W.A. NAPLAN TOP 20 SCHOOLS – 2024
 Centre School for Excellence 2023-2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a cold and wet fortnight! And our swimming classes have come to an end. We have been advised that next year our school will be having swimming lessons in Term 2, so hopefully the weather will be in our favour. The children have said that they have enjoyed the swimming lessons and thank you to parents for supporting them with the necessary equipment and clothing during this time. We have a lot of ‘lost property’ in the wet area in the Sheoak Block, if your child is missing any items from swimming or their general uniforms, please check in at the lost property area.

Last week we participated in the Interschool Cross Country Event. The students were all keen and performed admirably. There is further information about the results later in the newsletter. Unfortunately, I was caught in a meeting and wasn’t able to attend, though parents and teachers have shared that our team “gave it their all and rose to the challenge.”

Next week, begins with the P&C holding the Fathers’ Day Stalls on Monday and Tuesday. The students are always excited about being able to go along to the stalls and select a gift for dad, grandad or that special person in their life. If you are able to support the P&C by giving a little of your time to help out, I’m sure the P&C will be really appreciative.

Also, next week we have the first of our Kindy Information Sessions. The parents of our Kindy kids in 2026 are invited to attend a session where we can share what to expect when their child starts Kindy. We will hold the same session in Week 7. We then invite the parent and child to come along to a session in Term 4 in the classroom, where they get to see what Kindy all is about. We welcome our new families to our school and hope that these sessions will provide them with the information that they need in getting their children started in school.

Craig McIlwraith is returning from Long Service Leave next week. So, we welcome Craig back after his break.

I will be going on Long Service Leave from Wednesday 3rd September to the end of term, and Craig will be covering my role as Principal while I am away. Angela O’Malley, Victoria Avery and Phil Chandler will be supporting him as deputies for the remainder of the term.

I wish you all a joyful and smooth end to the term and a wonderful, restful holiday ahead and see you in Term 4.

Thoughts:

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean

Kind regards,

Paula Asplin

Principal

School News

Reminder:

Traffic Flow and Parking

Last week we sent out information regarding parking around the school. Below are some key reminders about drop-off and pick-up times. If parents could be patient and mindful that we have a lot of children being dropped off and collected at the end of the day and if everyone is considerate and follows the guidelines then this transition will run much smoother.

Interschool Cross Country

Our Year 3-6 competitors represented Caladenia with grit, determination and outstanding sportsmanship at the South Central School Sports Association Interschool Cross Country held at Homestead Park, Thornlie. Congratulations to all award winners and place getters, and well done to the whole team on achieving 3rd place overall.

A big thank you to our teachers, parents and students for their hard work and support, and to the P&C for generously donating funds towards our brand-new Caladenia gazebo.

We’re excited for the upcoming events – the Faction Athletics Carnival in Week 1 of Term 4, followed by the Interschool Athletics Carnival in Weeks 4 and 5 at Ranford PS.

Class News

Pre Primary Room 5 – Mrs Patton

As part of our literacy focus this term, Pre-Primary students have been exploring a variety of fairy tales during shared reading. We integrated this focus with the Design and Technologies curriculum while reading The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Students were given the task of building a bridge to help the Three Billy Goats Gruff cross to the other side of the river. They could choose from Duplo, foam blocks, or wooden blocks as the materials to construct their bridge. The design criteria required the bridge to be strong enough for the goats to stand on and tall enough for the Troll to fit underneath.

Students began by selecting their materials and designing their bridges. They then constructed their bridges based on these designs. Finally, they evaluated and reflected on their work to determine whether their bridges met the task criteria and considered what changes they might make if they had another opportunity.

All the students had a wonderful time designing and constructing their bridges, and they did an amazing job. Look at some of our fabulous creations!

Year 4 Room 38 – Mrs Thompson

Will you be convinced to stop polluting our ocean?

Year 4 have been developing their persuasive writing skills. The topic this term is Waste in our Waterways. There are some compelling arguments; here is a selection of our writing.

‘Do you love going to the beach on a not summer’s day? I do. The warm sand, the ocean breeze, the plastic. Yes, I said plastic. All the pollution we make destroys these beaches.’     Claudia Room 38

‘Woah! Look at those great, beautiful and amazing dolphins, but do they look at bit down? I definitely saw a frown. Imagine seeing a dolphin getting caught up in a net and dying due to not being in water and being surrounded by rubbish! What if you were the dolphin? That’s so sad. Can you help the dolphins, please?’      Asima Room 38

‘Have you heard of the monster in the sea? It’s made of plastic, glass and more. Every day it sends part of itself to trick fish. It makes them think it’s food. Once it’s done it moves on to a new ocean and the cycle repeats in an endless loop. You can stop the cycle, just go to the beach and clean the ocean.’                          Vongai Room 38

Our Year 4 students are begging the community to be aware of your waste and reduce, reuse and recycle.

P&C and Community News

Fathers’ Day Stalls

Next Week!!

The annual Father’s Day stalls on Monday 1st September and Tuesday 2nd September. Please bring your money in an envelope or zip lock bag, labelled with your child’s name, room number and number of gifts. Gifts will be $7 each. A limited selection will also be available for students and parents to purchase after school on Friday 5th September at 2.30pm in the undercover area.

💰 When to bring your money 💰

Monday 1st September K2B Room 43, Yr 1 Room 8,  Yr 3 Room 9,  Yr 5 Room 15,  K3B Room 3,             Yr 1 Room 21, Yr 3 Room 14, Yr 5 Room 23, PP1 Room 1, Yr 1 Room 32, Yr 4 Room 26, Yr 5 Room 39 ,PP2 Room 4, Yr 2 Room 12, Yr 4 Room 31, Yr 6 Room 17, PP3 Room 5, Yr 2 Room 24, Yr 4 Room 34, Yr 6 Room 37, PP4 Room 6, Yr 2 Room 36, Yr 4 Room 38, Yr 6 Room 42, PP5 Room 2.

Tuesday 2nd September K2A Room 43, Yr 2 Room 16 ,Yr 3 Room 25, Yr 5 Room 11, K3A Room 3, Yr 2 Room 22, Yr 3 Room 27, Yr 6 Room 20, Yr 1 Room 10, Yr 2 Room 28, Yr 3 Room 35, Yr 6 Room 33, Yr 1 Room 30, Yr 3 Room 7,  Yr 4 Room 29, MAC Room 19,  Yr 1 Room 41.

🤝 Volunteers 🤝

We need parent volunteers to help run the stalls on each morning from 8.30am- 10.00am. If you can assist, please sign up via https://volunteersignup.org/BLWF7 or email CaladeniaPandC@outlook.com. Your support is greatly appreciated by the school community.

W.A. NAPLAN TOP 20 SCHOOLS – 2024
 Centre School for Excellence 2023-2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have just enrolled our 1000th student at Caladenia Primary School. Our student numbers have continued to grow throughout the year, and we have hit the 1000 this week.

