From the 

Principal's Desk

A WARM WELCOME TO TERM 3

Welcome back to Term 3! I hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable break. As we begin this new term, I am excited about the busy and vibrant weeks ahead.

This term promises to be filled with numerous extracurricular events and activities that will enrich our students' learning experiences and promote valuable opportunities for hands-on learning beyond the classroom. These activities are designed to complement our curriculum and help our students grow in diverse and meaningful ways.

In addition, Term 3 is full of sporting competitions and carnivals, providing a platform for our students to showcase their talents, teamwork, and sportsmanship. These events are always a highlight of the school year, and we look forward to seeing our students participate with enthusiasm and perseverance.

Ahead of a busy term, I am writing to provide some updates and reminders to our school community. Please see the information below.

ROAD SAFETY IN AND AROUND THE SCHOOL 

We have noticed an increase in the number of parents and community members modelling unsafe behaviours, as both drivers and pedestrians, when moving in and around the school. Please note the following:

• Staff carparks located inside school grounds (within the school boundary fence on Castlereagh Close) or that have off-street access (such as Pinetree Gully Road with entry near Room 14) are not for parent and community members use. 
• We are in the process of getting signs and bollards to prevent the use of the carpark on Pinetree Gully Road.
• Please use footpaths where provided and model safe pedestrian behaviours by not walking through the middle of carparks. 

We have noted a few near misses in both carparks and urge our community to keep the safety of both our Burrendah Primary School students and Willetton Senior High School students at the forefront of their thinking during drop off and pick up time. 

SCHOOL UNIFORM

There are a growing number of students wearing black leggings or black tracksuit pants to school. 

Please note: the colour black is not part of our school uniform; students should be wearing navy or dark blue leggings or tracksuit pants. Shortly students wearing black leggings or black tracksuit pants will receive a note reminding them of correct school uniform and the possibility of losing ‘good standing’ points if they continue to be out of uniform on a regular basis. 

SCHOOL SECURITY

After much consideration and weighing up of options, we have decided to lock our school gates on Pinetree Gully Road during school hours. We are doing this to increase the safety of our students and teachers during the school day by ensuring we can monitor any visitors on school grounds. 

This will mean that visitors to the school during the school day will need to use the Castlereagh Close gate to enter and exit. This will enable our school staff to monitor visitors and ensure they make their way directly to our administration building to register their presence on school property. 

KINDERGARTEN ATTENDANCE SCHEDULE 2025

As we start planning for 2025, we are reflecting on our structures and systems to ensure they support our students to get the best possible outcomes. 

We are considering changing the Kindergarten Attendance Schedule to:

Group A – Monday, Tuesday and every second Wednesday (even weeks)

Group B – Thursday, Friday and every second Wednesday (odd weeks)

We believe this change will have the following benefits: 

- More convenient for working parents to schedule with their employers.

- Easier for Kindergarten students to develop routines i.e., rather than attending Kindergarten every second day, they will have continuity in their program with consecutive days. 

- Better for planning lesson sequences, i.e., teachers can plan activities that will follow on from the previous days learning. 

- Great for organisation i.e., teachers currently reset the classroom everyday for a new group. Consecutive days will allow them to set up the classroom for 2-3 days at the beginning of the week and then reset the classroom for 2-3 days at the end of the week. 

We have noted that schools in the surrounding areas are also moving to the above format with Willetton Primary School commencing with this format at the beginning of 2025.

We would like to hear if you have feedback on this proposal. Please email burrendah.ps@education.wa.edu.au if you have any questions or ideas, you would like us to consider before making this change. 

IN TERM 3 2024 BURRENDAH PRIMARY SCHOOL WILL BE GOING PAPERLESS FOR ALL PERMISSION FORMS AND CORRESPONDENCE

In Term 3 2024 Burrendah Primary School will be going PAPERLESS for all permission forms and correspondence.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN?

- All permission forms and correspondence will be distributed to families via Connect (no more paper permission notes in school bags).

- Permission for incursions and excursions will be provided via an electronic link. The link will take you to a Microsoft Form where you will be able to complete your child's details and authorise their participation in incursions and excursions.

- There will be an option to update any Student Medical Information and Emergency Contact Details in the electronic link provided.

- Payment options such as cash and eftpos payments are still available. On the electronic form you will be asked how you will make a payment.

*** The only exception will be permission for Swimming Lessons as the Swim School Requires paper forms. ***

WHY ARE WE MAKING THESE CHANGES?

We are looking to streamline our processes for permission and payments at Burrendah Primary School to make it easier for parents and carers. We hope moving towards more electronic options will support quicker and more effective and efficient ways to collect and collate information as a school.

By 2025, we are also looking to include new payment options that allow parents to direct transfer and use credit card payments rather than cash.

Stay tuned for some exciting changes that will make it easier to work with the school to support your children participating in extracurricular activities.

SCHOOL START TIMES

We have noticed a larger number of students arriving at school at 8.15am. This pattern seems to be more common amongst our older students particularly those in Year 5 and 6.

Whilst we provide supervision in the undercover area from 8.15am, this is only for students who need to arrive at school early as their family has no other alternatives. 

If your child is leaving home early or asking you to arrive at school early because they would like to spend more time with their friends, we would ask that you discourage this. Please note there is no playtime before school.

A good time to arrive at school is between 8.25am and 8.40am. 

For more details see the diagram below. 

We can’t wait to partner with you to make Term 3 an exciting and productive time for everyone.

Warm Regards 

Sheri Evans