Frederick Irwin Anglican School Newsletter Issue 16 - 5 December 2017

admin@fias.wa.edu.au (08) 9537 0000 www.frederickirwin.wa.edu.au@FrederickIrwinAnglicanSchool @FIrwinAnglican

Notes from the School• A Message from the Principal• A Message from the Head of Primary• A Message from the Deputy Head of Primary• A Message from the Deputy Principal: Secondary• A Message from the School Chaplain

School Notices• Year 5 2019 Enrolments• Year Book Collection• Term 4 2017 Fee Statements• Halls Head 2018 Enrolments Open

Student Congratulations• Mandurah Districts Rotary 4 Way Speech Contest

School Events and Activities• Christmas Carols 2017• Freddie’s Buzz - HALO Donation• Year 9 Mock Trial

Term Dates and Calendar• 2017 Term Dates• 2018 Term Dates• 2019 Term Dates

Study Tips • 2018 Academic Task Force January Head Start

Programme

Uniform Shop• Hours• News and Updates

Christmas Carols 2017

MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents

Over the past few days, I have very much enjoyed the various ceremonies which mark the end of the school year. The Kindergarten to Year 2 Christmas Concert is always a delight, the Years3to6andYears7to11Presentationsarealwaysdignifiedand celebratory; while the Year 6 Thanksgiving Service is a joyful time in which we celebrate our Year 6s’ conclusion of Primary School and look expectantly to the future.

I am always pleased to see so many parents and grandparents at these events and thank you for your continued support of the School.

FarewellsSadly, we have to bid farewell to some members of staff as the year draws to a close:

•InthePrimarySchool: Mrs Penny Erikson (Kindergarten and Year 5/6 Education Assistant) has come to the end of a Long Service Leave cover short term contract; Mrs Tracey Eynon (Special Needs Education Assistant) is going to take up new opportunities North of the River; Mr Stuart Learmonth (Year 4) will take up a promotion position at Serpentine-Jarrahdale Grammar School; Mrs Keira Livingstone (Year 6) is leaving to have a baby – we wish her and her husband every joy with their third child.• And in the Secondary School: Mrs Helen Crosbie (Mathematics) and Mrs Holly de Jonge (Home Economics) have both come to the end of short term contracts. • Also leaving from Secondary are: Mr Ross Dods (Head of Performing Arts) who is taking up a promotion position at Peter Carnley Anglican Community School; Mrs Jan Hall (Home Economics) who is entering a very well-deserved retirement; Mrs Riaana Koch (Special Needs Education Assistant) who is relocating to Victoria with her husband.• Working across the School: MrRobertPriest(Japanese)hascometotheendofafixed-termcontractandislookingtorelocate to South Australia; Mrs Lorraine Hills (Christian Education and English) is retiring after a remarkable 26 years on the staff of Frederick Irwin Anglican School!

It’s au revoir to staff members who will be on leave for various periods starting next term and we wish them a wonderful period of rest:• Mr Peter Skeggs (Head of Health and Physical Education); and• Mr Ian Watson (Design and Technology) will both be on Long Service Leave during Term 1; while• Mr Carl Grice (Year 7) is a taking a year’s Leave of Absence.

Also, to the families and students who are leaving us at the end of 2017, we wish you all the best for the future.

The Year That Was..!What a year 2017 has been! All year we have been preparing for the opening of our new Primary campus atHallsHead,allthewhilemakingsomesignificantbuildingandinfrastructurechangestotheMeadowSpringscampuswiththemostvisiblebeingourmagnificentNaturePlayarea.

Further highlights for me include community events such as the Bush Dance, the Bring Your Parent to School evening and the parents’ Open Morning in Primary, the two Year 7 Learning Journeys, House Days (which brought together students from Kindergarten to Year 12 from each House), the visit of the motivational speaker,RobynMoore,andourfirstChristmasCarolsintheQuad,whichwasanamazingstarttothe Christmas season.

