13 February 2025

Principal’s Report

Welcome back and welcome to all our returning and new students, staff and families.  We look forward to getting to know our new students, families and staff.

Welcome back to our staff, Ms Toni Lang who is permanent to Spearwood Primary School and will be teaching Year 3/4 in Room 16 this year.  Toni has previously worked at our school, and we are excited to have won her back.

We welcome Education Assistant Ms Imogen Soulos.  Imogen will be working with the year 5/6 class in Room 14.  Imogen is also a permanent staff member, and I look forward to getting to know her better after she so greatly impressed us in the application process.

We welcome, Mrs Lorraine Van Der Waarden, who is currently on a six-month contract working as Manager of Corporate Services. Again, we are lucky to have Lorraine who won this position in a highly competitive field.

We welcome our new Chaplain Mrs Florence Yesuraja.  Florence will be working Tuesday 8:30 – 2pm and Wednesday 8 – 1:30pm

2025 Spearwood Primary School Staff and Class Structure

We have had a great start to the year and are hoping for a fantastic 2025.  This is thanks to the staff who had everything ready to go.  All schools rely on a great deal of good will from staff and the community to function.  Many people would be amazed at the unpaid extra hours put in by teachers to get ready for school each year and the extra work every week.  We have outstanding Education Assistants who work well outside their hours and job descriptions for your children.  Thank you to all my staff who worked so hard to set the classes up ready for the school year.

We are a small school and split grade classes are part of our usual business.  At present All Kindergarten students, Pre-Primary students, Year One students, Year Two girls Year Three girls, Year Four students, Year Five students and Year Six students are in the same class.  This year we only need to split the year two and three boys.  Because of the very small number of boys to move to Room 16 we chose a single gender mixed ability group.  While the year two group moved into Room 7 was slightly larger, we again chose a mix ability male group.  The single gender group allows for successful social outcomes and gender balance in the rooms. We looked at learning styles not academic capacity for the selection.  No one has been kept down or promoted. My experience is in a short time all students create a strong class bond and there are no issues with grades.  Students can eat together and play together.

Thank you to all staff who worked hard on the school development days and in the year start. On Monday 2^nd February the whole staff went through planning for the term and year.  We went through the important school information and procedures for:  Attendance, Curriculum Assessment and Reporting, Student at Educational Risks planning and did some class preparation. 

On Tuesday 4^th February we had a fantastic presentation on our Social and Emotional Learning program - Highway Heroes and Little Highway Heroes.  Staff learned about the science and research behind the program and how they can implement Highway Heroes in the classroom and school.  For some staff this was a refresher but for many it was the first time they learnt about the reason and value of this program for building resilience and positive brain development. 

On the day, we also had a Mathletics presentation to learn about how best to utilise this program and the new features.   This program is purchased by the Parents and Citizens (P & C) Committee for the school, and this means students and families can use it at home.  If families were paying for this, it would be $19.95 a month or $99 for the year.  We are so appreciative of all the valuable inputs and support of the P & C committee and volunteers.

In 2024, we had an outstanding year for both the School Board and P & C Committee.  There is an exceptional group of parents who work across both these groups.  I invite everyone to come along to meetings to see if you would like to be part of these positive and productive groups.  We thank the hard-working parents and carers who are doing so much for Spearwood Primary students. 

Monday 17^th February 3:10pm is our first School Board meeting for the year.  

This is an open meeting, and all are welcome, we meet in Room 12 after school.  Students are supervised in Room 11 or the library for the duration of the meeting.  You can come along to see if you would like to join the Board this year or in the future or just to see how this school governing body works.  We meet twice a term and every parent who has ever been on a board, comments on how interesting it is to learn about this side of the school.  Many feel empowered to assist with supporting the school and moving forward in positive directions for students.  Please come along if you can.  The more parents the more ideas and the better your children are represented. 

Our second community organisation is the Parents & Citizens Committee who provide services for students and fundraise to support the school.  Now is the time for others to step in.  The more work done here the more opportunities for your children.  There is a small hard-working group of parents now and extra parents, grandparents and carers are always welcome.

