Year 6 Public Speaking – Cambridge Rotary
Last week, Drea P and Zephyr T represented the school at the Cambridge Rotary Public Speaking semi-final, competing against Kapinara PS, City Beach PS, Hale, Floreat Park PS and Churchlands PS. Drea and Zephyr were incredible, speaking so articulately and passionately about children’s rights and the power of music. They did themselves and the school so proud.
Well done to the entire Year 6 team on working with our students on getting them to this stage but also to parents/carers on working with your children at home to support their speech writing and skill building. Year after year, our Year 6s make the state finals due to the progressive work done over several years through the public speaking program. Public speaking gives children a voice and over time builds great confidence, giving them a valuable life skill.
Congratulations to Zephyr who came 2nd on the night and now progresses to the State Final on August 29. Drea came 3rd, pipped by just one point by Zephyr! We are very proud of both students.
Artist Spotlight – Year 3
These artists from Room 27 have done an outstanding job on their multimedia flower artworks. Every single element has been created independently. Great work, Year 3s!
Music at Wembley
Earlier this term, we were able to re-introduce the Music Assembly to our community event calendar. The pandemic has made it difficult to showcase our Music program with the various restrictions that have been in place. Last year it was wonderful to hold our talent quests, All Star Concert and perform in the Massed Choir Festival and thankfully this year, our budding musicians and singers are able to perform once again at school.
Mrs Kate Humphreys is passionate about opportunities in music and developing a love for music in your children, both in-class and extra-curricular. The Junior and Senior Choirs at our school are hugely popular with almost 100 children in each group. Weekly choir practice was able to resume last term and so it was just fantastic to see each group perform earlier this term, they were outstanding. We also have our concert band who practice every Monday and what an accomplished group of musicians they are, through the tuition of their Instrumental Music teachers, external tutors in some cases and of course Mrs Humphreys, who brings them all together to learn how to perform as a group. Well done to all our choir and concert band members on their passion for music and commitment to practice. A huge thank you to Mrs Humphreys on the work she does behind the scenes to bring these opportunities to our students.
Coming up this year are plenty more opportunities for our students, including performing at Massed Choir Festival later this term for our Senior Choir. All dates are on the school calendar on the website but please add these to your list of important dates. Parents are welcome to attend all performances and school based events. Ticket details will be provided once available for all ticketed events.
SENIOR CHOIR PERFORMANCE – MASSED CHOIR FESTIVAL
In order to prepare for this wonderful opportunity at the Perth Concert Hall, there are two day rehearsals, a rehearsal pre-performance and the evening performance.
Rehearsal #1 (Cluster Rehearsals – In school time): Term 3 Week 6: Thursday 25 August
9:15am – 12:00pm at Churchlands Concert Hall
Rehearsal #2 (Day Rehearsal – In school time): Term 3 Week 10: Monday 19 September
9:15am – 1:15pm at Perth Concert Hall
Rehearsal and Concert (In Evening): Term 3 Week 10: Tuesday 20 September
Rehearsal at 5:45pm (Wembley PS Students to be there at the Perth Concert Hall from 5:15pm)
Evening Concert at 7:30pm on Tuesday 20 September – Perth Concert Hall
Ticket links TBC
________________________________________________________________________
CONCERT BAND PERFORMANCE – JUNIOR CONCERT BAND FESTIVAL
Term 3 Week 8: Thursday 8 September
Churchlands SHS Concert Hall
5:45pm performance – arrive at 5:15pm
Holding Room at Churchlands: A3
________________________________________________________________________
JUNIOR CHOIR PERFORMANCE – TBC
Mrs Humphreys is currently in the process of organising a wonderful performance for the Junior Choir with other primary schools in the area. The date for this event is the Tuesday 18 October and it will be held at Churchlands Concert Hall.
________________________________________________________________________
SENIOR TALENT QUEST
Term 4 Week 6: Friday 18 November
1:40pm – 3:10pm: Undercover Area at Wembley PS
JUNIOR TALENT QUEST
Term 4 Week 7: Friday 25 November
1:40pm – 3:10pm: Undercover Area at Wembley PS
________________________________________________________________________
WEMBLEY PS ALL STARS CONCERT
Term 4 Week 9: Thursday 8 December
Churchlands Concert Hall at 6:30pm (Students performing need to arrive by 6:00pm)
Featuring the Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Petite Chorale, Concert Band and IMSS Students
Chaplain Corner – Before School Nature Club
Amazing work by our junior students who rocked up early for Before School Nature Club on a rainy Monday morning. The students were tasked with creating a medicine, potion, or food for the insects of Wembley Primary. I’m at a ‘moss’ for words at the endless creativity the junior students showed throughout the session.
