Important Dates
| 17 November 2026 | Year 1 & 5 Kings Park Excursion – payment Due via compass |
| 20 November 2026 | Kindy 2027 Parent Info Session 9-10.30 – RSVP |
| 23 November -4 December 2026 | Year 5 Swimming – payment Due via compass |
| 23 November 2026 | PP – Year 2 Constable Care Protective Behaviours Incursion PP – Year 2 |
| 27 November 2026 | Pre Primary Assembly |
| 3 December 2026 | End of Year Concert 5.00 pm |
| 4 December 2026 | 2027 Kindy Kaper’s Orientation Morning |
| 7 December – 15 December 2026 | PP – Year 4 Swimming |
| 15 December 2026 | Year 6 Graduation Ceremony – 8:45am |
| 17 December 2026 | Student last day |
From the Principal
Celebrating a Wonderful Year at Kapinara
As we approach the end of another wonderful year at Kapinara Primary School, it is a lovely opportunity to reflect on all that we have achieved together in 2026. There is so much to celebrate, the learning and growth of our students, the dedication of our staff, the generosity of our families and the wonderful sense of community that makes Kapinara such a special place.
It will be especially wonderful to come together at our End-of-Year Family Picnic Concert on Thursday 3 December, from 5–7pm. The children have been joyfully rehearsing and are looking forward to sharing their performances with you. A reminder that this is an alcohol-free event.
Throughout the year, our school values of Kindness, Consideration and Service for Others have been evident in so many aspects of school life. We have been particularly proud to launch our Kapinara Values Badges and to see our students proudly wearing them on their school shirts. These badges celebrate the everyday actions through which our students demonstrate our values and contribute to the positive culture of our school.
Living Words, Living Place
We are delighted to share that the artwork for our Living Words, Living Place: A Noongar Language Project for Kapinara has now been completed, following a wonderful collaboration between local Aboriginal artist Gabrielle Bruce, Elder Aunty Lois May and our Year 4 students.
Supported by a successful PALS (Partnership, Acceptance, Learning and Sharing) grant of $4,907, this project has provided our students with a meaningful opportunity to work alongside Gabrielle, exploring local Aboriginal stories, language, symbols, flora and fauna, and creating artwork that has informed the final designs.
These beautiful artworks will accompany the Noongar names of school buildings:
- Upper Corridor – Worl Mia (Place of Sky)
- Lower Corridor – Bilya Mia (Place of Waterway)
- Administration – Wandjoo Mia (Place of Welcome)
- Library – Kaartdijin Mia (Place of Knowledge)
- Early Childhood – Koorlangka Mia (Place of Beginnings)
- Undercover Area – Beedawong (Place of Celebration)
- Music Room – Kaborli Mia (Place of Storytelling)
Together, these artworks and names will create a lasting and meaningful connection between our school environment and Noongar language, culture and Country. It is particularly special that our Year 4 students have contributed to something that will remain at Kapinara for generations of students to enjoy and learn from.
Our heartfelt thanks to Gabrielle Bruce and Aunty Lois May for sharing their knowledge, creativity and cultural wisdom with our school community. We are delighted to share a preview of the completed artwork and look forward to seeing the new signage installed around Kapinara.
Listening, Reflecting and Planning Our Next Chapter
Earlier this year, we invited our families, staff and students to participate in the National School Opinion Survey (NSOS). Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and perspectives.
It was particularly pleasing to see the consistency across our school community in recognising the quality of teaching, leadership, high expectations for student learning and the safe and caring environment we provide at Kapinara. These results are a wonderful affirmation of the work of our staff and the positive learning environment we are continuing to strengthen.
At Kapinara, we recognise that student wellbeing and academic achievement go hand in hand. When children feel safe, connected, confident and supported, they are better positioned to engage in learning and reach their potential.
Our 2026 Student Wellbeing Survey provides valuable insights into our students’ social and emotional development, including their confidence, resilience, relationships and sense of belonging. It was particularly encouraging to see that the percentage of students demonstrating very highly developed social and emotional wellbeing has increased to 21.9% in 2026, compared with the Australian norm of 12%.
We believe that, alongside the wonderful support our children receive at home, our Grow Your Mind program and the positive culture fostered through Positive Behaviour Support are contributing to these encouraging outcomes. We will continue to explore opportunities to further strengthen our students’ confidence, resilience and ability to navigate challenges.
A key theme emerging from our survey feedback is the opportunity to further strengthen student and parent voice, ensuring that members of our school community feel heard, valued and connected. This feedback, together with the reflections and insights gained through our Public School Review, will underpin the development of our next Business Plan.