We have been working relentlessly on various areas of the Strategic Plan throughout the year and have made much progress with our courses and pedagogy. I am excited about the substantial work that has been and will continue to be done in so many areas across the School, with many staff focusing on researched-based best-practice, to make the education we offer our students one which gives them the skills to be effective citizens of the fast-paced, ever-changing, globalized 21st Century. This year in Primary,

the Walker Learning Approach spanned all classes from Kindergarten to Year 6 with Frederick Irwin being named as a lighthouse school with teachers from across the state regularly visiting to observe our teachers and their classes in action. In the Secondary School, our Year 7 teachers have been modifying their already strong pedagogical practice to accommodate Walker Learning at an age-appropriate level from 2018. Much work has also been done in the area of differentiation with the Deputy Principal – Curriculum and a number of the academic staff working with Kylie Bice from Growing Up Greatness to create a program that will stretch our students no matter where they fall on the learning continuum. We will continue to revise and extend this for our students in 2018.

Other areas of the Strategic Plan which have been visited this year are staff development, data analysis, wellbeing programs for both students and staff, communications strategies (both within the School and with parents and the community), opportunities for parents to attend relevant workshops and seminars, and more opportunities for parent involvement in the School, the introduction of a Pathways program in Year 12, where these students are mentored on a weekly basis by their Head of House – this will be extended to Year 11 in 2018 – and a great deal of work has been and will continue to be done on social/emotional programs, cybersafety and protective behaviours across the School … and the list goes on!

Inspire!The theme of our new Strategic Plan (2017 – 2020) is ‘Inspire’ and it was with this rather lofty concept in mind that we tried to approach the many strategic projects we’d set for our School this year. Of course, we – staff and students – are only human and there have been times during the course of the year when we have missed the mark of being inspiring or being inspired. However, just because we can’t always reach the pinnacle, there is no need give up trying altogether!

The concept of trying and giving of one’s best is a familiar theme at Frederick Irwin Anglican School. Staff, students and parents all know how I value effort and perseverance to achieve one’s goals. Excellence is also important, but I am always so proud of our students who work hard and always give of their best. Indeed, excellence is not about being the best, it’s about doing your best. H. Jackson Brown Jnr (author of Life’s Little Instruction Book) said this: The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

This got me thinking about what we really need to balance our best efforts with inspiration, and how to keep inspiration in the fore-front and not forget it when the slog of the ‘everyday’ starts to creep in. How do we stay up-beat and inspired when the workload, again whether we are staff or students, becomes great? Of course, the answer is this, ‘It is all to do with our mindset!’ It is far easier to be inspired and to inspire others when we approach life with positivity; and it is far easier to develop that positive mindset when we have already developed resilience.

Icameacrosstwoinspiringquoteswhichabsolutelyepitomiseapositiveoutlookandresilience.Thefirstisaboutlookingpastthedifficultiesoflifeandseeingtheopportunities:When it rains, look for rainbows; when it’s dark look for stars. The second speaks of the joy that can be found in such opportunities: Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain! (What a joyful image! Dancing in the rain!)

AtFrederickIrwinAnglicanSchoolweworkveryhardtofindthatbalance–toknowthebenefitsofworkinghard, putting in the effort to attain personal excellence, balanced with the need to develop other important life skills such as a positive outlook and a resilient nature. I do so hope that for every member of our community this also leads to inspiration – being inspired and being inspiring!

And so 2017 draws to a close! It is a year in which much has been accomplished; it has also been a year in which much ground work has been done for future innovation. As we look back, just so we look forward to the future with excitement and anticipation.

I wish all Frederick Irwin families a very blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of the Christ-child, a Happy New Year, a safe and enjoyable holiday and, as you spend time with your family and friends over thisperiod,Iwishyougreatjoyasyoufigurativelydanceinthesunshineofthesummerholidays,thentoreturn inspired for the new school year ahead!

Kind regards

Kerry Robertson Principal

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF PRIMARY

Dear Parents and Caregivers As the year comes to a close, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this successful school year and the many positive events we have shared. In 2017, we have continued to try to make sure that our practicesarefirstqualityandthatwehavemettheacademic and social/emotional needs of our learners. I continue to share many special moments with the students around their learning and the enjoyment they get from their experiences at school, and I feel blessed to have these opportunities. I have been very pleased to share moments of huge growth related to Education Research Projects, and I always like to hear about the skill development and attainment of goals. The students are to be congratulated for the enthusiasm and willingness they bring to their learning.

Thank you to the Primary staff, parents and community members for your contributions to the education of the students in 2017. The dedication of the hard-working staff, and the contributions of our families, who support the School in so many ways, contribute positively to the success of the Primary school.

