Alkimos Primary School eNewsletter

Dear Alkimos PS Families

Welcome to the final week of the term, that once again features our exciting Book Week festivities. Monday’s visiting author Cristy Burne proved to be a fantastic hit with students, regaling her audience with captivating tales that proved a real motivation and a perfect commencement to the week. Yesterday evening, it was great to see so many families visit classrooms throughout the annual Open Night. This Friday, our term culminates with the Book Week assembly, our dress-up parade, and community lunch. What a day!

Of course, these excellent events are in addition to those that our students have enjoyed in recent times. Last Friday, we saw a fabulous Faction Action Athletics Carnival, keenly contested and complemented by beautiful student behaviour and sportsmanship. Congratulations Ares (Champion Faction) and Poseidon (Faction Spirit Award), but Hera and Apollo can feel very proud of their efforts too, as well as the individual medal winners. On Tuesday, our wonderful choir had the amazing opportunity to participate in Telethon’s Virtual Choir, filming their part in front of the Channel 7 cameras on the lovely Eden Beach. I can’t wait to see that over the Telethon weekend, 19-20 October. As always, our dedicated P. & C. Association have presented so many terrific opportunities for our community to participate in- the hair colouring at the carnival last Friday, for example, proved to be spectacularly popular again!

Class Requests 2025 As published in the previous newsletter, you are now invited to make a class placement request for 2025, that reflects the policy for doing so:

Save the Date- Wellness Expo, 4 November In Term 4, Wellness Week will be celebrated from 4 to 8 November, highlighted by the Wellness Expo on Friday 8 November. You are warmly invited to this showcase of services in our community that have wellness and wellbeing as the core of their work. There’ll be a community lunch as well, along with a coffee van, and maybe even an ice cream truck! More details will be published next term- I’m anticipating a fantastic community event.

Alkimos PS School Rule- Be Safe I’m sure that during your time in the school grounds, you have seen the school rules displayed prominently in many places. The first of these is ‘Be Safe’, and explained to our students as ‘look out for ourselves and each other and listen for our inner voice’. When we discuss with our students the behaviours involving physical responses to playground incidents, this is the focus; looking out for ourselves and each other means to make sure everyone is OK, and listening to our inner voice suggests that we know that our students know difference between expected and unexpected behaviours, so their inner voice should help them make a strong, good choice. It may take a moment or two to stop and find this voice- this is important for students to understand as well.

Have you discussed with your child this school rule, and how you can help find their inner voice, that tells them to stop and think? Your role is crucial in supporting our message about reducing the inappropriate physical responses we see in everyday playground interactions.

Term 4 Principal News Lastly, I wish to advise that I’ll be taking leave for the first three weeks of Term 4, and likely extending this. I am delighted that Mr Tom Bagnall will be returning to Alkimos PS after a very successful tenure as Principal of Marangaroo PS and will be Principal in my absence. Welcome back Mr Bagnall!

I intend to be present at many school events, including the Book Awards Assembly and Year 6 Graduation Ceremony, and I look forward these occasions.

I wish students and staff a well-deserved break; it’s been another hard-working term. If you also have a break from work and get to holiday with your child, I hope this proves to be enjoyable family time.

Term 4 commences on Monday 7 October.

Regards,

Andy Gorton

PRINCIPAL

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Dear Families,

Well, that’s a wrap, we have reached the end of Term 3. Frida’s Sports Carnival was a massive success – Well Done to Mr Wulff for organising a great day.

Lost Property

If your child has lost any item, please ask them to look in the lost property located outside the library. There are always jumpers and hats which are not named, so please make sure that you name all your child’s property so it can be taken back to them. Please not that if your child has lost their hat, we do not have spares to loan them, and they will be asked to sit under the shade during recess and lunch to observe the schools’ No Hat No Play policy. THE LOST PROPERTY BINS WILL BE EMPTIED ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK.

Breakfast Club

Reminder that last Thursday was the last one for Term 3. ‘Thank you’ to all those parents who donated, croissants, jam, juice. The students certainly had a good feed.

I look forward to welcoming them all back Week 2 term 4.

I would like to wish all families a relaxing break what ever you do, I hope you get to spend some family time making lasting memories.

Kind regards

Sara Sparks

Manager Corporate Services

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Hello families,

Wow, I cannot believe we are the end of Term Three already! This year seems to be flying past!