Over the last two weeks we have had a few events organised. Our Book Fair ended last week, and we had a total sales of $8732.35, which is an amazing result. Through the sales the school has received reward points that we will use to purchase extra books for the library. I would like to thank Aileen Crofts and Justine Arnold, our wonderful library staff who organised the event and for all the staff volunteers who gave their time before and after school to support the fair. We appreciate everyone’s support.

Events that are coming up in Week 5 is the Yr 3-6 Interschool Cross Country event. Please look out for the information for those students who are participating. Good luck to all of the students that are involved in this event.

As a school we are honouring RUOK day on Friday, 12 September. The students and staff are invited to wear yellow on the day. Please look out for more information to come with regards to this event.

Our first group of Swimming Lessons ends this week, and our next group of Swimming Lessons will commence for other classes in the school. Please remember to label all of your child’s items so that they don’t get misplaced. I visited the Belmont Oasis sessions earlier this week and the lessons all went smoothly.

After School

Just a reminder to students and families, that our school finishes at 2:30pm and we need students to be collected and leave the school at this time. We often have meetings and professional learning sessions that commence straight after school for teachers and staff.

Parents if you could remember to leave the school grounds as soon as you have collected your child/children. We are unable to allow students to play on the equipment or in the school grounds after school has finished, as we need to close our gates for safety and security purposes. We appreciate your support in this matter.

School Starts

Our school day starts with our classroom doors being opened at 8:15am. This gives time for students to organise their belongings and settle themselves for their day at school. We like to establish good routines for students so that they are ready for their learning when the siren sounds. If parents and families could bring their child/children to school at this time it supports students social and emotional wellbeing. The weather has started to change, so it is a bit lighter than it was and fortunately it hasn’t been as cold these last few days.Education Minister’s Running Challenge

Don’t forget that this term the Education Minister has a Running Challenge!

Small steps lead to big changes!

The challenge is open to students and education staff. Being active is critical for both short and long-term health and wellbeing and has a direct impact on a student’s performance at school. The mission is for primary school students to run, walk, wheel, cycle or scoot for a total of 200 minutes over 9 weeks.

Primary school students 

Can you run, walk, cycle or wheel for about 20 minutes in a week? How about for 4 minutes every day after school?  That’s about what it will take for you to reach the 200 minutes of activity you will need to complete the 2025 Education Minister’s Running Challenge.

Win prizes for running

We challenge you to run consistently over the 9 weeks of the challenge.   Not only will you receive a signed certificate from the Education Minister, but you will create healthy habits beyond the challenge period, regardless of your running ability.

But that’s not all. 

Each week, students who log their runs, walks, cycles or wheels go in the draw for a chance to win a prize. There’s a lot up for grabs!

See the link below to join in the challenge

Home – Education Ministers Running Challenge – Department of Education

Thoughts:

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John

Kind regards,

Paula Asplin

Principal

School News

Reminder:

Traffic Flow and Parking

Please remember, that you can’t drive or park on the footpath opposite to the Kiss ‘n’ Drive.

Parents, please remember that the City of Gosnells request that all school families observe the traffic rules around the school:

·       The Kiss ‘n’ Drive is not a parking zone – do not park in a Kiss ‘n’ Drive Bay, or on Bushy

Gardens in front of the Visitors parking

·       Always be aware of children on roads and footpaths

·       Observe the 40km/hour speed zone around the school – it is there to protect our children

Book Fair

The recent Book Fair held in the library was once again a tremendous success, and we sincerely thank all our families for their continued support of this wonderful event. The total sales reached was $8,732.35. Thanks to your generous purchases, the school has earned $2,028.00 in commission, which will be taken as Scholastic Rewards Points. These points will be used to acquire valuable educational resources for our students. For those who placed book orders during the fair, deliveries will be made directly to students in their classrooms within the next 2–3 weeks.

Mrs Crofts

School App

Our school App is called School Stream and you can download it for free. It is an essential resource for parents to have as we use the app for all communication. It is also advised to keep your notifications setting turned on as, at times, it may be the only way the school can communicate. Scan the barcode or Download the APP.

Class News

Year 2 Room 22 – Miss Chan

In Year 2 Room 22, students have been diving into the world of the water cycle! We followed the actions and movements in the “Water Cycle” song to reinforce their understanding of each stage- evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.

We also explored the impact of water pollution and waste on our planet, encouraging students to think critically about how we can protect our precious water sources. As part of this learning, the story of Freddie the Fish was retold to the class. This engaging tale helped students understand the effects of pollution on the environment, particularly on wildlife in rivers and oceans.

Students also created mini water cycle models using resealable bags and crafted posters to encourage conservation of water. It’s been an engaging and hands-on unit learning about the water cycle, helping students appreciate the importance of water in our everyday lives.

Year 5 Room 23 – Miss McAllister

The Year 5 students in Room 23 have had a brilliant start to Semester 2! We started the term with an exciting persuasive writing unit all about fast fashion. All the Year 5s met together in the undercover area to learn what fast fashion is and its hidden secrets. Together, we explored what it takes to make ‘trendy’ clothes and started right at the beginning of the supply chain.

Students got the chance to do their own research, answer burning questions, and gather strong evidence to help with their persuasive writing. We also started a new reading technique called Reading With A Pencil (RWAP). This means over the week we all read one important text and work together to find the main ideas, reasons, and important information in the text.

In the first two weeks, our texts focused on how fast fashion affects the environment. One text was from the Climate Council, and the other was an ABC article about Aussie designers fighting against fast fashion.

Using our research, reading notes, and our own ideas, we wrote a fantastic class persuasive! All the students hard work was evident in their final big task – a typed assignment about convincing their readers to reduce any type of WASTE; from clothing, to plastic to food. I am so proud of how hard everyone in Room 23 has worked this term.

P&C and Community News

Upcoming Events

Raising Children Network

Children are as individual and as different as their parents and making decisions about what’s best for raising children is very personal.

The Raising Children website offers up-to-date, research-based material on more than 800 topics spanning child development, behaviour, health, nutrition and fitness, play and learning, connecting and communicating, school and education, entertainment and technology, sleep and safety. It covers grown-ups, newborns (0-3 months), babies (3-12 months), toddlers (1-3 years), preschoolers (3-5 years), school-age children (5-9 years), pre-teens (9-11 years), and early teens (12-15 years).

There are tips, videos and other useful resources.

The Raising Children Network provides information that can help parents with the day-to-day decisions of raising children.  It also provides information to help parents and carers look after their own needs. The information is based on the best science in parenting, child health and development, presented in language we can all understand.

This is a website for Australian mothers, fathers, grandparents and anyone else who has responsibility for the care of children. www.raisingchildren.com.au

Dental health – Keep your child’s teeth healthy 

Teeth help children to eat, speak and smile. Regularly brushing teeth can prevent bad breath, tooth decay, and gum diseases.

