Filter Content
- Mr Bagnall's Broadcast
- Mrs Sparks' Office Remarks
- Mr Chrimes' Comments
- Miss Ramsden’s Report
- Mrs MacLean's Memo's
- Mrs Papadopoff's Ponderings
- Building Resilience and Finding Happiness by Mrs Rees
- Chaplain’s Chatter
- Sustainability at Alkimos Primary School
- Science News with Mrs Sutton
- Respectfully Speaking by Alkimos Respectful Relationships Team
- Introducing New Counselling Services - Yanchep ECU Clinic
- Levels of Playground Behaviour at Alkimos Primary School
- Attendance
- Term Dates 2025
- Butler Woolworths NetSetGo Clinic
- Support a Reader Program
- Story Dog Volunteers for 2025
- Community News

It is hard to believe that we are already nearing the end of Term 1; it has absolutely flown by! These last few weeks have some even more amazing work coming up to show us in the office, and I’ve got a few photos of some of these superstars in this newsletter! Next term, we will officially have a farewell assembly for Mr Gorton, with the date to be advised early Term 2. Whilst a recruitment process in undertaken, I’ll continue in this position and will keep you updated once more information is available.
Next term, Miss Ramsden will also be leaving on parental leave for the rest of the year, I know that you will join me in wishing her all the best, and we look forward to seeing her back next year! There will also be some other minor staffing changes, which we will communicate once these are finalised via Connect.
One event that has crept up on us is our Easter Hat parade that is on the SchoolZine calendar. This will be on Friday morning next week (11th April) and if you would like to create an easter hat with your child, you re more than welcome to do so. Students will also have a chance to make a simple hat in class if they wish. Parents are welcome to stay for this if they would like, and we will begin at 8:45 on the quadrangle (near the flagpoles). This is completely optional for students to do, so please do not feel obliged! In addition to this, we are currently reviewing how our community lunches / events look, so there advertised community lunch for next Friday will not go ahead, and I’ll let you know how these will look and how we hope to get families involved early next term.
New Student Information System and Attendance System
Next term, our system for recording student information and attendance is changing. As of Tuesday 13th May, we will be transitioning to Compass, which some of you may have used previously, particularly if you have students in High School. Most of these changes will be in house, however there will be some changes that you may notice at the start, primarily with the absentee texts coming from a different sender, and the ability to click a link in this message to provide a reason.
Later on, either in late 2025, or early 2026, we will also begin providing parent logins for this so that we can:
- Provide real time updates and messages (potentially replacing Connect)
- Gain online consent and payment for excursions and activities
- Request absences ahead of time (for appointments / planned holidays)
We look forward to sharing more information around this early next term.
Drop Off / Arriving Late at School
Recently, we have had some feedback around the times that our gates are closing in the morning where students are arriving late. Our gates are locked between 8:30 and 8:35 am each morning by our student leaders. Locking the gates at this time helps support students who may be unsettled in the mornings and minimises unnecessary movement around the school once classes have begun. While this may sometimes result in families arriving to find a gate closed (or closing), this approach prioritises student safety and security and aligns with our attendance procedures, as classroom rolls are marked promptly at 8:30 am to prevent unnecessary absence notifications from being sent to families.
If your child is arriving close to, or after 8:30, please drop them off at the front of the school where they can enter through either Gate 1 (if still open) or the office so that they can be marked as present for the day.
I understand that this process may be inconvenient at times, however, it has been extremely disappointing that some families have been quite vocal with the students closing the gates, to the point of berating them. Please note, this type of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. On the other hand, thank you to those families that have intervened when they have seen this, and reminded those adults that it is not ok.
Great Work
Some of our younger students have been doing some amazing work lately and have been showing off their reading and writing skills. They have loved coming up and showing us, making their teachers especially proud of how hard they are working!






I hope that everyone has a great end to the term, and look forward to seeing lots of families at our final assembly of the term tomorrow, presented by CR9 and CR10!
Regards,
Tom Bagnall
Acting Principal

Dear Families,
We’ve almost come to the end of term one.
Brekkie Club
This morning at Brekkie Club, the students were treated to croissants, pikelets, hot cross buns, apple juice, as well as their usual toast, fruit and spaghetti. They really enjoyed this treat, and I would like to extend a massive thank you to all those parents who have donated items. I have attached some photos below. This is the last one for this term and we look forward to welcoming all the students back in term 2.



