Come along to the meeting on Wednesday 19^th February 9:00 am in Room 12. Bring along other parents and see if there is a small or large role you can play in your school. 

School Nurse

Our School Nurse for 2025 is Sabrina Honschooten. Sabrina has been associated with the school for many years and is a fantastic school support.  Attached to the newsletter is the “Community Health Nursing in Primary Schools” brochure.  Sabrina will soon be doing School Entry Health Assessments with Kindergarten students.  She assists us with teacher training on anaphylaxis and other health plans. 

Sabrina’s email is: chunfang.honschooten@health.wa.gov.au

School Chaplain

We are excited to announce that we have a Chaplain for 2025.  Mrs Florence Yesuraja will be here Tuesday 8:30am – 2pm, Wednesday 8:00am – 1:30pm.  The role of the Chaplain is determined by the school with the Chaplain and completing a Local Agreement.  Please do not assume that anything a previous Chaplain was able to support will be part of the current agreement.  I will discuss this at the School Board Meeting on Monday 17th February.  The Chaplain work will include some working with students at the request of teachers.  If you wish your child(ren), not to work with the Chaplain simply email the school.  Or complete an Opt-out form.

If you would like to opt out of the Chaplaincy service, please fill in the following details and return to the front office. The Chaplain will respect your request and will not see your child/children.

Everyday Matters

Everyday Matters will restart on Thursday 20 February. The students who want to participate in this will bring home a form to complete. Those who completed forms last year will not be asked again.  Everything Matters is a values-based program which exists to help student develop interpersonal skills and a greater awareness of the world around them using games and Bible stories.  This updated program ran very successfully in 2024.

National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2025

All Year Three and Five students were given a parent information brochure about NAPLAN this term.  Please come to the office if your copy didn’t make it home or you need another copy.  NAPLAN is very useful information for schools and teachers to assist in the learning programs of the school and individual improvements for students.  It is nothing to worry about for students or parents.  The results come late in Term Three.  We will advise parents and students along the way. 

Graduates of 2024

Before moving completely into 2025 I would love to acknowledge a couple or our Graduates from 2024. We congratulate 2024 graduates Sian and Havana-Jayde.  Sian Guanzon is to be congratulated for his acceptance into the Academic Excellence Academy at Fremantle College.  We also congratulate Havana-Jayde Peeni for earning a place in the Fremantle College Specialist Contemporary Music program as an extension of the Instrumental Music School Services (IMSS) Guitar program she attended at Spearwood Primary School.

A few of reminders for 2025 and beyond:

• All Education Department sites are ‘no smoking or alcohol permitted’ – at all times.
• Spearwood Primary is Nut Free – we have children with life threatening allergies. The allergies extend to other foods so there is also no sharing of food and no parents supplying food to children other than their own.
• No birthday cakes or any other food treats from home and families in any classes. This is related to allergies and other health issues of students at the school.  No exceptions. 
• Staff do know every individual student health requirement in relation to food-based activities. Please advise the class teacher of any issues for your child.
• No students or parents are to walk through the staff car park for safety reasons.
• No parent parking in the staff car park except when picking up a sick child.

Marta Rotondella
Principal

Upcoming Events

Term Planner

Download a copy of the Term Planner for Term 1 2025 and keep it on your fridge for your reference.

Canteen

Our canteen specials cost $5.50 and includes a juice.

14 February
Cheeseburgers

21 February
Honey Soy Chicken & Rice

Everyday Matters

On Thursdays Spearwood Primary School welcomes 2 trained Youth Care volunteers into the school.  These volunteers run an opt-in Christian Values Education program called Everyday Matters.  This program has been approved by the Spearwood Primary School board in July 2024.

All students are welcome with over 20 students already having parental permission.  The program will restart on Thursday 20^th February at 1:05 in Room 12.  Students eat their lunch and do the activities in the room.  Students who have not yet got permission will be given a form to complete when they attend a trail session.  They will be expected to bring this back signed by parents to attend again.

