Newsletter

This week we bid farewell, but not goodbye, to Mr Nick Mackay who has been working in the year 2 class with Miss Jenny to complete his practical placement. He will return in term 3 for his final placement and we look forward to having him back.

The year 5/6 camp to Point Walter went off without a hitch thanks to Mr Hyde’s exemplary organisation. The students had a brilliant time learning new skills like archery and exploring the Fremantle jail at night. It was a hair-raising experience by all accounts! Thanks also go to Miss Siney and Mr Sokra’a for attending the camp.

It has been busy time here at school, with a visit from Jason who conducted a soccer clinic sponsored by BHP and the Stephen Michael Foundation Interschool Carnival held last week on the town oval. It was fantastic to see students from the local schools coming together to participate.

Our school psychologist Sama Bruce-Cullen also visited us last week and presented some useful professional learning to our staff. It is always lovely to have support staff in the school providing expertise to all members of our school community.

We have a few more events coming up. There is a STAR assembly on Tuesday following the long weekend, the Cross Country Carnival is next Friday 7 June and the PPP Parenting Program presentation will be held on Wednesday 12 June. We would love to see you there.

I hope you enjoy your long weekend and will see students back at school on Tuesday looking lovely in their school uniforms and ready to embrace the STAR values.

Warn regards,

Samantha Siney

Deputy Principal

Congratulations to all of our LeinSTAR award recipients this week:

Success

• Brodie Rowan for success outstanding effort in writing.
• Kasyaf Tajiri for success spelling and reading.
• Corbin Forrest for making our classroom a welcoming place for everyone.
  
• Micaiah Read for understanding and respecting others feelings and perspectives.

Teamwork

• Bodhi Grant for teamwork celebrating classmates success.
• Lorenzo Lewis for teamwork, helping out in the playground at camp.
  

• Gabriel Walker for teamwork, helping out in the playground at camp.
• Billy Whiting for teamwork, demonstrating fantastic leadership qualities on camp.

Acceptance

• Harrison Smith for acceptance and teamwork running with a friend in cross country.
• Ruby Harvey for acceptance, accepting the challenge after falling over during cross country

Resilience

• Brodie Rowan for resilience during mathematics.
• Tyler Fue for resilience giving her best for all camp activities.

Letter of Commendation

• Rhiarn Paniora received a letter of commendation.
  
• Andrew Sanderson received a letter of commendation.

We look forward to seeing you at our next LeinSTAR assembly, which will be held on Tuesday 04th June.

The Year 3/4 students rocked the stage last week with their performance of "Revolting Children" from Matilda — who knew being 'revolting' could be so impressive? Hats off to our talented kids for a show that was anything but revolting! You have worked so hard this year and your efforts should be celebrated!

Last week, the Pre-primary through to Year 12 students participated in a football/soccer incursion with Jason from Football Futures. The students learned valuable skills and tricks including the sidestep, the turn around, and the step over. We hope to see these new skills put to the test next week in the Stephen Michael Northen Goldfields Sports Carnival. Thank you again to Jason from Football Futures for providing these valuable and fun sessions, and to BHP for providing funding.

Photos provided by Mrs Sokra'a.

Students from Pre-primary to Year 2 had the wonderful opportunity to engage with the extensive knowledge of Felicity 'Fifi' Harris (Tjiwarl Ranger) and Neil Hamilton (ornithologist, also referred to as an expert birdman) during a Birds in Schools event generously sponsored by BHP on Monday the 20th. They were introduced to the English and Aboriginal names of birds commonly sighted around Leinster township. Furthermore, they gained insights into the collaborative efforts between rangers and environmentalists in preserving bird habitats, managing invasive species, and monitoring bird populations. The students absorbed a wealth of information, and we extend our gratitude for the enriching experience they had during their visit to Leinster.

Last week our school participated in National Simultaneous Storytime, an annual event that joins thousands of children across the country in this shared reading experience. Mrs Kelleher shared the book, Bowerbird Blues, with our students, and Mrs Ogley created a replica Bowerbird nest for students to view. Ask your child if they have spotted the real bowerbird nest at our school!

Photos provided by Mrs Ogley.

From May 2024, our school, along with thousands of others across the country, will participate in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC).

The AEDC is a teacher-completed census (similar to a questionnaire) which provides a comprehensive picture of how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school.

The AEDC is an Australian Government Initiative and is completed nationally every three years.

Children don’t miss any class time while the AEDC is completed, and parents/carers don’t need to supply schools with any new information.

The data collected through the AEDC is used by schools, communities and governments to better understand children and families’ needs, and identify the services, resources and support they need.

