Issue 13 From the Principal’s Pen 23rd

August 2016

Dear Parents and Carers ASSEMBLY Ms Miles Year 5/6 class assembly item was outstanding, hilarious and a great take off of the Swimming Carnival interwoven with the virtue of enthusiasm. Only a week out from the carnival, these clever Year 5/6 students were able to put together a most amusing and entertaining item to include a film of the carnival, swimming antics of many varieties and a narrative of the team spirit and enthusiasm displayed by Castletown students. Dressed in appropriate swim gear and with a range of props, they re-enacted snippets of the carnival with diving and synchronised swimming strokes to music. Congratulations Year 5/6 on your champion artistic talents. MUSIC FESTIVAL On Thursday morning the adjudicator was very impressed with our percussion groups‟ exciting and passionate performances. The adjudicator awarded „High Distinction‟ marks and summed up the performances by saying “Castletown School Rocks!” Our Junior and Senior choirs also performed magnificently on Friday morning. They sang beautifully and were a credit to our school. Juniors, with a mark of 89 won their section and Seniors with a mark of 87 were second place in their section. Congratulations to Mrs Stevens and all our students who participated in the Festival for their efforts and endeavours to bring the magic of music to so many people in the community. 50th CELEBRATIONS With only a few weeks to go classes are working with their students on special pieces to be placed in the capsule on September 9th. Each class will also be involved in a stall at the Fair on Saturday. The 50th Anniversary Book is now at the print stage and is indeed a masterpiece thanks to all the background work of Barb Tyrrell and Sandra Prosser. A huge thank you to all those wonderful parents and community members who have contributed so far to the 50th Anniversary Book.

PLAY GROUP WA VISIT As a result of evidence from our AEDC over several years, the Council and School have been discussing possibilities of forming a play group on site prior to Kindy entry year to school, to support our families. Families would be better informed, better able to support their children‟s development and enhance their children‟s home learning environment before school attendance. Play Group representative Di Mazzucato met with parents on Thursday 11th August to assist with some ideas with a play group. To trial our Play Group, our first opportunity for parents to join in an informal play group and meet other parents will be Wednesday 19th October, Week 2 of Term 4. Just come along with your children and be part of our Castletown community. All are welcome. “Have a cuppa and a chat” while your children play and interact with each other.

NAPLAN RESULTS We are pleased to announce our Year 3 and 5 students have achieved marked improvements this year in numeracy and literacy. Individual reports will be going home this week.

NEWSLETTER CASTLETOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL

INSPIRE EDUCATE SUCCEED

Easton Road, Esperance 6450 Ph: 9071 5599 Fax: 9071 4852 Email: Castletown.PS@education.wa.edu.au

EC 1, 2 & 5: 9071 7861 EC 3 & 4: 9071 7862 Canteen: 9071 3148

Website: www.Castletownprimaryschool.wa.edu.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Castletown-Primary-School/303902659738629

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PLACEMENT POLICY FOR 2017 Included in this newsletter is a document outlining Castletown Primary School‟s „Placement of Individual Students in Classes‟ policy. Please note, Friday 26th August is a school improvement day and students do not attend school on this day.

Pauline Grewar, Principal

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School Survey Every year Castletown Primary School seeks the opinions of parents, staff and the Year 5 and 6 students by asking these groups to complete a survey on many aspects of the school. This survey is also a requirement of all schools and is part of the National Schools Survey initiative. The information will be presented to the School Council to identify strengths and areas which need improvement. Please take the time to complete the 5 minute online survey; logon details and survey access code are below. As with all surveys in the past this survey is anonymous. If you have any questions about the survey please contact the school.

https://www.schoolsurvey.edu.au/s/L6fj8SkQ

Survey access code: mc7jcRzY

Laurie Palmer Associate Principal

CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Congratulations to all students who received certificates at our Assembly on 11th

August 2016. Well done!

