`

Our Vision To celebrate the journey of learning by preparing s tudents for their future through a caring, nurturing learning culture, where all students have the opportunity to achieve personal and

academic success. FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents, Carers, Community Members, Staff and Students

I am pleased to say that we have had a very smooth start to 2018. I am happy to see all of our students back fit and healthy and enthusiastic about another year of learning. Calista Primary School continues to grow and our enrolment is now over 515 students. We welcomed over 30 new families to the school. We currently have 23 classes from Kindy to year 6. A new classroom has been created out of the old cooking room to accommodate the increase in student numbers this year.

We welcomed six new and returning staff members to Calista this year. Miss Ashika Pillay will be working across the school but mostly in pre-primary, Miss Alice Winton is in room 10 teaching year 3 with Mrs Oldfield, Mr Braden Cook is teaching year 4 in room 7, Miss Teana Jenkins is teaching year 4 in room 6. We welcome back Mrs DeBoick from maternity leave and she is teaching year 2 in room 14. We are very excited to be starting our Chinese language program this year and welcome Ms Yangyang Sus as the specialist Chinese teacher. The new staff have settled in very well to Calista and we look forward to their contribution to our school in 2018.

During the first few weeks of the term teachers will be holding parent information sessions. I shall try to attend these meetings but unfortunately I will not be able to attend every meeting. I would like to extend my invitation to all parents to see me should they have any questions, concerns or information that impacts on their child’s learning or well-being. I am usually available to meet with parents without an appointment. At the parent meetings teachers will stress the importance of home reading. It is recommended that all children read aloud to an adult each week. Younger students should do this at least 4 times per week and older students reading to someone once per week and silently to themselves on other nights. Kindy and pre-primary students should be read to by an adult with discussions about the book and the story. Learning times-tables is also a homework task that parents can help their children with.

Calista Primary has an excellent record for student attendance. Attendance is compulsory, even for kindergarten students. We know that when students are absent from school it can significantly impact on their learning and affect their ability to make and maintain friendships. In accordance with the Department of Education’s guidelines for attendance I would like any parent that wishes to take a vacation during term time to make an appointment to see me to discuss the impact that the absence may have on their child.

All students start the year with their ‘Good Standing’. If they maintain their Good Standing throughout the term they are able to participate in class and whole school rewards. At the end of last year, over 80 students achieved Advanced Good Standing and this was recognised at last week’s student assembly. Advanced Good Standing is about student attitude, behaviour and attendance so all students should be able to get Advanced Good Standing. Students that missed out this time can work towards getting Advanced Good Standing by focusing on having excellent attitude and behaviour every day.

I am looking forward to working with students, parents and staff and wish everyone all the best for a productive year ahead.

Tomorrow’s assembly is a very exciting celebration of the Chinese New Year. We have a special item that I am sure all of the children will enjoy. The assembly will be commencing early, right on 8.30am. Parents are very welcome to join us for the assembly.

Craig Skinner PRINCIPAL

Newsletter #1 1 5th February 2018

UPDATE INFORMATION Please remember to update your personal details through the office or via email (Calista.ps@det.wa.edu.au) or via skoolbag. Emergency phone numbers held on our school data base need to be updated regularly. EMAIL ADDRESSES should also be updated to enable us to send our newsletters electronically. This will help reduce the amount of paper being used.

Up Coming Events

February 16th – Admin Assembly 16th – School Banking 20th – School Board Meeting 23rd – School Banking

March 2nd - Assembly Room 2 5th - PUBLIC HOLIDAY 9th - School Banking 16th - KSSA Cricket 16th - Assembly Rooms 6 & 7 20th - School Board Meeting 23rd - School Banking 27th - Hot X Bun Delivery 29th - Easter Bonnet Parade 29th – Easter Basket Raffle Draw 30th – Good Friday

April 2nd – Easter Monday 3rd – Easter Tuesday

40KM SPEED LIMIT All road users are reminded of the 40km speed limit around the school in the mornings and afternoons. Please slow down, nothing is so urgent that it justifies exceeding the speed limit as you drive past the school.

Also a reminder, please DO NOT park in the Bus Zones, Kwinana Physiotherapy Centre car park (this is reserved for their customers), or on verges around the school as this is a fineable offence by the local Council.