AEDC data is reported at a school, community, state/territory and national level. AEDC results for individual children are not reported and the AEDC is not used as an individual diagnostic tool.

Some teachers have found that completing the AEDC made them more aware of the needs of individual children and their class, and that the data was useful for planning for transitions to Year 1 and developing programs.

Participation in the AEDC is voluntary, however the AEDC relies on all schools with children in their first year of full-time school participating in the collection. Parents/carers don’t need to take any action unless they choose not to include their children in the census.

To find out more about the AEDC and how it is being used to help children and families visit: www.aedc.gov.au.

If you have any questions, you can contact Leanne Kelleher on 9055 9600 or email Leanne.Kelleher@education.wa.edu.au

Camp Day 1

On Monday, our year 5/6 class went to camp! To get to our destination we all met up at Leinster Airport, when everyone arrived, we all checked in and we took a group photo. Once we had all lined up and gathered all our belongings we walked into the gates and walked onto our plane. On the plane I sat next to Hannah and Arizona we had a giggle and some of us slept while others played some games. The flight was 1 hour and 10 minutes. When we arrived at Perth airport, we collected our suitcases and walked over to the bus stop. Our driver drove us to Perth Mint where we learnt a lot about gold and even the history of gold, we weighed ourselves on the gold weighing machine (I weighed approximately $4,100,309). We learnt about the shapes of gold and who found it and more. We received a survey and once completed it, stamp out our own cool souvenir! Next, we caught a bus to Kings Park we found a nice spot under the trees to eat our lunch and we also had juice boxes a few minutes after we finished lunch, we had a look around and we even walked through a war memorial with multiple names carved into the walls. We read lots of stones in a flower patch, we then walked over Kaarta Koomba (the glass bridge at Kings Park) we saw an amazing view of trees and the Swan River. We also did one last thing, and it was a self-guided walk for 60 minutes, through the Botanic Garden and learnt about bush medicines and first aid. We then went to Point Walter Camp on the bus I sat with Arizona at the front of the vehicle with the teachers. When we got to Point Walter Camp we unpacked and set up our dorm rooms, around 6-7pm we went to the hall for dinner we had lasagna and for dessert we got hot chocolate and a games night.

Camp Day 2

Day two the boys were up at 5:00am and we talked till 6:30am and then we went on a walk up the coast along the Swan River which was very good. On the way we went to the jetty, and we went spear fishing and we stabbed a blue crab, and we killed it and unfortunately, we didn't catch it because it fell off the stick. Then we walked further and we went to this tree that we climbed and then we walked back to the camp which was 3km. After we got back and got ready for breaky and we went which there was cereal and toast. Then we walked back to our dorms and went to archery. Our team's name was ‘Caseoh’ and we won the competition by scoring the most. Then we went to flying fox and were allowed two turns. Then we had lunch which was burgers and then we tried getting a kite down and it was successful. Then we had free time till 4:00. Then we went to Point Walter Reserve and we had a barbie there. We went swimming in the water and had shoulder wars, and it was good, then we went out and played around. After, we had dinner and there were these annoying birds then. We the went back to camp for a quiz night and got desert and my team came 2nd. Then we got to talk in bed with our light on and get ready for bed. Then we had to go to bed.

Camp Day 3

Day three all of us woke up at 8:30 to have breaky then we got ready to go to Fremantle Roundhouse where we saw the cannon launch. It was very loud. Then we went to the Shipwreck Museum. Hannah and I nearly got lost because we were watching a Shipwreck Museum documentary. It was scary until we found James. Then we went to Bathers Beach to have dinner. It was fish & chips. Then we went to Fremantle prison this one was actually so scary the first thing that happened was we got a picture and I reviewed it and there was a demonic ghost sitting next to me then we had a whole tour and the 10 mins in we got jump scared the guy that jump scared us was crazy. Then we went to the theatre room our tour guide said it was the coldest place even though it was not that cold. Then we went back to camp.

On day three my favourite thing was the Fremantle Prison. It was very interesting. Our tour guide was Benny. He was fun. Benny showed us around the prison, and we got scared two times. Then we went down to the place where they put all the dead bodies in the olden days. Day three was the best day I had in my life.

Camp Day 4

We didn’t go on the foreshore because we had breakfast. Then we did a cabin carnival which was a scavenger hunt. For lunch we had burgers. Then we packed our bags and cleaned our cabins. Then we caught the bus to the airport. Then check in closes and flew to Leinster.

Please visit Leinster Community School's Facebook page for more photos, taken by Mr Hyde.

