Dear families

School Development Day

Last Friday’s School Development Day was very successful.  Our education assistants and some office staff completed a full day of First Aid training and have returned to school knowing how to respond appropriately in a medical situation.  We now have more staff who know how to patch up injuries, splint broken bones, and administer CPR. 

Teachers spent the day reviewing some of the school’s 2021 NAPLAN data, looking for the gaps in student learning particularly in reading.  It has become very evident that, across the school, one of the things our students need to do is to expand their vocabulary and know how to use different words in their writing and to understand less common words when reading.  For example, walked might also be skipped, stumbled, ambled, wandered, marched, strolled.  

I left Friday afternoon immensely proud of the work that the teachers did during the day.  Their reflection and acknowledgement of things that need to improve, the advice they gave each other, and willingness to have more conversations about the ‘what’ and ‘how’ in our classrooms showed just how fortunate the Joondalup children are to have such professional teachers. 

Staff news

This week we welcomed Mrs Dawn Toomey to Year 5, Room 12 as the class teacher for the remainder of the year.  Mrs Young has stepped back into the associate principal role during Mrs Perry’s leave. 

Mrs Heidi D’Uva has been away from school for five weeks and is now recovered enough to begin to return to work.  She has been missed and it was so good to see her this morning.  I know her students and colleagues are equally excited that she is back.  I would like to thank Ms Tracey Grant for providing valuable support in Room 12 who has been our education assistant during Mrs D’Uva’s absence  

JESC Associate Principal

We would like to join with the Joondalup Education Support Centre by welcoming their new Associate Principal, Sean Whitehead, who commenced with Joondalup ESC this week. Sean is an experienced administrator and is looking forward to meeting everyone at Joondalup. His experience is diverse and extensive in supporting students and families to achieve success. Welcome!

Swimming lessons

This week swimming lessons continue for Year 3 to Year 5 children and their last lesson is on Friday 19 November. 

From next Monday 22 November, Pre-Primary to Year 2 children will commence their swimming lessons with their last lesson being on Friday 3 December. 

Please make sure that you are reading all of the reminders and notes that are being sent home so you know what children need each day.

Important dates for the 2022 diary

Next year’s School Development Days are:

 Children do not come to school on school development days.

Remembrance Day

Last Thursday we observed a minute of silence as a sign of respect for Remembrance Day.  I would like to thank Joanne and Tehya, two of our Year 6 School Captains, for the wonderful job they did of reading about the significance of Remembrance Day to the students through the PA. 

Mattie from Room 10 has wirtten a poem for Remembrance Day.

P&C Association

The final P&C Association meeting is being held next Wednesday 23 November 2021 from 7.00pm in the staffroom. 

Upcoming events and what you need to do

There are lots of upcoming events that may need you to do something.  Thank you to everyone who has managed to keep on top of family administration!

Bugs, viruses and illness

As the school winds down and everyone gets a bit tired, there can be a resurgence of bugs, viruses and illness amongst staff and students.  It is vital that sick children stay at home because there is no better place than in bed and being with a family member.  So that the illnesses do not spread around the school, if your children have a headache, sore throat, temperature, or stomach bug then please make sure that you keep them at home. 

Carol Selley

Principal