| Upcoming | |
| Year 6 Camp | Wednesday 15 October – Friday 17 October |
| St John’s K-6 Incursion | Tuesday 21 October – Thursday 23 October |
| Swim Squad Years 4-6 | Wednesday 22 October – 10 December 7.30am-8.15am |
| Year 1 Bake Sale | Friday 24 October – 3.00pm |
| Kindy 2026 Parent Information Session | Friday 24 October |
| Wembley Downs Fair | Saturday 25 October |
| P&C Meeting | Tuesday 28 October |
| Year 6 Fair | Thursday 30 October |
| 3H Assembly | Friday 31 October (Date Change) |
| School Board Open Meeting | Tuesday 4 November |
| Payments Due | |
| School and P&C Voluntary Contributions | K – Year 6 |
Principal’s Message
Welcome to Term 4, a time already brimming with energy, exciting events and rich opportunities for connection across our school community. The coming weeks promise plenty to look forward to, with highlights including Kapinara’s inaugural Colour Run and our much-anticipated End-of-Year Concert.
This week is particularly special for our Year 6 students as they head off on camp, a milestone full of adventure, growth and memory-making. We wish them every success and joy, and extend heartfelt thanks to Mrs Dixon, Mrs Gardiner and Mr Virgo for their care, organisation and enthusiasm in leading this important experience.
We’re also delighted to welcome Mrs Madeline Smyth as our new Deputy Principal, joining us from Lockridge Primary School, and Mr Bell, who joins the Kapinara team as our Art Teacher on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Their expertise and energy will bring fresh inspiration to our leadership and arts programs.
A reminder that School Board voting is now open. The Board plays a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of our school, and I warmly encourage parents to cast their votes using the form below. In addition, please join us for our Annual Open School Board Meeting on Monday, 4 November, from 6:00–7:00pm in the staffroom. All are welcome to attend, observe, and be part of the conversation about Kapinara’s future.
Many families may have recently heard about Wait Mate, a grassroots, parent-driven initiative that encourages conversation around delaying children’s use of smartphones until at least high school. Here’s how it works:
- When at least ten families in a year group take the pledge, that cohort becomes an “unlocked” Wait Mate group. Participating families receive a monthly email listing first names and initials of others who have joined, fostering connection and support.
- By standing together, families reduce the social pressure for any one child to have a smartphone and can uphold healthy boundaries collectively.
- Wait Mate draws attention to research linking excessive smartphone use to challenges such as anxiety, poor sleep and reduced wellbeing.
- While discussions about social media age limits continue at the national level, this initiative highlights the important role parents can play in supporting children’s mental health and focus through delayed access.
At Kapinara, we view Wait Mate as a conversation starter, a valuable prompt for reflection and dialogue about the role of technology in childhood and how we, as a community, can support our students’ wellbeing in an increasingly digital world.
Finally, I will be taking Long Service Leave until 3 November, during which time Mrs Dixon will act as Principal. I have every confidence she will continue to lead our school with care, commitment and excellence.
School Board Nominations
We are delighted to advise that we have two nominees for the vacant parent member position on our School Board. We invite you to read the information sent in by our nominees and consider your preferences.
Please vote via the following link https://forms.office.com/r/1r6WWctjFD
There is one question only where you are asked to click on the nominee of your choice. The survey closes Friday, 31 October at 12pm.
MELISSA SHARP – NOMINATION FOR KAPINARA SCHOOL BOARD
I am writing to put forward my application to become a parent representative on the School Board. As a parent of two children currently in Kindergarten and Year 2, I am deeply invested in the success and well-being of our school community. Professionally, I am a Director and CFO of a Property Valuation business, leading a team and managing strategic and financial operations. I work with people of diverse ages and backgrounds, which has strengthened my communication and diplomacy skills – qualities I believe are essential for elective Board participation Personally, I am well connected with the school’s parent community and committed to being a strong, approachable link between families and the Board. I believe I can effectively communicate community perspectives to the Board, and equally, help convey Board decisions with clarity and transparency. I am passionate about supporting inclusive, high-quality education and fostering a positive environment for students, staff, and families. I would be honoured to represent the voices of parents and collaborate with the school leadership to support our collective vision and future goals. Thank you for considering my application. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and success of our wonderful school.
