From the Principal's Desk

We have had a very busy start to Term 3.  Welcome to our new families and welcome back to our existing families. Currently, we have 676 students attending Burrendah PS. 

2022 Student Enrolment

On the 13th August, I will be submitting our projected enrolments for 2022. Having accurate information will help develop our classroom structure to match our school needs for next year. If you know your child will not be attending Burrendah next year, can you contact Reception on 9266 6200 or burrendah.ps@education.wa.edu.au  to inform them of this or let your child’s teacher know. 

WA Education Awards

Burrendah School Board has voted unanimously to nominate Burrendah PS in this year’s WA Primary School of the Year Education Awards. It takes a whole school community working together to achieve the outstanding results Burrendah has consistently achieved over the years. We know our school is special and have taken this opportunity to share what makes Burrendah unique with the judges. Our nomination was submitted last week.  We will know if we are one of the finalists on Tuesday 31st August. I would also like to acknowledge Miss Lee Tee Lim who was recognised by her peers with a nomination for the WA Education Assistant of the Year in her role as an Ethnic Assistant. Miss Lim is an integral part of our EAL/D team who goes above and beyond to help many of our families, particularly those whose first language is not English. For more information regarding these awards select the link below.

WA Primary School of the Year - Department of Education

WA Education Assistant of the Year - Department of Education

Front Entrance Upgrade

Our Front Entrance upgrade is progressing slowly. We have sought the advice of an arborist as the tree roots are in a larger area than expected. This has meant a slight change to the original design to ensure the roots of the tree do not impact the paving or garden bed. This project is now estimated to finish by the end of this term. Entry/exit during the day into the school from Pinetree Gully Road is by our kindergarten gate until the front entrance project is completed. The kindergarten gate now has an opener at the top of the gate. Please use this gate to enter/exit the school when the double early childhood gates are closed.  As our Kindergarten and Pre-primary children use this area, please close the kindergarten gate after entering/exiting the school during school hours. 

COVID Phase 5

As we are now in COVID Phase 5 the pre-primary playground can once again be used by students up to Year 2 after school for a play date until 3:30pm. Parents are to supervise their own children. We are now able to have food brought into school made at home, e.g., for celebrations such as birthdays. Birthday cakes should have minimum icing. The Department of Education policy does not permit “red light foods”. Staff are not able to distribute any lollies; chocolates or potato chips to students for any reason. See the WA Canteen Association for more information: https://www.waschoolcanteens.org.au/ 

NAIDOC

Last Friday we held our NAIDOC Assembly. While we have less than 1% of Aboriginal students we recognise the importance of the Aboriginal culture to our school by celebrating this special day. Mrs Beatriz Clark did a fabulous job coordinating this event with a team consisting of teachers and education assistants.  Students who participated from across the school to provide dramatic storytelling were terrific. As usual, our whole school singing conducted by Ms Coleman and sung in Noongar was superb.  Dr Richard Walley presented a painting to display in our Reception. Dr Walley has a close association with Burrendah as a past parent. He is also an elder who lives in Willetton. Dr Walley described his painting as “Learning and Travelling”. The world, a symbol in our logo, and the black swans represent learning while travelling through life. You can view Dr Walley’s wonderful artwork in Reception.

Thank you P & C Day

Last Friday was P&C Thank you Day. It was pleasing to see the parents enjoy the morning tea staff provided to celebrate the wonderful work of our P&C. Some Year 6 students entertained those attending with a rap they had written which celebrated all of the wonderful ways our P&C was so special. Mrs Ritchie, our P&C President, spoke to the whole school as part of this celebration at our Assembly.

Staff update

We have had some changes to our staffing this term. Mrs Nicole King is now on maternity leave. Mrs Vogels from Room 16a is teaching in the Kindergarten (Room 13) in Mrs King’s role on Wednesdays as well as teaching in Room 16a early in the week.

I am on long service leave each Thursday for the remainder of the year.  Mr Philip Bradshaw will be the Principal on Thursdays.  

We have appointed a new Deputy Principal, Mrs Kelly Lindley. Mrs Lindley will commence on Monday 2nd August in a permanent full-time appointment. Part of Mrs Kelly’s role will be the Deputy Principal for the Kindergarten to Year 1 cohort.

Faction Assemblies

Our Faction Assemblies will recommence from tomorrow, fortnightly from 8:50am.  These assemblies while mainly for students will have some items that parents are welcome to watch.  If your child is involved in an item, the teacher organising this item will contact the families involved. If the weather is too wet to hold the Faction Assembly in the undercover area, the assembly will be cancelled on the day. Any items will still be presented to parents but will be in an alternative inside venue such as the school hall or music room.  To promote our Faction Carnival later in the term I encourage all students to wear their faction shirts on Fridays.

Open Class 

This Semester, different classrooms will be opened each fortnight from 8:30-9:15am on Friday mornings. The  Open Class will replace our Community Assemblies.  Our first Open Class is in our Year 6 classrooms on Friday 6th August. I would like to acknowledge all of our wonderful teachers who have agreed to commence Open Class before the bell. Classrooms opening  early is to help working parents/guardians to be able to pop in and see their child’s classroom work before going to work themselves.