It provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the amazing Mothers and Carers in our school community. It was lovely to see so many smiling faces enjoying a delicious breakfast and listening to performances by our very talented Music students.
This year, members of the School Executive and Senior Leadership Team visited students in Early Years to read ‘Bowerbird Blues’ by Aura Parker. Staff and students thoroughly enjoyed this story of longing and connection, while being part of a nationwide effort to promote children’s literacy.
After some really close and intense games, the Boys’ team ended the day undefeated and won the Championship flag! The Girls’ team also had an incredible day, finishing in 2nd place after a series of compelling matches.
Congratulations to James Greeves (Year 5) for winning third place in the 2024 National Gymnastics Competition for Trampolining in Queensland. Well done James, you are a star.
Carpe diem! Seize the day!
Melissa Powell
Principal
This question is at the heart of the final part of the Easter festival.
Ascension Day is 40 days after Easter; having appeared to the disciples for those 40 days, causing joy, confusion and surprise, Jesus returns to the heavens, following some final words of encouragement.
Jesus promises to be with us always, and that he will send a comforter, the Spirit of Truth, as the everlasting presence of God.
10 days later, on the feast of Pentecost (literally, 50 days), the Holy Spirit of God, with the sound of a rushing wind, and with tongues of flame, descends. This Spirit gives the leaders of the Church the ability to speak many languages, and the energy, strength and comfort to tell all people of God’s love, to grow the Church and to teach in Jesus’ name. The Spirit, sent in Jesus’ name by God the Father, is with us always.
We considered these two events in Chapel services for all students. In Primary, I used a helium-filled balloon with a very long ribbon, to demonstrate the Ascension. Students were invited to consider ways in which Jesus, having gone away, can also be with us always: when we pray, read the scriptures, receive a blessing and celebrate sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion), Jesus is ‘pulled down’ to be by our side, and alive in us, through the same Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost. We used the ribbon to pull the balloon down, showing that through our faith and actions, Jesus is with us always, and we can bring him close to us.
The ASC recently hosted a retreat for senior leaders in our schools, centred on an open and reflective approach to praying with the parables of Jesus. This gave chaplains, principals and others opportunities to reflect on our Anglican identity and how it shapes and inspires our school community.
Fr Toby
School Chaplain
O God, who taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit
to have a right judgement in all things,
and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;
through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,
who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the same Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Each student dressed in a costume that resonated with their culture. They looked stunning in their wonderful array of costumes. The Year 2 students demonstrated that although we have many differences, we come together as one inclusive and supportive community. Well done to Year 2D for showing us that we are all super-special individuals and our school community is wonderful because of each of us.
In the Chapel, Father Toby reminded us that we never need to feel alone. He used a balloon to demonstrate that we can call on God through prayer, worship, or reading the Bible. The chapel is a peaceful place where our students gather as a community and are invited to join in Anglican traditions.
Dress Theme: Fairytales and Superheroes
Date: Friday, 7 June
Disco Time: 3.45 – 4.30pm in the MPH
Cost: $6
Purchase a ticket through Flexischools and complete Consent2Go.
Drop Off Location: 3.35pm at your child’s classroom.
Collection Location: Collect your child from the MPH at 4.30pm. You will be required to sign them out.
Dress Theme: Crazy Dress
Date: Friday, 7 June
Disco Time: 5.00pm – 6.00pm in the MPH
Cost: $6
Purchase a ticket through Flexischools and complete Consent2Go.
Drop Off Location: 4.50pm at your child’s classroom.
Collection Location: Collect your child from the MPH at 6pm. You will be required to sign them out.
Pre-Kindergarten students have been investigating bugs and insects. Together they read ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ by Eric Carle and the students painted a caterpillar using their handprints! They talked about life cycles and painted beautiful butterflies. The students also had fun making imprints of bugs and insects in playdough.
Kindergarten – The children in Kindergarten had a fabulous time celebrating and pampering the beautiful women in their lives. They engaged in a variety of activities. Some of which included painting a portrait, creating a bracelet, exploring playdough, and decorating a tiara for their Mum. They also enjoyed pampering their Mum by giving them a massage and painting their nails. The children especially enjoyed having a photo with their Mum in our photobooth and sharing in some yummy morning tea. It was wonderful to see how excited the children were to spend time with their Mums in their school environment. We hope all our lovely Mums had a lovely time and felt spoilt and appreciated by their children and had a happy Mother’s Day.