A key feature of our upcoming Business Planning cycle will be a Community Consultation Meeting. We look forward to engaging in meaningful, two-way conversations with our families, sharing our reflections, listening to your perspectives and aspirations, and working together to shape the future direction of Kapinara. I am particularly looking forward to working alongside our School Board, staff and wider school community to co-create a Business Plan that reflects our shared aspirations for our students and builds on the wonderful foundations of our school. Further details about the Community Consultation Meeting will be shared in the new year.
Celebrating Our 2027 Year 6 Leavers’ Shirt Design
We are delighted to unveil our 2027 Year 6 Leavers’ Shirt design. Featuring a beautiful coastal-inspired design of seashells and a starfish, the artwork is a lovely reflection of Kapinara’s connection to our coastal community. The gold design against our school colours, together with the names of our incoming Year 6 students, makes this a particularly special keepsake.
A very special congratulations to our talented student artist, Cassie Sceales, whose beautiful artwork was selected by her peers through a student vote. What a wonderful achievement, Cassie! Thank you also to all our students who contributed their creative ideas to the design process.
Farewell to Our Graduating Year 6 Students
As we look ahead to welcoming our next group of Year 6 leaders, we also prepare to farewell our graduating Class of 2026.
To our graduating students, what a special milestone you are approaching! It has been a privilege to watch you grow as learners, friends, leaders and young people. As you prepare to embark on your secondary school journey, I hope you take with you the wonderful memories of your time at Kapinara, the friendships you have formed and the values that have guided you along the way.
To those families who are also finishing their Kapinara journey, thank you for the many ways you have contributed to our school community over the years. You will always be a special part of the Kapinara story. Please contact the school office if you are departing Kapinara in 2027.
Thank You, Kapinara
As we close out 2026, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our staff for their dedication and care, and to our School Board, P&C, volunteers and families for the many ways you enrich school life. We are incredibly fortunate to have a community that cares so deeply about our school and the experiences we provide for our children. And to our wonderful students, thank you for bringing your energy, curiosity, laughter and kindness to Kapinara each day. You are at the heart of everything we do.
Warm regards,
Natalie Oddy
Principal
Looking ahead 2027
2027 Schedule of Contributions and Charges
The Kapinara Primary School Board has endorsed the 2027 Schedule of Contributions and Charges, which is attached for families to view.
Voluntary contributions help fund essential classroom resources, art and craft materials, science equipment and digital learning resources that support student learning.
We encourage all families to contribute where possible. Every contribution makes a difference.
Thank you for your continued support of Kapinara Primary School.
2027 School Development and Closure Days
The 2027 School Development and Closure dates have been approved by the Kapinara Primary School Board. Please take note of the following dates when students will not attend school in 2027. We are sharing these dates early to help families plan ahead for the year.
Class Placements for 2027
As we begin planning for 2027, families are encouraged to familiarise themselves with Kapinara Primary School’s Class Placement Policy, which outlines the processes and considerations involved in determining class placements.
The School Board-endorsed policy is available on our website and can be viewed here.
We encourage all families to read the policy to understand the approach taken by the school when developing balanced and supportive class groups for the year ahead.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Year 6 Bush Camp Adventure
In Week 1 of this term, our Year 6 students headed to Jarrahfall Bush Camp for an unforgettable week of adventure, teamwork and personal growth.
From abseiling and kayaking to the excitement of night walks, students stepped outside their comfort zones, embraced new challenges and made the most of every opportunity. Throughout the week, our students demonstrated our school values, encouraging one another, showing resilience, respecting the natural environment and strengthening friendships. Bush camp was a wonderful opportunity for our Year 6 students to grow in confidence, develop independence and create lasting memories together. It was a fantastic way to begin their final year of primary school!
Year 6 camp recount, By M. Webb
14th of October, the day the Year 6s left for Year 6 Camp. “Everyone, we will be going to the cafeteria/hall for our first activities,” said Mrs Gardner joyfully. Camp was full of excitement as well as lots of challenges. We all had the best time we could have had, and we all got along perfectly too. However, when it was time to go, we were all not ready to leave, but we all agreed it was the best it could have been.
A Magical Ballet Experience – Little Red Riding Hood
Our Pre-Primary to Year 6 students enjoyed a wonderful performing arts experience as they attended Big Little Ballet’s production of Little Red Riding Hood.
