11 May 2023

Template Article - Dates to remember

Dates to remember – view live calendar on side panel of newsletter, website, or communication app.

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Community Members,

Public School Review – Term 4, 2023

Ashdale Primary school will undertake the three-year Public-School Review (PSR) in term 4 this year. This is an opportunity for the school, through a rigorous self-reflective process, to demonstrate to the Department of Education (DoE) that the school is functioning in accordance with the system requirements. The school provides evidence in the following areas:

• Relationships and Partnerships
• Learning Environment
• Leadership
• Quality Teaching
• Resources
• Student Achievement and Progress.

This information is then examined by a PSR Director and peer reviewer and then ratified through a school visit and series of interviews. The School Board is heavily involved in the process including the interviews. At the completion of the process, a report is written and shared on the school’s and DoE’s website.

Over the next two terms, more information will be shared on the progress of the PSR preparation.

School Jumpers

As winter approaches, students will be wearing their school jumpers to school. Adherence to wearing the school uniform at Ashdale Primary School is an innate expectation. Therefore, please ensure your child/children are appropriately attired with the correct jumper.

School Jumpers can be purchased at Wanneroo Uniforms and through the second-hand uniform shop coordinated by our highly effective P&C.

Also, please ensure your child/children's jumper has been labelled. Lost labelled jumpers are always returned to their rightful owners.

EDvance Update

Ten staff members have attended four days of professional learning with the EDvance Program. We have been impressed with the rigour and information provided during the first stages of the program. We are looking forward to sharing our starting data at the next School Board and P&C Meetings. The information below explains the program.

Lightning Carnival and Winter Sport

The year 5/6’s will participate in a school-based Faction based schedule of events in preparation for the Winter Lightning Carnival (Tuesday 6^th June). This format was trialled last year and was well received by the students. Sports are Netball, Soccer, AFL, Modcrosse and Hockey. Not all year 5 students get the opportunity to participate in the carnival, but the school-based competition caters for everyone.

Tony Watson
Principal

Faction Cross Country Championship

The 2023 Faction Cross Country Championship for students in years 1 to 6 will take place this term on Thursday, 25^th May. Please make sure that your child is proudly wearing their Faction Shirt for this event.

We have a number of students who will be striving to win a ribbon or qualify for the Interschool Cross Country and we wish them luck in their endeavours. For most of our students who participate, they will do so to be involved in a whole school event, earn a point for their faction and achieve the personal goal of completing the cross country course which is always fabulous achievement.

Research shows that children who choose to make positive choices about being active and involved in events are far more likely to maintain these positive habits as they become adults, greatly reducing their risk of developing the many health issues associated with a lack of physical activity, so please encourage and motivate your child to be a participant. If you can find the time to help your child develop their fitness prior to this event, so they can participate to the best of their abilities, this would be very helpful and greatly appreciated.

All students in years 1 to 3 will participate in the Faction Cross Country Championship. Students in years 4-6 must nominate by informing their teacher that they wish to participate. To be eligible to participate, students in years 4-6 must demonstrate that they are capable of jogging the distance required for their year group without having to stop or walk, jogging slowly is perfectly acceptable. Students in years 4-6 who do not nominate to participate prior to the cross country event will not be able to compete on the day.

All students who participate and complete the course earn one point for their faction towards the Cross Country Shield and a certificate of participation. Students who place 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd or 4^th earn bonus points for their faction and a place ribbon. The faction with the most points will win Ashdale’s Cross Country Shield for 2023.

The champion boy and girl in each year group receive a medallion acknowledging their achievement.

There are school records for students in years 4, 5 and 6. The time ran by the champion students in these year groups is recorded and engraved on to a shield which displays the names and times of all previous winners, this shield is displayed in the library.

The cross country courses will remain the same as last year. This will mean, as has always been the case, that students in years 3,4 5 and 6 will run part of their course on a portion of the footpath which runs around the outside of the school. When learning their cross country course during physical education lessons or class fitness and when participating in the cross country championship, students will be appropriately supervised.

