Newsletter 1 – Week 1, Term 4, 2021 – Message from Admin Team, Interschool Athletics, P&C Canteen Services & Volunteer Survey, Canteen, Enrolment Planning 2022, VacSwim Swimming Lessons, Balcatta SHS – Young Masters Art Classes and Big Art Day Out

Message from the Executive Administration Team

Dear parents and caregivers

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope you had an enjoyable time together as families, taking the opportunity to reconnect and recharge after a busy term. I had a wonderful break with my own family, spending a week away in the south west of our wonderful state.

As a staff, we head into this final term of the school year with positivity, recharged and ready for an excellent end to the school year. The staff have spent the past two days engaged in professional learning. Our time has been spent on exploring new ways to approach STEAM and Digital Technologies in the classroom, analysing student achievement data to plan responsively for teaching and learning and refreshing our understanding of how to support students with English as an Additional Language.

As students emerge from holidays, it can be hard to readjust to the structure of school. You can assist your child with this transition by reinstating routines in the morning and evening, particularly in relation to sleep. Prioritising sleep is so important, allowing your child to come to school ready to learn. Holidays usually mean lots of treats and foods that might not normally be part of your child’s diet. It’s important to transition back to healthy foods in your child’s lunch box to assist with keeping your child balanced and focused while at school. I’m sure it’s been lots of fun in the holidays and we look forward to hearing all about their stories on the return to school tomorrow morning!

Important Dates

This term, there are a number of important school events that should be highlighted in your personal calendars. This list is not exhaustive so please check the school calendar on the school website, which is updated constantly with the latest information including incursions and excursions.

• Year 4-6 Humphrey’s Dance: Every Thursday (except Week 2)
• Year 6 Camp: Wednesday 20 October – Friday 22 October, Week 2
• Senior Talent Quest (Year 5/6) – Friday November 19, Week 6, 1:40pm
• P&C Kids Carnival and Christmas Market – Saturday November 20
• Junior Talent Quest (Year 3/4) – Friday 26 November, Week 7, 1:40pm
• PP-Year 3 Swimming Lessons – Every day, Week 7 & 8
• Year 1, 2022 Parent Information Session – Tuesday 7 December, 9am
• All Stars Concert – Thursday 9 December, 6:30pm
• Year 6 Graduation, Wednesday 15 December, 9:30am

Sun Smart

As the weather heats up, we would appreciate your support in helping your child be sun smart. We have a ‘No hat, No play’ policy from September-May. Please ensure your child has a school hat (wide-brimmed) every day. I ask you not to send your child to school with a cap as these will not adequately protect your child and they are not part of the school dress code. I would also encourage you to apply sunscreen before school every day. We have a sunscreen pump in every classroom and teachers will remind students to re-apply before break times but please note that teachers can not apply the sunscreen for them.

Tuning in to Kids – Tweens

An opportunity to join the emotion coaching program with Penrhos College School Psychologist Tracy Hart is on offer this term for parents of students aged 9-12 years old. Starting next Wednesday night, this five week small group program costs $150, which has been partly subsidised by the school. The feedback from the first group who attended this course has been overwhelmingly positive.

‘A really fantastic workshop that I hope is available to many more families’

‘The content is practical, helpful and really helped to reframe how I look at and think about the big emotions of our young kids’

‘An invaluable course which has made a real difference to our family life’.

‘I enjoyed the small group setting and learning together’

I encourage you to take up the opportunity for this research-backed program developed by the University of Melbourne and facilitated by Tracy. It will help you to respond to anger and conflict, tune in to your child’s common worries and upsets and help your child to regulate their emotions. Please email Tracy – hartt@penrhos.wa.edu.au this week to register.

Connect, Collaborate, Communicate

Yours in learning

Tamara, Alan and Rachel