Dear Families,

Almost at the end of a long term.  With the flu season in swing, we have noticed many children have come to school unwell and needing to be sent home.  Please can I remind you that if your child has vomited or had diarrhea, they need to stay at home for a further 24 hours after the last occurrence. We do not have the capacity to have them wait at school whilst unwell, so we would appreciate you having another contact to call upon if you are unable to collect them.

You’ll also note that we sent home a message regarding students with no hats for playtimes.  We do not have any spare hats to loan students, and they are asked to sit outside the library if they do not have one.  As mentioned, Kmart, BIG W sell navy bucket hats cheaper than the uniform shop if this is an easier option for you. 

Brekkie Club

Remember that Brekkie (Thursday) club starts 07:40am in the art room, some students are arriving after 8am and it’s a rush for them to eat and tidy up before 08:20. All are welcome, I look forward to seeing your children.  Thursday 20 June will be our last one for this term.

School Parking and dropping off

Can I please remind you all to continue to turn left when entering the car park.   The Bollards will continue to be raised during drop off and pick up times for the safety of our students walking into school on the car park crossing.  This area is not for student drop off at any time of day.   We have had complaints from families and community members regarding parking on verges and pavements to the rear and front of the school, this makes it extremely dangerous for students and families to navigate the crossing of the roads as they do not have clear vision.  We have requested that the ranger visits the area a few times a week.   I ask that you are courteous to others when using the parking around the school.

We’ve had another wonderful couple of weeks here at Alkimos!

 Semester One Reports

With only two weeks to go until the end of term, our final preparations for Semester One reports are being made. These will include information about your child’s academic achievements as well as attitude, behaviour, and effort. The teachers will also comment about their strengths and some learning goals for Semester Two.

Reports will be released via Connect in the last week of term. We recommend downloading and saving a copy in case you leave the public education system or are asked for a copy when changing schools/enrolling for high school.

Should you have any questions about the comments and grades received in your child’s report, please feel free to make an appointment to speak with classroom teachers.

Reports are a great way to start a conversation about your child’s learning. Here is a useful link with fives tips to get you started.

https://www.teachstarter.com/au/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-their-report-card/

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea

A couple of weeks ago, the staff at Alkimos took part in Australia’s Biggest Morning (Afternoon) Tea! We raised an incredible $300 which will help fund life-saving research, prevention programs and help the Cancer Council continue to support those impacted by cancer. I was going to take some photos, but I got a little distracted with all the delicious food! Well done Team Alkimos!

Bike Education

On Thursday 6 June, some students in Year 5 participated in a School Bike Education Program run by Cycle Sense. The session involved a practical component, providing students with the skills, confidence, and experience to ride a  bike safely. Students progressed through different challenges that aided their improvement and knowledge on how to safely ride their bike in the community. Here are some photos of our students in action!

Many Thanks,

Pip Ramsden
Associate Principal

Hello families,

I cannot believe we are nearly at the end of Semester One. All students have been working super hard and deserve a well-earned break.  Last Friday the assembly item presented by CR12 & CR13 was amazing, it reminded me as to why I chose WA to be the place I now call home.

On June 4 all staff were involved in the Staff Development Day, what a great day it was. Teachers engaged in professional development based around whole school data collection and updating their knowledge and understanding of our wonderful ASD-SLP. Our brilliant specialist teachers provided staff with some fantastic activities, a music and general knowledge quiz that was led by Ms Dupond & Mr Wulff. Additionally, Mrs Birchall, Miss Sutton, Miss Smith, and Mrs Nixon provided staff with a Noongar Dreaming Story session and collaborative Art project that will hang proudly outside my office. Again, thanks to the specialist teachers for this.

Lastly, please families enjoy the holidays with your child. Remember to take 5 minutes and just observe them enjoying themselves. I am quickly learning that with a toddler, time is flying by, and children grow up too quickly.

Thanks,

Mr Chrimes

Hi Everyone,

It has been amazing being around our school this term and observing all the incredible work and fun being had by all our students.

As a staff we are always on the lookout for that latest and most progressive practices to help support our students to engage in learning and to be successful in achieving their goals.

One very successful, evidence based method is the use of Visual Supports. You will probably have noticed in your child’s class the use of visual pictures or lists that help support students to access learning, for example, a Daily Timetable or Schedule of the Day, Calendars, Activity Steps or equipment required. We often involve our students in the creation of visuals, so it is meaningful. Some students or classes have a preference in relation to whether the visual is pictorial or print.

School Chaplain

How to handle tantrums: try these positive parenting tips

Let’s face it, knowing how to handle tantrums can be a struggle, and for good reason. They can be explosive and unpredictable. And if you’re tired or stressed, they can feel all the more difficult to deal with. If you’re like many parents and carers, it’s hard to stay calm when a temper tantrum happens. It can help to remember tantrums are a normal part of young children’s development. They can be as short as 20 seconds or go on and on, and are common in the toddler years.

So how can you handle tantrums with more confidence and patience? Let’s look at what tantrums are, why they happen, and what you can do to manage them.

What’s a tantrum?

Temper tantrums come in all forms. They can include crying (without being physically hurt), screaming, stomping, throwing objects, rolling around on the floor, or holding their breath. Sometimes, tantrums seem to come out of nowhere, while other times, you might notice the signs a tantrum is brewing.

Why do children have temper tantrums?

Everyone gets frustrated or angry – it’s part of being human. For young children, especially toddlers, tantrums are a common way of expressing their strong emotions. As they grow, the emotional centre of their brain is developing, which means they’re learning how to control impulses, communicate their needs, and express themselves.

So, the next time you find yourself dealing with a tantrum, try to remember they're not trying to deliberately annoy you. Children are learning important skills such as problem-solving, following instructions, waiting, getting along with others, and expressing themselves with words. They’re also learning how to manage uncomfortable emotions.

What to do when a child has a tantrum

• Stay calm
• Stick to your decisions
• Avoid teaching and reasoning mid-tantrum

How to stop tantrums

• Help your child recognise and express their feelings
• Have a plan
• Encourage behaviour you like

If you're finding it tough to deal with frequent or intense tantrums, or if you are worried about aggression, reach out for support. Talk to your partner, family or friends, or seek advice from your doctor or health professional.

Things to keep in mind:

• Despite your best efforts, sometimes tantrums will still happen. Remember: the tantrum isn’t personal, it’s part of their development. Try to focus on staying calm and guiding their behaviour.
• Building a positive relationship with your child can improve their emotional regulation skills.

• Take care of yourself too. Self-care can make all the difference in how you handle the ups and downs of parenting.
• With practice and patience, you can guide their behaviour and help your child to learn some lifelong skills.

If you would like to read more about how to handle tantrums, visit

Triple P Online provides proven strategies to help you confidently handle tantrums and other common parenting challenges. If you would like to know more, please visit https://www.triplep-parenting.net.au/au/articles-and-news/post/how-to-handle-tantrums-parenting-tips/

Kind regards,