Competition Time !!!!
We will be having a draw at the end of term to win one of 6 gift vouchers valued at $25. All those who have either paid their Contributions in full or started a plan before 10 April 25 will automatically go into the draw. Good Luck
Student sickness during school time
Just a reminder that if your child is unwell during school time, we will contact you to ask that they are collected. We do not have the capacity to have them stay in the medical bay for long periods of time. There are also Department of Health policies that we must adhere to for communicable diseases.
Gastroenteritis – Diarrhoea and/or vomiting – Infectious period can be days to weeks.
*Exclusion period at least 24 hours after the last occurrence of symptoms.
Influenza – Fever, chills, headache, sore throat and cough. Infection period 1 – days
* Exclusion period, until symptoms are resolved.
Please consider keeping your child home if they appear unwell to avoid any infection being spread to other students.
Lastly, I wish you all a restful Easter vacation, spending time with families and loved ones, and perhaps a few chocolate eggs.
Kind regards
Sara Sparks
Manager Corporate Services

Wow, what a fast and fantastic term it has been! It’s hard to believe we’re already at the end, but we’ve packed in so many wonderful moments. A huge thank you to everyone who supported our bake sale—it was a great success, and I can confidently say I got my $10 worth of delicious treats! A special shoutout to our ECE3 students for their amazing Talk 4 Writing work—I’ve learned all about the Big Bad Wolf thanks to their impressive storytelling skills. As we head into the Easter break, I wish all our families a joyful and relaxing holiday. Enjoy the chocolates, and we’ll see you all refreshed and ready for Term Two!
Cheers,
Mr. Chrimes
Associate Principal

Curriculum Corner
Super Work!
Some of our Year 3 students have impressed us in the office with their fantastic work! In Maths, they’ve been working with numbers to 10,000, while in T4W, they’ve been exploring narrative setting descriptions using the model text Jack and the Beanstalk. Keep up the great work!
Student Placements
Over the coming weeks, you may notice some pre-service teachers, education assistants, and work placement students around the school as they gain valuable experience in our classrooms.
They’ll be working alongside our staff to support student learning. If you have any questions, feel free to chat with your child’s classroom teacher.
We’re excited to have them on board!
Parental Leave
As you may know, I am expecting a baby later this term! I will be finishing next week to begin my parental leave and look forward to coming back for a visit later in the year.
Many Thanks,
Pip Ramsden
Associate Principal

Dear Families
It’s hard to believe we only have a week left of term 1. It has certainly flown by. I have loved watching our Kindergarten students settle into the routines of school, making new friends and learning new things.
Teddy Bears at Alkimos PS
It has been an exciting few weeks in early childhood where the topic has been all about Teddy Bears! Students have read the book “Going on a Bear Hunt” and even went on their own bear hunt through the nature playground including splishing sploshing through a ‘cold, deep river’, going through the ‘thick, oozy mud – squelch squerch squelch squerch! Stumbling and tripping through a big dark forest, and finally ending up at a narrow, gloomy cave where they met……… a Bear! Have a look at the wonderful photos, it looks like such a fun activity. One of our Kindy superstars even made their own collage version of a bear hunt and brought it up to the office for us to see. Students also brought in their Teddy Bear and had a very special Teddy Bear picnic together.











Harmony Day
Harmony Day is celebrated annually on March 21st in Australia. It is a day to celebrate the country’s cultural diversity and promote respect and inclusion for everyone. Our students took part in activities across the day with many of them meeting up with their buddy classes to further promote the idea of inclusion and respect for everyone. This is something we value highly at Alkimos Primary School and we work hard every day to foster a sense of belonging and respect for all people regardless of their cultural background.
ECU Community Counselling Service in Yanchep
What ECU Yanchep Clinic is offering?
This brand-new training facility has been established to service and support the local and surrounding communities with professional counselling services for generalised counselling. This clinic does not perform psychological diagnosis.
Important information for referred clients:
- Fees:in order to make sessions accessible to the public, prices are as follows for 50-minute sessions:
- Students: $10
- Part-time: $20
- Full time: 30
- Please note: the clinic is accepting financial hardship applications in the event the above fees are not affordable. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Supervision model: training counsellors are in their final year of their master's program and are reviewed by clinic supervisors as per PACFA requirements.
ECU community Counselling is currently taking referrals with availability on Thursdays and Fridays. Sessions offer a safe, confidential space to explore a variety of presenting concerns.
Where are they located?
The Yanchep Counselling Clinic is located at 101 Booderee Road, Yanchep, 6053, Western Australia.
How to Refer?
Please send referrals to communitycounselling@ecu.edu.au
Or alternatively please ring - 08 6304 7222
If you would like school support for the referral process, please reach out to Mrs MacLean by email or on the school contact number.
Attached is also a pamphlet with key information.
Next week continues to be busy with our annual Easter Hat parade on Friday 11th April. I can’t wait to see the amazing hat creations again this year!
Wishing you all a relaxing and safe school holidays.
Kirstin MacLean