Attached to the newsletter are a permission slip and a QR code which links to further information about this fantastic program.

You can also go to YouthCARE | WA's Leading Provider of Chaplaincy | Christian Values Education | Everyday Matters | Overview   for further information.

VillageOSHC

Phoenix Shopping Centre School Rewards Promotion

Help our school win a share of $10,000!

We’ve partnered with Phoenix Shopping Centre’s, School Rewards promotion to compete for a share of $10,000! Starting Monday 10 February, every dollar you spend at Phoenix Shopping Centre turns into points for our school. The school with the most points will win:

1st place: $5,000

2nd place: $2,500

3rd place: $1,000

Plus, three runner-up schools will each receive $500!

Here’s how you can help:

1. Shop at Phoenix Shopping Centre between 10 February and 23 March.
2. Upload your receipts here: https://www.phoenixschoolrewards.com.au
3. By participating, you’ll also be entered into the weekly draw for a $250 gift card!

Please share this with family and friends to help our school claim the top prize!

For more details, visit the website: https://www.phoenixschoolrewards.com.au

Community News

Coming up in Cockburn

Cockburn Parenting free workshops with creche – Bringing up Great Kids Intro, Bringing up Great Kids full program.

Nom! Children (Food Sensations for Parents) – free program for parents with children 0-5 year, run by qualified nutritionist, with creche available.

Community Trailer – for events for Not for Profits e.g. P&Cs – flyer attached and booking form here detailing the contents of the trailer  Cockburn Community Trailer Online Hire Form - City of Cockburn

Froggy’s Fun on the Green - free outdoor playgroup – Manning Park on Mondays, Meller Park on Tuesdays.

Skatepark clinics – free for 6-12 year olds, bookings essential.

Cockburn Youth Services Cockburn’s Got Talent

Freo Footprints – (pre-school program aimed at children aged between 2-4 years old.  This is a 7-week program, consisting of 30-minute, high-energy sessions.

The program focuses on developing fundamental movement skills in children aged 2-4, by learning new skills and playing heaps of fun games!

The program will run on Tuesday and Saturday mornings at Cockburn ARC. The program will start at Cockburn ARC on Tuesday 25^th of February 2025 & Saturday 1^st of March 2025.

For more information about the program contact Alice Congdon at Alice.congdon@frremantlefc.com.au or search ‘Freo Footprints’.

Cockburn Libraries

Are you looking for somewhere local to learn new things and meet great people with similar interests? 
Cockburn Libraries offer many activities and programs for all ages and interests that foster creativity and lively discussions, life-long learning, and the chance to make friends.

• Book discussions with other passionate readers
• Knitting Circles to improve and share your skills
• Unleashing your creativity with writing, poetry and
  Papercrafts and more!
• Learn Everyday English
• Wellness activities like Strength for Seniors, Meditation and Chair Yoga 
• Get competitive with a social Mahjong game

Check out all our programs and activities we have to offer!  Adult programs Archives - Cockburn Libraries

Toddlers Sing and Play

Ages 1 ½ to 3
Introduce your toddler to the joys of music-making, playing simple instruments, and learning songs and dances.
Toddlers Sing And Play Series | Cockburn Libraries

Talk, sing, read, write and play everyday.

Storytime sessions stimulate children’s brains, instill a love of reading, and provide an opportunity to develop social skills as well as fine and gross motor skills
Commencing this week, all your favourite Cockburn Libraries kid's programs are back.

• Pram Jam Ages 0-2
• Toddler Tales @ Success Ages 1.5-2.5
• Storytime Ages 2-5
• Learn English Through Storytime Ages 3-4
• Rhymes in Chinese All ages
• Stories in Portuguese Ages 2-10
  Storiesa presented by volunteers who speak Brazilian Portuguese.

Sam Kerr Football

Classes for children aged 3-14 years old run on Saturdays at Nicholson reserve and Mondays and Wednesdays at Anning Park.