Family are encouraged to come down and support their children on the day.

The Cross Country Championship will start at 9.15am, with students running in the following order:

Start Times for Cross Country

Book Donation

A big thank you to the Norris family who recently donated a copy of the book Hey Warrior by Karen Young, a book for kids about anxiety, to the Ashdale library. The book explains why anxiety feels the way it does and where the physical symptoms come from so they can learn to master it. Teaching children that their anxiety comes from a place of protective strength within their brains - the amygdala- a tiny but fierce personal "warrior" that prepares us to fight or flee danger, even when we don't need or want its protection. The book aims to help students know how to be the boss of their brains and let their warriors know when to stand down and relax through positive thinking and breathing exercises.

The book is in our Teacher Reference section of the library and can be borrowed by parents to help explain and discuss anxiety with their children.

The 2023 Premier's Reading Challenge

The 2023 Premier's Reading Challenge will run from Monday 8th May to Friday 8th September 2023.

By promoting children to read just 10 minutes a day we help them to make sense of our world, build curiosity and enhance their imagination. The Premier’s Reading Challenge is a literacy engagement program established in 2022 to: 

• encourage students to read more books and enjoy reading
• improve literacy levels.

Benefits of the challenge

The challenge will:

• raise the profile of reading and literacy in schools
• give students a focus for their reading
• encourage students to enjoy reading and read more books
• encourage students to participate by being challenged
• offer incentives and prizes for readers
• build self-esteem, pride, school unity and a sense of achievement among students
• increase the involvement of parents in their child’s reading
• increase the number of library books borrowed
• contribute to increased literacy levels.

The challenge

• Children log a minimum of 12 books during the challenge (although they can do more!)
• Add a review of 'like' the book
• Track progress

Incentives

There are some great prizes on offer. Check out the list here .
Anyone from Kindergarten to Year 10 can register to take part in the challenge.

If you are having trouble accessing online registration, please see one of our friendly Library Team!

Christy Craig
Associate Principal 

OFFICE NEWS

THE NEW AND IMPROVED CONNECT APP IS HERE!

The new and improved Connect Now app is now available! We listened to you and improved the app.

• We made it easier than ever to use, and you will now stay logged in until you log out.
• All your school info is now available in one single app, with quick access to notices, learning content, and calendar events.
• Check your children’s reports, notices from the school and upcoming events all from your mobile device.

The new features can be accessed by updating to the latest version of Connect Now or if, you don’t have it yet, download it from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

SCHOOL VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS (including P & C Contribution)

Have you paid the voluntary contribution $60/student and P & C Levy $40/family?

We encourage payments via the Qkr! app – this is a very simple and quick process and alleviates the need for busy parents to come into the office or send money in with students.

Instructions on how to download the App are available on our website from the link below or see the Qkr! Tip article below.

• Remember to change the profile (year, LAs etc) for your children when first accessing Qkr! for the year
• Alternative payment methods (cash/eftpos/credit card) are available through the front office.
• Families may pay the Voluntary Contribution in instalments.

QKR! TIP

Download Qkr!

Parents and carers at Ashdale Primary School can enjoy the benefits and convenience of online credit card facilities.

Qkr! by MasterCard can be downloaded for free from Apple’s app store for iPhones (iPads should download the iPhone app) or from Google Play for Android phones and tablets.

After downloading the app and registering, simply select Ashdale Primary School from ‘Nearby Locations’ on Qkr! or type ASHDALE after tapping the magnifying glass in the top right of the home screen of Qkr! and select the appropriate school.  Once you have made your first payment on Qkr! the app will always recognise you as part of the school in future to make payments even easier.

You can pay for

• School Voluntary Contributions and P&C Contributions
• excursions
• library bags
• canteen orders

Student Update Forms

It is important that our school’s database is up to date with student’s current details.  Families can update their child’s details held at the school by completing an online form on the Ashdale Primary School website.  This is located under the home tab, or use the following link, 

If you require any further information, please contact the school on 6207 4500 or email Ashdale.ps@education.wa.edu.au.

