Dear families and staff,
Welcome back everyone and welcome to a new year and a new decade. It has been wonderful moving around the school and witnessing the excitement on the students’ faces as they enter a new level of education.
This is an important time of the year for the students as they enter a new learning environment with different challenges. Fortunately, at Balga PS, we pride ourselves on creating whole school approaches in all areas of our curriculum. Implementing these consistent approaches and programs is proven to increase the achievement level and development of the students. We also ensure the programs we use are evidence based and have been tried and tested. As well as increasing the achievement levels, this consistency supports the health and well-being of the students. Familiar messages, expectations and approaches from one class to the other provides another level of belonging and connection to the school.
The staff at Balga PS are extremely proud of the results produced by the students in 2019. More importantly, we are excited by the growth in their development. Many of the students have accelerated their learning, especially in Literacy. This can sometimes mean that their achievement grade might be low or average but they have made a significant improvement from where they were. This only happens if you have dedicated and highly skilled teachers driving the programs in the classrooms, and a progressive leadership team (Anika Blackmore, Anthony Chiappalone, Brooke Wardana and Emma Lawrence) who ensures the teachers are continually supported in skill development.
Teacher Meetings
If you require a meeting with your classroom teacher, please book an appointment either with the teacher or at the front office. This will ensure that you are given the appropriate time and attention.
Attendance/Punctuality
Please read the attached documents that offer some information and helpful tips on supporting your children with their attendance.
Principal Role Update
Regional Office has confirmed that Anika Blackmore’s short term contact has been extended for Term 2 of 2020. In order to provide continuity in leadership for the Balga PS community during this important review and planning period, it has been decided that I will continue in the role of Principal for Term 2 of this year. I am excited to have this further opportunity to work with a dynamic and progressive staff to ‘Foster an inclusive and supportive learning community while delivering excellence in education’ to your children’.
Regards,
Mike Wills
What a great start to the school year!
It has been a great start to the school year and can only happen because of the hard work our community put in! Thank you to all the parents and caregivers, who have supported and set up our students for a fantastic start to school. Thank you to our teachers and support staff who have worked tirelessly to ensure their classrooms and programs were ready from the beginning. And thank you to all the boys and girls who have been putting in huge amounts of effort at school.
Mr Chiappalone
Room 8 Assembly
We’re looking forward to our first assembly of the year, Room Eight’s assembly! We hope you can join us at 9am tomorrow to celebrate the start of the year and the great work of our students and enjoy the performance from our presenting class.
200 Days of Reading
We are running the 200 Day of Reading program again this year. Last year, over 40 hardworking readers were taken to the movies as a reward for reading at least 200 days last year. Students are encouraged to read each day with a parent, caregiver or older sibling who will sign off in the blue reading log provided in class. At 50 days, your child will receive a prize from the prize box. At 100 days, your child will receive a wrist band. At 150 days, your child will receive a book for them to keep. At 200 days, your child will receive a wrist band and a ticket to the movies at the end of the year. Your child’s teacher will listen to your child each week to assess if they are ready for the next level. Reading consistently is a key factor in making great progress at school.
Student Councillor Speeches
The school is incredibly proud of all our Year Six students who nominated for student councillor and delivered a speech. Being a student councillor is an important role and those who were voted in by their peers and teachers should feel honoured. Our Student Councillors uphold the values of Balga Primary School and are role models for their peers. They have many roles and responsibilities around the school and I look forward to working with these students this year.
Balga Primary School Facebook Page – Search @BalgaPS
If you haven’t done so yet, jump onto the Balga Primary School Facebook page and follow us – click the Facebook logo to the left or search for ‘@BalgaPS’. It’s a great way to keep up-to-date with the special things happening at Balga Primary School.
Fogarty EDvance Teaching Intensive at BALGA PRIMARY
During the school holidays, Balga Primary School partnered with Dr Loraine Hammond AM CF, Associate Professor from Edith Cowan University, and the Fogarty EDvance team to deliver a week long workshop with teachers from around the state. We also had the help some our amazing students, who came into school on their holidays to work with over 60 teachers. A special shout out to our amazing teachers, Mrs Wardana and Miss Fox, who presented at the workshop and showcased the outstanding teaching talent we have at Balga Primary School. The Minister for Education and the Director General were so impressed that they visited to see the great work.
At Balga Primary we are very fortunate to have a well-equipped science laboratory dedicated to teaching science. This facility provides an ideal environment for our children to investigate, experiment and develop their scientific inquiry skills in collaborative teams. The school has invested in the resources to deliver the Primary Connections Science Program across all year levels. This is an innovative program developed by the Australian Academy of Science, which links the teaching of science with the teaching of literacy. This program is complemented by a significant bank of resources that has been built up over the past five years to provide interesting hooks and make lessons engaging and relevant to childrens’ lives. These include digital microscopes, astronomy equipment and software, interactive quizzes such as Kahoot on the iPads and the creation of electronic books for children to demonstrate their knowledge in a multimodal way.
We offer a number of activities to stimulate interest and engagement in science throughout the year. These vary from year to year, but typically include:
- Year 5 full day excursion to Scitech.
- Incursions to complement the curriculum, such as Science Alive shows and Scitech Space Dome.
- Annual stargazing community event.
- Science Quest at Dianella Secondary College.
- Incursions from CSIRO.
- Visits to universities to experience campus life and various STEM activities.
Mr Schultz – Science Teacher
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
P&C Annual General Meeting – Wednesday 19 February at 9am in the Boardroom
We are inviting new members as many existing members will be moving on. The P&C is an important part of the school and a minimum of 8 members will be needed for the school to have a P&C. If you have ever wanted to join, now is the time or sadly the school is at risk of not having a P&C at all. All positions are up for nomination. Membership is $1 and is valid until the 2021 Annual General Meeting. Forms can be collected from the office and handed in before the day or can be taken at the meeting.
Thank you and we hope to see you there.
St John Ambulance – First Aid Focus Incursion – Monday 24 February
St John Ambulance will be visiting Balga Primary School so our students can participate in a FREE First Aid Focus Program. This program aims to equip students with basic skills to assess and respond to multiple first aid situations.
Childhood Fears Workshop – Friday 28 February
Please see attached brochure. Creche/child minding facilities available with booking.
WA Day – School Closure – Monday 2 March
Ear Health School Screening – Wednesday 4 March
If you have been issued a Consent Form for the Ear Health Screening, please return this form to the school office at your earliest convenience.
Please click here for our 2020 Term 1 Planner
2020 SCHOOL ENROLMENTS
We have been very busy in the Balga Primary School office welcoming all our lovely new families. If you know of any families still not enrolled in primary school for 2020, please come down today to fill out an enrolment form and we will help to get you started.
Please click below to view the following PDF links:
Playgroup Flyer – Balga PS are now running Playgroup Monday & Fridays
Free Sport Program – Northern City Football Club
Free Better Health Program for kids aged 7-13yrs
Piano Lessons – Free trial lesson
Child & Parent Centre – Term 1 Timetable
Helen O’Grady Drama Program for 3-17yrs