Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members

We are already half way though Week 3 and I am delighted to be able to say that it is business as usual and our children have already been engaged in a wide range of learning opportunities. 

This morning we had our first assembly for the year and the children of LA 37 did a terrific job in leading it and keeping us informed and entertained.  My sincere thanks go to Mrs Perry for her work in preparing the class within such a short timeframe. 

This morning I also had the privilege to present Alumni certificates and badges to our Year 6 students who started with us as Kindergarten children back in 2011.

Some points for your information include:

2019 STUDENT LEADERS

Our 2019 student leaders were presented to the assembly this morning.  They are:

STUDENT COUNCILLORS

• Alexa DeGuzman
• Tahlia Greasley
• Winee Jiang
• Jake Mulconray
• Chloe Ruston
• Madeleine Walsh

HOUSE CAPTAINS

Earth

Marvin Asuncion

Aamir Earnshaw

Fire

Taya Cassidy

Ky Earney 

Water

Kiana Hindmarsh

LeBron Newton-Taito

Tyler Kelly

Tayla Power

Our Student Councillors will be attending the 2019 Grip Leadership Conference on Wednesday, 27 February accompanied by Ms Joy Cheong.  The conference focus is training children to be school leaders and equip them with ideas to implement at school.  Leadership development opportunities will also be provided for our House Captains later in the term.

NEW PLAYGROUND SHADE

Our middle playground hard shade will be installed in the next two weeks.  This will mean that the playground will be closed for approximately one week.  This shade has been funded by the Department of Education's shade provision program.

FENCING ALIGNMENT

LA 30 was removed during the holidays and we have requested the garrison fencing to be realigned along the pathway to increase the play area and incorporate the mini forest of trees. 

EDU-DANCE

EDU-Dance commenced last week and is providing a wonderful performing arts program for our children.  This program will be conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays either this term or next term for all of our classes.

All students have participated in EDU Dance during the first two weeks.  Only those students who pay before Thursday, 21st February will participate in the full program and concert.

PBS FRREE DRESS

Our PBS FRREE dress day is on Thursday, 28 February.  This is an awareness day based around our PBS values.  Students can come dressed wearing the colours of our PBS expectations, purple (Friendly), red (Respectful), yellow (Resilient), blue (Engaged) and green (Everyone is Responsible).

SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT DAY

Our next school development day is Friday, March 1.  On this day our staff will be engaged in reviewing and developing a Pedagogical Framework / Positive Student Behaviour policy / PBS / Performance Management processes.  Please note that children do not attend on this day.  Helping Hands will be open if you need care of your children on School Development Day. This coincides with a Public Holiday on the Monday for Labour Day giving our school community a four day break.

Craig Ashby 

Principal 

This year we have chosen to change the management of our school assemblies in order to improve the participation levels of our school community.  Our assemblies this year will be grouped as follows:

• Junior Assembly Group (K, PP, P/1, 1)
• Middle Assembly Group (1/2, 2, 2/3, 3)
• Senior Assembly Group (3/4, 4, 5, 6)

Every time your child is absent, the school needs to be provided the reason they were not at school.  If you know your child will be away, you can provide the reason prior to their absence. If you are going on holidays or leaving the school, please let the front office know so you don’t receive SMS messages asking why they are absent.

Each absence should be explained within three days of them returning to school. At Bertram we have lots of ways you can give us a reason for your child’s absence:

• Tell their LA teacher verbally
• Give your child a note for their child’s teacher
• Send a message over SeeSaw
• Call in to the front office or ring the school on 61741000
• Email Bertram.ps@education.wa.edu.au
• Fill in the Absentee Form on the Skoolbag app
• Respond to the automated SMS advising of your child’s Unexplained Absence
• Return Unexplained Absence letters or yellow forms to your child’s LA teacher or the front office

816 students currently have NO Unexplained Absences – well done!

If you would like support maintaining your child’s regular attendance please make a time to chat with me or Mrs Stott. 

Jane Weir 

Deputy Principal

Does your child want to become the next Novak Djokovic or Naomi Osaka?  

Jim Guilfoile, a Tennis Australia Junior Development Coach, is offering tennis lessons at Bertram Primary in Term 1 on Wednesday afternoons from 2:50 to 3:40, starting on the 20th of February.  

The cost for the 7 week term is $110, and all eligible students will receive a free ANZ Hot Shots T-shirt!

Contact Jim now to register your interest at jimguilfoile@gmail.com or ring 0403 743 147.