From the Principal’s Desk

I would like to extend a special welcome to our nine new families who join the Burrendah School community for the very first time. We trust you will enjoy this busy time of the year and you will very soon feel a part of our very special community. I would value feedback from our new parents as to your transition to Burrendah experience and how we could improve on this transition. Next week we will celebrate our school music program as we gather at the Perth Christian Life Centre to be entertained by our very talented music students. I invite all parents and friends of our music students together with other interested parents to attend this very special night. You will not be disappointed!

Its Edu Dance time and I am enjoying the music and loving the action in the undercover area. If you are a new parent and haven’t experienced an Edu Dance concert then you are in for a treat. As we have done previously the Edu Dance Concert will be held at the Christian Life Centre in Canning Vale. I am sure the parent community will understand that we need to limit the seating due to the very strict seating allocation at the venue. As you did last year, you will be able to initially request two seats per family. We hope to have an Edu Dance ticket note out to all parents by the beginning of next week outlining clearly how you can purchase and request additional tickets. Please read this note carefully and note the cut off dates for ticket requests. As an Independent Public School we will be reviewed in 2015 by an external body to assess how successful we have been in implementing our first Business Plan. As part of this review the external body will be keen to know the thoughts of the school community. One way they can determine the level of satisfaction of our parent community is through our annual parent survey.

Once again the parent representatives of our School Board are seeking your feedback through the completion of a parent survey that is mandated for all Australian Schools. Your return of this survey will assist our Board to continue to provide clear focussed direction for our school. It will also ensure those that review our school in 2015 have access to feedback that truly reflects the views of all parents. The link to this survey which opens today is http://www.schoolsurvey.edu.au/s/xcFXs6sY I look forward to seeing you at our first assembly for fourth

term as we are entertained by a Year 7 class Room 4 and a Pre

primary class Room 15 who have been working very hard to

prepare for Friday’s assembly.

Jayne Ebsworthy 22nd October 2014

BURRENDAH PRIMARY

END OF YEAR

MUSIC CONCERT

WEDNESDAY

29TH OCTOBER 2014

7pm

Perth Christian Life Centre

Canning Vale

Doors open at 6:45pm

Entry is $5 per adult

Children are free

BILINGUAL FAMILIES Burrendah Primary School prides itself on having such a diverse group of families from more than 61 different countries and bringing with them more than 69 different languages. This provides the school community with a very rich foundation from which we can all gain learning. This diversity of languages attracts government funding to support language learning programs. It is important for the school office to maintain accurate information on our students’ home language(s), including any languages that influence and support their language development. In our society today, it is highly desirable to speak more than one language. We collect this information during enrolment and via student updates throughout the students’ time at Burrendah. For example, whenever there is an excursion permission notes are sent home, there is a section on ‘First language’ and ‘Main language other than English spoken at home’. So it is important that you advise our school office about all the other languages you speak at home that your children are exposed to at home. We understand that the longer our students are in Australia, there is an increased likelihood of English becoming the dominant language at home. While we applaud and encourage all family members to learn English, we would like to recommend that you maintain your home language(s) in order that your children retain their cultural identity and gain greater academic achievement. It is also imperative for children to maintain communication with their family and community, who may not speak English. For more information on maintaining the family language (s) with your children, please refer to the following link for Bilingual Families. http://www.bilingualfamilies.net If you have any queries regarding this, please come and talk to Chris, Beatriz or Margot in the EAL/D Team.

SUPER SCIENTISTS COMPETE IN SCIENCE COMPETITION On Monday Mrs Crouch accompanied two teams of students

that were selected to represent Burrendah in the inaugural

Brainstorm Challenge Day at the Scitech Discovery Centre. This

competition was an Interschool Science Challenge. There were

31 teams from 22 schools from across the metropolitan area.

