Dear Parents and Carers
Science Week and Book Week
Term 3 is often busy, but this year particularly so as we make up for some of the events we missed during the past eighteen months. As I mentioned previously, because Science Week and Book Week are only a week apart, in the last few years we have alternated between them – celebrating Science one year, and Book Week the next. For a couple of reasons, we decided to scale them down a little but celebrate both. Last week was Science Week, and I hope you enjoyed viewing the photos of some of the activities that Kapinara students were involved in.
This week is Book Week, and today was an opportunity for our students (and teachers) to assume the identity of a book character for some Book Week fun. The Year 6 students hosted a very colourful and joyful assembly which concluded with a class by class parade around the quadrangle. We were very grateful for the fine, almost warm weather! It was then back to class, where the challenge was to provide opportunities for learning for some very excited young people. Mrs Preston will upload some photos to the gallery on our website in the next day or so.
Dress-up days often include a request for a gold coin donation. However, the Year 6 Student Councillors will soon be hosting a fundraising Pyjama Day. Having undertaken some research and presented several options to students in other classes, the decision was made to donate money to Unicef to support those impacted by the turmoil in Ukraine. Last week I also mentioned that we would be taking the opportunity to make our own Book Week celebrations a springboard for the collection of children’s books that would be donated to refugees who have recently arrived in Perth. A small group of Year 4 students from 4BJ is energetically and enthusiastically coordinating the collection of children’s books. Thank you to Emily L, Ruby M, Mollie E and Abbie T for their passion for this project and their efforts in gathering books. On behalf of these girls and me, we would like to say thank you so much for the donations received in the last 2-3 days. The collection will continue into next week, and we look forward to sharing the result of this special project with you.
Mini Music Concert and the Instrumental Music Program 2023
Next Friday, 2 September we will host a mini concert in the undercover area. This is an opportunity for our String Orchestra, conducted by Ms Therese Arnold, to perform to an audience again prior to representing Kapinara at the WA Schools’ Junior Strings Orchestra Festival the following weekend. Just as importantly it is an opportunity for students and parents/grandparents who haven’t heard the orchestra perform before, to hear them play. We are very fortunate to have such a strong, well-supported instrumental music program in addition to our class music programs. Selected students have an opportunity to learn violin/viola from Year 3; cello from Year 4; and double bass or guitar from Year 5. After their first year of learning, students become part of the string orchestra … and hopefully go on to play music for many, many more years.
In the next two to three weeks, students in Years 2-4 will complete a musical aptitude assessment with Mrs Davey. Students who are interested in being considered for the instrumental music program will have an opportunity to talk to their parents about what this involves and will be able to submit an Expression of Interest. If you have a keen child, it is really important that you submit the EOI by the due date. You will receive information about this next week.
In the meantime, the mini concert will offer children from PP to Year 4 the opportunity to see and hear each of the string instruments in the orchestra. The concert will also include a performance by the Year 6 guitar students. Parents and grandparents of prospective instrumental students, and family members who would simply like to hear the orchestra and guitar students perform, are invited to come along. The concert will take place at the beginning of the school day like assemblies do, and is expected to run for 20-30 minutes. I hope to see some of you there.
Best wishes
Elizabeth