EC 1 Georgia Katie EC 2 Shylah Xavier Room 00 - - Room 1 George Cody Hayden Room 2 Jack - Room 3 Lachlan Jackson Room 4 Ella Dakoda Room 5 Ellen Hayden Room 6 Jayden - Room 7 Nate Ashton Room 9 Ruby Rhys Room 10 Isabelle Zane Room 11 Darcy Talia Room 12 Jarrod Kupa Room 13 Isabel Joel Room 14 Sophie Holly Room 15 Everyone in Room 15 Room 22 Justine Lara

Cleanest Room Award – Room 5

MUSICA VIVA On Thursday Castletown Primary School had a visit from two talented musicians, Jim and Kevin from Musica Viva. We saw lots of different instruments like a vibraphone, bass guitar and drums. Students were involved in the use of the various instruments and sang and clapped along with the performance.

Musica Viva was sponsored by Smarter than Smoking!

~Room 1~

Reading In Bed Is Terrific RIBIT The Home Reading Program

Congratulations to the following children who have read for 20 Nights: EC3: Charlie, Cooper, Xavier B, Mackenzie, Xavier D, Connor, Tayah Rm 5: Molly, Claire Congratulations to the following children who have read for 50 Nights: Rm 2: Kaylee, Ryan, Luke, Jayme Rm: 5 Anastazia Rm 9: Rhys, Calum, Lilly, Kieran, Lachlan, Holly Rm 11: Jai, Darcy Rm 12: Jesse, Charlie, Tilly Congratulations to the following children who have read for 80 Nights: Rm 3: Harrison, Kai, Lachlan Rm 5: Mia Rm 7: Tyler Rm 9: Jazmin, Jasper, Ashlee Rm 12: Kupa Congratulations to the following children who have read for 100 Nights: Rm 3: Katie G, Rm 5: Joshua Rm 6: Taj Rm 7: Ben, Blayden, Addison Rm 11: Milou, Jessie Rm 12: Cambel Rm 14: Thalia Congratulations to the following children who have read for 120 Nights: Rm 3: Dylan, Holly Rm 7: Lylah Rm 9: Emelia Congratulations to the following children who have read for 150 Nights: Rm 00: Eloise Rm 2: John Congratulations to the following children who have read for 180 Nights: Rm 00: Eloise Rm 2: John, Bree Rm 3: Alicia ___________________________________________________________________________________________

THE VIRTUES PROJECT

ENTHUSIASM WHAT IS ENTHUSIASM?

ENTHUSIASM - is being inspired – full of spirit. It is being cheerful and happy. It is doing something wholeheartedly, with zeal and eagerness – giving 100% to what you do. Being enthusiastic is being excited about something, looking forward to it. It comes from having a positive attitude.

WHY PRACTISE ENTHUSIASM? Everything becomes boring to a person without enthusiasm. A person without enthusiasm becomes boring, too. Enthusiasm is catching. When you are enthusiastic, other people like to be around you. Enthusiasm makes life more enjoyable.

HOW DO YOU PRACTISE ENTHUSIASM? Enthusiasm is a positive attitude. When you enjoy whatever you are doing, even the dullest job can be fun. Use your imagination to find ways to enjoy what you are doing. Take time for simple pleasures and enjoy the wonders of life. Show enthusiasm to others by celebrating with them when something wonderful happens. Your enthusiasm shines through your smile.

SIGNS OF SUCCESS You are practising enthusiasm when you…….

