Primary School News

From the Head of Primary, Tracey Rogers

It is always a welcome sight to see students and families return to School at the start of a new term. Although the weather cannot decide if Spring is here or not, our students are looking good in their Summer Uniform. 

At our Welcome Back Assembly on day one, we reiterated our key message this year – Work Hard, Be Kind. We continue to experience strong enrolments and the start of Term 4 saw us welcoming many new families and a new staff member. 

Whilst Primary Japanese specialist, Heidi Crawford completes her final studies and professional experience in our Kindergarten Bandicoot Class, we have welcomed teacher Jonathan Palmer into the role of Japanese teacher. A familiar face to many, Mr Palmer has seamlessly stepped into the role. 

Drink Bottles and Hats

Some reminders:

• Please make sure your child has a named water bottle at school every day. Shared drink fountains are not available and so a water bottle is essential for every student, every day.
• Hats are to be worn to and from school in Term 4. Most students have established good habits but a reminder from home would be appreciated.

Thank you for your support with this.

Playgrounds

We are excitedly working on plans to improve our play spaces across the School. Our Pre-Primary and Year 1 playground, damaged by storms last term, will be repaired as soon as possible. I am grateful to the staff and students for their patience whilst this is rectified. 

Plans for improving the play spaces are developing and we look forward to sharing more information with the wider community as it becomes available. I know students will look forward to the upgrades in 2022.

Year 6 PYP Exhibition – From Mrs Currey

As we see the Year 12s graduating from Secondary School, our Year 6 cohort are embarking on the culmination of their learning during the Primary Years in their PYP Exhibition. This entails students demonstrating their agency as learners by co-constructing their own inquiry into an issue or problem of their choice. This year, the students have been asked to consider what they would like the world to be like when they enter it as adults. They have begun by exploring local or global issues that they would like addressed, using the UN Sustainable Development Goals as a starting point. Through a process of inquiry they are required to exhibit the approaches to learning and learner profile attributes they have developed and are assessed on the process of learning over the term. We look forward to sharing snapshots of the process throughout the term.

Primary Assemblies

Our Year 3 cohort are looking forward to hosting the Assembly in Week 3, Friday 29 October. Our last Primary Assembly will be held in Week 4, as part of Orientation Day, and will be the last assembly where Character Quest Awards will be presented. Students will still be able to work towards the next level, with the presentation of certificates in class for the remainder of the term. 

The ELC Nativity and Thanksgiving will be held on Tuesday 7 December at 9:00am. Our Primary Praise and Thanksgiving will take place on Wednesday 8 December at 9:00am. We look forward to seeing you at these events. Please refer to the Whole School Calendar in SEQTA for other end of year events. 

Year 1 Encounter

Last Friday, our Year 1s trekked to Perth Hills Discovery Centre for a long day out! Their resilience in facing the challenges of the day was commendable. Our gratitude to the staff for organising and running this key event. I hope you enjoy the student reflections below. 

On Friday Year 1 went on our Encounter on the bus and I enjoyed the bus ride! When we arrived, our Elder Penny did some face painting and handprint art with us. I painted my face with the Aboriginal symbol for emu. I looked awesome!

After that we walked up the hill and went hunting for animals like kangaroos, emus, lizards and snakes. Then we went on a sensory walk which was the best because we were blindfolded and had to find our way around over and under obstacles. I made it to the end with Seona.

Finally, we went home on the bus and I was so tired that I fell asleep.

- Cason Miao, Year 1

On Friday we left  to go to Perth Hills Discovery Centre on the bus. I felt excited because I live in the bush as well and I am used to that.

When we arrived at the Discovery Centre our Elder Penny took us out to make honky nut necklaces. I enjoyed threading using the “bush needle” and painting it in Aboriginal colours.

 After, we went hunting for different natural bush objects using a loupe magnifier. I found some crystals which were really small but under the magnifier were really BIG!

After lunch Elder Mike taught us 20 different Aboriginal words like “Yonga” for Kangaroo and “Weitj” for Emu. It was so interesting to learn a new language.

Finally, we went out hunting using our “Wanna” also known as the hunting or digging stick for girls or the “Gidjie” for boys. We caught (pretend) snakes, eggs, lizards, and kangaroos!

- Phoebe McDavitt, Year 1

I wish everyone a wonderful Term 4.

Tracey Rogers

Head of Primary

John Wollaston Swimming Club

With the aim of building a stronger swimming culture in the School and competing at a higher level in our Primary and Secondary Inter-House and Inter-School Swimming Carnivals, the School has established a swimming club, offering early morning swim training throughout the year. 

John Wollaston Swimming Club will be held during Term 4 on Monday and Thursday mornings at Armadale Aquatic and Fitness Centre from 6:30am to 7:30am. Students wishing to join Swim Club can find more information in the PDF below.

John Wollaston Run Club

The JWACS Run Club has resumed this term, taking place two mornings each week. Run Club is open to students in Years 2 to 11, staff and parents. ELC students are welcome to attend under the supervision of a parent who participates with their child. The aim is for students to participate in physical activity, improve their attention in class, generate a love for movement, build strong connections and relationships across the School and develop strong teams for cross country and athletic events. 

How does it work?

On arrival at the first session, participants will be required to log their name and lap count in the House-coloured folder. After completing the first session, a QR code will be made for the participant. Each session thereafter, participants will arrive and collect their Personal ID Card, which has a unique QR Code on it, from the box. This will be placed into their pocket and each time they complete a full lap, they scan their ID Card on the House coloured Ipad as they pass. This will count the laps and distances and will allow supervising teachers to see totals as the term progresses. During the term, we will be running a number of fitness sessions. These sessions will include a mixture of strength and cardio training, lap and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training).

When do sessions happen?

JWACS Run Club take place each Wednesday and Friday from 7:30am to 8:00am. The supervising teachers are Mel Fowler and Jo Burman. Please drop your child to a staff member at the School Oval steps no earlier than 7:20am ready for a 7:30am start. It is important that participants arrive on time to receive all instructions for the session. In the event of poor weather, a fitness session will be held in the BDISC (gym). Students are not permitted to be left without teacher supervision.

What do I need to bring?

Primary Students will be required to wear their school Sports Uniform and get changed into their Formal Uniform (if this falls on a Formal Uniform day) at the conclusion of the Run Club session. Secondary Students will be required to get changed into their Formal Uniform on completion of the Run Club unless they have Physical Education or Outdoor Recreation during Session 1. Students will also be required to bring a drink bottle and wear sensible running shoes (no skate shoes or studded shoes).