Our two teams – Becky French, Heidi Griffiths, William Hor and

Ebuka Anwasi from year 7 and Jacqueline Hidjat, Sarah Zhou, Ali Faroughi and Ryan Sim from

year 6 completed a physics challenge, a questionnaire based on the exhibits, an investigation

in the CSIRO Lab, space quiz following a Planetarium show, a medical challenge and a practical

problem solving challenge. Both teams excelled in demonstrating excellent team work in their

endeavour to achieve success in all challenges throughout the day. Points were awarded for

accuracy of knowledge and scientific procedure to determine the winning teams. Our year 6

teams earned second place – only one point behind the winning school of Westminster

Primary. In third position was Rostrata Primary school. Our year 7 team was only a few points

behind them. Congratulations to all participants.

NATIONAL WATER WEEK - The theme for 2014 is "Water sources – there are more than you think!" Perth no longer can rely on the rain to fulfill WA’s water needs. Instead, we have turned to climate independent sources such desalination, groundwater replenishment and other water recycling. Students throughout the school have been conducting activities in their class to remind them of the importance of conserving water at school and at home.

Miss Youngs class constructed models of energy efficient and Waterwise homes and have designed Waterwise posters. Burrendah Primary School is proud to be a Waterwise School

and we encourage Burrendah families to take care not to waste

water which is a very precious resource.

Perth Landmarks

Drawing Challenge Before the October school holidays, Year 3 students were given the challenge to visit and sketch a number of landmarks found in the City of Perth. We were delighted to see that so many of our students used their persuasive skills to convince their parents to drive or take the train into the city to visit an number of land marks so they could sketch them. Some students sketched the landmarks on the spot others took photos so that they could complete their detailed sketches at home.

All who took part, reported having a marvellous albeit exhausting day in the city. It was a great opportunity for families to enjoy our beautiful city and focus on some of the landmarks which they had not taken much notice of before and use their artistic skills to draw them. The landmarks on the drawing challenge list were, the Bell Tower in Barrack Square, London Court, the statue of the busker in the Hay Street Mall, The big cactus, the stone ball and the old post office in Forest Place. We were so impressed with the children who drew all of these landmarks. All entries are currently on display in our library. Thank you to all the parents, grandparents and

aunties who took their children into the city so that they could participate in this drawing challenge. Watch out for a drawing challenge list for the summer holidays.

Beatriz Clark EALD Teacher

School Board Notes

Creative School Energy Project – New Solar Panels Teachers and students have successfully reduced the school’s electricity use over the past few years thanks to Mrs Crouch and the Year 7 science classes. Students have learned a lot about energy efficiency, protecting the environment and responsible electricity use from this project. Now we’re ready to start creatively using the school’s electricity resources wisely in a new way. Burrendah already has some solar panels. These solar panels are ‘a gift that keeps on giving’ year after year; the energy produced by these panels frees up resources that the school can use for teaching instead. For this reason, we plan to add more solar panels to increase savings from the school’s electricity budget. As an Independent Public School, we can choose for these savings to be used directly for much more important school priorities like teaching support and student materials. We are now fundraising to add new solar panels. We expect the cost of this to be about $10,000. We plan to raise this by the end of the school year so panels can be installed and producing electricity by the beginning of the new school year. We have already had one very generous donation of $2,000 from a parent for this project. We are so grateful for the thoughtfulness and foresight of this gesture. We invite you join our team of solar panel stars by also donating to this project. Your generous donation to our new solar panels will help channel resources back into teaching for years to come. This is truly ‘a gift that keeps on giving’. If you are able to contribute to this project, please contact Mrs Ebsworthy for information on how you can do this. Thank you so much for your support.

