Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

Welcome to our Week 9 newsletter.

SCHOOL BOARD

Last week our School Board met for the first time this year.  As usual it was a very productive meeting but it was also the last meeting for some of our dedicated long serving members.  On behalf of our school community I would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank Sarah Blythe, Peter Feasey, Emma Wright and Rohan Smith.

In particular, I would like acknowledge Peter Feasey who has been a Foundation Board member and of course Sarah Blythe who has been our chairperson for the past few years.  Sarah has done an outstanding job in leading our Board and ensuring that this decision-making group has been an integral component of our school’s governance system.  Thank you Sarah!

ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT

Attached to this newsletter is our 2020 Annual School Report.  This report is a summary of the 2020 school year and provides details of our school’s achievements across a wide range of areas of school life.  This year’s report is a little different to reflect the impact of COVID-19 but I hope that you find it to be an informative read.

ANZAC DAY SERVICE

This is advance notice that our ANZAC Day service is scheduled for Wednesday, 21st April commencing at 1.30pm.  All members of our school community are invited to join us in commemorating the sacrifice that past and current service people make for our country.

END OF TERM 1

In our last newsletter of this term I would like to take the opportunity to thank all members of the school community for their contribution during a shorter but very busy Term 1.  It has been an eventful term that has provided all of our children with a wide range of engaging learning opportunities.  My sincere thanks in particular go to every member of our school team for their committed work. 

Please take the time to relax and enjoy the Easter break and the holidays with your loved ones.

Craig Ashby

PRINCIPAL

Kind regards

Craig Ashby

PRINCIPAL

Thank you for all your support this term. It has been a short but extremely busy Term 1!

Enrolments

If your children are not returning to Bertram Primary in Term 2, please let the front office know on 61741000 or bertram.ps@education.wa.edu.au

Attendance and Punctuality

If your child is absent from school, it is a legal requirement that a reason is provided for their absence. A system generated SMS will be sent to you on the morning of an unexplained absence. It is a good habit to get into to respond to that message.

Bertram Primary School has a range of platforms for you to let us know why your child is going to be or was absent:

·         Reply to SMS

·         Send a message to their teacher via Seesaw

·         Call the front office on 61741000

·         Email the front office on

·         Verbally to their teacher

·         Send a note to their teacher

·         Use Skoolbag to submit an absence form

As the mornings begin to get cooler, it is important to maintain consistent morning routines so students are at school before 8:30am.

Edu Dance

We have been entertained by music from the undercover area all term as our Term 1 Edu Dance students perfected their dance moves! It was wonderful to see so many families come along and enjoy the performance. It can be difficult to see the children dance during the Edu Dance concerts and we commend the Bertram FRREE behaviour of the parents and family members who attended on Monday and Tuesday afternoon.

A HUGE shout out to our Edu Dance instructor, Jasmin Parker who brings energy and joy to every Edu Dance lesson.  

Payment is now being taken for Term 2 Edu Dance. All students in those LAs will participate for the first two weeks, then only those who have paid will continue for the remainder of the term and concert.

Stationery

If you did not send the full year’s stationery to school, please ensure your child has all the items they require to participate fully in Term 2. If you would like support with stationery items, please contact Mrs Weir or the front office.

Uniforms

As the cooler weather (hopefully) begins, please ensure your child has appropriate school uniform items.

The Bertram Primary School Dress Code Policy states:

SHORTS / PANTS:  Royal Blue shorts, Royal Blue long pants.

Leggings are not considered to be pants.       

Denim and board shorts are not permitted.    

TIGHTS / LEGGINGS: White or Dark Blue. Only to be worn under skirts, skorts or shorts.

SKIVVY / LONG SLEEVED T-SHIRTS: White or Dark Blue. Only to be worn under polo shirts or t-shirts.

If you would like support in providing uniform items, we are able to help out. Please talk to the ladies in the front office.

