l

o
o
h
c
S
y
r
a
m
i
r
P
a
i
Yakam
Newsletter
Principal: Gary Stenhouse
Deputy Principals: Yvonne Height, Helen Walmsley and Tristan Mackenzie
Ph: 9841 7533 Fax: 9842 1350
Email: Yakamia.PS@education.wa.edu.au

Volume 1
5 February 2016

From the Principals Desk

It is with great pleasure that I welcome the Yakamia
Primary School students and parents to the 2016
school year. As many of you will be aware, Julie
Blythe has been merit selected to the Principals
position at Gibbs St PS in Perth. In Julies absence,
I am delighted to have accepted the principal
position until a recruiting process can run. I have
had the opportunity to work in a range of contexts
as principal, with my most recent appointment at
Duncraig Primary School. My previous experience
with the Department of Education includes
classroom teacher, deputy principal and Consultant
Principal.
The 2016 school year has begun very smoothly,
with students and staff settling into the weekly
routine. I would like to take this opportunity to
acknowledge the efforts of staff in ensuring a quality
learning program was in place on Day 1. At
Yakamia this year, we have 459 students, spread
over 19 classes from Kindergarten to Year 6. There
are 63 staff members and 317 families in our school
community. Of those families, we welcomed many
new families into our Kindergarten and across the

other year levels.

The start of the school year is an exciting time for
many children and their families. This new
beginning can also make some children anxious as
they contemplate the journey ahead and the
developing of new relationships with peers and
teachers.
If your child is feeling anxious about returning to
school, please be assured that school staff are very
conscious of the anxiety that may surround this time
of transition.
After forty years in education, as a teacher, school
leader and parent, my advice would be that this is
quite normal, particularly in the first fortnight of
school.
Research indicates that the early establishment of a
back to school home routine may assist. Regular
informal chats with your child that focus on positive
events throughout the day can also help to reassure
children and build their resilience and ability to
manage change. If you have any major concerns,
please speak with your childs teacher or contact the
school office for assistance from the leadership
team.
Student Councillors
Congratulations to our Year 6 Student Councillors for 2016. We look
forward to this group providing
strong leadership and becoming positive role models and ambassadors for
our school. The Councillors are:
Back L-R:
Maya, Kelsey, Riley and Hayden
Front L-R:
Amber, Anabel, Carson and Dillan
Faction Captains will feature in
Vol 2 Newsletter

Page 2

Yakamia Primary School

From the Principals Desk continued

Years 1-7
$60
These funds will be used to provide additional
resources for all students.
An outline of possible charges for each year level
was provided at the end of last year. Please use this
to anticipate educational expenses for the year.
Charges will be collected at the time the particular
event, such as an excursion, occurs.
If you have any queries on contributions and
charges, please contact the office. Payment can be
PP-YEAR 6 SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
We greatly appreciate you having your child attend made by cash, cheque or bank deposit
school regularly and arrive on time.
(BSB 016-510 A/C 340823089). We do not have
Consistent and punctual attendance is essential for EFTPOS facilities.
your childs social and academic learning.
As parents or legal guardians of an enrolled child, Staffing 2016
you are responsible under the School Education Act Following is the current administration and teaching
1999 to ensure the attendance of your child at staff list for Term 1, 2016:
school every day. It is important to assist your Principal
Gary Stenhouse
childs achievement and learning by making regular
D/Principals Helen Walmsley &
school attendance a priority in your childs life. The
Yvonne Height (K-2)
Department of Educations Student Attendance
Tristan Mackenzie (3-6)
policy requires parents/guardians to provide an
Lidia James, Ainsley Simojoki
acceptable explanation to the school principal for Kindy:
K/PP:
Jenny Carter
any absence of their children.
PP:
Raelene Scott, Kathy Kohlen &
Your continued support in maximizing your childs
Nicole Link
attendance at school is valued and will significantly
Yr 1:
Sonia Emery, Lynda Watson
benefit your child
Yr 1/2
Kerry Goetze & Sarah Johnson
Late notes must be obtained from the office for any
Yr 2:
Sue Donaldson, Trish Francis
students arriving after the siren which goes at
Yr 2/3:
Carol Walsh
8.50am.
Yr 3:
Renee Wood
Yr 3/4:
Nicole Link & Clive Bonny
Yr
4:
Denise Beard & Max Kosovich
UNIFORMS AND HATS
Brian Parry
We look forward to all students from K-6 wearing Yr 4/5: ,
school uniform. This is a feature of our school and Yr 5:
Kate Bunney
we trust parents will continue their support in this Yr 5/6
Fran Stamp, Steve Freeman
area.
Yr 6:
Brian Stamp
We appreciate the efforts of our P & C uniform shop Science:
Bill Beard
coordinators in providing uniforms for parents to Library:
Max Kosovich
purchase.
Phys Ed:
Ross McFarlane
Italian :
Lidia James
Our sun care policy requires student wear a
ICT:
Anne McIntosh
SunSmart hat for play and sport. Please ensure
STAFF LEAVE
As advised previously we are managing the
requirement for staff to take all accrued Long
Service Leave due by the end of the year.
As a result we have many staff on leave during the
year. We will be ensuring that, where possible,
consistency will be maintained and student learning
and progress is not affected.

items of clothing are clearly marked with your childs

name. We request that no jewellery be worn to IMPORTANT DATES (to note in Semester 1, 2016)
Public Holidays:
school in the interests of safety.
Labour Day
Monday March 7
Good Friday
Friday March 25
CONTRIBUTIONS AND CHARGES
Monday March 28
We look forward to your support in paying these Easter Monday
WA Day
Monday June 6
voluntary contributions
School
closed:
Kindergarten $50
Easter Tuesday
Tuesday March 29
Pre-Primary $60

Page 3

Yakamia Primary School

From the Principals Desk continued

Events
Faction Swimming Carnival
March 1
Interschool Swimming Carnival
March 30
NAPLAN testing
10 Thursday May 12

Tuesday
Wednesday
Tuesday May

School Planning Days (students do not attend)

Tuesday April 26, Term 2

Canteen News
The Canteen will no longer be open on Mondays for
Terms 1 & 2. This decision will be reviewed for
Terms 3 & 4.
Please remember to send your child with their lunch
and recess on Mondays til then.

