4 November 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal's Message

I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended our Open Night last week. It was great to see you being led around school by your children. The pride in their work was clear as they explained each work sample and learning experience. Many of you commented on the quality of the work and how wonderful the rooms looked. With this in mind, I wish to thank our staff who worked incredibly hard to ensure work was displayed beautifully. The evening was a great success and there was a real positive vibe around the place. I think this was largely due to our students, who were great tour guides. Thank you - your enthusiasm made the evening a very positive experience.

The quality of assemblies this year has been extremely high. What is impressive is the way in which teachers combine skills and content from a number of learning areas to present an item that shows student achievement. Miss Carlson's class were a perfect example of this, combining poetry, dance and drama to entertain us last week. Their performance was great fun, but also the result of a sophisticated learning program. A unit of work on poetry, exploring figurative language and a variety of poetic forms, supported the various skits. It is a talent of our teaching staff that they introduce challenging learning programs in a way that excites and motivates the students. Well done, Room 10, for a great assembly.

While we are on the subject of talented teachers, we had some great news last week. Miss Carlson was awarded Level 3 teacher status. This award specifically acknowledges excellence in teaching and potential candidates undergo a rigorous assessment process before attaining it. I believe parents with children in Room 10 will support me wholeheartedly when I say this award is well deserved. We now have two level 3 teachers at Mullaloo Heights, as Miss Beeftink achieved this status a number of years ago. I am also very confident that we will see this number increase in the future as we have many teachers who are also deserving of this award.

I would like to end with a thank you everyone involved in the organisation and running of the Halloween Disco. The students had a great time and looked suitably scary in their costumes. A lot of hard work and preparation ensured the Undercover Area provided the right atmosphere and that the children were well entertained. Thank you once again.

Caroline Booth
Principal

Dates to remember

Are you leaving at the end of the Year?

If your children are leaving at the end of the year, please let us know in the office as soon as possible. This information will help us when planning for next Year. Thank you!

Merit Certificates: Thursday 27th October, 2016

Split Classes

Many parents have taken advantage of our invitation to put in requests for class placement in 2017 based on educational reasons. A concern expressed in a few emails is that teachers will not be able to accommodate the varying needs of each age group when children are placed in a split class. As a result, the belief is that a straight class comprising of one year group is better. For a small school like Mullaloo Heights, numbers do not allow for straight classes. However, this does not mean our students are disadvantaged. Split classes are based upon the theory of developmental learning. This main premise of this is that children develop at different rates and do not meet milestones at specific ages. In other words, there cannot be a 'one size fits all' approach to teaching and learning. For example, a year 1 class will include students with a wide range of abilities, academic, social and physical. An effective teacher will assess each student and ascertain the starting point for teaching. An appropriate program will then be developed for each student or group of students. In a split class, again there will be a variety of abilities for the teacher to address. In this cohort, there will be overlap in abilities, with younger children exceeding older children in some areas. This actually means that the spread of abilities will not necessarily be less than in a straight class. In both classes, the teacher will need to assess skills and deliver a program suited to the needs of their students. What will differ is that in the split classes ability groups will comprise of students of different ages. In both class structures, student will receive a teaching program based on their needs. In 2017, some of our students will be placed in a split class. If you are worried about this, I am happy to talk it through with you. Please drop into the office and have a chat with me or Mike Adlam, our deputy.

Caroline Booth
Principal

2016 Inter-School Jumps & Throws results

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the Inter-School Jumps and Throws on Wednesday, 19 October. You all worked very hard this year.

2016 Inter-School Athletics Carnival

Thank you to all students, whether they place or not for all their hard work and fantastic sportsmanship shown on the day. Thank you to our teachers who helped at the carnival and those that supervised back at school. Thank you to parents for their continued support and on the day of the carnival. Mrs Thorby is very proud of our results!

Mullaloo Heights PS – 5th Place overall and winner of the Meritorious Sheild.

Enjoying the Library

Our library was given a fresh coat of paint during the holidays, further enhancing this year's renovation. As a result, the library has become the place to be for our students during recess and lunch. On numerous occasions this week, we've caught children reading, playing board games or just enjoying the ambience of this upgraded space with friends.

Enjoying our newly renovated library

Where are old uniforms?