The performance brought this much-loved fairy tale to life through beautiful ballet, expressive movement, music and storytelling. Students were captivated by the characters and the enchanting retelling of Little Red Riding Hood’s adventure through the forest. It was a wonderful opportunity to spark imaginations and experience the excitement of a live performance!
Walking Together for Reconciliation at Kaarta Koomba
Our student leaders joined fellow student leaders from across the Churchlands network at Kaarta Koomba (Kings Park) for a meaningful Walk for Reconciliation experience.
Led by Aboriginal community members, students took part in guided activities that included knowledge sharing, singing and interactive experiences. These activities encouraged students to deepen their understanding of Aboriginal cultures and perspectives while fostering curiosity, respect and connection.
The experience provided a valuable opportunity for our student leaders to listen, learn and reflect on the importance of reconciliation and the role they can play in building a more inclusive and respectful community.
By coming together on Whadjuk Noongar Country, our students were reminded of the importance of listening to First Nations voices and continuing to learn from Aboriginal cultures and perspectives.
Kapinara School Values in Action
Kapinara Choir Shares the Joy of Music at Wembley Downs Fair
Our talented school choir brought a little Kapinara magic to the Wembley Downs Fair, delighting the community with a wonderful musical performance.
It was fantastic to see our students take to the stage with confidence, enthusiasm and pride, sharing their love of singing with the wider community. Their performance was a celebration of teamwork, dedication and the joy that music brings to others.
Our choir members demonstrated our school values through their encouragement of one another, their commitment to rehearsals and their willingness to share their talents beyond the school gates.
We are incredibly proud of our young performers for representing Kapinara Primary School so positively and contributing to this wonderful community event.
Salvation Army Christmas Appeal – Spreading Christmas Hope
Living out our school value of Acts of Service, our school community is coming together to support the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal.
This year, Room 8 and Room 3 will be leading our collection, helping to bring a little extra joy and hope to those in need this Christmas.
When: 9th November – 24th November
Our wonderful Santa’s Helpers from Room 8 and Room 3 will visit classrooms each morning after the morning messages to collect donations.
Families are invited to drop donations into their child’s classroom. Please refer to the attached poster for a list of suggested items.
Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Thank you for helping us put kindness into action and make someone’s Christmas a little brighter.
Thank you for your generosity and support.
News & Updates
End-of-Year Concert and Family Picnic – Thursday 3 December
We are looking forward to celebrating the end of another wonderful year at our End-of-Year Concert and Family Picnic on Thursday 3 December
Families are invited to arrive from 4:45pm to set up picnic rugs and get comfortable before the evening’s entertainment begins at 5:00pm.
The Kapinara Orchestra will open the concert, followed by performances from each year level, providing the perfect entertainment for our family picnic. Students will remain with their families throughout the evening, so bring along your picnic rug, some delicious food and enjoy a relaxed evening celebrating our wonderful school community.
We look forward to seeing our families come together to celebrate the students’ achievements and enjoy a special evening of music, performances and community spirit as we wrap up the school year.
Celebrating a Love of Reading at Our Scholastic Book Fair
Our school was buzzing with excitement as students explored the Scholastic Book Fair! From captivating adventures and fascinating facts to much-loved favourites and exciting new stories, there was something for every reader to discover.
Students enjoyed browsing the shelves, discovering new authors and choosing books to spark their imaginations and inspire a love of reading. The Book Fair was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate books, encourage curiosity and share the joy of getting lost in a great story.
A big thank you to Mrs Moore for organising our Scholastic Book Fair and to our school community for their wonderful support in helping foster a love of reading in our students!
Supporting Student Wellbeing
Grow Your Mind Spotlight: Being Kind to Our Bodies
Self-compassion, body positivity and body gratitude
As we head towards summer, this month’s Grow Your Mind Spotlight focuses on self-compassion and the importance of developing a kind and respectful relationship with our bodies.
At Kapinara, through our carefully designed Physical Education program, our Grow Your Mind wellbeing program and the messages reinforced in our classrooms, we encourage children to develop a healthy, respectful and compassionate relationship with their bodies. We teach children to appreciate what their bodies can do, celebrate individual differences and recognise that their worth is not determined by their appearance. Above all, we want every child to understand that all bodies deserve kindness and respect.
Body positivity encourages us to appreciate and accept our bodies, while body neutrality reminds us that we don’t have to love how our bodies look every day to treat them with kindness and respect.
Rather than comparing ourselves with others or focusing on appearance, we can shift our attention towards what our bodies allow us to do and experience. This is called body gratitude.