Throughout April, it will be Autism Awareness month and it will be a time to acknowledge the strengths, achievements, and uniqueness of people on the Autism spectrum.
The theme this year is... “Light Up the Spectrum”.
“Light up the Spectrum” is to signify that we are a diverse community where everyone is valued and has something to contribute.
Our school will participate in Autism Month this April by participating in class activities where we will increase Autism Understanding and learn more about Autism. Photos to follow soon…..
More than 40 buildings and landmarks across metro and regional WA are taking part in this year’s Light Up the Spectrum. Keep an eye for buildings in Joondalup participating in lighting up to support Autism Awareness.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like any further information.
Have a wonderful holiday break and I look forward to hearing all about your adventures when everyone is back for Term 2.
Kind regards,
Building Resilience and Finding Happiness by Mrs Rees
Helping children build resilience and find happiness is one of the most valuable gifts we can give them. The Resilience Project, widely used in schools across the country, focuses on teaching key strategies to support children’s emotional well-being. By practising Gratitude, Empathy, and Mindfulness (GEM), kids can develop lifelong skills to navigate challenges and enjoy life’s moments.
GRATITUDE
Encouraging children to notice and appreciate the good things around them can shift their mindset from focusing on what they lack to recognising what they have. Try these simple activities together:
- Gratitude Journal: Each day, write down three things you’re grateful for.
- Family Sharing: During dinner or bedtime, share one positive experience from the day.
- Thank You Notes: Encourage kids to express gratitude to teachers, friends, or family members.
EMPATHY
Building empathy helps children understand and connect with the feelings of others. Practising empathy can lead to stronger friendships and a greater sense of belonging. You can support this by:
- Role-Playing: Act out scenarios to explore different perspectives.
- Story Time: Read books that feature diverse characters and discuss how they might feel.
- Kindness Challenges: Set goals like performing three kind acts each day.
MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness teaches children to stay present and manage their emotions. Practising mindfulness can reduce anxiety and improve focus. Try these calming techniques:
- Breathing Exercises: Encourage kids to take slow, deep breaths when feeling overwhelmed.
- Nature Walks: Take mindful walks and observe sights, sounds, and smells.
- Mindful Colouring: Provide colouring pages as a relaxing, screen-free activity.
Bringing It All Together
Building resilience doesn’t happen overnight. Consistency is key. Incorporate these practices into your daily routine, model them yourself, and celebrate progress. Over time, you’ll see your child grow in confidence, kindness, and happiness.
For more resources on the Resilience Project and additional activities to try at home, visit resilienceproject.com.
Renee Rees
School Psychologist