Well done to all involved at Friday’s Sports Carnival, it was yet again a magnificent day. Staff spoke after school, that it was possibly the best one yet. WELL DONE MR WULFF!!

In my last newsletter, I mentioned watch this space re: “Positive Play”, well it is now up and running. Every Monday at 10.10am, students from Years 1 – 6 who have made the expected behaviour choices throughout the previous working week, are rewarded with 10 minutes extra play on the oval. It has been wonderful to see the smiling faces and hear from teachers how their students are trying extra hard throughout the week to ensure they participate.

Lastly, a massive congratulations to my office visitors, Benji from CR11 & Heath from CR4 who as their smiles show, are extra proud of their maths masterpieces - telling time and timetables.

To all our families, have a wonderful break, enjoy the precious time with your loved ones and I can’t wait to see you all in Term Four.

Mr Chrimes

Associate Principal

Work Placements

We are looking forward to welcoming our families for our annual Open Night this evening. Open Night is a great way for students to showcase their learning. It is so lovely to see lots of excited students around school, who are eager and proud to show off their work! Classrooms will be open between 5pm and 7pm.

Curriculum Corner

Indigenous Literacy Day

Each year Alkimos PS participates in Indigenous Literacy Day. This year we celebrated the theme ‘Be A Proud Voice for Country’.

Our students watched an online film which took them into three Aboriginal Communities to learn about their unique stories, languages and cultures.

They explored some of the deep and diverse ways children, Elders and families connect with Country and the significance of Country in Aboriginal Communities. Students learnt about Dreaming stories from the riverbank in Cunnamulla, they joined teenagers as they explored culture through poetry and art in Vincentia and heard incredible stories and songs from the children and Elders on the Tiwi Islands.

Here are a few photos from some of our lovely classes!

Many Thanks,

Pip Ramsden
Associate Principal

Kaya Alkimos Primary School. What a busy last few weeks of Term 3 we have.

Music News!

Last Tuesday, members of our wonderful choir attended their first full rehearsal for the WA Massed Choir Festival with students from 13 other schools at Churchlands Senior High School. They have been learning their songs since the start of the year and will perform with 600 other students on Friday 1 November at HBF Stadium. Tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster on 19^th September. https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/

I can’t wait to watch them shine on stage at this amazing event.

As well as rehearsing for the MCF, our choir was selected to be a part of a Telethon ‘Virtual Choir’. Since 1968, more than 605 million dollars raised through Telethon have supported medical research into childhood diseases, provided equipment, critical services and life changing opportunities for sick, disadvantaged and vulnerable children. Our students were videoed in the beautiful sunshine at Eden Beach and clips from this will be made into a video showcasing school students from around the state. It will go to air on the Telethon weekend – keep an eye out for our superstars on Channel 7 on 19 – 10^th October.

https://www.telethon7.com/about

A big thank you to Mrs Dupond our amazing Music Teacher for her work preparing our students for these exciting opportunities.

Book Week!

Why reading is important for young children:

Reading books, sharing stories, talking and singing every day helps your child’s development in many ways.

Reading and storytelling can:

help your child get to know sounds, words and language, and develop early literacy skills
introduce your child to the value of books and stories
spark your child’s imagination and curiosity
promote your child’s brain development and ability to focus and concentrate
help your child build social, communication and emotional skills
help your child learn about the world, their own culture and other cultures.

Reading stories with children has benefits for you too. The special time you spend reading together promotes bonding and builds your relationship with your child.

Book Swap at Alkimos PS ECE

Mrs Reichle has set up some bookshelves in the Early Childhood drop off area, outside ECE 3. The Alkimos Book Swap has the same concept as a community library. You can donate 1 book and take 1 book. You can swap as many days as you like, we just ask that the book you donate is in good condition and appropriate for Early Childhood.

Have a relaxing and safe holidays and I look forward to seeing all our families back in tern 4.

Kind regards,

Kirstin MacLean

Associate Principal

Hope you have had a great week and are enjoying this beautiful change in the weather.

I thought I would share some amazing work that has been happening on our SLP classes.

Each Wednesday, ECEC 7 heads out to find something found in nature. As we have been learning about weather and seasons in Term 3, students would notice various changes that occurs with the change in season - such as colour of leaves and flowers blooming. What an exciting way to learn outdoors!

