| REMINDERS |
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| Bookweek Assembly Dress Up Parade – Friday 23 August |
| Unfortunately our SMS service is unable to show screenshots or who has sent them, please use the school email address as an alternative method. |
| PERMISSIONS & PAYMENTS | |
|---|---|
| Bookweek Incursion | Years 1-6 |
| UPCOMING | |
|---|---|
| 14 August – 12 September | Athletics Club |
| Wednesday 14 August | Bookweek Author Visit |
| Friday 16 August | PP1 & PP2 Assembly |
Principal’s Message
Dear Kapinara Primary School Community,
This week, Kapinara Primary School has been buzzing with excitement as we celebrated Science Week! Our students were treated to the ‘Magical World of Crazy Science,’ and you can read more about this spectacular event in the newsletter, thanks to a detailed write-up by Mollie and Amelia from the Community & Wellbeing student group.
I would like to take a moment to extend our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful parents who generously took time out of their busy schedules to share their expertise and passions with our students. Their engaging presentations and activities offered our students a unique glimpse into a variety of fascinating professions. Some of the highlights include:
- Shaun, Zoologist: Students tracked “possums” using devices, learning about wildlife tracking techniques.
- Roy, Extractive Metallurgist: A captivating class presentation on the intricacies of his profession.
- Adam, Coastal Engineer: Students engaged in a “Save Our Beach” game, focusing on coastal erosion and preservation.
- Grant, Air Force Pilot: Students designed their own planes, applying principles of aerodynamics discussed in the session.
- Jane, Metallurgist: Hands-on simulations demonstrated how metals are extracted from ores.
- Patrick, Veterinarian: Students worked through problem-solving scenarios involving sick animals.
- Karen, Zoologist: An insightful talk on subterranean fauna and threatened invertebrates.
- Zoe, Zoologist: A fascinating session on radio tracking olive pythons and the use of various wildlife monitoring tools.
We are truly fortunate to have such a supportive and engaged school community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Science Week a resounding success!
Wishing you all a fabulous week ahead,
Kylie Reeves
Principal
P&C Quiz Night Sponsors – Thank you!
Working on our Wellbeing!
One of the major focuses in our new Business Plan is wellbeing and we have been prioritising this for several years. An important element of this is listening to feedback from our students on their wellbeing. One of the ways we do this is through the collection of wellbeing data from our students twice a year. The Years 4 – 6 complete the South Australian Wellbeing and Engagement Census in August of each year and we have been collecting this data since 2018.
Students in Years 2 – 6 complete the Australian Council for Educational Research’s Social-Emotional Wellbeing Survey in April of each year and we have been collecting this data for the last three years.
All the surveys are online, where each child gives the most appropriate answer for them in a series of questions. All their personal responses are confidential and no individuals can be identified. The surveys measure a number of aspects of wellbeing and give us lots of useful information.
Overall, the wellbeing feedback from our students compares very well against Australian norms, and ways we are working to continue to improve wellbeing for all students at Kapinara include the introduction of a whole school health and wellbeing program called “Grow Your Mind”. This goes from Kindy to Year 6 and aims to improve students’ social and emotional awareness through understanding how their brain works.
When we examine our results in finer detail, we are able to identify areas where we can use more targeted strategies to support wellbeing. For example, Mel Caley, our School Chaplain, has run the ‘Build Up Zone’ (BUZ) program with some year groups to help support friendships and develop conflict resolution strategies. Another targeted program is run through Rachael Day, one of our Special Needs Education Assistants. She teaches a social skills program with groups of students from Years 1 to 6 to support the development of social, emotional and communication skills.
If you would like to know any more about how we support wellbeing at Kapinara, please contact Joanne Dixon at Joanne.Dixon2@education.wa.edu.au
Celebrating Bookweek!
On Friday 23 August, Kapinara will celebrate Bookweek during the 5P assembly. The Children’s Book Council theme for this year is Reading is Magic. We will hold a Book Parade and would love students to dress up as their favourite book character (and bring along the book their character is from) or in a costume inspired by this year’s theme. This is not a competition and students are encouraged to create their own imaginative costume! Parents are invited to attend.
We are also thrilled to be welcoming award-winning Author, Mark Greenwood and award-winning Illustrator Frane’ Lessac to Kapinara, tomorrow 14 August (Week 5). They will inspire our students with their creativity, their passion for books and their love of history. In sessions throughout the day, Yr1-Yr3 students will work with Frane’ Lessac and Yr 4-6 students will attend workshops with Mark Greenwood. The cost will be $5.00 per student and can be paid for through QKr. Signed books will be available in the library on the day, and order forms for signed books will also be given out at the end of each session.
Students have completed some wonderfully creative work inspired by the books of Frane & Mark, which will be on display in the library in Week 5 and 6. Parents and students are welcome to come and see these before or after school.
Kylie Powell
Year 5 Class Teacher
The Magical World of Crazy Science!
On Friday 9 August, the Magical World of Crazy Science came to our school to entertain Pre-Primary to Year 6 with an incursion on the amazing wonders of science.
Richard Scholes amazed us in how to make elephant toothpaste, the science behind bubbles and how to speed up water dropping into another bottle. We also learnt how air can shoot through an open barrel – it goes in an outline of circles! Richard did an amazing trick where he took a lighter (fire) and turned it into a firework.
Everyone was utterly amazed and wanted to join in like Jessica S, she was allowed to go onto the stage and Richard blew bubbles- on her hair! It was funny to all the years but particularly the younger years.
Thank you Richard for bringing the Magical World of Crazy Science to our school.
Community and Wellbeing Group, Mollie and Amelia
Australian Girls Choir Workshop
Kapinara will once again host an assessment workshop for the AGC. The workshop includes singing and movement activities and is designed to be a fun and positive experience.
The workshop will be held at lunchtime on Wednesday 18 September (Athletics Club will have concluded). It will run for approximately 30 minutes and each registered student will receive an encouraging written report following the workshop.
Register for the workshop online at ausgirlschoir.com.au/schoolworkshop