Parents and guardians can help children to keep their teeth clean. Some tips are:• Children below 6 years can use small smear (small pea sized) amount of low fluoride  children’s toothpaste
• Children 6 years and older can use pea-sized amounts of standard fluoride toothpaste
• Encourage children to brush their teeth morning and night, and supervise tooth brushing until they are 8 or 9 years old
• Use an age-appropriate toothpaste and toothbrush
• Educate children about healthy eating habits and limit sugary foods and drinks
• Encourage them to choose water as their preferred drink

For more details, see 5-8 years, 9-11 years, and 12-18 years by Raising Children Network or School Dental Service, Government of Western Australia.

The School Dental Service offers free general and emergency dental care to eligible children aged 5-16 or until the end of year 11 (whichever comes first). Find your nearest School Dental Service Clinic or contact Dental Services on 9313 0555 for further information.

W.A. NAPLAN TOP 20 SCHOOLS – 2024

Centre School for Excellence 2023-2026

Great Students, Great Staff, Great Parents, Building Greater Communities

Dear Parents and Carers,

We celebrated a couple of events since our last newsletter.

Disco

Last week the P&C held the Disco!
Thursday afternoon the P&C held a disco event for the Kindy and Pre-Primary students in the play area. The children all enjoyed themselves and had the opportunity to listen and dance to some of their favourite songs and purchase a ‘goodie bag’ which they all treasured. I believe the Wiggles were a big hit!

The main Disco was held on Friday (13 June) afternoon and evening – this year there was a photo booth, and it was a wonderful addition, as the students could all have their photo taken by their families prior to going into the disco. In the disco, the children all enjoyed themselves singing along with the playlist and dancing to their favourite songs.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to Leanna our P&C President and her amazing Executive members along with all the volunteers – both parents and staff – that helped on the night. It was a great community event!

Cross Country

Our Cross Country Assembly

Cross Country Faction Champions – GREEN FACTION

On Tuesday, we held our Cross-Country event. All our pleas and crossing of fingers worked, as we were able to have the event rain free! The children all put in their best efforts and enjoyed participating in the event. It was great to see so many parents and families come along to cheer on their children during the event. Special thanks go to Mr McCurrach, Mr Bailey and Mrs Holmes for all their training and organisation of the event. Thank you also to all the staff involved behind the scenes in supporting the success of the event.

Crazy Hair and Crazy Sock Day

Today, our Student Executive hosted the Crazy Hair and Crazy Sock Fundraiser. The event was to raise funds for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. We raised $818.00! The Student Executives also prepared the posters that were placed around the school to promote the event. Everyone had a great day in dressing up in their crazy socks and stylish hair! We are very proud of our Student Executive in hosting this event and embracing the community, as it builds a stronger sense of belonging, purpose and connection, which all contribute to improved mental and emotional health.

Reminders

WA Student Assistance Payment for 2025

The close off for claiming the WA Student Assistance Payment for 2025 is on 4 July. If you need help in claiming, please contact the office and we will assist you in accessing Service WA.
If you have been meaning to claim and haven’t done so as yet, the link is below. Make sure you put in your claim before it closes. Again, if you are experiencing any difficulties, please contact the office for further information and/or assistance.

WA Student Assistance Payment

Further Reminders

• Yr 5 and Yr 6 Interschool Winter Carnival is on Friday 27 June – please check the notices as the different sports are at different venues.
• School Photos are in the last week of Term – the envelopes will be coming home this week. If you haven’t received your, please check with the classroom teacher or office

Thoughts:

“When you give joy to other people, you get more joy in return. You should give a good thought to the happiness that you can give out.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Kind regards,

Paula Asplin
Principal

School News

Traffic Flow and Parking

The Kiss ‘n’ Drive on Bushy Gardens is flowing much better – thanks to all the parents for their support.
Parents, please remember that the City of Gosnells request that all school families observe the traffic rules around the school:

• Remember that the Kiss and Drive is not a parking zone
• Remember that you cannot park on the footpaths
• The City of Gosnells Ranger will be in attendance from time to time and will issue infringement notices.
• Please do not carry out dangerous driving around the school or park your car where you shouldn’t – please do not be the person who, for the sake of a few minutes of patience, creates an accident outside our wonderful school.
• It is only for a short twenty minutes in the mornings and afternoons that we need to be super careful, polite and patient.

Kindy 2026 – Closes Friday 25th July

Just a reminder, if you have a child born between 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022, you are now eligible to enrol for Kindy in 2026.

Application forms can be collected from the front office. All applications are by appointment only and accepted between 9am and 2pm. Please call 6258 9350 to book.

School App

Our school App is called School Stream and you can download
it for free. It is an essential resource for parents to have as we use the app for all communication. It is also advised to keep your notifications setting turned on as, at times, it may be the only way the school can communicate.

Scan the barcode or Download the APP.

Student Achievement

At Caladenia, we love showcasing our students’ sporting achievements and events, as well as any other interests that they would like to share with our Caladenia Community.
If you have something your child would like to share, please email along with photos to the email address below:
Justine.arnold@education.wa.edu.au

Class News

Pre Primary Room 4 – Mrs Hemingway

In room four this term we have found out some amazing information about farm animals in Technology. First we learned that milk comes from cows and the process that it has to go through for it to get from the farm to our fridges. It was amazing to learn that cows actually have four parts to their stomach. Next we learned about shearing sheep and how their wool is used to make lots of products that we use every day. We have enjoyed labelling the farm animals, creating crafts and sequencing pictures to show the order of the cow to milk and sheep to wool process. We can’t wait to see what else we can learn.

Art – Ms Ewing 

The MAC class have been exploring 3D form this semester, working on some very charmimg, mixed medium animal sculptures. Students were inspired by a graffiti artist from Lisbon called Bordallo ii, who has build many large scale animal scultptures all over the world, using trash and household rubbish that people throw away on a daily basis. The MAC class made use of found objects, recycled trash and acrylic paint to build and construct a realistic animal in a man made environment, like the side of a house, an old factory or a shipping container.

P&C and Community News

Willetton Basketball Stadium
School Holiday Camps

First Week
Monday 7th – Friday 11th July 2025
9 years and under [ eg minimum 6 yrs ] [ 9.00am – 3.30pm daily ] Second Week
Monday 14th – Friday 18th July 2025
9 years and over
[ 9.00am – 3.30pm daily ] Please visit www.willettonbasketball.com.au via the ‘’ Program ‘’ page
where you will find Holiday Camps

W.A. NAPLAN TOP 20 SCHOOLS – 2024

Centre School for Excellence 2023-2026

Great Students, Great Staff, Great Parents, Building Greater Communities

Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you all enjoyed the extra long weekend! Our staff had a very productive day on Friday, 30 May to review practices, reflect on plans and discuss assessment across learning areas. The time that we get together as staff, is valuable in ensuring that we are up to date with current research as well as providing time to ensure that our students are experiencing the same content across classes within the same year level.

