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
