W.A. NAPLAN TOP 20 SCHOOLS – 2024
Centre School for Excellence 2023-2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
Thanks
To our wonderful P&C Team who perform magical events for us all to enjoy, year in and year out. I congratulate Leanna Roos (President) and Yvette Dunn-Moses (Vice-President) along with their Executive for taking on Leadership positions for 2025 and beyond.
The 2024 year was marvellous with many events carried out by the P&C – they have helped build a culture of cooperation and support in our community. Thank you so much.
A big thanks to outgoing Michelle Morley and Chelsea Walker for their part in shaping the P&C team and support for the children in this school. Thank you, Michelle and Chelsea.
School Changes
I begin by saying that I have been honoured to have been able to undertake the role of Principal at Caladenia Primary School, a school of great students, great staff, great parents, working together in building greater communities.
I am returning to retirement (again) at the end of the April school holidays. This will require some staffing changes that I have discussed and confirmed with our Assistant Director of Education at the regional office. Our intent is to maintain stability of leadership without too much interruption to the great routines and relationships established at our school.
I am pleased to announce the following changes:
· Mrs Paula Asplin will move in to the role of Principal, at this point in time, until the end of Term 2. Mrs Asplin will work alongside me for Weeks 8 to 10 of Term 1, enabling a thorough handover of responsibilities
· Mrs Victoria Avery will move in to the role of Deputy Principal in Week 8 of Term 1 until the end of Term 2. Mrs Sonia Joseph will cover Mrs Avery’s Year 5 class until we can appoint Ms Caitlin Taylor, hopefully for the start of Week 10, Term 1. Ms Taylor completed her final student teacher placement with Mrs Avery (Year 5) in Term 4 last year and, therefore, is very familiar with the Caladenia approach to teaching, and our classroom routines and expectations.
· Mrs Brylie Clements will be going on Maternity leave in Term 2 commencing around Week 3. Mrs Angela O’Malley will move in to the role of Deputy Principal for the remainder of Term 2. Miss Kira Sunkar will take on the role of K3A and K3B teacher, replacing Mrs O’Malley. Miss Sunkar will be replaced by Ms Darcy Pickett, a teacher with 3 years of experience in early childhood education in the North West of WA. We have been lucky to have Ms Pickett join us as a relief teacher since the start of 2025. We know she will move in to Miss Sunkar’s current roles with ease.
Traffic Flow and Parking
It is extremely unfortunate that I need to repeat this message again to parents.
Unfortunately, on numerous occasions over the past 2 weeks, I have witnessed, in person and had reports of dangerous driving by some of our parents. Cutting the corner and/or on the wrong side of the road is dangerous at the best of times, but when children are crossing over the intersection of Bushy Gardens, it becomes sheer luck that someone is not killed.
I am at a loss as what to do other than request City of Gosnells Ranger and WAPOL Traffic Police assistance if this parental behaviour continues. Staff at Caladenia are here to educate your children in a safe and protective environment. We are not here to educate parents on road safety, common courtesy, pro-social behaviour and polite respect for others.
Please do not carry out dangerous driving around the school or park where and how you should not – 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.
Our school happenings
· NAPLAN is occurring from Wednesday 12th March to Monday 24th March in several classrooms throughout the school. If you are visiting the school during teaching times, please be aware of the need for silence for these children in Years 3 and 5.
· Harmony Week activities and Assemblies Week 8 (Tuesday – Friday)
· Summer Carnival Day (Year 5 & 6 only) has been scheduled by the South-Central School Sports Assoc. for Friday 4th April and a back-up day for Wednesday 9th April if needed due to weather conditions. More information will come out soon.
· Year 2 Kalamunda Excursions – Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th April (2 classes a day)
· Our ANZAC Day Ceremonies/Assemblies will be held on Thursday 10th April.
A very busy end to Term One!
This is a 10-week term and ends on Friday 11th April for students and Staff.
Term 2 is also an 10-week term – starting on 28th April and ending on 4th July.
THOUGHT: CHANGE
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Barack Obama
Have a great weekend.
Paul Bottcher
Principal
School News
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 below or Download the School Stream app today.
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
What’s happening in our Harmony Week Celebrations!
This year we are celebrating Harmony Day with a week of events! Here is a list of the events we have planned to celebrate Harmony Week.
Tuesday 25th March – Wear Orange Day
Orange is the official colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.
Students and Staff are invited to wear something orange to celebrate Harmony Week.
Wednesday 26th March – ‘Everyone Belongs’
Family Event 3pm to 6pm
Take the night off cooking –bring a picnic rug and come and spend some time with other families from the school community. There are food trucks coming and music to help celebrate our Harmony Week.
Thursday 27th March Year Level Collage Display
All students will create an art piece to prepare a collaborative whole school art display representing Harmony Week ~ Everyone Belongs. Each Year Level will participate in the display and it will be on pin-up boards, which will be placed outside the Undercover Area to celebrate Harmony Week!
Thursday 27th March – K2A & K3A Traditional Dress
As the children in K2A and K3A don’t attend school on Fridays – we are inviting our Kindy students to dress in their Traditional Dress on this day.
Friday 28th March – Harmony Day Assembly
Students and staff are invited to dress in their cultural dress to attend the Harmony Day Assembly. If your country doesn’t have a cultural dress, students are encouraged to wear their country colours, eg, Australia, green and gold.
The Harmony Day Assembly will commence at 8:40am in the Undercover Area.
It is for all classes from PP to Yr 6.
Parents are welcome to attend.
Student Lunches
We are currently experiencing many students who are attending school with no, to little lunch supplied.
School lunch is important for our students as it provides energy throughout the school day, which can impact their focus and assists them in participating actively in classroom activities.
A few ideas to help parents, students and carers are below:
• Ensure the student has enough food for a recess break and lunch, sometimes packing a little extra fruit or vegetables can take away those cravings and perhaps even an extra sandwich or two will fill their little tummies.
• If the student has food that requires a spoon or fork, parents are asked to supply an environmentally safe utensil as the school does not have any student cutlery.
• Add a variety of colours to their lunchboxes for a little fun and excitement.
• Cut sandwiches and fruit into shapes
• When placing canteen orders, please double check you have received your confirmation email and the class room name blocks are correct as many orders are not going through correctly and being misplaced.
Class News
Pre Primary Room 6 – Mrs Haug
This term in Pre-primary we are learning about living things. As part of this topic, we are growing bean plants in class and taking care of them each day. We are learning what plants need to grow, and identifying different parts of the plant. We are also creating a beautiful picture of a flower and attempting to label it correctly.
Year 2 Room 28 – Miss Dos Santos
For Science in Room 28, we are learning how to conduct experiments. We have learned how to make a hypothesis and the types of variables we must consider when doing an experiment. Over the past couple of weeks we have been testing the best amount of sunlight needed to grow peas. Some plants have been given direct sunlight and some indirect sunlight. Our plants are thriving!
Community News