SUSANNAH TOY – NOMINATION FOR KAPINARA SCHOOL BOARD
I’m excited to nominate for a position on the Kapinara School Board. My youngest child is currently a Kindy student and my third to attend Kapinara. From living overseas and having older children attend multiple schools, I’ve had the opportunity to experience different school leadership and direction strategies. With a degree in Communication Studies, a Master’s in Organisational Psychology and as a certified Integral Coach, I have worked in London, New York, San Francisco and Perth in the corporate world and have been involved with a variety of high performing teams and clients at all levels of leadership. I bring an inclusive, thoughtful and human perspective to my coaching and consulting. My expertise is about understanding the current state – what is working and what needs development – and coming up with tools and strategies to make shifts that lead to sustainable change. I’d love to be able to give back to a community that has been instrumental to my children’s growth and development and would be delighted to help Kapinara continue to be a top school of choice.
Leavers Shirts
The design for the 2026 Year 6 shirts has officially been chosen! After a very close vote, Imogen B’s creative and eye-catching drawing was selected to feature on next year’s shirts. A huge congratulations to Imogen, and a heartfelt thank you to all our talented Year 5 students who submitted such thoughtful and imaginative designs. Your contributions made the decision incredibly tough—and we’re proud of each and every one of you!
Rotary Peace Pole
Last term, our school proudly joined the Rotary Club in a special ceremony around our Rotary Peace Pole. The event served as a meaningful reminder of our ongoing commitment to peace, both within our school and the wider community. By gathering together to reflect, share stories, and celebrate our shared values, we reinforced the importance of kindness, respect, and understanding in everyday life.
New Cricket Pitch!
We hope you’ve had a chance to admire our fantastic new cricket pitch, completed over the school holidays. A huge thank you goes to Mr Hodgson for securing the grant that made this exciting upgrade possible. It’s already proving to be a hit with our students, who are making great use of the space during their games and PE lessons.
Kapinara Christmas Hamper Appeal – Supporting the St Vincent de Paul Society
This festive season, our Year 2 students will be stepping into the joyful role of Santa’s Helpers! To make giving easy, each classroom will have a donation basket, and the appeal will run for five weeks, starting Monday, October 27th and finishing in early December.
Who Are We Helping
The hampers will be delivered by the St Vincent de Paul Society to families in need within our local community, as well as to newly arrived refugees across the Perth metro area. This initiative is a meaningful way to offer dignity and joy during the holiday season, beautifully reflecting our Kapinara value of “service for others.”
Our Goal
We aim to fill at least 50 hampers, reaching approximately 150 people. Your generosity can make a real difference!
What to Donate
Please consider contributing any of the following items:
- Christmas Cakes / Plum Puddings
- Mince Pies
- Long Life Custard / Jelly Crystals
- Pasta / Noodles / Rice
- Tinned Fruit
- Cordial / Juice
- Potato or Corn Chips / Crackers
- Sweets / Lollies / Biscuits / Chocolates
- Tinned Vegetables (Peas, Corn, Beetroot, Chickpeas, Lentils)
- Tinned Ham / Turkey / Tuna / Salmon
- Christmas Decorations
We truly appreciate your support and kindness. Together, we can help make Christmas brighter for those who need it most.
School Emails & Communication – A Quick Reminder
To help us respond to your queries as quickly as possible, we kindly ask that all school-related emails and correspondence be sent to our School Admin inbox: kapinara.ps.admin@education.wa.edu.au
Please avoid emailing Gail directly, as she is not in every day — using the admin inbox ensures your message reaches the right person and gets a timely response.
VacSwim
VacSwim enrolments for summer (December/January) holidays are now open! Secure your child’s spot for essential school holiday swimming lessons. Book early to avoid missing out, as venues close once at full capacity.
Interschool Athletics
The Churchlands Network Interschool Athletics Carnival took place at Wembley Downs Primary School on Friday 19 September. We had some excellent individual performances!
Cooper L won Year 5 Champion Boy, Mia T was Year 5 Runner-Up Champion Girl, Grayson V won Year 4 Champion Boy and Jesse T was Runner-Up Champion Boy in Year 3. In addition, all of our tactic ball teams won ribbons finishing in the Top 3. A huge thank you to the parents who gave their time to help on the day and those parents who were able to give their time to come and support.
Compass for Schools
We hope everyone is enjoying the new Compass app, we can see that everyone has been jumping on board, especially for attendance. Thank you for your patience as we continue to explore how best it works for our school.
Some handy tips:
- No need to submit an absence via the website anymore if you submit via the app
- You can email your teacher direct from the app or by logging on to Compass on your computer
- Consent for no cost incursions can be actioned, no need to go through Qkr
- We have linked our website into the app so you can access direct from the app for any information
Please contact the office if you have not been able to login and we can regenerate a code for you.
ADHD Workshop
An informative workshop for those that would like to find out more about ADHD and strategies to support children with ADHD.
