1. education
2. school

Newsletter No 17
Important Dates
Mon 3 – Fri 14 Nov
Friday 7 November
Tuesday 11 November
Thursday 13 November
Friday 14 November
Tuesday 18 November
Thursday 20 November
www.esperanceps.wa.edu.au
Blog http://esperanceps.wordpress.com/
5 November 2014
- Swimming Lessons PP- Yr 1
- Blue Haven 1 Assembly
- Remembrance Day
- 1.30pm Fun Run (Esperance Foreshore)
- ‘Go Orange Dress Up Day‘ Orangutan fundraiser (please see info included)
- Red Group Kindy Concert 6-7pm
- Blue Group Kindy Concert 6-7pm
- 2015 Student Council Speeches
Friday 21 November
- Blue Haven 3 Assembly
Dear Students, Parents, Carers and Staff
At Esperance PS, Term 4 is a time for consolidation of learning, a time to evaluate this year’s
achievements with our students and also a time for future planning. Many of our articles in this
week’s newsletter are about 2015.
2014 NATIONAL ASSESSMENT PROGRAM LITERACY AND NUMERACY (NAPLAN)
(Students in Years 3, 5 and 7 who sat NAPLAN tests in May took home their personal report last term).
I have looked at an electronic version of individual reports and have noted many pleasing performances
by students (I’m looking at their personal best from my knowledge and evidence of their achievement
and progress in our school).
Following is a chart of results taken from the students’ reports and electronic data of how our school
compares to Australian and Western Australian State mean in each assessment area. Along with staff,
we are currently further analysing data to ensure we continue to strengthen our teaching and learning
programs.
These NAPLAN results are generally positive and we can be proud of our students’ achievements.
Value adding is certainly evident, especially in our Years 5 and 7 performance, once again emphasising
that typically, the longer students learn at Esperance PS, the higher their performance.
Year 3 data is lower than past years’ performance, with this being predicted by staff. In April, I ask
teachers to predict which students will be below, at or above Minimum Standard, ensuring we are aware
of expected performance and implementing targeting literacy and numeracy programs to suit the needs
of all students across all areas of English and Mathematics (not just the areas tested by NAPLAN). Our
current Year 3 cohort is relatively large (75), with less than 45% of students being at our school since
starting kindergarten. When tracking individual students, I am seeking progress as well as achievement,
with many students demonstrating strong learning gains.
NAPLAN These results are positive and we can be proud of our kids.
U
Year
Reading
Writing
Language
Conventions
Spelling
Language
Conventions
Grammar
Numeracy
National State
National State
National State
National State
National State
3
below
below below
below below
below below
below below
below
5
above
above above
above above
above above
above above
same
7
above
above above
above below
below above
above above
above
ACARA (Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority) has released the NAPLAN 2014
summary results – please follow this link to access http://reports.acara.edu.au/NAP
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2015 Student Council Nominees
Congratulations to the Year 5 students who will be successful in becoming one of the final sixteen
2015 Student Council Nominees. Final votes have now been counted and the nominees will be
announced at this week’s assembly.
The sixteen nominees for 2015 Student Councillor will present their speeches on Thursday 20 November,
with students in Years 3, 4 and 5, staff, and the current councillors voting.
On Friday 21 November, the eight 2015 Student Councillors will be announced at our assembly.
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2015 Kindergarten and Pre-Primary
The K and P staff have been working with me in making sure we have relevant and helpful information booklets available for
next year’s Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students. A HUGE thanks to Mrs Naomi Kipling for her sensational organisational
efforts in helping us have the Kindergarten packages ready to be posted this week. Information regarding which days your child
will be attending is included. Pre-Primary packages will also posted this week. If you have a child enrolled in K or P for 2015
and haven’t received the package via mail by the 20 November, please let us know.
Helping you prepare for next year
Booklist/Personal Items List and Contributions and Charges for 2015.
It is that time for planning for 2015. We are distributing our 2015 Personal Items List
(Booklist), 2015 Contributions and Charges and uniform pre-orders tomorrow
(Thursday). If you have any questions regarding these, or require another form, please
let us know so we can support you and your child in being prepared for school.