Thank you to the Year 6 students for their contribution to the Primary school. I wish them every success going forward. They have been a wonderful cohort of children who have contributed much to our section of the school. A special thank you to the House Captains for their work in Primary throughout the year. I have watchedthemgrowinconfidenceanddevelopstrongleadershipskills.

In closing, my best wishes go to all members of the community for a safe, happy and blessed Christmas and I look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2018.

Kind regards

Sue SkehanHead of Primary

CLASS LISTS FOR 2018Each student will receive a letter informing you of your child’s class and teacher. Class lists will not be posted on windows; however, students will have their class list read to them before the end of the day on Tuesday.

STATIONERY SUPPLIES FOR 2018Pencilcases, rulers and erasers must be as described on the booklist, especially the dimensions of the pencilcase. Please do buy other supplies assuming that they will be allowed.

MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY HEAD OF PRIMARY

Dear Parents We have come to the end of the year and upon reflection,ithasbeenayearofwonderfulmemories.Ihaveseen students grow and mature over the course of these four terms, both academically and emotionally. We have worked hard to grow and promote our wonderful community, and will continue to foster this emphasis.

Thanksgiving ServiceToday I attended the Thanksgiving service and thank Father Noel and the Year 6 teachers for organising a lovely service. I also thank the Year 6 students for the maturity and responsibility that they displayed. It was wonderful to see so many of our community members sharing in the fond memories of our students’ journey through Primary School. I

wish all Year 6 students the best in Year 7 and congratulate them on their transition into Secondary School.

As this is my last newsletter submission for the year, I wanted to again thank everyone for their well wishes and kind words regarding my move to Halls Head. It is an exciting opportunity to grow our culture and school and look forward to the challenges ahead.

The holidays are approaching us and I hope that everyone is able to spend some time with loved ones. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Kind regards

Noah Clark Deputy Head of Primary

MESSAGE FROM THE DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: SECONDARY

Dear Parents

Term4hasbeenaverybusytermtofinishoffaverybusyyear!

ItwassuchapleasuretoshareinourYear12s’finalweeksofformal schooling. They have become such a close, supportive group who I am sure are going to go on to have wonderful careers and lives. I look forward to hearing all about their successes over the coming years. I would like to particularly mention our School Prefects and House Seniors who provided great leadership to our younger students. Having held the Leadership Workshop for next year’s prefects in Week 7, I am confidentthattheyalsoaregoingtohaveaverypositiveimpact next year.

I would like to wish all of our students, staff and the whole Frederick Irwin community a very blessed and safe Christmas

holiday and look forward to seeing you all refreshed in 2018!

Happy holidays Andrew Pennycott Deputy Principal: Secondary

MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL CHAPLAIN

Dear Parents

A chuckle will always go around a room when Miss Universefinalistsareaskedwhattheywouldwishfor, because so many times the answer is ‘World Peace.’ As we enter the season of pre-Christmas, war and civil conflictseemsalongwayawayfromus,andyettheyarepresent because of ‘connections’, and Australian men and women serving overseas.

And our own ‘peaceful’ world can be rocked by family conflictandaccident,asminewasin1987.OnChristmasEve 1987, my brother-in-law, six months my junior, was injured in a car accident having spent pre-Christmas with us before travelling with his family to join his wife’s family for Christmas Day. At 5pm Christmas Day, his life support system was turned off. He was survived by his wife, two

younggirlsunderfive,andtheirunborndaughter.

Christmas took on a whole new meaning for us as family. Family time became even more precious, but for many months and for one member of the family, years, life has never been the same. For years it was an ‘unwritten law’ that no one drove on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and no one talked about my deceased brother-in-law.

Our children were very young and only the two eldest have blurred memories of that day, but all of them have grown up with a strong feeling of the importance of Christmas being a time of family, as well as the Christmas story.

I pray that in our peaceful country, you and your families will truly be blessed with the Christmas ‘Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all people’. May you be safe, and may God share in your celebrations and joy. God Bless Father Noel Oakey School Chaplain

SCHOOL NOTICES

YEAR 5 2019 ENROLMENTSThis term, Applications for Admission in 2019, particularly for brothers and sisters of existing students, will be considered for enrolment in Year 5 at Frederick Irwin Anglican School, Meadow Springs Campus in 2019. Parents who wish their son or daughter to be considered for this year should, if they have not already done so, submit an application as soon as possible.

