Dear Parents/Carers

What a year we have had! We started the year with a smoking ceremony to farewell the difficulties that COVID-19 had imposed in 2020 and finished the year being named as winners of the WA Education Awards, Primary School of the Year. This would not have been accomplished if it were not for the combined efforts of our staff, students and families who all make Joondalup Education Support Centre a wonderful school.

As a campus, we have enjoyed many special events and fun activities, including Ride to School Day, Book Week, ANZAC Day, sports carnivals and the Colour Run, to name a few. These events don’t simply happen, a lot of work goes into planning each aspect of these events so that the students are well engaged and enjoy the experiences. Thank you to our committed staff, P & C and parent volunteers (often the same group of people) who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

School Improvements/Refurbishments

We welcomed many improvements and upgrades that have occurred this year; including a new Library space, staffroom, transportable, playground, mural, play spaces and garden projects. The intricacies of such improvements are extensive and I would like to recognise the remarkable work Mrs Antoinette Vorster, Manager Corporate Services, has done to coordinate these large projects, often throughout holiday breaks, to minimise disruption to the students and their learning programs. More works are planned for this holiday break to improve some of our classrooms. 

20 Year Club

Last Friday, the staff at Joondalup Schools celebrated a number of special staff members for 20 plus years of dedicated service to our schools. This is a huge achievement and a testament to the quality of our school community and what it has to offer. Included in the 15 staff members recognised were Jan Tucker, Associate Principal; Lorraine Martin, Classroom Teacher; Helen Sweet, Art Specialist and Keran Price, Education Assistant. Congratulations and a collective ‘thank you’ to these highly valued members of Joondalup Education Support Centre.

Year 6 Graduation

Today we farewelled another successful cohort of Year 6 students. We wish you all the very best of luck as you transition into high school and continue to make us proud. You have worked hard to get here and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to achieve great things. Be brave, meet new people and say ‘yes’ to the opportunities heading your way. Good luck!

Congratulations to our new Sport Captains for 2022

Tyrin (Room 16)

Siena (Room 27)

Congratulations to our new School Captains for 2022

Bailey (Room 16)

Ashleigh (Room 26)

Outgoing Staff

We are sad to say farewell to some wonderful staff this year, who will be embarking on a new journey. The dedication and commitment they have demonstrated, to the care and education of your children, our students, is second to none. We wish the following staff good luck, congratulations and farewell:

Stephanie Edwardes will be welcoming a special new member to their family.

Paula Hodgins has secured a permanent position at another school.

Katherine McCarthy will be welcoming two beautiful babies to the world.

Cassandra Nelson has secured a position at another school.

Keran Price will be taking extended leave in Term 1.

Amy Ricciardi has accepted fulltime work at another organisation, where she currently works part time.

2022

The first day back for students is Monday 31 January. Classroom staff return to school on Thursday 27 January to engage in two full days of professional learning and classroom preparation. Should you have any questions and need to contact the school prior to day one, the Administration and Office staff will be returning on Tuesday 25 January.

Please send your child’s booklist items in on the first day, labelled, so that teachers can manage the resources required for each student. We would also very much appreciate any donations of tissues if you happen to have a couple of spare boxes at home, or would like to pick some up in the grocery shopping.

I hope you have an enjoyable break, a merry Christmas and see in the new year with a celebration. On behalf of all of our staff, we thank you for your continued support and collaboration on your child’s education and we look forward to seeing both current and new students in 2022!

Final class lists will be posted on boards in the undercover area on Friday 28 January between 2.30pm-3.00pm, for those who are interested in having a look.

If you notice any suspicious activity on School Grounds, please contact Security on 9264 4771 or the Police on 131 444.

Please enjoy some pictures taken during our Adventure Week activities.

Outback Splash and Perth Zoo

During term 4, students from Rooms 26 and 27 teamed up to learn all about puberty and hygiene.  The classes separated into a boys group and a girls group.  Although some students started off feeling a little uncomfortable talking about their bodies, by the end of the lessons they were confidently talking about what they had learnt, sharing their knowledge and using the correct language.  The students learnt about how their bodies change during puberty including physical and emotional changes.  The girls went into more detail about menstruation and all of the different changes that occur for them whilst the boys explored the importance of getting physical exercise into their day.  For hygiene, they all learnt why it is important to keep our bodies clean, and were involved in following sequences for washing hands, cleaning their faces and brushing their teeth.  We even discussed what to look for in order to decide if our clothes are dirty and identified needing to put them in the wash or doing a simple repair, like sewing on a button.  We used our senses to see what we liked about different deodorants and perfumes as a way to keep our bodies smelling fresh.  Well done boys and girls for overcoming some initial hesitations and really engaging with these activities.  Parents, we hope that they will continue to look after themselves and engage more independently in some self-care activities at home too.

After a busy year, we are all looking forward to a great holiday and we are sure families are too.  Merry Christmas from Room 26!

Kaya Wanjoo (Hello and welcome)

This year has been a busy and productive one with students all making progress in Science and Sustainability classes.

We have gone on many adventures, conducted a multitude of experiments and investigated why, what and how things happen. The students are developing their thinking skills and engaging with excitement in the many things we do around our school to make this Earth a more sustainable one.

Check out the many pictures over the year. Also take a look at some pics from my little farm in Northam. The students have enjoyed seeing the changes and animal additions to it over the year.

Have a wonderful break, get out into nature and enjoy our wonderful state.

Mrs Bennett (Sustainability Teacher)

Wanjoo to Summer. The Noongar Season ‘Birak’ is represented by the colour red as it symbolises heat, sun and fire.

During Birak season the rain eases and the warm weather really starts to take hold. The afternoons are cooled by the sea breezes from the south west.

Traditionally this was the fire season. An almost clockwork style of easterly winds in the morning and sea breezes in the afternoon meant that this was burning time of the year for Noongar people and they would burn the country in mosaic patterns.

There are several reasons for this, including fuel reduction, increasing the grazing pastures for animals, to aid seed germination and to make it easier to move across the country.

There are many fledglings venturing out of nests in Birak, though some are still staying close to their parents such as magpies and parrots. Reptiles will also be shedding their old skin for a new one.

With the rising temperatures and the decreasing rainfall, it's also a time for the baby frogs to complete their transformation into adulthood.

Garden Club

We have had a great year in our after school garden club. Thank you to all those who attended including students, parents, grandparents and our wonderful staff helpers. You have all been dedicated, hardworking and joyful about the wonders of vegetable gardening, worm farming and composting. Check out the photos.

Recycling and Reuse Hub

Our recycling bins have arrived and will be formally launched after the signs have been made. This initiative is such an important one in Sustainable practices as it highlights to our students just how much we need to RETHINK what we buy and use. Could you use a refillable coffee pod instead of the thousands that we send to be recycled each term? This year we have sent  18 284 items to be recycled. Can you imagine what our schools are possible of doing when our new system rolls out. Our partner in this mission is Terracycle Australia.  In some of our sustainability classes we have reused the thousands of coffee pods into Christmas Wreaths and are well on our way to finishing our bottle top mural, called Plastic Free in the Sea.

Finally, an enormous thankyou to all those wonderful students, staff and parents who have supported Sustainability, it’s vision for the future and myself this year. It has been humbling and rewarding learning and sharing together to make a difference to our Earth and everything that relies on it. YOU ARE THE FUTURE!

Happy gardening and sustainable thinking,

Sandra Bennett – Science/Sustainability Teacher (JESC). Sustainability Coordinator (Joondalup Schools)

Term Dates 2022

In our first newsletter in 2022 we will provide a detailed calendar of events.