Principal’s Update – Week 6 Term 3, 2023

Book Week Fun!

It’s Book Week! We have been having fun! Thanks to our teachers who are on the English Committee, lots of fun activities have been organised this week. Scavenger Hunts, Family Reading morning, bookmark designing and special guest story reading. And of course, today was our PJ Book Week Day. Mrs Key has been decorating the library with the help of the students, to celebrate Book Week.

Whole school – Bookmark competition. Students designed their own bookmarks and vote for their favourite during Book Week.

Whole school – ‘GROW’ display. All students designed a leaf to be put up around the library. Every class has their very own leaf hanging display.

Well done to the Year 5 students from Room 3 who presented their assembly today and inspired us with their love of books. Their Readers’ Theatre performance of “There’s No Such Book” was very entertaining!

Check out our merit certificate recipients and Students of the Month from this week’s assembly.

Get Well Soon, Bodhi!

Last week we learned that one of our students was hospitalised due to complications from Influenza B. Unfortunately, Bodhi developed pneumonia and has been recovering at PCH. Bodhi’s mum, Chloe, feels that had Bodhi been vaccinated with the flu vaccine, this complication may not have occurred. We wish Bodhi a very speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back at school.

One Big Voice

Last Friday night, 18^th August, 71 Duncraig PS students travelled to RAC Arena to participate in One Big Voice – a choral extravaganza for WA primary school students. Our students made up a choir of approximately 4000 students who performed on the night. Congratulations to our amazing students who first rehearsed for 90 minutes and then performed. It was a long evening, and they did wonderfully. Special thanks goes to Mrs Ruscoe for her planning and preparation of the students for their big night. Thank you also to Mrs Cole, Mrs Adams, Mr O and Miss Moorman who came along to help supervise the students on the night.

National School Opinion Survey

Parents are invited to complete the Parent Survey of the National School Opinion Survey. This survey is required to be completed every two years. It was last completed in 2021. You may choose to complete the survey once, keeping in mind one or all your children, or if you feel your responses may change if you are considering the contexts of each of your children, you may like to submit an additional survey. The survey is anonymous, and can be accessed here: https://www.schoolsurvey.edu.au/s/umQdWvVR

The 2023 Parents School Opinion Survey will close on Friday 22^nd September 2023.

School Board News

The Duncraig Primary School Board recently held its fifth meeting of 2023. Below is a summary of the meeting outcome:

We were presented with the One Line Budget and the school’s Cash Report. We were provided with an update by staff regarding the investigations into sustainable ways to support staff in showcasing the students’ work, such as pin up boards and other permanent fixtures.
We were presented with the Principal’s Report and heard from Ms Borbas in relation to the staff professional development undertaken at the beginning of Term 3 which included first aid training for Education Assistants, continued work on Positive Behaviour School, work on the Duncraig Primary School engagement norms, and continued refinement and reflection on school literacy learning strands and whole school approaches. A School Uniform committee has also been established for the roll out of the new uniform.
We discussed several school maintenance items including the repair of potholes in the staff parking area and the painting undertaken in the middle area of the senior block. The school’s gardening staff have also been clearing the trees outside the science room to install a bush tucker garden, with Bunnings offering free pants to use for the school.
We were updated on the ongoing discussions with Zig Zags around the use of the classroom space for de-sensitisation for students at lunch time and recess. This will help students who need their quite spaces. There is also the potential for the space to be utilised for specialist classes.
The Board provided its final comments on homework policy, with future policies identified for review towards the end of 2023.
Ms Borbas presented the draft school opinion survey and the Board discussed varying questions that could be added to gather information from the school community.
Module 1 of school board self-assessment undertaken. The Board plans to continue self-assessment modules every second meeting, with the results being discussed by the Board at alternating meetings.

Our next School Board Meeting will take place on Monday 28^th August 2023.