WA School reports are provided twice a year at the end of Term 2 and Term 4. This Semester we will be providing parents and carers with their child’s report electronically through Connect. We will be contacting parents shortly with more information as to how to set up a parent account in Connect, so that you can access your child’s report. Sending reports electronically enables parents to have a digital record of their child’s achievements and is timely in its delivery to parents. It also has the benefit of reducing paper consumption which supports the protection for the environment. We will keep you posted as we work through the process of setting up this facility.

Due to the short weeks, we haven’t had any special events on at school during in these weeks. However, Mrs Brylie Clements (currently on maternity leave) and her husband Brent, welcomed a baby girl on Tuesday 3 June – Leni Rae Clements, we wish the Clements family all the joy on the arrival of their little girl, and welcome her to our Caladenia family.

Please see the note below with reminders of events coming.

Reminder

·         P&C are holding the School Disco on Friday 13 June – don’t forget to sign up if you can volunteer some time to help on the night

The link to volunteer is below:

https://volunteersignup.org/CR738

·         School Cross Country is coming up on Tuesday, 17 June more information will be coming out shortly

Thoughts: “All dreams are within reach. All you have to do is keep moving towards them.” Viola Davis

Kind regards,

Paula Asplin

Principal

School News

WA Student Assistance Payment for 2025

Please remember to put your claim in for the 2025 WA Student Assistance Payment.

Parents and carers of eligible students can claim $150 for each primary school or Kindergarten student. The WA Student Assistance Payment Claim closes on 4 July 2025. Remember to claim, you simply go through Service WA. There is a link below. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please contact the office for further information and/or assistance.

WA Student Assistance Payment

Traffic Flow and Parking

Thank you again to all parents using the Kiss ‘n’ Drive on Bushy Gardens. The traffic is continuing to flow much better.

Parents, please remember that the City of Gosnells request that all school families observe the traffic rules around the school:

·         Remember that the Kiss and Drive is not a parking zone

·         The City of Gosnells Ranger will be in attendance from time to time and will issue infringement notices.

·         Please do not carry out dangerous driving around the school or park your car where you shouldn’t   – please do not be the person who, for the sake of a few minutes of patience, creates an accident outside our wonderful school.

·         It is only for a short twenty minutes in the mornings and afternoons that we need to be super careful, polite and patient.

If you have a child born between 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022, you are now eligible to enrol for Kindy in 2026.

Application forms can be collected from the front office. All applications are by appointment only and accepted between 9am and 2pm. Please call 6258 9350 to book.

NATIONAL SIMULTANEOUS STORYTIME 2025On Wednesday 21 May, we participated in the annual event National Simultaneous Storytime. This event is aligned with our focus Reading. The text The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell engaged our students and gave us endless learning opportunities. Have a look at the amazing work produced after reading the book.

Our Librarian – Mrs Crofts created a beautiful display to promote the event.

The Year 1’s from Miss William’s class drew and described The Truck Cat using amazing adjectives

Above: The Year 2’s from Miss Dos Santos’s class reading the text using expression.

Above: The Year 3s from Mrs Suttie’s class worked collaboratively to form an impressive display in their classroom.

The Year 5s from Miss Manuel’s class explored and recorded Tinka’s thoughts to help them understand his emotional journey.

Thank you to Staff and students for your support in National Simultaneous Storytime.

From the English Committee.

School App

Our school App is called School Stream and you can download it for free. It is an essential resource for parents to have as we use the app for all communication. It is also advised to keep your notifications setting turned on as, at times, it may be the only way the school can communicate.

Scan the barcode or Download the APP.

Student Achievement 

Namreet a student of year 2, recently participated in a karate competition and came second place. Well done Namreet and congratulations.

Kyra from Year 4, attended the Fremantle Eisteddfod Winners’ Concert at Government House Ballroom, last weekend. She received a trophy for winning First Prize in her piano category. Her siblings are so proud of her, and we’re all thrilled to see her hard work recognised. Congratulations Kyra.

Sean, in Year 6 recently participated in the 2025 Fremantle Eisteddfod and was awarded First Prize in the Age 13 and Under – Chopin Nocturne Piano section. This is a highly competitive category that draws talented young pianists from across Perth, and we are incredibly proud of his accomplishment.

In recognition of his outstanding performance, Sean was also selected to perform at the Winners Concert, which took place on 31 May 2025 at the Government House Ballroom. It was a truly special opportunity for him to share his music in such a prestigious setting.

Congratulations Sean on your achievements.

At Caladenia, we love showcasing our students’ sporting achievements and events, as well as any other interests that they would like to share with our Caladenia Community.

If you have something your child would like to share, please email along with photos to the email address below:

Justine.arnold@education.wa.edu.au

Class News

Kindy Room 43 – Miss Ellis

We have had a fantastic start to the term in Kindy. Term 2 has been all about community helpers!

This week we had our AWCH incursion and we had a wonderful time! We learnt all about what happens in hospitals. We engaged in an interactive mat session along with stories and videos about going to hospital. We had the opportunity to dress up as doctors and nurses and role-play with hospital play sets which enhanced our understanding about what happens when you or your family go to the hospital. We really enjoyed having a go using some of the medical equipment such as bandages, crutches and wheelchairs.

Thank you AWCH for visiting Kindy. Our incursion was so much fun!!

Year 4 Room 34 – Miss East

Room 34 students have been diving into the world of measurement, developing their understanding of perimeter and how to calculate it using standard units. To apply their learning in a fun and creative way, the students designed their very own Perimeter People – figures drawn on grid paper that represented themselves!

Using the grid as a guide, each student carefully created a pixel-style person and then used their knowledge of perimeter to calculate the total distance around their figure. This engaging activity not only reinforced the concept of perimeter but also encouraged accuracy, spatial awareness, and critical thinking through problem-solving.

The classroom was buzzing with excitement as students proudly shared their colourful creations and compared measurements. We loved combining creativity with Maths and proving that learning can be both educational and fun!

P&C and Community News

W.A. NAPLAN TOP 20 SCHOOLS – 2024
Centre School for Excellence 2023-2026

Great Students, Great Staff, Great Parents, Building Greater Communities

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you to all those that participated in the Walk to School Day we had last Friday (16 May). Specialist, Administration and other staff were out and about sharing stickers and tattoos with children to congratulate them in celebrating ‘Walk to School Day’. As mentioned in last week’s assembly, Walk to School Day started in NSW in 1999, and then went nationally in 2004, so this year we celebrated 26 years since it began. Walk to School Day encourages road safety and physical health as well as the environmental benefits. The weather was beautiful and perfect for a nice stroll to school.

As part of our Protective Behaviours and Health program, Caladenia welcomed Constable Care to our school on Monday, 12 and Tuesday, 13 May. All classes went along to either the Fun Scary Puppet Show or the Frenemies interactive performances. These topics support students to develop their understanding as well as promoting safety and well-being. The students all enjoyed the shows and learnt some valuable points.

