26 March 2020

Newsletter Articles

A Note from the Principal

In the midst of the fear, worry, and uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, each day seems to bring news that’s worse than the day before.

The cause for concern is justified. But, as in most major disasters, tragedies, and public health threats, there are reasons for hope, and even optimism. They may be hard to see, even if you’re a “cup-half-full” or “it could always be worse” type of person. But they are there.

The good news about the coronavirus pandemic is that most people with COVID-19 recover. The latest estimates suggest that 99% of people infected with the virus will recover. Some people have no symptoms at all and whilst thousands of people around the world have not recovered, this represents about 1% of the population.

The vast majority of COVID-19 infections are with adults however we know that children can be infected. The good news is that when children are infected, they tend to have milder symptoms and recover quickly.

We are fortunate that the internet exists. People can make virtual contact with family and friends from anywhere in the world and we have access to Netflix, Stan and the likes.

The coronavirus epidemic is a big problem that’s expected to become bigger in the weeks and months to come. For those who are infected as well as those trying to avoid infection, these are trying times. But amid all the doom and gloom, there are some positive stories, positive messages and reasons to remain hopeful.

At a time when we are faced with challenging times, we can only hope that this situation brings us together in ways that help us to better recognise commonalities: we’re all human, we get sick, and we worry about loved ones. As social creatures, we try to help one another when bad things happen.

Thank you for the positive messages that have been sent to me acknowledging the outstanding work that we have been doing to provide continuity of teaching and learning and to keep your children safe.

Stay safe and look after yourselves during this challenging time.

Mrs Julie Woodhouse
Principal

Talking to Children about COVID-19

Please find included a collection of resources for families on supporting children through the COVID-19.

Helpful Links

Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource:

A video explaining how to talk to children about the Coronavirus:

The Department of Education Western Australia also has information on their Student Health and Wellbeing Page:

Staying connected with our children

Tips for coping with Coronavirus Anxiety

Online Counselling

The BRAVE Program:

Mood Gym:

Information and Online Support

Lifeline:

Beyond Blue:

Headspace:

Kids Helpline:

Department of Health:

World Health Organisation:

Helpful Apps

Smiling Mind:

1 Giant Mind:

Reachout Apps:

Mind Shift:

Activities

The Body Coach:

Cosmic Yoga:

School Calendar

PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAYS 2020 (PUPIL FREE):

Term 2 – Friday, 29 May
Term 3 – Friday, 14 August
Term 4 – Monday, 12 October
Term 4 – Friday, 18 December

Notices for all Families

Years 6 Student Councillors and Faction Captains

Congratulations to the following students for being selected as Student Councillors:

Lottie
Juliette
Imogen
Olivia
Oisin
Jessica
Georgia
Aayah
Keane
Lia

Congratulations to the following students selected to be Faction Captains:

Batavia: Elsie and Mahi
Centaur: Amarna and Lachlan
Gemini: Owen and Peyton
Alkimos: Mia and Tui

Maths Week

We have had another amazing week of education and fun at Butler Primary School. During Week 6 of this term, the students and staff celebrated all things Mathematics for Maths Week 2020. The students had a week full of interesting and engaging Maths activities that involved the whole school. The students enjoyed: an incursion from Smart Start – learning about financial mathematics, an in class Times Table Challenge where the students played Shoot the Sheriff and each class had a champion. These Champs then displayed their finesse at times tables in a Year Level competition and ended up with one Ultimate Champion per year. Daily problem solving challenges were happening every morning before school in all block wet areas. A take home Emoji Codebreaker Maths challenge for families to complete together was sent home. Each year level organised a Maths tabloids activity and throughout the week an in class Insect Symmetry challenge amongst the year levels was occurring in the classrooms. The students and teachers all had an amazing week learning new Maths skills.