Let yourself enjoy looking forward to something Think of imaginative ways to get things done Do things wholeheartedly Smile, laugh and enjoy what you do Enjoy the wonders of life Are full of spirit

Lesley Mather – Associate Principal

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NEWS FROM OUR

SCHOOL CHAPLAIN

Operation Christmas Child (Shoebox Appeal) As previously stated in the last newsletter, families who want to be involved with the Shoebox Appeal can collect a shoebox from Mrs Blair, the School Chaplain on Monday 29th August. There will be a competition running this year to encourage supporting local business. The information sheets about the competition will be available 29th August. If your child wishes to be involved in the competition, they cannot begin collecting items for their shoebox until 1st September. All shoeboxes need to be back at the school by the end of the term to enable them to be delivered in time for Christmas. If you want to find out more, come and have a chat with me on Tuesdays. Knitting Volunteers Wanted I would love to start a Knitting Club at Castletown Primary School at lunch time on Tuesdays. I am asking for parents and grandparents who can knit who would like to come and help me teach the students how to knit. We also will need donations of wool and/or knitting needles that you no longer want. If you can help out with your time, can you leave your name and contact number at the front office so I can contact you. If you have any donations of wool and

needles, can you bring them in and leave them at the front office. Any students who would like to join the Knitting Club can leave their name and year group at the front office. If there is enough support for this project, it will be on at Tuesday lunchtimes starting in September. The Knitting Club is for Year 4 – 6.

Chris Blair

Chaplin

CONTRIBUTIONS 2016

A very big ‘Thank You’ to the families who have already paid Contributions this year. Did you know that your $60 per year works out to be $1.15 per week or just 16 cents per day? Contributions may be paid by the following options: Cash, Cheque, Eftpos / Credit Card or Direct Deposit

If using Direct Deposit, please make one payment per student giving student‟s first name and surname as reference.

Account Details: BSB 306-037 ACCOUNT 415695-7

Please DO NOT send your child

to school with food containing

nuts or nut products.

Thursday 25th August Assembly – Room 1 Friday 26th August School Improvement Day – students do

not attend school Friday 9th & Saturday 10th September 50th Anniversary Celebrations

KINDY & SCHOOL ENROLMENTS 2017

Enrolments for Kindy 2017 are now being taken.

Families can apply to enrol their children in Kindy for 2017 if they are 4 years old by 30/6/17. Please contact the office for details – 9071 5599

LOST

PROPERTY!

Once again the lost

property box is full

to the brim! Please

call into the front

office to check for

lost jumpers, hats,

rain jackets etc.

CASTLETOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL

PLACEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS IN CLASSES POLICY

RATIONALE

Castletown Primary School creates its class structures based on the professional judgement of staff

taking into account the students‟ academic, social and emotional needs as well as circumstances and

interests.

PURPOSE

Classes are formed in such a way as to best meet the educational, social and emotional needs of the

students within the constraints of Department policy, industrial agreements, the resources provided and

consistent with the Values and Principles of the Western Australian Curriculum and Assessment

Outline.

GUIDELINES

Factors influencing class structure are:

Educational, social, emotional needs of the student

The projected number of students in each year level

The ratio of boys and girls

Projected enrolments during the year based on past trends

Constraints of resources and facilities

Factors which are considered in the placement of students include:

Academic performance

Work habits e.g., ability to work independently

Behaviour

Gender

Social network

Social maturity

Special needs

School psychologist recommendations

Circumstances e.g., twins, siblings

Classes are not streamed. At Castletown Primary School there will be more than one class in a

particular year level and so if there is a need to form a split grade class, the professional judgement of

the Principal, administration team and relevant teaching staff from the previous year will decide the

placement of individual students.

Parent input regarding their child‟s educational needs will be considered. Requests in relation to choice

of teacher will not be considered as a placement factor.

PROCESS

The process of forming classes commences in term 4 of the preceding year.

The Administration team, in consultation with staff and after considering student numbers, will

determine the number of classes for the following year, class sizes and year levels of each

class.

Staff members work collaboratively to establish classes for the following year. Teachers of the

current year level confer regarding the class groupings (i.e. Year 2 teachers decide Year 3

placements, and so on).

All parent input on placement (not teacher request) is to be directed to the Associate Principal

and placed in writing by the end of November.

Lists are submitted to the Administration team for final ratification.