Ifyouhaveanyqueries,pleasecontacttheRegistrar,MrsJackieSmith,attheSchoolOfficeon(08)95370000oremailregistrar@fias.wa.edu.au

2016 YEAR BOOK COLLECTION Class of 2016 Year 12s are encouraged to collect their copy of the ‘2016 – The Anchor’ Year Book from the MainAdministrationOffice.TheOfficeisopenfrom8.00amto4.30pmMondaytoThursday,and8.00amto4.00pm on Fridays. Alternatively, if they have a sibling currently enrolled, you can have them collect their copy of the 2016 Year Book from the Main Administration. TERM 4 2017 FEE STATEMENTS The Term 4 Fee statements were emailed to parents on Tuesday 10 October 2017. This account was due for payment by Friday 27 October 2017. Families who have not paid or made payment arrangements with the Business Manager by the due date should be aware that a late penalty of $55.00 (GST included) may be imposed. The School has BPAY facilities and we encourage parents to avail themselves of this. To assist families to budget for their school fee payments, we also offer monthly or bi-monthly payment plans.Forfurtherinformation,pleasecontacttheBusinessManagerortheAccountsOfficerintheSchoolOffice.

HALLS HEAD 2018 ENROLMENT APPLICATIONS OPENApplications are invited for students entering Kindergarten to Year 6 (children born between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2014) for the new Frederick Irwin Anglican School Halls Head Campus, opening Term 1, 2018.

You can submit an Application for Admission Online Form via the school website, or contact the Registrar, MrsJackieSmith,onregistrar@fias.wa.edu.auorcall(08)95370000forfurtherinformation.

We look forward to welcoming new students and parents into our growing school community! If you are interested,pleasecontacttheRegistrarassoonaspossibleaspositionsarefillingquickly.

2018 TRAINEESHIP POSTITION IN HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATIONThereisanopportunityfora2016or2017Year12tofillatraineeshippositionin2018,withintheFrederickIrwin Anglican School Health and Physical Education Department.

Could interested 2016 and 2017 Year 12s please apply according to the details in the employment section of the School’s website.

Email:prinicipalpa@fias.wa.edu.au.Please include your full name, contact email, contact number, letter of application and CV.

Please note the below Office Hours and Dates over the Christmas Holiday Period.

FRIDAY 8 DECEMBER 2017 The Meadow Springs School Campus will be closed from 11.30am.

MONDAY 11 DECEMBER 2017 TheMeadowSpringsSchoolOfficewillbeopen8.00amto4.00pm(closedforlunch12.30pm–1.00pm). TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER 2017 TO WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2017TheMeadowSpringsSchoolOfficewillbeclosed. THURSDAY 14 DECEMBER 2017 TO THURSDAY 21 DECEMBER 2017TheMeadowSpringsSchoolOfficewillbeopen8.00amto4.00pm(closedforlunch12.30pm–1.00pm) FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2017The Meadow Springs School Campus will be open 8.00am to 11.30am. MONDAY 25 DECEMBER 2017 TO MONDAY 1 JANUARY 2018The Meadow Springs School will be closed. TUESDAY 2 JANUARY 2018 TO WEDNESDAY 24 JANUARY 2018TheMeadowSpringsSchoolOfficewillbeopen8.00amto4.00pm(closedforlunch12.30pm–1.00pm)

THURSDAY 25 JANUARY 2018 TheMeadowSpringsandHallsHeadSchoolOfficeswillbeclosedfrom2.45pm.

2018 WORKPLACE LEARNING

Do you have a business? Have you had Workplace Learning students in the past?

In 2018, Frederick Irwin Anglican School will be implementing Workplace Learning for our General Pathway Year 11 students.

We are interested in developing a database of potential employers who may be able to assist us with placements throughout the year.

At this point in time, we are looking for initial interest and will then be in touch to gather further information from you.

If you are able to provide this opportunity for students, or would like to know more about the programme, please contact Mrs Peta Sattler, VET Coordinator, at school on (08) 9537 0000orviaemailatVET@fias.wa.edu.au

TERM DATES AND CALENDAR

2017 Term Dates Term 4: Tuesday 10 October 2017 – Tuesday 5 December 2017 2018 Term Dates Term 1: Wednesday 31 January 2018 – Friday 13 April 2018 Term 2: Wednesday 2 May 2018 – Friday 29 June 2018 Term 3: Wednesday 18 July 2018 – Friday 21 September 2018 Term 4: Tuesday 9 October 2018 – Tuesday 4 December 2018

2019 Term Dates Please note these dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Term 1: Monday 4 February 2019 – Friday 12 April 2019 Term 2: Wednesday 1 May 2019 – Friday 5 July 2019Term 3: Wednesday 24 July 2019 – Friday 27 September 2019 Term 4: Tuesday 15 October 2019 – Tuesday 10 December 2019

Visit Home Page > News & Events > Calendar to view future events.

