Queen of Apostles School

God our Father,

you call each of us by name, and you treasure each of us individually

as though no one else exists. Inspire us to respect and value each person

who comes into our lives this day. Amen

There was a very good turn out at the Parent Information Sessions last night. I would like to thank our classroom teachers for putting the parent presentations together to ensure we are all on the same page. The parent/ teacher relationship is extremely important in ensuring that positive outcomes for our students are maintained.

Next Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent and a time when we begin to prepare for Jesus’ great self-sacrifice on Good Friday and then his resurrection on Easter Sunday. We look during this time of Lent for ways that we can show self-sacrifice. People like to give up sweets or cool drink for Lent. Personally, I like to give up my time to help others that need it. What will your Lenten promises be?

I invite everyone in our community to our Ash Wednesday Mass (14th Feb) at 9am in the church. I thank Miss Jenzen and the Year 5 class who will be leading us in this Mass.

The Welcome Back to School P&F Sundowner for all families will be on Friday February 16. The P&F Sundowner is on the new grassed area beginning at 5.30pm. There will be an ice cream truck, games for the children and a sausage sizzle available for purchase. It promises to be a great way for our families to get together and start the new school year. So, get your picnic rugs ready for what will be a great evening.

With a number of new families to the school this year I would like everyone to be aware of our parking and drive through arrangements at the front of the school as the safety of our children is of paramount importance.

• Vehicles will enter via the middle driveway on Tribute St East.
• If you wish to park and leave your car to come into the school, please turn to the left and park in one of the bays adjacent to the Early Learning Centre or use the marked roadside bays outside the school.
• When exiting the car park, you will do so at the exit closest to Vahland Ave.
• If you are only dropping-off or picking-up then please veer right and enter the drive-thru area. In this area you may not park or leave your vehicle unattended - it is strictly drop-off or pick- up only!
• When exiting the drive-thru section you will use the exit closest to Tudor Ave.
• Children waiting to be picked up are to wait on the verandah, under teacher supervision, and when they see their parent’s car enter the drive-thru, they may proceed down the steps at either end of the ramp and wait on the footpath adjacent to the bay where their parent has pulled up.
• Children should enter vehicles from the curbside only to avoid passing vehicles.

On Friday 23rd February the Faction Swimming Carnival for our Year 4 to 6 students will be held at Beatty Park Leisure Centre in North Perth. The students will depart from school at 9.30am and return to Queen of Apostles by 1.30pm.

It will be fantastic to see a great crowd of parents at Beatty Park cheering our students on. If you can help on the day, please contact Mr B. Programme and permission note to follow.

Over the last few days, I have noticed that there have been some students not wearing the correct uniform or have been wearing the uniform incorrectly (including shoes). Our uniform gives the students a sense of belonging and enhances pride in their school. The uniform shop is open on a Wednesday afternoon if you require any items. Your assistance is greatly appreciated in helping to build a strong school culture where our sense of identity is celebrated. Uniform checks will be conducted regularly over the course of the year.

This year our Kindy to Year 6 staff will conduct their Parent/Teacher interviews on Wednesday 27th March. The teachers will be available for a face to face or online meeting on this day. Later in the term you will receive instructions about booking in these meetings. Please note this is a pupil free day as is Thursday 28th March. Please keep these dates in your diary.

To ensure your child’s well-being, the school requires that parents provide up-to-date medical information in regard to any allergies or medical conditions. If your child is allergic to bee stings, nuts, shellfish, eggs etc and may suffer an allergic reaction, it is paramount that the school is informed. Your doctor will need to provide an anaphylaxis plan with instructions that the school will follow. If your child suffers from asthma, a plan is also required for staff to follow in the event of an asthma attack. Anaphylaxis plans and asthma plans are to be presented to the office with medication to ensure that in an event of a medical incident, your child can be treated effectively. Any other medical information that may be relevant must also be presented in written form to the office. This information will remain confidential within the staff-teaching environment.

Best Wishes

Mark Ryan

Principal

Queen of Apostles is dedicated to ensuring that all our students are given opportunities to flourish whether it be in sport, music or academic areas.

Inquiry learning through our Future Focussed Learning model provides all students with open ended learning, allowing students to be challenged and have a voice in their learning. For those students who are high achievers, be it in sport, music or academia, we provide more competitive opportunities through interschool sporting carnivals, music competitions and academic challenges.

In 2024, some students will be given the opportunity to compete in Academic Challenges such as TOM, APSMO Maths Challenge, Regional Spelling Bee, Regional Academic days and the Da Vinci Decathlon. Students will be invited to participate in these events using the following criteria:

1. Academic ability determined by tests such as AGAT, PAT, TOLA and SPM
2. Teacher referral (the students will not be disadvantaged from extended time out of class)
3. The students have the necessary attributes to successfully compete when invited into competitions eg. can collaborate in a group, independent learners, display maturity in learning and not require teacher intervention to maintain behaviour

Parents will have the option of enrolling students in the ICAS Assessments in 3rd Term. More information about these assessments will come out towards the end of this term. As the competitions draw near, students from Years 4-6 who fulfill the above criteria will receive a letter from the school inviting them to participate.

Jennifer Anderson

Children preparing to receive a Sacrament are required to attend a Commitment Mass at one of the following Masses:

CONFIRMATION: 10th Feb at 6pm OR Sunday 11th at 9am or 7pm

RECONCILIATION: 17TH Feb at 6pm OR Sunday 18th at 9am or 7pm

EUCHARIST: 24TH Feb at 6pm OR Sunday 25th at 9am or 7pm

For more information, please contact the Parish on 6188 6877

Meet the Class Representatives for 2024:

A big thank you to all the below Class Representatives for 2024, you play a very important role in bringing our school community together.

Pre-Kindy: TBA

Kindy: Bianca Di Silvio (Massam) & Alisha Carter

Pre-Primary: Annabelle Perkins & Isabelle Carter

Year 1: Yikchuang (YC) Tang & Thanita Chan

Year 2: Carly Watt & Liz Lofthouse-Mejias

Year 3: Danielle Mitchell & Sarah Warren

Year 4: Sophie Probett

Year 5: Jessica Steven

Year 6: Marnie Selten

2 nd Hand Uniform Sale Don’t forget tomorrow is the 2nd hand uniform sale

P&F 2024 Welcome Back Sundowner

Queenies P&F along with the Year 6 Graduation Committee are hosting the Welcome Back Family Sundowner next Friday, 16th February 2024.

This is a great way to meet and socialise other parents. Bring along your picnic blanket and chairs, purchase a sausage sizzle from the year 6 graduation committee and an ice cream from Tims Ice Cream Van.

The Riverton Junior Football Club will be demonstrating & running football skills for the kids, plus don’t forget the basketball competition and playground. There are lots of activities for the kids and plenty of prizes to be won.

P&F 2024 Calendar

The P&F are excited to provide the below calendar which includes various events that the P&F plan to host this year. Write them in your diary, so you don’t miss out!

If you are interested in volunteering at any event, please email Tracy at queeniespnf@gmail.com

OPEN DAY

Friday 1 March 2024

St Norbert College warmly invites prospective students and their parents to tour our beautiful College, its contemporary facilities and extensive grounds. Tours will be conducted at 9.00am and 1.00pm.

Bookings can be made at https://www.trybooking.com/COTBT.

Enrolments for Year 7 in 2026

We have commenced our enrolments for 2026. Application forms may be obtained by phoning the Enrolment Officer, Mrs Hughes on 9350 5433.