I’d like to offer my special thanks to our staff on the English Committee for organising our participation in the National Simultaneous Storytime on Wednesday 21 May. As you would be aware that as a school, this year – Reading is a focus – and to participate in these types of events, encourages our children to value reading and the importance of reading for pleasure. I’d also like to thank Mr Terry Healy MLA for donating a copy of ‘The Truck Cat’ by Deborah Frenkel and Danny Snell, as well as reading the story to our Kindy classes. The children enjoyed the book greatly.

In conjunction with National Simultaneous Storytime, we held our first ‘Book on a Blanket’ event for our Kindy and PP families. On Wednesday, 21 May all the Kindy B and PP classes enjoyed some time in the play area reading with their families. On Thursday, 22 May the Kindy A classes got to share a book as well. Thank you, parents, for coming along and sharing a book with your children. The children all enjoyed having a little more time with their parents and to read a book together.

As a school we also want to send a huge THANK YOU! to our wonderful P&C. It is P&C Day on Friday, 23 May. In our Junior Assembly this week we invited members of our P&C to come along so that as a school we could thank them for the amazing job that they do for our school. The money they raise from events they organise goes to items that the school needs. We are privileged to have been able to have such great support over the years from our P&C and our school community. Thank you!

Traffic Flow and Parking

Thank you again to all parents using the Kiss ‘n’ Drive on Bushy Gardens. The traffic seems to be flowing much better. If we can keep the cars all going in the same direction, it makes it much easier and quicker to collect your children.

Parents, please remember that the City of Gosnells request that all school families observe the traffic rules around the school:

·         Remember that the Kiss and Drive is not a parking zone

·         The City of Gosnells Ranger will be in attendance from time to time and will issue infringement notices.

·         Please do not carry out dangerous driving around the school or park your car where you shouldn’t – please do not be the person who, for the sake of a few minutes of patience, creates an accident outside our wonderful school.

·         It is only for a short twenty minutes in the mornings and afternoons that we need to be super careful, polite and patient.

Reminder

·         We have a staff development day on Friday 30th May – students do not attend school on this day

·         There is a public holiday on Monday 2nd June

Thoughts: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr Seuss

Kind regards,

Paula Asplin

Principal

School News

WA Student Assistance Payment for 2025

 Families, please remember to claim your WA Student Assistance Payment for 2025. Claims are currently open, and they close on 4 July 2025. Parents and carers of eligible students can claim $150 for each primary school or Kindergarten student. To claim simply go through ServiceWA, we have also included the link for the WA Student Assistance Payment Claim form below. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please contact the office for further information and/or assistance.

WA Student Assistance Payment

Intervention Program
This year, Caladenia Primary School has been reviewing and adjusting what we do as a school We have also made adjustments to our intervention program to support students in need. Through the measures that we have instigated this year; we have been able to refine our targeted teaching to support students further.
We are in the process of upskilling our staff, as well as creating resources to provide support to students where needed. Classroom teachers will be in contact with parents and carers of students receiving further support to share our focus plans with you.
If you have any queries, please talk with your child’s classroom teacher or contact the office.
As a school, we are continuing to support each and every child’s learning through refining our teaching focus and practices.

Kindy 2026

If you have a child born between 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022, you are now eligible to enrol for Kindy in 2026. Application forms can be collected from the front office. All applications are by appointment only and accepted between 9am and 2pm. Please call 6258 9350 to book.

Student Achievement 

Joseph in Year 2, won 3rd Place in the Grade 5 Group in The Fremantle Eisteddfod on May 13 performing Tarentelle Op 123 No 10 composed by Cecile Chaminade. What a wonderful achievement Joseph. Congratulations.

At Caladenia, we love showcasing our students’ sporting achievements and events, as well as any other interests that they would like to share with our Caladenia Community.

If you have something your child would like to share, please email along with photos to the email address below:

Justine.arnold@education.wa.edu.au

National Simultaneous Storytime

This week we had the pleasure of having Terry Healy MLA come to visit the Kindergarten classes to read the story, “The Truck Cat.” This book was also kindly donated by Terry to our school library. The students listened attentively to the story and enjoyed meeting Terry. We thank him kindly for his visit to our school and his generous book donation to the Library.

Class News

Year 3 Room 35

Welcome to Room 35’s Chicken Farm!
We’ve been very busy looking at the well being of chickens and learning about what they need to be happy, healthy and productive in egg production. After looking at the differences between raising chickens in the cage system, barn system or the free range system, we designed our own chicken pens. The end result – Room 35’s chickens are definitely happy and healthy – with a little added sparkle too!

Year 5 Room 11

Room 11 Writers Shine with “Show, Don’t Tell”
In Room 11, Year 5, we’ve been diving into the art of “show, don’t tell” to make our narratives stronger and more exciting. Instead of simply telling our readers what’s happening, we’re learning to paint vivid pictures with our words—bringing characters, settings, and emotions to life.
Our classroom walls are proudly lined with our work, each piece reflecting our growth as writers. We enjoy sharing our stories aloud, celebrating each other’s creativity and ideas. Every day, something amazing happens—whether it’s a powerful sentence, a surprising twist, or a moment that makes us all stop and smile.
The storytelling in Room 11 is more than just writing—it’s about connecting, imagining, and inspiring each other to be our best.

P&C and Community News

Before and After school Daycare Centres

TheirCare – 1300 072 410 info@theircare.com.au

Cuddles – 6243 6750 canningvale@cuddlesearlylearning.com.au

Kids Active – 0450 021 135 info@kidsactive.com.au

Shining Kidz – 2685 6199 www.shiningkidz.com.au

Saturday Soccer School

Nick Corrigan here from the local soccer schools on Saturday mornings in Southern River.

I have a special offer for the pupils of your school.
Half price for the remaining 7 weeks of this term’s soccer program at Bletchley Park Primary School, Balfour Street, Southern River.

Also, we are looking to expand our after-school soccer sessions.
These are one-hour, 8 week terms specifically for the pupils of your school.
It gives parents that extra hour to get to school to pick up their children.

We have been running these sessions for many years at several schools.
Please check out my website.
Click on Private venues, and it will show you where we run such programs.
www.ncsoccerschools.com.au

W.A. NAPLAN TOP 20 SCHOOLS – 2024
Centre School for Excellence 2023-2026

Great Students, Great Staff, Great Parents, Building Greater Communities

Welcome Back!

Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you all have had a wonderful break and welcome back to Term 2. The children have settled back into their classroom routines well and are enjoying their learning. In talking with students and families, it was very nice to hear all the wonderful adventures our students experienced on their break.

I begin by saying I am honoured to be the principal of this great school for Term 2, and I look forward to working with you all, in supporting our school community. I am a visible leader who is present throughout the school – in classrooms and playgrounds during the day as well as attending evening events. I truly care about our school and its community, and I want to provide the best possible educational experience for our students, and I will do this through positivity, fairness and consistency.

I want to start this term by giving a big THANK YOU to Mr Paul Bottcher and all our staff for all their efforts last term.