In ECE 7 we have been learning about community helpers, and in particular, emergency services. We were lucky enough to join in with an incursion with real firefighters. The students really enjoyed looking closely at the fire engine, sitting inside the cab and even having a go squirting the fire hose.

They enjoyed it so much that we re-created the experience and did an art activity with our photos.

In CR4, we prioritise a balanced approach to learning by incorporating plenty of constructive free play alongside our directed learning activities. Through free play, students have the opportunity to explore, create, and interact with their peers in a relaxed environment, which helps to naturally build their social and communication skills. This unstructured time allows them to practice problem-solving, cooperation, and emotional regulation, all of which are essential skills that support their overall development. By complementing our structured lessons with free play, we foster a well-rounded learning experience that nurtures both academic growth and personal development.

In CR 11, the students were completing a Design and Technology activity using foil and the topic of the Olympic Games. The students created an athlete with foil and then had to guess what sport the athlete was representing and then lift the flap to see if they were right. Amazing work guys!

Have a safe and relaxing holiday and we will see you next term.

Kind regards,

Melinda Papadopoff

Program Coordinator (SLP-ASD)

Good Day Everyone

Holidays are nearly here!

I would like to give you a heads up about the Operation Christmas Child which will happen at the start of term 4. Alkimos Primary School participates in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child each year, which is such a wonderful and happy event.

Operation Christmas Child is a hands-on way for schools/families to bless children in need across the world by filling shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, and fun gifts. Boxes are collected and distributed to children living in vulnerable situations. It is heart-warming to see the pure joy on the faces of the children receiving a box.

Classes will be starting to collect items and pack the Christmas boxes in the first 2 weeks of term 4.

Teachers will send out a list of items as gift suggestions next term. We are always overwhelmed by the generosity of our Alkimos Primary School community each year.

For more info about Samaritan’s purse please click on https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/

The YouthCare Art competition is currently happening!

YouthCare is running their Art Competition again this year and there are an array of prizes and the chance to feature on the cover of the YouthCare annual report. This is an incredible opportunity for a young artist’s work to be published.
Paint, draw, take a photo, and use your imagination to create a work of art that is your interpretation of Courage. Entries can be sent to YouthCare or the School Chaplain.

Entries close: October 18th

Follow the link for more info: https://www.youthcare.org.au/artcomp24primary

Marche Smith

School Chaplain

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What a wonderful week of Athletics we celebrated at Alkimos Primary School last week. Brilliant weather greeted us for both days. We had fantastic competition and the sportspersonship on display was heartwarming to see. Despite technology failing us with the microphone over the course of the day, students were kept busy with the myriad of events that they participated in and parents moving around to watch their children compete.

Congratulations to Poseidon for winning the Spirit of Alkimos Shield and to Apollo for winning the Champion Shield, with a convincing margin. Well done by the faction captains for their help over the two days and a big thank you to the Alkimos Primary School staff for their tireless work/

Most of all, every student, regardless of whether they won a medal, ribbon or either, should be very proud of their performance and efforts. It was tremendous to see.

Good luck to the students competing at the Interschool Athletics Carnival. Permission notes will be handed out on the first day back of Term Four.

Mr Wulff

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Attendance Every Day

At Alkimos Primary we know that attending school every day enables your child to get the most from their education and create a bright future. This helps them create more opportunities for their future and leads to better health, social and work outcomes. Every day your child learns something new at school. Every day they build on what they already know, growing their knowledge and skills.

While the majority of our students miss school for legitimate reasons such as illness, we do have a concerning amount of unexplained student absences.

This term, teaching staff will be contacting families to follow up on any remaining unexplained absences. It is a Department of Education requirement that schools follow up on absences and record the reasons for these. If your child is absent, please let the class teacher or school office know the reason why they have been away from school as soon as possible. Thank you to those who are notifying the school regarding their child’s absences in a timely manner. You can do this via email, phone call, letter to the teacher or using the Schoolzine app, ‘SZapp’ that can be downloaded from the school website:

https://alkimosps.wa.edu.au

Where a student’s attendance falls below 90%, it is classed as ‘at risk’ by the Department of Education. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s attendance, please discuss these with the class teacher or contact Mrs MacLean in the office.