Butler Mathematics Committee

Student Achievements

Week 4, Term 1 Merit Certificate Recipients:

Week 5, Term 1 Merit Certificate Recipients:

Week 8, Term 1 Merit Certificate Recipients:

Class Assemblies in Review

Room 17 Assembly – Week 4, Term 1

This term Room 17, along with the whole school, have been focusing on kindness. We have all been doing our 5-3-1…which is 5 minutes of mindfulness, 3 thoughts of gratitude and 1 random act of kindness. We have a gratitude board in our classroom that we write on each day. This focuses our mind on the positive things in our life. We discussed as a class that a random act of kindness is showing kindness to another person without expecting anything in return.

The students then performed an adaptation of the Aussie version of Cinderella, called Cindy-Ella. The students had their audience laughing and did an excellent job in portraying this distinctly Aussie version of the fairytale. Congratulations Room 17 on a great final performance for your primary school years.

Ms Smith
Classroom Teacher

Room D5 Assembly – Week 5, Term 1

D5 presented their assembly in Week 5. This assembly was all about Maths Week and the students’ incredible knowledge of Maths in Indonesian. We had a class discussion about our theme and then each student made their own sentence that they wanted to say to the audience. The students talked about what they enjoyed about Maths (Matematika). They sang a song in Indonesian counting numbers (nomor nomor) to ten (sepuluh) and also sang a song about shapes (bentuk) in Indonesian. The students did an amazing job – well done D5!

Miss Kelly
Classroom Teacher

What’s On In…

Kindy

Learning in PP4

PP4 have had such a wonderful start to the year. We are mastering our school routines and are enjoying learning new things everyday. In our classroom this term, we have been focusing on phase 1 of the letters and sounds program. We have been going on sound walks, listening to our environment and what we hear around us. We have been learning about the different sounds instruments make and also enjoyed making our own sounds using body percussion. In big maths this term we have been looking at shapes in our environment and using shapes when we play to create rockets, houses and even castles. We have been doing lots of counting and have even began to use words such as ‘more’ or ‘less’. Across all kindy classrooms we have a focus of whole child development and enjoy fine motor activities that help our little fingers become strong writing hands and gross motor movements to help our bodies grow.

Miss Scally
Classroom Teacher

PP5

First Term in PP5 has been very busy. A big focus this term has been practising our listening skills through many activities in our Letters and Sounds program. One of our favourite activities was Drumming outdoors. We explored the sounds that were made by tapping our drum sticks on different objects. We imitated these sounds and decided which sounds we liked the best. Then we decorated our drum sticks to take home. Another focus has been learning about our emotions and the Zones of Regulation. We are beginning to use some of the Zones tools to help us to stay in the green zone, ready to learn.

Mrs Johnston
Class Teacher

PP6

In PP6 our year has started with an educational focus upon “Me and the Family.” The kindy children are beginning to develop and understand a sense of their own identity and know that families can come in all shapes and sizes. As they have shared information during this fun and exciting program, the children have enhanced their knowledge of why families are so very important to us all.

This has been an excellent way of getting to know each child individually. Our classroom has many wonderful pieces of work which have been created by the children in PP6. Here are a few examples for you to enjoy.

Mrs Saunders
Classroom Teacher

Pre-Primary

PP1

In PP1 we have been exploring, innovating and inventing our own narrative stories based on the fairy tale The Three Little Pigs.

As part of our inquiry we built houses from a variety of materials and attempted to “blow them down” just like the wolf did. We had some very interesting results ….

We also found time to don some green and celebrate St Patrick’s Day. We made collage shamrocks, discovered our Leprechaun names and danced up a storm to Irish music!

Mrs Davidson and Mrs Pierce
Classroom Teachers

PP2

We have had a wonderful start to 2020 learning the new routines of full time schooling, settling into our classrooms and getting to know one another.

In Literacy we have been learning how sounds can be represented in words and how to correctly form our letters when writing. We are learning how to blend sounds to read words and how to segment words to spell and manipulate the sounds in words. Our Talk for Writing has been based on the story of The Three Little Pigs. We are now starting to create our own story to tell our classmates. It’s very exciting!

In Maths we have been practising careful counting and learning how to write numbers. We are exploring Mathematical concepts through hands-on activities, games and intentional play.