Students and staff of Calista Primary School would like to extend their best wishes to the following students whose birthday falls between 1st January – 15th February, please call into the office to collect your birthday pencil.

Kindy Year 3 Stephen J Tayla W Ariella J Kaienna M Kaidence-May R Iain B Aaron M

Lily-ann C Prince J Telisha R Max J Bella B Summer – Rose L

Pre Primary

Year 4 Daniel D Tara A James A Isabella J Ezra R Jack O Tyler B Isaac L Violet B Lucas M Trey M Boika S Rhaine S James B

Aldous G Katie S Alicia H Zayne B Tekarra O Phoem S

Year 1

Year 5 Xanna-Paxton E Marshall P Abby M

Joel B Kane B Snow L Maddison C Samuel M

Year 2

Year 6 Ruby S Henrie O Kaleb W Indiana J Ella M Angelico E

Caleb P Shanaya P Catelynn D Alliyah H Kotahi D Jack C Ethan W

LOST PROPERTY If a garment is named, we are able to return it to its rightful owner via the classroom. If your child has misplaced any uniform items, please call in and check the bin.

BREAKFAST CLUB

Breakfast club is open Monday, Tuesday Thursday mornings from 7.50 – 8.20am. A nutritious breakfast in a welcoming environment is available for all students at Calista at no cost.

Thank you for your continued support. Mrs Cook

LEMON donations will be gratefully received to make their famous Lemon Butter. Please drop off at the front office.

SWIMMING TRAINING Swimming training is on for students from years 3 – 6 must be able to confidently swim 25m unassisted. Training will be every Monday & Wednesday mornings. Students are to meet Mr Wall at the Kwinana Requatic Centre for a 7.15 start. Students will need to pay $3.20 to enter the pools. A healthy breakfast will be provided for swimmers when they return to school.

STUDENT LEADERS Congratulations to the following student leaders who were presented their badges at last Friday’s assembly.

Heather Whiskin Frinze Palaganas Ariana Morete Bronwyn Ni Shiochain Joymiel Sumilang Tristan Lee Hector Hughes Haylene Winmar

MOBILE PHONES FOR STUDENTS AT SCHOOL ARE NOT

ENCOURAGED.

IF THEY ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY A PHONE TO SCHOOL PLEASE

MAKE ARRANGEMENTS WITH YOUR CLASSROOM TEACHER OR THE

SCHOOL OFFICE FOR SAFE KEEPING DURING THE DAY.

WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR

LOST OR DAMAGED PHONES.

2018 School Banking Rewards

ABORIGINAL SEASONS

Bunuru - Second summer (season of the adolescence) February - March

Bunuru is the hottest time of the year with little to no rain. Hot easterly winds continue with a cooling sea breeze most afternoons if you're close to the coast. Therefore, traditionally this was, and still is, a great time for living and fishing by the coast, rivers and estuaries. Because of this, freshwater foods and seafood made up major parts of the diet during this time of year.

Bunuru is also a time of the white flowers with lots of white flowering gums in full bloom, including Jarrah, Marri and Ghost Gums.

Another striking flower that is hard to go past is the female Zamia (Macrozamia riedlei). Being much larger than that of its male counterpart, the huge cones emerge from the centre of the plant with masses of a cotton wool like substance.

As the hot, dry weather continues the seed upon the cones change from green to bright red, indicating they're ripening and becoming more attractive to animals, particularly the emu, that will eat the toxic fleshy outer.

Uniform Shop School uniforms are sold from the office and we are open every day for new and 2nd uniforms.

EASTER RAFFLE We are seeking donations of Easter Eggs for an Easter Basket raffle. Please drop them at the office.

You should have received your raffle tickets by now, tickets are $1 each. Please place your child’s name and room number on each ticket and return to the office in the envelope provided for the daw which will be held on 29 th March.

Canteen News Welcome back to another year. The menu is available from the canteen and on our website. Please note we have kept the prices the same as last year where possible.

Hot X Buns Coming soon. Please check your child’s bag regularly for the hot x bun order form. This will be coming home soon. Below is a picture of the winning basket for the most orders received.

DISPLAYS If you come into the admin block don’t forget to check out the fantastic work on display. Well done to all the Pre primary & Year 1 students!!