Mr Bottcher provided the school with knowledge and guidance, and for this we are truly grateful. Teachers worked hard in organising the learning for the students, the office staff and other support staff also worked hard in supporting the teachers and students as well as keeping the school looking immaculate.

I would also like to thank the P&C for the great job they have done last term in organising the Bunny Breakfast, as well as the Democracy Sausage Sizzle for both the State and Federal Elections.

To families, I want to also say thank you for the support you give us. You make a difference in our ability to succeed at Caladenia, and we appreciate all that you do.

As advised in an earlier newsletter, we have had a few staffing changes for this term:
• Ms Marie Lynch is replacing Ms Lee-Anne Bartlett in Yr 2 for the first 6 weeks of Term 2
• Ms Caitlin Taylor is replacing Ms Victoria Avery in Yr 5
• Ms Kira Sunkar is replacing Ms Angela O’Malley in Kindy
• Ms Darcy Pickett is replacing Ms Kira Sunkar’s role
We have a lot organised for this term and hope that you can participate. Please see some other information below:

School Events

This term, we are planning for the:

• Constable Care visit on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th May
• Walk to school day on Friday 16th May
• Kindy and PP Book on a Blanket on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd May
• National Simultaneous Storytime Wednesday 21st May
• Kindy Hospital Incursion on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th June
• P&C Disco on Friday 13th June
• School Cross Country event on Tuesday 17th June
• Year 5 Scitech Excursion Monday 23rd June
• Interschool Winter Carnival (Yr 5 & 6 students only) Friday 27th June
• Year 4 & MAC Fremantle Prison Excursion on Monday 23rd June and Friday 4th July
• School Photos on Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd July

More information will be coming about these events soon. Another busy Term for all!

Traffic Flow
Thank you to all parents using the Kiss ‘n’ Drive on Bushy Gardens, we are having success with parents using the Kiss ‘n’ Drive correctly and it is working much better.
Parents, please remember that the City of Gosnells request that all school families observe the traffic rules around the school:
• The Kiss ‘n’ Drive is not a parking zone – do not park in a Kiss ‘n’ Drive bay, or on Bushy Gardens in front of the Visitors parking
• Do not park on the footpath on the other side of the Kiss ‘n’ Drive
• Do not park on the wrong side of the road
• Always be aware of children on roads and footpaths
• Observe the 40km/hour speed zone around the school – it is there to protect our children

Reminder

• We have a staff development day on Friday 30th May – students do not attend school on this day
• There is a public holiday on Monday 2nd June
• This is a 10-week term and ends on Friday 4th July for all students and staff
• Term 3 is also a 10-week term – it starts on Monday 21st July and finishes on Friday 26th September

Thoughts: “In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.” – Les Brown

I look forward to seeing you around the school and catching up with you this term.

Kind regards,

Paula Asplin
Principal

School News

WA Student Assistance Payment for 2025

Families, please remember to claim your WA Student Assistance Payment for 2025. Claims are currently open, and they close on 4 July 2025. Parents and carers of eligible students can claim $150 for each primary school or Kindergarten student. To claim simply go through ServiceWA, we have also included the link for the WA Student Assistance Payment Claim form below. If you are experiencing any difficulties, please contact the office for further information and/or assistance.
WA Student Assistance Payment

In-house School Review – DIBELS and PAT Assessments

Caladenia Primary School is continually looking into and better understanding the development of students’ academic skills over time. Monitoring the development of students’ progress allows us as a school to support students in their individual development, as well as ensure that we have continuity within our teaching and learning instruction from year level to year level and across the school.

This year we have introduced two new measures for monitoring progress across all year levels in the school, throughout the year. We have introduced Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), which provides information about students’ capabilities across several different aspects in reading. It measures whether each student is making adequate progress or requires additional support.

The second measure we have introduced is Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) for both Reading and Mathematics. PAT for Reading and Mathematics are reliable assessment tools that are research based and have continued to be developed and built on over a significant period of time. The data from these assessments will provide us with information about what students: know, understand and can do at a particular point in time. They are adaptive which is in line with the NAPLAN assessments conducted in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 and they will provide a highly detailed picture of student’s achievement and where teaching is needed most.
As a school, we will continue to reflect on our assessment tools and support students’ learning through our teaching.

Attendance and Student Growth

We all enjoy the holidays and the time that we get to spend with our families is valuable. Whilst valuing family time, regular school attendance is strongly linked to student growth and improved achievement. Students who attend regularly tend to build relationships with peers and teachers, develop crucial social skills and experience a sense of belonging. Regular attendance also promotes the development of important life skills such as responsibility, time management and the ability to overcome challenges. Good attendance habits in all years, including the early years of school, can lead to improved long-term academic outcomes and future opportunities. Studies also consistently show, that the higher the attendance rate students tend to perform better academically and are more likely to succeed.

Missing school can disrupt learning patterns and make it harder for students to grasp concepts. Attending school every day goes far and beyond: it instils a sense of importance of commitment. Each day missed widens the gap and can make it stressful, disheartening and challenging for students. Fostering an environment that values education begins at home. As parents, your approach and attitude toward school and learning, significantly influences your child’s perspective on attendance. This includes discussing the immediate benefits of learning new things, the excitement of making friends and developing a routine. We are grateful for the support that our families give our school and in understanding the importance of regular attendance. If you require further support in helping your child overcome obstacles related to regular attendance, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Our applications for Kindy 2026 are now open.

If you have a child born between 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022, you are now eligible to enrol for Kindy in 2026.

Application forms can be collected from the front office. All applications are by appointment only and accepted between 9am and 2pm. Please call 6258 9350 to book.

SCHOOL APP

Our school App is called School Stream and you can download
it for free. It is an essential resource for parents to have as we use the app for all communication. It is also advised to keep your notifications setting turned on as, at times, it may be the only way the school can communicate.

Scan the barcode or Download the APP.

ANZAC Day

This year, our school community came together to honour ANZAC Day with meaningful events that reflected the spirit of remembrance and respect. Both junior and senior assemblies were held, where students sang commemorative songs and paid tribute to the sacrifices of Australian and New Zealand servicemen and women. A central feature of the assemblies was a stunning art display, showcasing a wreath and a horse adorned with student-made poppies, which remained on display as a symbol of collective remembrance. Families and school community members were warmly invited to attend these events. Across classrooms, students engaged in age-appropriate ANZAC activities such as Anzac Ted, soldier silhouettes and thoughtful acrostic poems.

Walk to School Day

Daycare Centres

The following day care centres provide before and after care for Caladenia students. If you require these services, please contact the numbers below.

TheirCare – 1300 072 410                Cuddles – 6243 6750

info@theircare.com.au                                      canningvale@cuddlesearlylearning.com.au

Kids Active – 0450 021 135              Shining Kidz – 2685 6199

info@kidsactive.com.au                                 www.shiningkidz.com.au

Student Achievement

In the last week of Term 1 Carter in Year 6, travelled to NSW to compete in the U12 Armidale Rugby Carnival.
Carter’s Kalamunda Rugby team has been undefeated in WA for the last 4 years so wanted the challenge of competing against teams from over east.
Carter was presented his playing jersey by Western Force player Tom Robertson. Carter and his team won all 5 games they played in the Carnival so took out the win in their division.
It was a great experience for him to be able to tour with his team. Congratulations Carter.