Our bodies help us swim, dance, laugh, hug, explore and enjoy the world around us. Every body is different, and every body deserves respect.
As parents and carers, we can help nurture this mindset by modelling kind self-talk, avoiding negative comments about appearance and celebrating our children’s character strengths, efforts and abilities.
Podcast recommendation: Grow Your Mind – Season 6, Episode 6: Body Positivity explores self-compassion, body gratitude and shifting our attention away from comparison. A thoughtful listen for families, particularly those with children in Year 3 and above.
A little challenge for home: This week, invite your family to share one thing they appreciate about what their body helps them do, rather than how it looks.
Further resources for families
The Australian Butterfly Foundation offers Butterfly Body Bright, a program supporting primary school children and their families to develop positive body image, self-acceptance and healthy attitudes towards their bodies.
Families can explore these free resources:
- Body Bright Family Resources and Activities – including practical tip sheets about body gratitude, kindness, inclusion and responding to appearance teasing.
- Butterfly Foundation – Body Bright – information about the broader Australian primary school program.
Remember: We don’t have to love how our bodies look every day, but we can always treat them with kindness.
Chaplain Chats
Co-regulation and self-regulation. As we near the end of the this year children can become tired and worn out. One of my daughters is typically more affected in this way, and just this week has just started to show signs of more irritability and less tolerance for her sister and when navigating obstacles. Unfortunately, this is earlier than last year. In these times of emotional fragility, it’s helpful to review my expectations.
Self regulation? (The goal) Self-regulation is the ability to recognise, understand and manage your own emotions, thoughts and behaviours. It is a destination for emotional development in children. When becoming upset self-regulation includes: Noticing the change in feeling, understanding the trigger, pausing before reacting, and choosing ways to calm themselves. However, these skills need to be learnt, and co-regulation is what supports this.
Co-regulation? (When kids don’t self-regulate) Co-regulation is when a trusted adult helps a child manage their emotions through their own calm, reassuring and supportive presence. However, at times this can be very challenging.
Strategies in the moment Some practical strategies that can support coregulation in difficult moment are:
Connect before correcting Focus on connecting with your child before addressing their behaviour. Try saying: “I can see you’re having a difficult time. I’m here to help.”
Allow time and space to reset Some children need a little time away from a challenging situation before they are ready to talk. Try saying: “Let’s have a little break and work it out when you’re ready.”
Reflect and problem-solve together Once your child is calm, help them reflect on what happened and consider what they could do differently next time. Try asking: “What might help if this happens again?”
Practising skills There are also skills that are best learned when children are clam, which can then assist when they are upset.
Practise calming strategies together Try slow breathing, counting, stretching, going for a walk or finding a quiet space.
Model emotional regulation Let children see how you manage your own frustrations and disappointments. Try saying: “I’m feeling frustrated, so I’m going to pause and take a few breaths.”
A useful resource that goes deeper into emotional regulation when overwhelmed is: How To Deal With Overwhelm: A Psychologist’s 4-Step Method – (The Imperfects)
All the best for supporting your children as they grow in emotional resilience and for a happy end to the year.
Paul
Chaplain
News from our P&C
Last P&C Meeting of 2026
We can’t believe the end of year is almost here!
There will be lots to cover in our next (and last) meeting in preparation for starting 2027 strong so we are keen to have as many OG and new faces as possible!
With Katie set to depart from the President role in 2027, we thank her deeply for the past 3 years of impeccable service to the P&C, school and it’s wider community! Lucky for us, she won’t got far – see you on the school board.
We would also like to thank Tash B for 11 years of P&C! Such a huge amount of time spent supporting Kapinara, students and teacher initiatives… passing on SO much fundraising knowledge – we can’t thank you enough.
We will talk all things P&C Sundowner, 60 Years of Kapinara (OMG!) and many other future initiatives & events we hope to achieve next year!
We cant wait to see you Tuesday 24th Nov, 7pm online- link to follow.
Kapinara Playgroup
Our Kapinara Playgroup has been busy having lots of fun, making new friends, exploring, learning and enjoying plenty of play! There’s always something happening, and it’s such a wonderful way to spend our Fridays. A morning full of smiles, laughter, connection and special little moments.
Beyond the School Gates
January Vacation Care
Throughout the January Vacation period, there will be no onsite Vacation Care at Kapinara Primary School. To support families during this time, TheirCare has kindly offered alternative care arrangements at their existing services
- St John’s Primary School, Scarborough
- Floreat Park Primary School
Families wishing to access vacation care during this period will need to make bookings directly through the TheirCare website.