It has been a very busy and productive couple of weeks in the high school room. Students have been working hard on their schoolwork and fundraising for the upcoming camp to SIDE in week 10. They held the sport equipment raffles and ‘guess the lollies in the lolly jar competition’ for their camp as well as a ‘Dress as your favourite crayon colour’ day. Thank you to all those who participated and congratulations to all the winners!

Assessments are well underway for all subjects and there are several assessments coming up in English, Maths and Science for those in Year 7-9. We have had Year 11 ATAR exams held in the library and the Year 12 students completed all their EST tests.

In among all this learning some students also participated in the recent Stephen Michael Foundation interschool carnival held here in Leinster as well as the soccer clinics from Football Futures Foundation held last week.

CONGRATULATIONS! Our students earned their Dojo reward for reaching 100 Dojo’s as a class. They voted to visit the café for lunch which they all enjoyed. It was a welcome break for their hard-working brains! Our high schoolers really do demonstrate the school values of Success, Teamwork, Acceptance and Resilience. Congratulations also go to our recent letter of commendation recipients.

All the students are looking fantastic in their uniforms and with the colder weather creeping up, some school jackets are available in the uniform shop for purchase. See the lovely ladies in the office for a uniform order form if you need one. A reminder that longer hair needs to be tied up for health and safety reasons.

- Ms Siney

Photos provided by Ms Siney.

The Running Club continues to be held on a Monday and a Wednesday morning at 7.30am on the town oval. There has been a fantastic turnout of students to date despite the inclement weather that has arisen. It's wonderful to see not only the student's progress in the number of laps they're able to complete each week, but to see their pace and technique improving also ahead of our cross-country event Friday.

The Stephen Michael Foundation came back to Leinster to organise its Interschool Tournament catering to students from Year 3 to Year 12. Schools from areas including Leonora, Laverton, and Wiluna made the journey to Leinster to join in the competitions. The event showcased remarkable sportsmanship as students took turns playing basketball and soccer matches.

We want to take a moment to express our gratitude to the dedicated P&C volunteers who work tirelessly to improve our school's facilities, resources, and student outcomes. From organizing events to fundraising and everything in between, your efforts are deeply appreciated and do not go unnoticed.

Help the high school cohort raise funds to go towards the cost of their high school camp by getting involved in the netball fundraiser. Open to anyone and everyone, this tournament will take place on Saturday 08th June at the indoor basketball courts. There is a $20 entry fee per person, with prizes and giveaways on offer and a sausage sizzle after the event. We look forward to seeing you there!

What a, wonderful few weeks it’s been for the school! We’ve been so busy; it’s been hard to catch a breath.

The high school has been busy with exams, especially for our 11’s and 12’s. EST’s and ATAR are stressful and often anxiety inducing times, how lucky we are that our students have such great and supportive parents and teaching staff to help them navigate this often-difficult time in their school life.

This week the main focus in the lunch time clubs have been puzzles, painting, beading, and having lots of chats with our students mostly about friendships, healthy boundaries, and their goals.

I can’t tell you how happy it makes my heart to see your children come into school with big smiles on their faces, to tell me about their weekend, their new pet, or the adventures they have been on or are planning!

A final note before I leave you to enjoy your long weekend, this quote is from Dr Mary O’Kane, and I came across it on Maggie Dents FB page:

One of the most purposeful truths we can offer

our children is that we are all still learning.

None of us have arrived; we all have room to grow.

This free’s our kids from expecting perfection of themselves

or anyone else because they know that life is a journey from day one.

As always my door is open, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email: Danielle.Ballard@education.wa.edu.au or feel free to contact the school.

- Mrs Ballard (SWO)

Photos taken by Mrs Ballard.

Our school students were fortunate to attend Leinster Police Station's open day on Thursday 16th May and learn all about the facilities we have in town, law enforcement protocols, sit in a police vehicle and fire engine, meet Constable Care, and so much more, all whilst walking away with a bag full of goodies for the students to enjoy. We extend our thanks and gratitude to Sergeant Darren Faulkner and Sergeant Neil Stimpson of Leinster Police Station for putting on and hosting such a fantastic event for the community.

Pull out your party clothes!!The P&C will be holding a neon disco on 21 June. Wear something bright & crazy. Entry is $5 and includes a hotdog and drink.

Upcoming events – keep an eye on our Facebook page for our upcoming raffle.

email: leinsterpc@gmail.com

facebook: Leinster Community School P&C Association

Email: leinster.cs@education.wa.edu.au
Website: www.leinstercs.wa.edu.au
Location: 1 Gledden Drive, Leinster WA, Australia
Phone: +61 8 9055 9600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leinstercommunityschool