The closing date for the uniform pre-order is Wednesday 26 November 2014.
Booklists due Friday 14 November 2014. The Esperance Lottery Centre and Newsagency on Andrew
Street will deliver personal items to our school on 10 December 2014 for collection.
Contributions and Charges for next year can be paid at the School Office at any time.
2015 Instrumental Music
Dependent upon staffing, it is hoped that we can offer Instrumental Music to our Years 5 and 6 students
in 2015. Mr Kit Jones is confirming a time for testing our current Years 4 and 5 students. Testing will be
conducted by the School for Instrumental Music with outcomes identifying which students will be offered
a place in the 2015 instrumental music program.
Foyer Display
Dolphin Cove 4 has turned our School Office foyer into a multicultural delight. The investigative Year 6s
have researched the cultural events and traditional foods of a variety of countries, including China,
Vietnam, Australia and Greece. I enjoyed reading about their findings and found the way each student
presented their research powerful and individual. It is evident the Inquiry Learning process is very
effective in Mrs Mel Wolfenden and Mr Matt Colquhoun’s class. Terrific learning, Year 6s!
Blue Haven 4’s Assembly
What a wonderful performance, Year 1/2s. The care and attention you put into your costumes and
backdrop set the scene for an exciting assembly. You wowed the audience with your humorous recital
and actions and I loved the confidence shown by all. Very entertaining, Year 1/2s and Miss Erin Kinson.
Congratulations to all who contributed their personal best and to the following Merit Certificate
winners:
Blake Hirt, Macenzie Clare, Isabella Thomas, Angus Podmore, Cameron Grant, James Palmer,
Meg Baker, Rosina Thomas, Georgia Walter, Harry Ayers, Ben Murray, Anthony Sims, Tahj Mibus,
Seb Hill, Zahn Johnston, Katie Horton, Charlotte Miller, Thomas Jackson, Cheyenne Norwood,
Gracie-Ann Buckley, Charlie Buckman, Alana Harris, Charlie Neville, Jonte Walter, Tyler Coates
Brayden Bracknell, Jaxon Walter, Presley Davis, Oliver Franklyn, Chelsea Dutton and Evie-Jean Henderson.
The past fortnight has been incredibly rewarding with strong partnerships shown throughout our school
community. Participation in the School Board Meeting, P&C Meeting, Healthy Breakfast and Fun Run,
Year 6 camp, the regular daily parent help we receive and attendance at our assembly have been very
strong.
Thank you so much for supporting our initiatives and being a partner in your child’s learning – your active
interest adds so much to our school.
Lisa Helenius
Principal
Minibeats
Earlier this term, the Esperance Primary School Minibeat team organised a
two week skill development session for our Year Three students to participate
in. Around 30 Year Three students took up the opportunity to join in the fun
and over the two weeks they learnt some new skipping skills and worked on
their coordination. It was a time for the Minibeats to build on their leadership
skills and to demonstrate their skipping abilities. It was held after school on
Wednesdays and there was a lot of fun going on as these pictures show.
Mrs Ash Sharpe - Coordinator
Mrs Chris Blair - Chaplain
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Year 6 Camp News
Last week, students from Dolphin Cove 3 and 4 attended
Nanga Bush Camp, Dwellingup. We experienced creative
and cool activities including white water rafting and
canoeing. We even flew through the jarrah forest (20m from
the forest floor) on a zip line. We scaled an 18m rock
climbing wall, which felt like you were on top of the world. We
also built rafts which were all very successful. One was manoeuvred by Captain Cooper, who
rightfully named it the ‘Johnny Rodger.’ We would personally like to thank Miss Lewington, Mrs
Wolfenden, Mr Colquhoun and our parent volunteers Mr Smith and Mrs Walter. We don’t think
we would of managed without you and we know for sure we will never forget this astounding
once in a lifetime experience.
Written by Meghan Maguire and Tammi-Rae Delbridge.