We received this photo last week from a West Australian nurse currently working in India. She spotted our school logo on the uniforms and promptly sent this image to show how great they still look. What a fantastic photograph. Watch this space to view more like it.

National Drones Visit

Western Australian's National Drones technician and owner, Jeff Stubber visited Mullaloo Heights Primary School with one of his drones to coincide with our Science Week. Year 3 - 6 students were treated to a technical talk; this including the science behind what makes a drone fly, how the drones are being used and he informed the students of some pathways into the industry. The finale to the visit was when the entire school assembled on the oval and watched as Mr Stubber, a UAV Certified Operator demonstrated his $10,000 drone to the students. He piloted the drones from take-off, demonstrated it precise hovering ability and then he flew it above the school while capturing some photographs of the school and students before safely landing it again on the oval.

The drone visit was for students to explore this new technology with an expert UAC pilot and engineer. We would like to thank Mr Stubber and the team at National Drones who kindly volunteered their time to support Mullaloo Heights Primary School and Science.

Scitech Visit

Mullaloo Heights Primary School's Science Week took place in Week 3 and provided an excellent opportunity to celebrate Science. It was a great week beginning with a variety of activities going on including a visit from National Drones, many classes undertaking some extra science activities as part of their week and a visit from Scitech all compacted into one week!

On Wednesday 26th September, Scitech visited and all students were treated to a Science Show in the morning, followed by a hands-on workshop and then a visit to the Scitech Spacedome. In this experience, the junior students took a journey though day time and experienced the exciting change into night while the senior students explored the universe as astronomers and discovered the specialities of our solar system, and its nearest neighbours.

A 'Science Quiz' was sent home at the beginning of Science Week as homework and this generated some healthy science debate during the week. Miss Beeftink's Room 8 received the Junior Class Prize with 70% of the student returning their quiz. The senior prize was awarded to Miss Nichol's Year 3 /4 class with a winning percentage of 73%. Well done to all the students who attempted this and thanks to all the families for getting involved. We appreciate your support.

Please enjoy a few photos from our Science Week. Well done to all involved!

Pre-Primary Investigators

Our pre-primary children had a blast during Science Week - literally! Here are some photos of them making volcanoes and lava lamps.

Day for Daniel

On Friday the 28th of October, Mullaloo Height's students participated in the special Day for Daniel, a Nation Day of Action to raise awareness of child safety, protection and harm prevention. Student wellbeing and safety are at the heart of pastoral care of the school. While wearing something red, students learnt about and discussed practical tips on keeping themselves safe with the aim to help empower our children to Recognise, React and Report if they feel something is not right.

As part of the events the whole school took part in a walk around the oval as they recognised the importance of child safety awareness. At the end of the walk, everyone gathered to reflect on the significance of the day and some of the key safety messages.

Day for Daniel - Child Health and Safety

Parent Information/Reminders

P&C News

Community News

WA Police Pipe Band – Live Concert

'One Night Only' Jubilee Concert at Winthrop Hall on Friday 2nd December.

Doors open at 6.30pm and concert starts at 7pm till approx. 9.30pm, we have tried to keep the tickets prices as cheap as possible at only $50, plus small booking fee, and will mostly pay for venue, sound and lightening costs, the venue capacity is strictly limited, so get your tickets now and don't miss out.

We will be performing our brand new contemporary music concert, which is mixed with the swirling sound of bagpipes, drums, guitars, keyboards and various other musical instruments, all played together in way that you may have never heard or even seen before.

Tickets from the following links.

State Library of WA – Free Exhibition

The State Library of WA, together with Fremantle Press and AWESOME Arts, are hosting a free exhibition, aptly named A Sausage Went for a Walk One Day, to recognise the work of Fremantle Press and its small yet significant children's program.

The exhibition runs every day from Saturday, 1st October to Saturday, 31st December, on the ground floor during library opening hours. Through picture books, stories and illustrations, the exhibit will bring to life the works of Tim Winton, Diane Wolfer, Norman Jorgensen, Bronwyn Bancroft and Sally Morgan, plus many other local authors.

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to celebrate Western Australia's diverse children's picture book industry – it's one for children, parents, families and big kids at heart alike.