you do not have access to a printer, you are welcome to come and collect a hard copy of these notes from the office.
During swimming lessons, students should wear their bathers to school underneath their school uniform. This will allow for a quick change at the pool. Students may also wear slip-on shoes/thongs to the pool (they will be given time to change into their trainers/regular school shoes once back at school). Students will need to bring a swimming bag packed with their underwear, towel, and goggles (optional). Please ensure your child’s belongings are clearly labelled with their name. Once lessons are over, students will access supervised change rooms to change back into their school uniforms. Teachers will be with students at all times.
Students are welcome to pack a dressing gown, hooded towel or an additional jumper to wear to and from the pool. This will keep them warm and ensure they have a dry school jumper to put on when they return to class.
Swimming is hungry work! You might like to consider packing some extra recess or crunch and sip for your child during the two weeks of lessons.
Students are strongly encouraged to take part in swimming lessons as they make up the physical education program for the fortnight. However, if your child will not be taking part in the lessons. Please inform their class teacher and the school office. Class teachers attend swimming lessons with their class. Students who are not attending lessons will be split between other classes to be supervised while their teacher is away. They will be given a work pack to complete independently during this time.
Thank you for your support in getting your children organised for swimming lessons. We are looking forward to a fun and positive learning experience! Please see the office or your child’s teacher if you have any questions.
Save the Date - P&C Rainbow Disco