Orang-utan Caring Week
Next week is Orang-utan Caring Week. For many years Esperance Primary School has been fundraising to
adopt orphaned orang-utans and buy back tracts of land that were rainforest but have since been turned into
palm oil plantations. We do this through two main fundraisers - the art or photo calendar, and through 'Go
Orange Day' where you can free dress in orange for a gold coin donation. This year 'Go Orange Day' will be
held on Friday 14 November. Please support this very worthwhile cause through buying your child's art
calendar, cards or diary and encouraging your child to wear orange next Friday. The Year 3s will have a palm
oil display in the courtyard before and after school next week. You will be surprised at how many products
actually have palm oil in them!!
The Year 3s from Lucky Bay 3, Lucky Bay 4 and Twilight Cove 4
Here are som e orange dress up ideas, and please rem em ber to adhere to the school dress code
Knitting Group
The knitting group which consists of students from Years 4 - 7,
parents, grandparents and wonderful volunteers from our Senior
Citizens Group are busy cross stitching our beautiful squares
together. We are planning to give one of our blankets to our
Cambodian school and the other blankets to our local Nursing Home.
This project has been such a rewarding time of working together to
make a difference. I look forward to showing you all photos of our
finished blankets. Thank you so much to The Australian Spinners who gave us the
knitting needles and the wool and to all those people in our community who have
made this project possible.
On Friday night, I was privileged to attend the Off The Wall Fundraising evening
at the Pier Hotel. All the money raised goes toward supporting Chaplaincy in
Esperance. Graham Jacobs hosted this event and it was well supported. Over
$5 000 was raised and thank you to those who gave paintings and came to the
event.
Chris Blair, Chaplain
–WANTED –
Coloured tiles for the Art Room
Students theme is ‘mosaics’
If you have any broken or spare tiles we would love
to reuse them creatively.
2014 CONTRIBUTIONS
A very big ‘Thank You’ to all the families who have already paid Contributions this year.
Did you know that your $60 per year works out to be $1.15 per week or just 16 cents per day?
Contributions help fund resources, materials, facilities and services accessed by our students
and may be paid by the following options:
* Cash * Cheque * Direct Deposit (If using Direct Deposit, please use student’s surname and first name as a reference)
Account Name : Esperance Primary School BSB 306-037 Account Number 4162150
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Attention all Year 5 Parents
Please join us for a brief informal meeting tomorrow (Thursday 6 Nov)
in Twilight Cove 1 at 3.15pm, to discuss the 2015 Year 6 Camp.
P&C News
**Please Note When placing uniform orders please use the P&C Uniform Account
BSB 036150 Account Number 150965
Description U/F (then your Surname)
We need you!!
The Esperance Foreshore Waterfront is officially opening
on Sunday 30 November from 9am – 2pm.
The P&C are running two adjoining food stalls that we need parent/carer help with please.
1.
Cakes and more stall – this will be fundraising for the whole school.
•
•
•
•
We need donations of homemade biscuits, slices, cakes, fresh veges, eggs,
preserves…
Please don’t include items with cream. Food needs to be covered and all
ingredients need to be listed.
We need volunteers to man the stall. Students are welcome to volunteer with
parent supervision.
Donations will need to be brought down to the stall by 9am Sunday morning, or as arranged with Nola.
If you can help, please contact Nola Towers on 0428 999 805 or email [email protected]
2.
Quesadilla stall – this will be fundraising for the 2015 Year 6 camp.
•
•
•
This will be similar to the food stall held at the opening of the Whale Tail sculpture.
We need volunteers to prepare ingredients on Saturday November 29 from 12-3pm at the school
canteen.
We need volunteers to man the stall and to help with the set-up and pack-up of the stall.
If you can help with any of these things, please contact Kodi Starcevich on 0419 195 753 or email
[email protected]
Thank you! We are looking forward to this being an awesome fundraising day and would love you to be a part of it!
Esperance Primary School P&C Cook Books – Family Favourites
– Make great Xmas presents or an ‘anytime’ of the year gift –
they are full of tried and true recipes. Available from the School Office, $20
Community News
Women's Soccer Competition 14yrs + welcome and no experience necessary
Free Come and Try / Have a Go Day. Just good fun for the girls Sunday 9 November
at 4.00pm - Little Lords Soccer Field Contact Stacey Thomas on 0422 152 452 or
Carole Pearson on 0405 714 881. Or find us on facebook at Esperance Senior Soccer
or the Community page.
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