♥ At Caladenia, we love showcasing our students’ sporting achievements and events, as well as any other interests that they would like to share with our Caladenia Community.
If you have something your child would like to share, please email along with photos to the email address below:
Justine.arnold@education.wa.edu.au ♥

Kindy and Pre Primary 

Class News

Pre Primary Room 1 – Mrs Harper

This week the Pre-Primary students have been super busy using our new skills, to read write and create lots of surprises for Mum’s on Sunday.

On Monday we started with talking and writing about why we love our Mummy, as well as creating beautiful handwritten cards. We then used our patterning skills, painting skills and drawing skills to create individualised gifts for our wonderful Mums. Finishing off celebrating our Mum’s, we had the opportunity to ‘go shopping’ at the P&C Mother’s Day Stall to choose something little on our own. We hope you enjoy your surprises on Sunday.

Happy Mother’s Day to all our amazing Mum’s for Sunday!

Year 6 Room 17 – Mr Griffiths

In Room 17, we have been learning about the design and technologies process as part of our Technologies learning area. Students were challenged to design and create a functional rice container, considering key elements such as purpose, sustainability, and user needs. Students explored materials, evaluated design ideas, and applied problem-solving skills to develop innovative and practical solutions. It’s been fantastic to see their creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking in action as they moved through the planning, creating and evaluating stages of the project.

We’ve also been exploring the topic of ‘Above and Below Sea Level’. Our students used their research skills to investigate the depths of the ocean and the heights of space to compare the extreme environments.

P&C and Community News

🎉 What is the P&C? 🎉

Parents & Citizens – Supporting Our School, Together!
We’re a parent-run committee that raises money to give back to the school – making it a better place for our kids to learn and grow.
✨ What we do:
We organise fun events throughout the year like:
🐰 Bunny Breakfast
💐 Mother’s and Father’s Day Stalls
💃 School Discos
🌈 Colour Run
🍧 Icy Pole Days
These events create awesome memories and raise money for important school projects!

💡 What we have helped pay for in past years:
✅ iPads for Kindy and Pre-Primary
✅ Year 2–3 playground
✅ Covered walkways
✅ Year 6 graduation gifts

🎯 What we are fundraising for now:
🏕️ Gazebos for school sports events and carnivals – changing the way the school shows up in the community
🎯 In the pipeline:
👕 Subsidising Year 6 leavers shirts for the first time ever

📈 Our impact in numbers 2024 highlights:
💵 Revenue raised: $36,000
🏦 Profit: $15,000
🎯 School donations: $5,000
2025 so far:
💵 Revenue raised: $9,500
🏦 Profit: $4,500
✍️ Funds committed: $7,700

👥 Meet your 2025 committee:
President: Leanna Roos
Vice-President: Yvette Dunn-Moses
Treasurer: Stacey Walker
Secretary: Tania Martellotta
Executive Members: Kelli Ritchie, Natasha Lammas, Prateek Godika, Sophia Koa, Paula Asplin

🙌 Why we need you!
These events don’t happen without parent volunteers. Even a small time commitment makes a big difference!
💬 Got time to help? Want to learn more?
📧 Email us at: CaladeniaPandC@outlook.com

👉 Scan here to sign up:
👉 Or visit: https://volunteersignup.org/FLTMQ

Your support is greatly appreciated by the school community

🗓️ Upcoming P&C Events – We Need You! 🗓️

✨ Coming later in 2025
✅ Disco
✅ ECE Disco
✅ Father’s Day Stalls

The next issue of book club is due May 16, orders are online only

Mother’s Day Stalls

The P&C held their annual Mother’s Day stalls on 7th and 8th May. It was heart warming to see so many smiling faces, excited to buy their mum or other loved ones a special gift. The stalls were a resounding success. Thank you to the student executives and parent volunteers to helped out, and to all parents and students who made a purchase. We will be holding our last stall after school on Friday 9th May in the undercover area.

Community Notices

W.A. NAPLAN TOP 20 SCHOOLS – 2024

Centre School for Excellence 2023 -2026

Great Students, Great Staff, Great Parents, Building Greater Communities

Dear Parents and Carers,

                                                                                  Thanks
I begin today’s newsletter by saying thank you, for allowing me to be a small part of your Caladenia Primary School community and, farewell, as I return to retirement for the third time in less than a year. Spending the last two terms here has been an extremely memorable “book end” to a career/vocation as a Teacher, School Administrator and Principal spanning across 45 years since 1981. I will treasure the memories I have of this wonderful school.
Working in education can be, on occasions, a very tough job. It does also have its very special moments where we are acknowledged by those we have educated. These moments are the extrinsic rewards that maintain our passion for our job.
I am honoured to be able to share one such moment that occurred on Tuesday 1st April at 6:28pm, via an email from a former Caladenia student to one of our Teaching staff. The student and teacher have allowed me to publish a slightly redacted version of their communications. This is one of those very special moments.

Dear (Teacher),
I hope that you still remember me and you yourself are doing well.
If you don’t, I was in your year 6 class of 2022.
Time flies so fast, and it feels like high school is a never-ending adventure. Looking back, year 7 was one of the most interesting years of my life. Adapting to high school life is very hard, but we all get there eventually, but it takes time for everyone to click. The jump from years 6 to 7 is massive, but year 8 was a whole different ballgame. Our tests at Perth Mod were much harder than in year 7, and it is the true test for high school, as you have already been there for a year and the expectations rise drastically. Despite the sleepless nights I had in year 8, looking back it was very fun and definitely a big year for my development physically and mentally. Stepping into year 9 has been difficult, as now we are closer to the end and are perceived as one of the older kids, but I will never forget year 6, one of the best years of my life and the most nostalgic as well as interesting.
Time truly flies.
I’ve heard everything at Caladenia and how so many things have changed, but I still believe that it is a great primary school, and there is no other one that I could ever imagine would give me the same joyous experiences.
Hope you’re doing ok and remember to never give up (as you taught me on countless occasions.)
Lots of love,
(Former Caladenia student)

Dear (Former Caladenia student)
What I hear in your email is your resilience and ability to be flexible in the face of each year’s new challenges. Knowing they will present themselves and being ready to act appropriately to get through your year being the best version of yourself is key. I’m glad that Caladenia has in some ways helped ready you for life in general. It sounds like you are doing well.

Yes, things have changed here but it is still the wonderful nurturing Caladenia that you have experienced.

(Teacher)

THOUGHT: Maintain your passion for your job
“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work”. Aristotle
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. Confucius
Have a great school vacation. Caladenia Primary School eagerly awaits your safe return to Term 2 on Monday 28th April.

Paul Bottcher

Principal (about to retire again)

School News

Our applications for Kindy 2026 are now open.