Jane Weir, Cathy Stott, Kiera Slade, Aimee Coffey

Deputy Principals

A friendly reminder of upcoming Excursion/School Based Activity payments:

• EDU Dance Term 2 (Koolbardi 1A & B, 2A & B, 3, 4, 5, 6A, Boornar 1, 3, 4 Kwenda 2, 4, 5, Yonga 4, Nornt 3, Kin kin 2, Djidi-djidi 2) payment is due Thursday, 6th May 2021.

Late payments will not be accepted.

Payment Plans

May be arranged prior to the the payment due date by contacting the Manager Corporate Services, Liz O'Born at the front office on 6174 0000.  

Financial Support 

If providing your child/ren the opportunity to participate in the Excursion/School Based Activity is likely to cause financial hardship, we may be able to provide financial support.  Please complete the slip on bottom of the consent form and return it to the front office.

Dangerous storms are the most common natural hazard in Australia.

Every year from May to October, storms including tornados, lightning, hail, flash flooding and gale force winds cause major destruction to the southern half of WA.

As storms are unpredictable and generally impact a small area, their devastating impact is often underestimated.

Storms not only cause damage to homes, property and businesses, they also pose a threat to people, animals and the environment.

Here are a few things you can do to prepare your home and families for storms:

• Trim branches around your home to prevent them falling on your roof or car.
• Clear gutters and downpipes so they do not overflow after heavy rain.
• Store or weigh down loose objects around your home or work, such as outdoor furniture that could be picked up and thrown by strong winds, causing damage or injury.
• Prepare an emergency kit with a battery operated radio, torch, spare batteries and first aid kit.
• Have an emergency plan ready to put into action, including a relocation plan for your family and pets in case your home becomes flooded.

Remember, if a storm has badly damaged your home and you can't safely fix it yourself, SES volunteers are there to help. If you need assistance call 132 500.

Keep up-to-date during a storm by visiting emergency.wa.gov.au, calling 13 DFES, following DFES on Facebook and Twitter and listening to ABC local radio and other news bulletins.​​​​​​​​​

All children from Pre-Primary to Year 11 are eligible to dental treatment at the Wellard Dental Therapy Centre located at Wellard Primary School.

Wellard Dental Therapy Centre | Dental Health Services North

25 Breccia Parade, WELLARD 6170

T: (08) 9553 0610

E: wellarddtc@dental.health.wa.gov.au

W: www.nmhs.health.wa.gov.au | www.dental.wa.gov.au

Our Vision: Excellence in health care for our community.

Holidays with kids: where to go and what to do

There are many different kinds of child-friendly holidays.

Beach holidays

Check that the beach is patrolled by lifeguards and the tides are predictable for safe swimming. Many beaches have rockpools or other areas that are good for small children, but check first that there’s nothing dangerous in them.  For sun protection, use sunscreen, wear hats and other sun-protective clothing, and consider buying your child a swimsuit with long sleeves and legs with an an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating of 50+. Sunglasses are also a good idea. 

Don’t forget to pack buckets, spades, balls and bats to play with on the beach. A pair of old runners can be useful for climbing through rocks Also pack swim nappies if your child isn’t toilet trained.  Look into things to do in case of wet weather, or for when your child gets sick of playing in the sand and water.

Bushwalking

Check out local guide books or national park websites before deciding on a spot for your bushwalking holiday. These guides describe walking trails in the area and can help you decide whether they’re suitable for nature walks with children. Many national parks have paths designed for wheelchairs and prams.

If your walks will be longer than half an hour, make sure you pack a first aid kit, sunscreen, wet weather gear, insect repellent and some food and water. Always tell someone where you’re going, and carry a fully charged mobile phone. If you’re planning to go off the beaten track, you could look into taking an emergency beacon.

Camping

Choose a location where you can be sure kids can see and do exciting things like spotting local wildlife. Always choose a spot where you can keep an eye on kids. Be prepared with wet weather gear, sunscreen, insect repellent, first aid, games and books.  There are lots of caravan and camping grounds in Australia with child-friendly facilities like playgrounds, pools and water parks.