Next week it is the senior students turn. The sign up sheets for Monday morning Before School Nature Club for both junior and senior students are at the School Library.
Miss Princi
Non-School Provided Device Policy – Smart Watches and Mobile Phones
The school has a policy in place regarding the use of mobile phones and smart watches which aligns with the Department of Education’s ‘gate-to-gate’ approach of not using these devices to communicate on school grounds. The School Board has recently reviewed the policy in line with our policy review schedule and further amendments have been made to address the growing issue of students being distracted by smart watches in particular.
Please access the new policy here on the school website. We will be sending home the student agreement on Page 5 for students wearing/bringing devices to school. Please return completed agreements to your child’s teacher/s.
If your child is wearing a smart watch to school or bringing a mobile phone in their bag, we ask that you read the policy and agreement carefully and sit down with your child so that everyone clearly understands school expectations. Our priority for your child at school is to learn and often these devices can be an unnecessary distraction. We understand that some families allow their child to have them for safety reasons before or after school. However, during the school day, the devices should be set to ‘school mode’ and not be used to communicate with parents or peers. If the device is becoming a distraction, the teacher or Admin will inform parents/carers. The following are some important aspects to be aware of in relation to the policy.
- Students must not use their smart watch or mobile phone to communicate with their parents, each other or anyone during school hours. If a message needs to go home to parents, only the teacher or office can do so – no use of smart watches by students to do this (No exceptions).
- Students must not play games on the watches, or record audio/video (this has occurred this year).
- A student agreement must be signed by the student, parent and teacher before a smart watch or mobile phone can be brought to school.
A huge thank you to Mrs Trisha Davies who has been working very hard on the latest policy updates and Annual Report. Thank you Trisha for your time.
A Farewell Message from Jan Rowe (retiring Pre-primary Teacher at WPS)
Below is message from Jan Rowe, a beloved teacher who was a treasured member of staff at Wembley Primary School for over 15 years. For many of our newer families, you may not know Mrs Rowe as she has been on medical leave since 2020. For families who do know Mrs Rowe, you will know there is no one quite like Jan. A passionate early childhood advocate and dedicated teacher, Jan’s vibrancy and love for her job was evident to everyone who worked with her or was taught by her. Jan is passionate about play-based learning and early literacy skills in her role as a Pre-primary teacher and loved to bring music into her program, singing and playing the piano every day. Jan has expressed that she does not wish to have a retirement function or assembly as she doesn’t have the strength to do so due to her illness. Jan expressed her love for our staff, students and community, and enters retirement filled with such positive memories of her time at Wembley. Jan’s email address is below and she is happy to be contacted should you wish to. I’m sure you will join me in wishing Jan all the very best in her retirement.
My love and joy for children lives on forever in my heart. My happy memories of 36 years of being a Pre-primary teacher are forever entrenched in the core of my being. My first job in 1980 was Lancelin Pre-primary and Primary Phys Ed specialist, followed by Forrestdale. I then took leave to have my own 3 children.
On return, I was at Dalkeith Preschool for 9 years job share with my mentor Mum, Dot Bennett, followed by Hollywood, Claremont and Woodlands. In 2005 I arrived at Wembley at the same time as Les Day and stayed teaching PP 2, PP 3, PP1, and PP4 transportable for 10 years, up until my illness was diagnosed in 2020. I feel privileged to have worked under the leadership of Les Day, Shane Stott and Donna Snow. So many happy memories of students and their amazingly dedicated and supportive parents.
It’s difficult to choose highlights over the 36 years of PP teaching, however, a few are the 3 Teacher Excellence Awards in 2000, 2003 and 2007; my end of year Christmas Concert performances that gave all my kids an opportunity to experience fun stage stardom, running over 15 PP athletics carnivals, and most importantly the everyday reality of being able to love and treasure so many 5 to 6 year olds on their fun filled play-based learning journeys.
Like my mentor Preschool teacher Mum, I carry her motto: “It’s better to build children, than repair adults!” I gave my everything to each and every unique and special child. I have held each and everyone of them close to my heart. My strengths, I believe are:
*Inclusivity to all abilities
*Behaviour Management
*Second to none literacy skills and
*Balanced child and teacher initiated play based learning in a safe and nurturing environment.
So it is, with heavy heart, but yet with such beautiful memories, that my PP career comes to an end. My love of children will however never end! I make no apology for using the word love (even in today’s political correctness). For me, if staff cannot love the students that have been entrusted to them, then they are in the wrong career. I believe every child needs to feel unconditionally loved on their learning path. A happy and loved child, is a happy and engaged learner and achiever. I am most grateful to have been trusted to teach over 1,000 students over the years.