Good Day Everyone
Hope you are all looking after your own wellbeing as we near the end of a busy term 1.
Last year we started a Pantry at Alkimos Primary school and were able to gift some families with lovely food hampers. We would love to continue with the pantry this year and are looking to collect some non-perishable items. If you are in a position or would like to donate any items, please drop off at the front office at any time from next term. We will collect items throughout the year and will hand out hampers as needed to any families doing it a little tough. Please contact the chaplain/office if you need a hamper or know someone who could benefit from one.
A huge Thank You to all those who contributed so generously to the pantry last year.
Items for pantry:
Pasta/rice Pasta/cooking sauces
Snack/muesli bars Instant noodles
Long life milk Healthy Cereals
Any Canned food (vegetables,fruit,tuna)
Small packets of popcorn/crisps/crackers/biscuits
Chaplain links:
*Parenting tips -please check out the helpful link below:
https://www.mindful.org/the-captain-steers-the-ship/
*Anglicare offers wonderful services in the following areas:
Counselling & Separation Services
Disability Support Family & Domestic Violence
Financial Wellbeing Housing & Homelessness
Parenting Support Sexual Abuse Support Services
Suicide Postvention Youth Services
https://www.anglicarewa.org.au/
Have a lovely break and Happy Easter Everyone!
Take Care
Sustainability at Alkimos Primary School
Alkimos Primary School has been fortunate enough to be selected as part of the Miyawaki (pocket) forest Outreach program run by Dr Grey Coupland of Murdoch University & the Harry Butler Institute.
Miyawaki forests, or pocket forests, are densely planted forests comprised of more than 30 different locally native species. These forests can be planted in small pockets of the environment to green urban landscapes and enhance urban biodiversity. The pocket forest will be planted by our students acting as citizen scientists. We have begun this process by creating a School Compost system. This compost will be placed on the ground to help grow our Miyawaki forest.
Students have been placing their fruit and vegie scraps into buckets that are chopped and placed on the compost daily. This is a wonderful way we can limit our waste as a school. We are also using green waste from our wonderful gardeners and have been kindly donated coffee grinds from our local Santorini Café. We appreciate everyone’s support of this wonderful project that all students, families and hopefully our community will enjoy for many years to come.








With thanks,
Ms Sutton, Mrs Birchall & Miss Holthaus
The year Three’s have learnt about how changing the temperature of a material can change the state of matter. They have learnt about making Bush glue, measuring melting points and researched different metals and how they can be recycled. The year Four’s have been learning about Natural and Processed material qualities. They have tested how different balls bounce because of what they are made from, they have designed bark boats based on their learning about Paper Bark boats used by Aboriginal People, and lastly have designed a product that has a sustainable purpose rather than using single-use items.
In Year Five, students have experimented with making Hot chocolate to learn further about change of state. They compressed olives to learn about how different types of oil are made and will be finishing off the term making ice-cream. The Year Six students have looked at the way irreversible changes can occur such as creating a gas and combustion. They particularly enjoyed creating carbon snakes and will finish the term designing their own chemical reaction!
Attached are some of the photos from the term.
