We have enjoyed learning about families in History. Do you know everyone has their own family tree? Do you know all families are different and special in their own way? We do!

Learning is fun in pre-primary!

Ms Strophair
Classroom Teacher

PP3

In PP3 we have been focusing on creating stories. We love to draw, design and set up stories using all types of materials. Our students have been using five sentence starters to construct some pretty spectacular stories.

Miss Brennan
Classroom Teacher

P&C News

P&C Facebook Group

Click on the link to join our Facebook page BPS P&C Association

Canteen Information

Online ordering will close at 9.00am.

Any orders placed after this time will not be processed for that day. The order will go through the following day. Please ensure orders are placed on time. Late orders can be placed by calling QuickCliq direct on 1300 11 66 37.

The Canteen is currently only supplying online orders for Recess and Lunch. There is no cash service at recess.

Please do not hesitate to contact me on 9561 4255 (Butler College Canteen) if you have any queries.

Thank you
Carla Andretta

The online ordering system is available via the link below. Please refer to the above menu link.

Butler Out of Hours School Care

Please feel free to drop into the centre or contact us on 0403 347 952 or butler.oshc@ymcawaa.org.au for any queries. Information is also available at the school office.

Kind regards
YCMA

Information for Families

School Payment Options Available

Payment methods for charges and contributions can now be made via:

• Eftpos in person at the office.
• Cash or Cheque (please use the school money envelopes and place the sealed envelope in the black letter boxes. The boxes are located in the wet areas of each of the blocks and the office)
• Direct Deposit (reference student name and payment description.)
  BSB: 066040
  Acc: 19904285

Absentee Messaging Service

Please send absentee messages through to 0419 091 075 by 10.00am with all of the following details so we can correctly update student records:

• Full name of your child/children
• Explanation for absence
• Date of absence

Absences can also be phoned through to the office on 9562 1804, emailed via the website or a message sent via the Absentee tile in the School App.

As per Department of Education policy, it is the parent’s responsibility to notify the school of the reason for your child’s absence/s within three days of the absence. Failure to do this will mean that the absence will be marked as “unacceptable reason” affecting your child’s education and attendance record.

School Parking Information

To help ease congestion around the school during peak times we encourage families to walk their children to and from school wherever possible, especially in fine weather or park at the Community Centre car park and walk your children across the oval.

All Staff park at the front of the school which frees up all the bays in the public car park off Camborne Way.

Families are reminded that parking is not permitted on grassed kerbside areas around the Pre-primary car park and along Tollesbury Avenue, as well as the bricked median strip in Camborne Parkway or across any footpaths. Parking is also not permitted in bus bays. Please consider the safety of all other road users and pedestrians when parking and leaving schools grounds.

Please also give consideration and respect to owners of properties surrounding the school and do not park on their properties or verges without the permission of the homeowner.

All usual road and parking rules apply around the school and parking fines are issued by rangers (who visit the school frequently) to those not adhering to the road rules. We encourage you to obey all parking and road rules for the safety of all families.

Please refer to the City of Wanneroo for Parking Information:

Please also refer to the City of Wanneroo’s ‘School Parking, School Road and Safety Awareness’ Brochure. This brochure details parking do’s and don’ts around schools and also details what parking situations are fineable offenses.

Update Student Contact Information

If you have recently changed mobile numbers or moved address, it is important you update your contact information with the office. Please also advise if there is a change to any of your emergency contact information.

School Security

Please call School Watch Security on 1800 177 777, or the Police on 131 444, if you see any suspicious behaviour around the school.

Donating Uniforms

Butler Primary School is seeking donations of uniforms, including polo shirts, dresses and suitable navy bottoms. If you are able to assist please drop the clean clothing at the front office.

We are currently have very low stock suitable for upper primary students and are seeking donations of size 12-14 especially.

Community Information

City of Wanneroo – Please do not Feed the Birds

The City of Wanneroo have requested assistance in not feeding birds. Please see attached brochure, also available from the school office.

There is also more information available on their website:

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