Jan xx
P & C Meeting – Thursday 11 August – Zoom
Please join us on Thursday for a General Meeting to see what your P&C is planning for the rest of 2022. All are welcome. If you want to be able to vote on any motions, please join the P&C before the meeting by paying your $1 on Qkr.
Join Zoom Meeting by clicking the link below
Launch Meeting – Zoom
Meeting ID: 598 812 8307
Passcode: 741443
Library News – Book Week
Week 6 is Book Week, and the parade is on Wednesday 24 August at 9am on the oval.
Dress as your favourite book character!
Senior Faction Athletics Carnival – Thursday 11 August
The weather looks good for Thursday, so at this stage, the carnival will go ahead!
Buses will leave school at around 9am and come back at about 3pm.
Please ensure you have completed permission and made payment on Qkr.
We are still looking for a couple of parent helpers on the day. If you are able to assist, even for a part of the day, please let Roula Felekis know on drfelekis@hotmail.com or come and find her on the day. It would be greatly appreciated.
Any parents who are able to come in the morning before the carnival begins to help set up marquees etc. would be a great help.
“Carnival Lunch Boxes” are available on the Quickcliq app, more information in the canteen section below. The kiosk at the stadium will be open on the day for parents and students to purchase coffee, drinks and food.
Below is a schedule of events for the day. If the weather affects the running of events we will complete any events that are missed on the following day after lunch on the school oval. Approximately 1.45 to 3pm. Parents are welcome to come along to watch. There will also be teacher v students team games on the Friday as well, pending good weather.
With Kind Regards
Jonathon Bowman
Physical Education Specialist
Canteen
**Year 3-6 Athletics Carnival Lunch Boxes**
Pre-Orders are open for our delicious and nutritious lunch boxes for this Thursday’s carnival.
To order: Select THURSDAY 11/8/22 and follow the prompts as you normally would.
Ham & cheese roll OR a cheese and tomato roll for our vegetarians.
Fresh fruit, a go-fast chocolate muffin and a have-fun sneaky treat.
Drinks menu optional.
Orders close at noon, tomorrow, WEDNESDAY 10/8/22
Please note, this is the ONLY canteen option for Year 3-6 students this Thursday.
Parents and supporters, you are welcome to order a lunch box under your child’s Quickcliq profile and they can be collected by your child with their own lunchbox.
Class lunch baskets will be ready for collection in the undercover area from 8:30am on Thursday for students to take to the carnival.
Due to Venue West restrictions, we can no longer deliver food to the stadium.
YEAR 1 & 2 RECESS –Thursday 11 August
A simple recess of home baked cookies and milk with Sipahh Straws will be served this Thursday, not our full range of treats.
$3 for two cookies and a sippah straw with fresh milk. Single cookies will be available for 50c each
SIGN-UP Volunteer Roster
We know we’re always asking …
Unfortunately, we are getting very few people sign up to help in the canteen.
This term we have only 11 of 57 shifts filled to date.
Our jobs involve weighing up baking ingredients, making pikelets, cookies and cakes, helping with sandwiches, packing class baskets and serving our kids.
The jobs are simple and it’s so much fun!
Please sign up here XXX if you’d like to help out and gain rockstar status with your child!
If you can’t physically come in, please consider donating via Gift a Shift on the school QKR app or by EFTPOS at the canteen counter.
In this case, we will pay one of our casual employees to work in the kitchen with your donation and we will thank you endlessly throughout the entire shift!
Thank you
Father’s and Special Males Day Stall
Colour Run
Your child should have come home with a sponsorship booklet today for the Colour Run, being held on Friday 23 September at 1.40pm on the school oval.
This is going to be the most fun & colourful fundraiser Wembley Primary School has ever seen!
Each child can have their parent or guardian create an online profile, where family & friends from anywhere in Australia or around the world can be directed to make a donation. This format is very similar to the Jump Rope for Heart that the school participated in last year. Children can earn different prizes depending on how much they raise, as well as bonus items.
Please note: child profiles cannot be created before Wednesday 10 August.
We look forward to raising lots of funds for Wembley Primary School, having the kids earn wonderful prizes and making the last day of Term 3 super fun & full of colour!
Wembley Family Fun Day – 26 November
My Time Parent Coffee Groups – Autism Association
The Autism Association of Western Australia run MyTime parent coffee groups at various locations across Perth.
Join us for a chat, a cup of tea and some downtime – at no cost! Bring your children, or come alone! All parents of children with a disability aged below 18 years are welcome. Play leaders will be available to supervise children aged 6 and under. The Floreat group meets on Thursdays during school term from 9:30am to 11:30am at the United Anglican Church, 50 Berkeley Crescent, Floreat.
For more information email Fiona.Grahame@autism.org.au or go to Parent Coffee Groups – Autism Association of Western Australia.