FLU VACCINATIONS 2023 – PRIMARY SCHOOLS VACCINATION PROGRAM

Ashdale PS is partnering again this year with REDIMED to provide our students, parents, and staff with on-site flu vaccinations.

With each case of Influenza resulting in an average of 3–5 days absence from work or school and with the high likelihood of the virus infecting others in the workplace, flu vaccinations easily pay for themselves.  This will involve not out of pocket expense to families. There is a requirement that those receiving a flu vaccination must have a valid Medicare card.

Our 3 clinics are on 12^th May, 26^th May and 9^th June in the Undercover Area. Please click on the link to book your spot:

LEGENDS – WEEK 3

P&C News Term 2, Week 3 2023

A very delightful Mother's Day event!

Special THANK YOUs to all the families who supported our students in their Mother’s Day shopping spree.

Thank You to the volunteers who shared their precious time, before and during the Mother’s Day stall event. Many hours went towards preparation and planning.

We wish all our Ashdale Mums and caregivers the very best weekend ahead. Whether it’s a day spent outside, at home in your PJs or whether you’re needing to work; know that you are loved and you are someone’s favourite person.

Easter Raffle

We had a very successful Easter Raffle organised by our P&C President, Erryn. A special hamper prize was donated by MP Margaret Quirk.

Congratulations again to Zyah and family! More importantly, thank you for buying your raffle ticket!

What's next at the P&C?

Nut Day will be taking place in 2 weeks  

Please look out on our FB page for specials available.

Needing Uniforms?

If you have yet to join and follow the ‘Ashdale Primary School Second-Hand Items’ Facebook page, you’re missing out on the opportunity to make some serious savings!

This is a page that is administered by our P&C volunteers, but members have the ability to participate in the BUY/SELL of any Ashdale uniform items including the Ashdale school bag or library bag. You will be pleasantly surprised to find many good second-hand uniforms at heavily discounted prices!

Click here to visit the Second Hand Uniform Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/811051785894945

If you wish to donate any second-hand uniforms, we thank you in advance for your generosity. Please hand your donation to the administration office, ensuring that items are in good, wearable condition. Proceeds from the sale of these donated uniforms will go directly into P&C projects.

Canteen Winter Menu

Here is our Canteen’s Winter Menu!  https://ashdaleps.schoolzineplus.com/_file/media/1220/canteen_term_2_2023.pdf

Please remember to place your order via Qkr! Before 845am. If you miss this deadline, please call the school office and ask to be connected to the friendly canteen staff. You may then place an order over the phone, with payment to be made on Qkr.

Students from Yr1 are welcome to make a purchase directly from the canteen!

Be Part of Something more - Join the P&C

We hope all new families to Ashdale are settling in nicely. Even amongst the more seasoned Ashdale families, with Term 2 well underway, our students are hopefully feeling more confident in their new classroom and feel more familiar with their new group of teachers and educators.

Our P&C is always looking for volunteers to help us with various activities planned for Ashdale. Joining our P&C is easy! It only takes 2min on Qkr and just $1. You will then be alerted before each meeting, provided with an agenda and reports, be able to vote as we raise various motions and afterwards, you will be amongst the first to receive meeting minutes.

P&C meetings are full of useful information, not limited to just P&C activities. Our Principal is a frequent attendee and reports on the progress of the school’s strategic plans, its achievements and performance.

If you would like to know more about what it means to join the P&C, please reach out to our team at at pandc@ashdale.org.au or submit your details here!

The next P&C Meeting will be held on 6^th June 2023, starting at 7pm. 

Community News

The Dream Run – a Smith Family fundraising activity

DoE SECURITY

Please help to keep our school safe!  As part of our school community, we ask that if you see any unusual behaviour, evidence of theft or vandalism of our school outside of school hours, could you please contact school security on the number below. 

Please do not approach any individuals, just contact security and they will investigate the situation or contact the Police.  Working together will help protect our school.

9264 4771 (24-hour number) or 9264 4635