BALCATTA PRIMARY SCHOOL

Telephone: 9253 4900

NEWSLETTER Number: 20 19 December 2019

GOOD-BYE AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR YEAR 6 STUDENTS

2019

PRINCIPAL’S PATTER

Hello Everyone

With another school year coming to a close, I would like to express my sincere

thanks to everyone who provided support, in whatever capacity, to the school

throughout this year. It has been another very busy year and many of our

activities undertaken would not have been as successful if we didn’t have the

co-operation and support of our parents and community members. To those

families who are leaving us, our very best wishes for the future and thank you for

your support over a number of years.

We would also like to thank our students, particularly our Year 6’s for all their

help and support throughout the year. It has been a terrific effort. As they now

go forward to commence their secondary education, we say goodbye and

good luck and our very best wishes for a successful life ahead.

Our Graduation Awards ceremony held last Friday morning was a very special

occasion and I congratulate the award winners, all very well deserved. Special

thanks to our guests Mr David Michael (MLA-Member for Balcatta), Mr Adam

Spagnola (City of Stirling Councillor) and Mrs Helen Maitland (Principal Balcatta

Senior High School) for their attendance and presentation of awards. Also

thanks to Ms Dowling, Mrs Ando, Ms Pinakis, Mr Cox and the Year 6 students

who helped with the Graduation Ceremony organisation. A particular thanks

to our MC for the morning, Yashvi Patel, who did a wonderful job. Many thanks

also to all of our parents, students and community members who attended.

In conclusion, I would like to take the opportunity to thank all the staff for their

dedicated efforts throughout the year. They have, once again, done a

fantastic job in educating and caring for our students. Special thanks to Mark

Cox & Robert Croft for their great support throughout the year and Julie Walker

& Carol Eastgate for their tremendous help in the office – greatly appreciated.

We also have some staff leaving us this year who have all done an outstanding

job in educating our students. Megan Nunn - who relieved in P/P & year 3 while

the teachers were on leave, Veronica Schunck - our LOTE & Visual Arts teacher

and Nicole Ando - our Year 5 teacher. Our very best wishes in their future

endeavours.

Also, many thanks to the P &C and its executive committee; Donna Strange

(President), Christel Newport (V/President & School Council Member), Shoshana

Lam (Secretary & School Council Member), Thao Nguyen (Treasurer & Fund

Raising Co-Ordinator this year) Leisha Green (Uniform Co-ordinator), Leah

D’Cruz (School Banking Co-ordinator & Uniform Assistant), Melinda Dalkin

(Canteen Manager), Caroline Kwan (Canteen Assistant) and Jodi M’Intyre &

Kavi Thanabal (School Council Members) for their continued support and co-

operation throughout the year.

Thanks again to all our parents and community member volunteers who have

supported the school this year, particularly with assistance in the classrooms,

excursions, breakfast club, playgroup and sports carnivals etc.

Finally, may I wish everyone – students, parents and staff, a

very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Peter Gates

Principal

YR 6 GRADUATION AWARD RECIPIENTS 2019

DUX Daniela CERANIC

SPORTS Jenna VANCE

CITIZENSHIP Riley LEE Olivia KELLY

ENDEAVOUR Leena MEEL

BSHS Isabelle TRITTON

ENCOURAGEMENT Yaser AL HUSSANI

L.O.T.E - ITALIAN Leena MEEL

SCIENCE (Woodside) Angelina BIJU Elishah GAVANZO

MUSIC Hope PAITO

ART Fay WEMYSS

Senior Chaplains Award Emily BEKKERS

AWARD WINNERS

CLASS AWARDS 2019

PRE - PRIMARY Haiqa FATIMA Sasha SAHOTO

YEAR 1 Enayat KAUR Heidi NEWPORT

YEAR 2 (Rm 9) Hunzala ANWAR Yeun DELA CUEVA

YEAR 2 (Rm 10) Naisha MAKANI Semrat SEHRAWAT

YEAR 3 Divona BIJU Lawson NEWNES

YEAR 4 Dhriti PATEL Neeshi PATEL

YEAR 5 Cloud SANGIL Kaavya MANIKTALA

AWARD WINNERS

MERIT AWARD WINNERS

PATEL

“CHRISTMAS and SUMMER HOLIDAYS”

Christmas Spirit is certainly evident in our Kindy classroom.

What a resplendent display!

YEAR 2, ROOM 9 ASSEMBLY – 6 DECEMBER

SPECIAL V.I.P VISITS KINDY

Clothing Collection Bin

Cleaning up over Christmas holidays? Please make

use of our “Tr-aid not Aid” collection bin located near

the exit of the parent car park on the Main Street side

so it will be accessible on weekends and after hours

also.

HO, HO, HO

Merry Xmas

SWIMMING LESSONS 2020 (P-6)

Please note: Swimming lessons next year commence very early in Term 1

2020, (week 1, Wednesday 5 Feb.) A note will be sent home

on the first day of school next year (Mon. 3 February) with

all details and permission slip etc.

The cost will be $50.00 per student.

Mark Cox is retiring after a

teaching career of 44 years.