STUDENT CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following students:

• Ella Taylor (Year 10) and Roslyn O’Farrell (Year 10), who represented Frederick Irwin Anglican School extremely well at the Mandurah Districts Rotary 4 Way Speech contest, held at the Mandurah Country and Golf Club on 28 November. Roslyn’s speech – “Don’t be a drain; be a radiator” and Ella’s discussion of “The healthiness of sibling rivalry” were both very engaging and well presented. All six speeches were of a very high standard and, although our students did not progress to the next round, they should be very proud of their efforts and achievement.

SCHOOL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

CHRISTMAS CAROLS 2017

Thank you to all our families who attended the Christmas Carols evening, ‘Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle’, on Tuesday 28 November 2017. We hope that you enjoyed the evening amongst our beautiful gum trees. Please also visit our website to view a video and more photos from the evening.

Should you have a few moments to spare over the next few weeks, we would ask you to complete our feedback survey so that we can improve for 2018: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2017CarolsFeedback

FREDDIE’S BUZZ - HALO DONATION

The Freddie’s Buzz has had another successful year in 2017. On Monday 4 December 2017, the Freddie’s Buzz was able to present a $600 cheque from the sales of The Buzz, to HALO Mandurah. The total of donations for 2017 from Frederick Irwin Anglican School totalled 884, and all items will go to those in need. Well done to our 2017 Buzzers!

YEAR 9 MOCK TRIAL

Students had to create a case on Snow White v the Evil Queen,wheretheEvilQueenisaccusedoftheattempted murder of Snow White. The students were given a brief bit of detail and one piece of evidence: thepoisonedapplewithtracesoftheQueen’sDNAonit.

Students each had a role, including all the main characters of Snow White, judge, prosecution, defence and jury. The jury and judge were kept in another room and knew no details of the case. The students had to prepare their testimonies, the lawyers had to question all witnesses and build their cases, using everything they had learned from the law unit to help them.

STUDY TIPS

ONLINE CAREERS NOTICE BOARDStudentsandparentscanaccesstheonline‘CareersNoticeBoard’throughthePortalTabinSEQTA. View upcoming Open Days, Apprenticeship Opportunities, WACE Prep Courses, plus much more.

2018 ACADEMIC TASK FORCE JANUARY HEAD START PROGRAMME

In the ATAR Head Start courses students will: • Gain an overview of the ATAR syllabus for their courses of study.• Receive expert teaching by ATAR subject specialists. • Preview important concepts.

Students will be able to maximise their preparation with: • Study Skills: learn effective study methods, time management, goal setting, reading strategies and stress

management techniques. • Essay Writing: learn how to write great essays using a structure that students can adapt to any subject.

Courses are available at Rossmoyne and Churchlands Senior High School.

Enrolments can be made on our website at www.academictaskforce.com.au (http://www.academictaskforce.com.au/findCourse/January%20Head%20Start%20Program/67662)

UNIFORM SHOP

HOURS

School Holiday Hours - 2018Wednesday 24 January 9.00am - 3:00pmThursday 25 January 9.00am - 12.00noonMonday 29 January 9.00am - 3.00pmTuesday 30 January 9.00am - 3.00pm (Orientation)Wednesday 31 January 8.00am - 12.00noon (First Day of Term 1)

UNIFORM NEWS VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR 2018 Can you spare a few hours each week or month? We would like to hear from any parent willing to volunteer some time to the school by assisting in the Uniform Shop. This would involve helping in all aspects of the operation of the shop during open hours, approximately four hours a week. If any parent is interested in helping, please contact Mrs Jan Burbidge either at the Uniform Shop or via the SchoolOfficeon(08)95370000. Information regarding the below topics can be found on the School Website: Home Page > School Community > Uniform > Uniform News.

• Blazer 2018• Board Shorts Year 7+• Exchange or Refunds on New Uniform Items