Pre-Primary students have been learning about shapes. They can sort them into 2D and 3D by knowing that ‘2D shapes are flat and 3D shapes are fat’. The students are learning how to talk about the features of 2D and 3D shapes by describing the sides and corners. They have also been searching the school environment for any 3D shapes they can find.
Year 1 students have been learning and researching minibeasts, their habitats, and how the habitats meet their needs. The students have been in the process of designing how they will make a minibeast of their choice and what to include in their habitat (food, shelter, water). They have been using drawing, labelling, and making lists to record our ideas.
Year 2 students have been enjoying Science this term. They predicted and conducted a Skittles and warm water experiment. The students were in awe when watching how the colour and sugar dissolved into the water, making it look like a rainbow!
Year 3 students have started to learn how to write and follow a procedure in our English lessons. We tried very hard to follow the steps of how to make a paper aeroplane. We loved being able to test them out.
Year 4 - The Year 4 students have been busy finishing their research projects over the last few weeks. Students were tasked with selecting a country within the continents of Europe and Africa. They then needed to create a poster that would help viewers decide what location would be best to visit. After generating their own research questions, students creatively displayed their findings on a poster to present to the class.
The Year 5 students are finishing their code project, which is a mental maths game. They learned how to use variables and repeats while using collaboration, reflection and critical thinking skills.
Year 5 students had a wonderful day at the Perth Zoo. At the excursion, the students were commended on their outstanding behaviour. The staff member running the sessions was very happy with the engagement from all groups. A big shout-out to all parents who were able to assist. It was much appreciated.
Year 6 students have been EXCEPTIONALLY busy the past couple of weeks. They have had their Year 6 Camp at the Scout’s Adventure Centre at Eaton and also attended an excursion to the Constitution Centre of Western Australia and Parliament House. While on camp, students took part in a range of activities from kayaking and fishing on the Collie River to competitive team-building challenges to Laserscape (like your usual laser tag type games). During their excursion, the students were immersed in hands-on activities to learn about our systems of government, and they even had the opportunity to be seated in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
Digital Technologies – The Year 2 students have started their new project digital technologies! The students are creating a video in photo legacy to promote the school to prospective students. The first step for our new project was to go on a school tour and take photographs using a digital camera of indoor places, outdoor spaces and people from our school!
Italian - This month the students have been working very hard on extending their oral and written communication skills and their understanding of the Italian language in preparation for the Semester One Assessments. They are aiming to achieve EXCELLENT results!
KEY DATES:
More events are coming up for you to mark in your calendars, as follows:
WA Day Public Holiday: Monday 3 June
Chapel Assembly Hosted by 4J: 9am Tuesday 4 June
Chapel Assembly Hosted by PPL: 9am Thursday 6 June
Primary Discos: the evening of Friday 7 June
Chapel Assembly Hosted by 5M: 9am Tuesday 18 June
Primary Years Open Morning: 9am on Thursday 20 June
Primary Cross Country: 11am to 3pm on Friday 21 June
Last Day of Term 2 and Casual Dress Day: Friday 28 June
Thank you to everyone for supporting our Primary School. Enjoy the weeks ahead!
Mrs Shirley Steel
Head of Primary
Date: Friday June 7th 2024
Time: 6.30 – 9.00pm
Location: MPH
Theme: The Student Representative Council has liaised with the Middle Years Community and after much discussion it has been decided that the theme of the Disco is: ‘The 2000s’.
Students are encouraged to dress for the disco reflecting this theme.
On Tuesday June 18th we will be holding our second Year 7 Coffee and Conversation of 2024.
Time: 8.30 – 9.30am
Location: SVACS Café
The recent economic downturn and the cost-of-living crisis means there are more people than ever are needing support in our community. Winter is a tough time, especially if you are living on the streets or struggling to feed a family. Now that the weather has turned cold there is a need to support people who are cold and hungry. Through our Anglicare Ambassador Program, Secondary School students will be coordinating a Winter Appeal between now and the end of term.
In the true Christian spirit of Jesus who said “you shall love your neighbour as yourself” we encourage all members of our School Community to act with compassion and empathy for the hardship of others; and work to help them in times of need.
All donations received will be distributed to local Food Relief Centres who aid people in the Ellenbrook and Midland region and surrounding suburbs.
We are seeking donations of:
We are encouraging each student to bring in a donation through their PCG. The goods can be brought into Student Services and there is also a drop off point in Building 6 for Secondary students.
Mrs Sallyanne Bushe-Jones on behalf of
The Anglicare Ambassadors.