He has spent the past nine

years at Balcatta Primary

School. He has done an

outstanding job as Deputy

Principal and as Acting

Principal on occasions.

Apart from the many

administrative duties he

carried out in a very

professional manner, he

coordinated all the sporting

events (athletics carnivals etc.) and organised and maintained all the

schools’ electronic equipment. (i.e. computers, IPads, T. V’s etc.). He has

made a wonderful contribution to the school and will be sadly missed. We

wish him a very happy retirement and best wishes for the future.

Jan Ridley Jan, having taught

for 41 years (24 at

Balcatta Primary), is

retiring to seek out

new adventures. She

has been an integral

part of the Balcatta

Staff and we will miss

her very much. She

has done an

outstanding job in her

capacity as teacher,

mentor, curriculum

leader, volunteer co-

ordination,

organisation staff

roster/events etc.

and many other

facets of school life.

We thank her sincerely for her outstanding contribution. We wish her a very

happy retirement and best wishes for the future.

P & C NEWS

What a great way to end the school year, with

our Water Fun Day and Christmas Raffle. It was great to see everyone having a blast at

the Water Fun Day and congratulations to the

Raffle winners (listed below).

1st Prize winner: Kristy Casella, ticket no. 1011, Sold by Rosie Button (Kindy A)

$300 Bikeforce Balcatta Voucher, Donated by David Michael

2nd Prize winner: Vivianne Vilar, ticket no. 343, Sold by Sage Morgan (pre-

primary)

$111.94 valued Accessories Pack, Donated by Reid Cycles

3rd Prize winner: Hassan Jafar, ticket no. 272, Sold by Aria Seyfu (year 2)

$99 value Service Voucher, Donated by Bikeforce Balcatta

4th Prize winner: Stuart Taylor, ticket no. 99, Sold by Finn Taylor (Kindy A)

$99 value Service Voucher, Donated by Bikeforce Balcatta

We wish you and our whole school community a

Safe and happy School holidays.

NEWS FROM THE OFFICE & 2020 PARENT INFORMATION

2020 PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS LIST

The Personal Requirements Lists for next year were sent home last week.

Please note order deadlines and delivery information. Orders may be made

on-line at www.officeMaxSchools.com.au, or by visiting one of

their retail stores. Please note that OfficeMax has been chosen

by the school council as our preferred supplier, but there is no

obligation to use them.

ADMINISTRATION The current administration for 2020 is as follows:

Principal: Mr Peter Gates

Deputy Principal: to be confirmed

Manager Corporate Services (Registrar): Ms Julie Walker

OFFICE RE-OPENS The office re-opens on Tuesday 28 January from 9.00 am until

3.00 pm. Members of the administration will be available for new

enrolments and parent queries.

SCHOOL RESUMES School resumes on Monday February 3 for all students from Pre-Primary to

Year 6. Kindergarten has a staggered phasing in for the first two weeks.

SCHOOL INFORMATION BOOKLET All parents will receive an updated School Information Booklet in the first few

weeks back next year. Teachers will notify parents when their parent

meetings will be.

DENTAL SERVICE Westminster Dental Therapy Centre will be closed from December 19, 2019

& reopening February 3, 2020.

If you have any emergencies during this time, please contact:

Mt. Henry Dental Therapy Clinic: 9313 0552 who will also help direct

you to clinics closer to you.

A reminder to all Year 6 students going to High School. You are still eligible

for free dental treatment Service until the end of Year 11.

Please ensure we have all updated addresses & contact details.

Westminster Dental Therapy Centre: 9345 3331

We wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas!

SCHOOL WATCH A reminder to all our parents and community members that should you see

or hear anything suspicious around the school after school hours, on

weekends, or during the school holidays, please phone ‘School Watch’ on

9264 4771 or the Police on 13 14 44. Your help in this matter is very much

appreciated.

School Banking School banking will resume on Tuesdays in the undercover

area in 2020

Uniform Shop

OPENING HOURS 2020:

Friday 31 January 2020 10.00am - 12.00pm

Monday 3 February 2020 8.40am - 9.00am

Tuesday 4 February 2020 8.40am - 9.00am

Wednesday 5 February 2020 8.30am - 9.00am

Next year, the uniform shop will be open every Wednesday morning during

the school term. Or, if you cannot make it Wednesdays, please email us on

balcattaps_uniform@hotmail.com, to make alternate arrangements.

Facebook

Don’t forget to “like and follow” us on Facebook to keep up to date with our

latest news and events: www.facebook.com/balcattapspandc.

Please keep an eye out for meeting details and how you can be involved in

2020.

2020TERM DATES

Term 1 (return)

Monday 3 February – Thursday 9 April

School Holidays

Saturday 10 April - Tuesday 28 April

Term 2

Wednesday 29 April – Friday 3 July

School Holidays Saturday 4 July – Monday 20 July

Term 3

Tuesday 21 July – Friday 25 September

School Holidays

Saturday 26 September – Monday 12 October

Term 4

Tuesday 13 October - Thursday 17 December

NB – the above school holiday dates also include our pupil free days.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and

HAPPY NEW YEAR