If you have a child born between 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022, you are now eligible to enrol for Kindy in 2026.

Application forms can be collected from the front office. All applications are by appointment only and accepted between 9am and 2pm. Please call 6258 9350 to book.

School Stream App

Our school App is called School Stream and you can download
it for free. It is an essential resource for parents to have as we use the app for all communication. It is also advised to keep your notifications setting turned on as, at times, it may be the only way the school can communicate.

Scan the barcode below or Download
the School Stream app today.

Harmony Week

In week 8 of Term 1, our school came together to celebrate Harmony Week with a range of exciting
events! A huge thank you to our wonderful school community for participating and making this week so special.
Tuesday 25th March – Wear Orange Day
We kicked off our Harmony Week celebrations with ‘Wear Orange Day.’ Students and staff were invited to wear something orange, the official colour of Harmony Week, which symbolises social communication, meaningful conversations, and mutual respect. It was wonderful to see our school filled with a sea of orange, celebrating inclusivity and diversity!
Wednesday 26th March – ‘Everyone Belongs’ Family Event
From 3-6 pm, families, students, and staff gathered for our ‘Everyone Belongs’ family event. It was a fantastic opportunity to relax, connect, and enjoy a variety of delicious cuisines from food trucks, including Vietnamese, Indian, ice cream, and more! The evening was filled with laughter, great conversations, and a strong sense of community.
Thursday 27th March – Kindy Traditional Dress Day
Our Kindy students embraced the beauty of cultural diversity by dressing in their traditional attire for the day. It was heartwarming to see the pride in our young learners as they showcased their cultural heritage.
Friday 28th March – Harmony Day Assembly & Harmony Tree
We concluded the week with our Harmony Day assembly, where students and staff dressed in their cultural attire. Parents were invited to view our beautiful Harmony Tree, adorned with leaves representing each individual’s culture, demonstrating the incredible diversity within our school. One of the highlights of the assembly was the much-anticipated Harmony video created by Mrs. Witt. With a few giggles along the way, we enjoyed seeing our students and staff star in this heartwarming video!
Harmony Week was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and embrace our multicultural community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this week a success!

Caladenia Tree of Harmony

Harmony Week Visual Art Installation 2025

This year for Harmony Week each student celebrated the theme of Everyone Belongs by decorating an individual leaf. Students created drawings to represent different aspects of their own cultural backgrounds and produced some wonderful designs bursting with vibrant colours.

All the leaves were then brought together over two days and placed on to the giant 3D Tree installation that was set up in the centre of school to proudly celebrate every culture that makes up the wonderful environment, we as a whole school are very proud to call Caladenia.

Harmony Week is a wonderful celebration and acknowledgement of the beautiful cultural diversity we have here in Australia, of different cultures living, working and playing together in harmony.
Individually each leaf grows. Side by side each branch forms and all together a beautiful tree blossoms for everyone to enjoy.
Thank you to all our wonderful staff and students from Kindy to year 6 for working together on our beautiful Tree of Harmony. This has been my favourite Visual Art whole School project to date.

Kind regards

Ms Ewing.

Interschool Summer Carnival

Well done on a fantastic Summer Carnival!
A big congratulations to everyone who took part and managed to power through the strong winds and rain last Friday! It was incredible to see students competing with enthusiasm, proudly representing their schools, and showing excellent sportsmanship.
Results were as follows:

Volleyball A division 2nd B Division 3rd
Tee ball A division 2nd B Division 3rd
Cricket A division1st A division (Team 2) 3rd B division 3rd
Basketball A division 1st A division (Team 2) 4th B division 3rd

A special thank you to all the staff and parent volunteers who helped throughout the day, ensuring the carnival ran smoothly.
Kind regards,
Lachlan Bailey/Brent McCurrach/Tracy Holmes

Student Achievement

At Caladenia, we love showcasing our students’ sporting achievements and events, as well as any other interests that they would like to share with our Caladenia Community.
If you have something your child would like to share, please email along with photos to the email address below:
Justine.arnold@education.wa.edu.au

Class News

Year 1 Room 10 – Miss Lewis

It is hard to believe that Term 1 is almost over! To kick off the Easter celebrations, the students in Room 10 were delighted to discover small chicks in their trays. They were given the opportunity to adopt a chick for the week, choosing a name and creating a personal signature for it. Additionally, we read the story How to Catch the Easter Bunny, which inspired the students to brainstorm and compose their own procedures for capturing the Easter Bunny. The festivities continue as the students have designed and compiled a list of materials needed to create their own Easter or holiday hats, which they will construct and showcase later this week, tying in nicely with our design and technologies program.

In keeping with the Easter theme, students have been enhancing their understanding of addition and subtraction in mathematics, applying these skills through a variety of engaging Easter-related activities. Room 10 students have also refined their science senses knowledge by completing a senses activity of what they can feel, smell, hear, see and taste at Easter time. Hot cross buns and chocolate eggs were both popular choices for all our senses!

Year 2 Room 16 – Miss Sheed

On Tuesday this week, Room 16 visited Kalamunda History Village as part of our HASS program. We learnt about how the first pioneers in Kalamunda lived, worked and went to school. We got to play with old toys, sort the fruit for the market and even help with the household chores- the old way! We had a great time living in the past!

Year 6 Room 37 – Mrs Weissflog

Yr 6 have been learning the cycle of Brainstorm-Plan-Make-Test-Evaluate during our Design Technology lessons this term. Students were tasked with creating a step-by-step plan to use our Strawbees to make a 3D shape.

Students knew what the parts of Strawbees were and how they worked, but were not allowed to make the shape as they wrote their plan. The challenge was in creating exact steps to write in their plan. Once the plan was created there would be no adjustments made while they were making their shape following only the steps they had written as they were written… exactly!

Although most plans looked great and students were confident in this ‘easy’ task, there was a quick realisation that what you had in your head as a step, was not translated onto the plan as a written step. In this case many 3D shapes went… pear shaped 😊 Room 37 have enjoyed the process of laughing and learning especially from the initial epic fails.

P&C and Community News

P&C Raffle and Bunny Breakfast

Easter Raffle Winners:
Congratulations to the following winners of the P&C Easter Raffle.

Bunny Breakfast

The P&C held another successful ‘Bunny Breakfast’ this year! Many families took the opportunity of enjoying a hot cross bun and a fruit drink before school commenced on Tuesday morning.
Lots of families and staff volunteered to ensure that everyone enjoyed the morning event. The Easter raffle was well supported with lots of families purchasing tickets in the hope of winning one of the amazing prizes donated by our families. It was great to see so many families join in and start the day a little differently to how we start most school mornings. The school wishes to thank the P&C for all their efforts and enthusiasm in hosting such a great event. We feel fortunate to have such great parents support our school.
The money the P&C are raising is to go towards gazebos for our school and interschool carnivals.

Wishing all our Caladenia Families a very safe and happy Easter break.

Term 2 commences for students and staff on Monday 28th April.