Board Meeting 7 – Tues 21 October 2014 At this month’s School Board meeting, 3 parents and one staff member accepted the Board’s invitation to join us as observers. As usual, it proved to be an interesting meeting as we reviewed NAPLAN results and compared them to targets that have been set in the School Business Plan. In general, we are pleased to report that students are progressing very well and in accordance with targets set. This was a great opportunity for the Board (and our visitors) to learn more about NAPLAN data and how this is used by teachers to understand how students are doing, and how best to support ongoing learning. Results have been very positive and there is always room for improvement. We also reviewed the upcoming annual Parent and Teacher survey which is conducted by the parent representatives on the School Board. This year’s survey follows a mandated national format. However, the parent committee reviewed results from the survey last year to ensure that areas in which parents expressed concerns were also included in this year’s survey so we can assess whether these have been successfully addressed. We invite all parents to complete the short survey; we value your input and feedback. The Board reviews survey results in detail every year.

Barb Frey Board Chair

OUT OF SCHOOL STAR Ryan Cilia on Saturday 18th October, 2014 was rewarded with a trophy titled

“Overall Champion Boy – Cross Country”. To achieve this trophy, athletes need

to achieve the highest cumulative points overall for the season. Ryan put in

more than 100% effort with his fortnightly 1.5km Cross Country Competitions, and gaining a

first at each event, along with training 6kms or more on Sunday’s.

Well Done Ryan.

MUSIC UPDATE I am looking forward to watching Jason Li from Year 6 perform at the Perth Concert Hall this Saturday night with the West Australian Youth Orchestra. He is a truly talented musician. A huge thank you to Mr Hidajat (Father of Michael now Yr 8 and Jaqueline Yr 6) for his wonderful gift to our music department. Mr Hidajat kindly donated a set of Indonesian anklung instruments to the school. These instruments are extremely hard to obtain in Australia and we are very lucky to have a set at Burrendah. I am so excited to use them with the students. Thank you to all the students who attended the weekend music workshop on Sunday. It was very productive and gave us the opportunity for some much needed extra rehearsal time. Thank you to Mrs Ebsworthy, Mrs Eitzen and Mrs Strle for their help on the day.

Burrendah Music Concert Wednesday 29th of October 7pm. Please invite your friends and family to our Music Concert as this is our major event for the year. The Concert will be held once again at the Perth Christian Life Centre in Canning Vale. Entry is $5 at the door for adults only. This is just so we can cover the cost of hiring the venue for our important event. Please read the information note sent home carefully. All music students who have been participating in the relevant music groups and ensembles throughout the year are expected to attend and perform. If we don’t have all performers participating, the concert won’t be as successful. See you there!

Instrumental lessons for next year (2015) Musical aptitude testing has begun during class music this week. All students should have completed the test by the end of next week. If your child is in year 2, 3, 4, or 5 (2014) and they are not already learning an instrument at school, please have a talk about the possibility of starting a musical instrument next year. I am very pleased to announce that we have been granted beginner classes for the year 5’s of 2015! If your child has indicated an interest to play a particular instrument next year and they have scored sufficiently in the aptitude test, you will receive an invitation to attend an information evening at school. Testing should be completed by the end of next week. Please do not hesitate to send me an email at Kate.clarke@education.wa.edu.au if you have any queries.

Gift to Burrendah Mr and Mrs Hidajat have presented the School with an Indonesian musical instrument, an "angklung". It is to express their appreciation to the School for the education of their two children, Michael and Jacqueline. It will be a wonderful addition to Mrs Graham's collection of percussion instruments. We look forward to hearing it played as part of our School orchestra. The angklung is a musical instrument made of bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The angklung is popular

throughout Southeast Asia, but it originated in what is now Indonesia and has been played by the Sundanese people for many centuries. The base of the frame is held in one hand, whilst the other hand strikes the instrument. This causes a repeating note to sound. We would like to thank Mr and Mrs Hidajat most sincerely for this thoughtful gift.

Kate Graham Music Specialist

A note from the

Community Health

Nurse

Vision and eyes

Good vision is important for learning and quality of life. Watch for

any of the following in your child;

Covering/closing one eye when reading;

Holding books very close;

Complaining of eyestrain or headache;

Complaining of double vision or blurred vision with reading or

board viewing;

Complaining of words moving on a page;

Losing place when reading, or skipping words and lines;

Inattention or short attention span when reading, or;

Rubbing the eyes.