Have a safe and happy holiday break,
Ms Sutton
Respectfully Speaking by Alkimos Respectful Relationships Team
What Are We Really Teaching When We Say ‘Hit Back’?
In today's edition of Respectfully Speaking - we talk about the concept of RETALIATION. Over the past few weeks, while helping out in the office and chatting with students about how to handle tricky situations with their peers, I’ve noticed something that’s really stayed with me: a lot of children genuinely believe it’s okay to “hit back” when someone hurts or upsets them.
In one conversation, I asked a student, “If you were driving and another driver started being aggressive—what do you think would happen if you decided to hit back?” The question caught them off guard. It gave them a moment to reflect, and that pause was powerful.
The thing is, this belief—that retaliation is justified if you feel wronged—can lead us down a path that creates more harm than good. When kids are taught that physical retaliation is an acceptable response, we’re not just risking more conflict in the moment—we’re also missing the chance to teach them skills that will serve them far better in the long run.
Why Retaliation Isn’t the Way Forward
I’ve read a lot on this topic, spoken with many parents, and spent time reflecting on what really helps children thrive—not just in school, but in life. I completely understand where the “hit back” mindset comes from. Often, it’s rooted in love and a desire to protect. But research—and real-life experience—shows us that it just doesn’t work the way we hope it will.
Instead of teaching children to protect themselves through aggression, we need to equip them with the tools to resolve conflict, manage emotions, and stand up for themselves in safe, respectful ways.
The Problem With “Hitting Back”
It escalates conflict rather than solving it.
When we teach kids to hit back, we’re essentially teaching them to mirror harmful behaviour—not manage it. The Child Mind Institute (2023) notes that when aggression is met with aggression, things tend to spiral rather than settle. And let’s be honest—we’ve all seen how quickly a small disagreement can blow up when tempers flare.
It can have real-world consequences.
Even if a child is provoked, retaliating physically can lead to serious repercussions. Schools often have strict no-violence policies, so the child who hits back might end up in trouble—regardless of who started it. As StopBullying.gov points out, responding aggressively can result in suspension, punishments, or strained relationships.
It doesn’t build the skills they really need.
Hitting back might give a momentary sense of power or control, but it doesn’t help children learn how to actually solve the problem. They miss out on chances to build emotional awareness, learn self-control, and practice assertive communication. As Waterford.org (2021) puts it, children need guidance to express themselves without aggression—and that’s a lifelong skill.
It sends the wrong message about strength.
When we present physical strength as the solution, we risk teaching children that power is about control rather than understanding. That’s not the message we want to send. True resilience comes from knowing how to stay calm, work through problems, and treat others with respect—even in tough situations.
Someone could get hurt.
Young children especially don’t always understand how quickly things can go wrong. In the heat of the moment, they might overreact or cause more harm than intended. As Rutgers Policy Lab (2022) shares, young kids often overestimate their ability to protect themselves and may actually increase danger by retaliating.
It can have lasting emotional effects.
Physical conflict—whether started or returned—can leave emotional scars. Kids who are caught up in ongoing conflict often feel anxious, disconnected, or unsafe. StopBullying.gov (2023) highlights that repeated exposure to conflict can lead to emotional and behavioural challenges over time.
It complicates the bullying dynamic.
Bullying isn’t just a disagreement—it’s often about power. And when a child retaliates, it can feed into the bully’s game, escalate the issue, or even shift blame to the one who fought back. The Anti-Bullying Alliance (UK) explains that retaliation can make it harder for adults to understand what really happened and offer the right support.
What Can We Teach Instead?
Instead of encouraging kids to hit back, we can guide them toward healthier, more effective ways to respond. Some powerful strategies include:
- Teaching clear conflict resolution skills – like how to talk things out, express feelings safely, and work toward a solution. (Child Mind Institute, 2023)
- Promoting assertiveness, not aggression – helping kids speak up for themselves calmly and clearly. (Waterford.org, 2021)
- Encouraging them to seek help from trusted adults – and reassuring them that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. (StopBullying.gov, 2023)
- Building empathy and understanding – teaching kids to see things from someone else’s perspective, even if that person is acting out. (NAEYC, 2023)
- Focusing on confidence and self-worth – so children feel secure in who they are and are less likely to react with aggression. (Waterford.org, 2021)
Helping children grow into calm, confident, and emotionally intelligent people isn’t easy—but it’s worth it. When we give them the tools to respond to conflict with empathy, self-awareness, and a clear voice, we’re setting them up for long-term success.
Hitting back might feel satisfying in the moment—but the real strength lies in knowing how to stay calm, ask for help, and choose peace over power.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, I’d love to hear them. You can reach me at czarina.rowe@education.wa.edu.au.
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:
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.
Term 1 |
(holidays Saturday 12th April – Sunday 27th April) |
Term 2 |
(holidays Saturday 5th July – Sunday 20th July) |
Term 3 |
(holidays Saturday 27th Sept – Sunday 12th October) |
Term 4 |
(holidays Friday 19th Dec – Monday 2nd February 26) |
School Development Days (Subject to Change) Friday 30th May (Week 5, Term 2) Friday 29th August (Week 6, Term 3) Friday 14th November (Week 5, Term 4) |
Butler Woolworths NetSetGo Clinic
Hi all,
Get excited as these April school holidays we will be running a Woolworths NetSetGo clinic in Butler!
Ran by Netball WA staff and accredited coaches, this is the opportunity for your little ones to learn, have fun and make friends!
Whether you're new to netball or an experienced NetSetGo'er, bring a friend or go with your whole team! Spots are limited so get in quick.
Details
Date: Monday 14 April 2025
Time: 1-3pm
Venue: Halesworth Park Netball Courts
Cost: $20 each participant
Age: 5 - 10 years old
Purchase tickets here https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1298791533439?aff=oddtdtcreator
Alkimos Support a Reader Program
Are you able to volunteer some of your time to assist with Reading?
The aim of the Support a Reader Program is to give children who need additional assistance with their reading the opportunity to read regularly with a supportive adult on a one-to-one basis.
We would like to invite parent volunteers to be involved in this very valuable program next term. A commitment of one hour per week would be required. Full training will be given prior to the commencement of the program.
Please see Mrs Cottam (ECE6) to register your interest or leave your details and availability with the ladies in the office.