P& C News

Gary Stenhouse
School News

The AGM will be held on Wednesday 17 February in

Principal the Early Childhood area, Room 43, at 3.30pm.
Please come along and support your school.

For Sale Swivel student chairs.

The school is disposing of 13 plastic computer
swivel chairs (as pictured). Chairs are currently
located in the Library.

All committee positions will be vacant.

School Banking

There will no school banking for a few weeks. We

currently have no volunteer to run banking so if you
If you are interested in purchasing one or more
chairs please put your offer in to the office by end of are interested please attend the P&C Meeting.
School Banking only involves one morning a week
school Thursday, February 11.

School Gardens
We would like to say thank you to our school gardener, Dale Creed,
who has kept our school looking very green and colourful while we
were all on holidays! Well done, Dale!

Page 4

Yakamia Primary School

2015 Year 6 Graduation Awards

Citizenship Award Female

Olivia Steel

Citizenship Award Male

Liam Buss

Endeavour Award Female

Harmony Woods

Endeavour Award Male

Dwayne Coyne

Best All-rounder Award

Cooper Childs

Sportsperson Award

Ksharna Coyne

Arts Award

Jade Walker

Outstanding Leadership Award

Ebony Belfield

Science Achievement Award

Sophie Harness

Indigenous Young Persons Award

Ksharna Coyne

Woodside/Sci Tech Science Awards

Tasharn Jackson & Cameron Pettley-Gray

Technology Award

Sharni Ralston

NASHS Scholarship

Tyresha Penny

Academic Award Room 21

Tyler Dawson

Academic Award Room 22

Tasharn Jackson

Community News
Junior Tennis Lessons
Starts week 1, term 1.
Thursday's at Lawley Park Tennis Club
Saturday's at Merrifield Park Tennis Club
All ages and standards
Fliers available www.albanytennisacademy.com
Bookings and enquiries contact David Kerr 0414608523 or
justacetennis@hotmail.com
2016 Dance at Twilight Dreams Dance School
14 Argyll St, Gledhow - Contact Mob 0428 129 672
www.twilightdreams.com.au
Monday 3:45-4:30 pm 11-13 y olds
Jazz-Ballet/
Contemporary
7-8 pm
14y olds to Adult Ballet/
Contemporary
Tuesday 3:30-4 pm
4-6 y olds
Ballet

4-4:45 pm
7-10 y olds
Jazz-Ballet/
Contemporary
4:45-5:15 pm 5-8 y olds
Hip Hop
5:30-6:15 pm 9-12 y olds
Hip Hop
Thursday 9:15-10 am Adult
Ballet
3:30-4 pm
4-6 y olds
Jazz-Ballet
4-4:45 pm
7-10 y olds
Ballet
Friday
4-4:30 pm
7-12 y olds
Konga
(Dance/Boxing)
Saturday 9-9:30 Am
3 y olds
Tiny Toes
Dance
All classes are offered FREE for the first week Feb1-6 for
try outs
When signing up for 2 terms receive 30% discount.
Per term: Half hour class $110, 45 mins class $130, full hr
class $165

Page 5

Yakamia Primary School

Community News

Please note notices appearing below are not necessarily endorsed by the
school. We provide this space for community groups to advertise to the
school community. It is up to parents to scrutinise the activity and
organisers for their child.

Catholic Religious Education

A programme will be available for children
attending government school from Pre-Primary to
Year 7, beginning Monday, 8 February from
3.45pm to 4.45pm at New Camfield, 154
Aberdeen Street.
Welcome & Enrolments: 3.45pm-4.45pm at New
Camfield on Friday 5 February.
For further information, please phone the Parish
Office, 8.30am-12.30pm, Tuesday to Friday on
9841 1129.
Kangas Netball Club
Junior D Grade Trials are on Sunday 7 February
at ASHS from 9-11.00am for Years 3-6.
All new players and teams welcome. For more
information contact:
Kathryn

0400532 094

Trish

0407 425 511

Page 6

Community News

Yakamia Primary School

Please note notices appearing below are not necessarily endorsed by the
school. We provide this space for community groups to advertise to the
school community. It is up to parents to scrutinise the activity and
organisers for their child.

Yakamia Junior Soccer Club

Soccer Season will begin 2nd Term and registrations will be open later this term for students aged 5 and
up. Please keep a look out for information in school newsletters and posters around Yakamia.
A Grassroots Coaching course (free) is being offered (through Albany Junior Soccer Club) on Monday 29
February 2016, from 6pm to 9pm, venue TBA.
Please let me know if you are interested and I will send you the link on how to register.
Yakamia soccer club will be needing parent help again this year for coaching and
referees, look forward to hearing from you!!
Lisa Manera 0439601295