Please note: Medicare covers the cost of an eye examination.

If you have a concern about your child’s vision please contact a

doctor, optometrist or your local Community Health Nurse, Fiona on 93135418

Culture Club Culture Club will continue this term, commencing next week. It is on alternate Fridays in the School Hall, during lunch time, in weeks 3, 5, 7 and 9.

The purpose of the Club is to give students an insight into aspects of a particular country’s culture, including art, music, dance, food, dress, etc. The Culture Club will focus on Indonesia this term.

Students in Years 2 - 7 will be invited to express their in-terest to join the Club this term. As numbers are limited, not all students will be able to join, but will be considered again next time. Students will be selected by their class teacher because they have shown clear understanding of our School core values.

If any Indonesian parents are interested in helping at the Culture Club, I would love to hear from you!

Margot Evans EAL/D

Many of our community are involved in the Swan Festival

of Lights. Please support these families

If you can.

24th October Community Assembly Rms 4 & 15

29th October Yr6 6 WSHS Orientation Day

29th October EOY Music Concert

7th November Community Assembly Rms 5 & 21

14th November 2015 Kindy Talk

19th November Interschool Athletics Carnival Day 1

20th November Interschool Athletics Carnival Day 2

25th November School Board Meeting

5th December EOY Awards Ceremony

5th December Thank You Morning Tea

EAL/D Parent Network Group Come and join us after the assembly on

Friday 24 October at 9.30am in the EAL/D room.

We will have a guest speaker to teach us

about DIWALI – the Indian Festival of

Lights and everyone will make a small clay

lamp, called a diva!

Dates for Term 4’s Network Group are :

24/10/14 9.30 after the assembly

07/11/14 9.30 after the assembly

21/11/14 9.00 am

05/12/14 9.00 am

Make sure you put these dates in your diary, so that

you don’t miss out on valuable opportunities to meet

other parents, find out what’s happening in the school,

learn about other cultures and share your own culture.

Chris Tweddle & Margot Evans

EAL/D Teachers

Burren Bite Update The P&C would like to revamp the canteen menu

for 2015 and would appreciate any suggestions

you might have.

If you have anything you would like to suggest to

help us run the canteen better please put your

suggestions in our P&C box in the school office

marked ‘CANTEEN 2015’.

The P&C will be holding a

sausage sizzle at lunch time next

Friday 31st October.

Order forms will go out later this week.

Please fill out order form and return with payment

in envelope to the P&C box in school office.

The P&C will be opening the canteen at recess

and lunch on this day.

WEEK MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

1

13th October

14th October 15th October

Yr 7 Orientation WSHS

16th October

17th October

2

20th October

21st October

SCHOOL BOARD

MEETING

22nd October

23rd October

24th October

Room’s 4 and 15

Community

Assembly

3

27th October

P&C Meeting

28th October 29th October

Yr 6 Orientation WSHS

EOY MUSIC

CONCERT

30th October

31st October

P&C Sausage Sizzle

4

3rd November

4th November

5th November

6th November

7th November

Room’s 5 and 21

Community

Assembly

5

10th November

11th November 12th November

13th November

14th November

2015 Kindy Talk

6

17th November

18th November 19th November

Interschool

Athletics

20th November

Interschool

Athletics

21st November

7

24th November

25th November

SCHOOL BOARD

MEETING

26th November

27th November

28th November

8

1st December

P&C Meeting

2nd December 3rd December

4th December

5th December

EOY Awards

Ceremony

Thank You

Morning Tea

9

8th December

9th December

EDU DANCE

CONCERT

10th December

11th December

12thDecember

10

15th December

Year 6

Graduation

and Dinner Dance

REPORTS HOME

16th December 17th December

Year 7

Graduation

and Dinner Dance

18th December

Last Day Term

19th December