Play and Learn Program for

Pre-Kindy Kids
North Fremantle Primary School
A new group for young children (younger than kindy age) and
their parents has begun at North Fremantle Primary. Each
Community News Winter
2010
session features a guest speaker for parents and supervised A little school with big ideas
activities for children. Our guest speakers so far this year -
North Frem
Occupational Therapist Amanda Clarke and Social Worker an
Primary Scho tle
ol
Peta Millard - were very warmly received and shared some
fantastic insights with the parents present. 2010 is an exciting year
The sessions are held 11am - 12.30pm in the Kindy Room. for North Fremantle
Play and Learn dates for the remainder of 2010 are:
Primary School.
28th June - Positive Parenting A new Principal and new teaching
9th August - Early Years Learning a program specialists in literacy, maths, music
for pre-kin
6th September - Speech and Language dy kids an and art are some of the changes that
d parents
1st November - 123 Magic
Monday, 6
are contributing to an exciting, busy
29th November - Resiliency & preparing your child for school and happy school community. The
RSVPs are essential. Please telephone the school on
Sept 2010 school verandahs are buzzing.

9335 2743 to register your place for any of these dates or 11am – 12.30pm With this issue of NFPS ‘Community
to be added to the mailing list. North Frem News’ we aim to share with our
antle Prima neighbours in North Fremantle all
ry – Kindy R
oom that’s currently happening at your
local primary school.

there are really nice kids

Making Maths Count at Home

- Tips from our Numeracy Specialist Meet the Principal are high, but I think I’m realistic.”
Enrolments for
Early teaching experiences in the Kindergarten
• Look for opportunities to involve your children in doing and Waiting for our new East End of London, in rural Western
talking about maths. principal to step on stage
Australia and in Perth challenged
and other years
at our first assembly in are now open to residents
• Making counting and maths part of your daily routine with young Fiona’s ability to connect with diverse,
2010 was a bit like waiting
children while playing, eating, getting dressed, climbing stairs or sometimes challenging, groups of of North Fremantle and
for the curtain to go up on
jumping. students.
opening night at a big show. surrounding suburbs.
• Find, read and say numbers you see out in the community. Look A desire to make a difference in this
All eyes were on the new leader of our Phone the school office on
for ‘big’ numbers. area eventually led Fiona back to
Making a Great Reader school as Fiona first spoke of her vision
9335 2743 or come in and
• Use maths for a purpose while shopping, cooking, and building for our school and the year ahead. university, where she won a scholarship
outside, travelling, using time and playing games. Be creative. to complete an Honours Degree in complete an enrolment form
- Tips from our Literacy Specialist With half the school year now gone, educational counselling. to secure your child’s place for
• Encourage learning basic facts to 10, then 20, then to 100. Fiona’s true character and range of the 2011 school year.
Addition and subtraction comes first while multiplication and • Let your child choose what they want to read. Offer lots of expertise has become clear. This change of focus led Fiona into
division makes sense later. choices like magazines, brochures, online information and working with at-risk secondary students
comics as well as books. “My motivation is to provide the best
and then in curriculum development for
possible education for every student in
• Encourage children to follow their favourite authors and visit the some years.

Subscribe
library regularly.
my care,” says Fiona.
Her emphasis on individual needs
Fiona has been a school principal for
the past four years, mostly at Osborne
when I came
We invite parents of prospective
• Keep reading as a pleasure rather than a chore.
• Remember that having a go is more important than getting it
and achieving personal potential is
clear. She is also big on supporting her Primary School. here everybody
students to subscribe to our fortnightly teaching staff.
school e-newsletter to keep up-to-
date with events, achievements and
right. Allow your child to experiment with reading strategies and
working things out for themselves. “I want teachers, as well as students, to
During this time, she instigated the
renovation of a derelict, heritage
listed dwelling in collaboration with
was nice to me
• Give your child time to work out words without jumping in to give be continually striving to improve.
programs at North Fremantle Primary. the local community to be used as a
North Freo
the answer too quickly. My role as a school leader is to students were
Email tiffany.pinkerton@det.wa.edu.au kindergarten. Enrolments in this kindy asked what they liked
• Share books with your child everyday but also encourage them to minimise the many demands on
program have now doubled. about their Primary
read independently – even if they can’t actually ‘read’ yet. teachers and allow them to focus on the School; some of their
Contact
North Fremantle Primary School
business of teaching,” explains Fiona. Fiona’s contemporary and practical responses appear
30 John St. • Praise all your child’s attempts at reading! “I do everything I can to empower my approach is a welcome addition to throughout this
North Fremantle WA 6159 newsletter...
teachers to be effective. My standards North Fremantle Primary.
ph: 9335 2743
Mixed-age classes
Mixed-year classes are a
feature of student life at
North Fremantle Primary
School and the preferred
option for many well-
established schools in
Australia. Teachers, such
as Year 2/3’s Bev Lane, use their expertise
to take advantage of having a range of age
groups in each class.
According to Bev, mixed-age groupings
challenge teachers to consider each child
as an individual.
“There is greater emphasis on individual
needs, abilities and personalities and less
on rigid year-level expectations.
the whole
it is water wise school respects
and it grows it’s one another
own fruit and
we have a big
vegetable patch
spider web
play thing!
New art programs have seen the students produce
some beautiful artwork.
Art coordinator, Margie Campbell’s creativity and energy have been infectious and
many students have demonstrated a renewed enthusiasm for creative endeavours.
“Students gain strength from the range of
interests and abilities in our class, both
academically and socially,” says Bev.
From an early age, children are welcomed
into the school community not just by staff,
but by older children, who quickly learn
their names and include them in play and
classroom activities.
“It’s a great boost to a young student’s self
confidence when older children recognise
them and include them in their games
or help them master the monkey bars,”
according to parent of three boys at North
Fremantle Primary, Sarah Allan.
“Parents are often surprised at how much
their children enjoy interacting with kids
from other year groups.”
Teacher Appointments
North Fremantle Primary has been
granted permission to select its teachers
through a merit selection process to
meet the specific needs of our school,
rather than through the traditional
transfer system. New principal Fiona
Kelly and deputy principal Leanne Vinci
are the first new staff members to be
appointed through this process.
News Flash! A mid year
Education Dept review reports
that North Fremantle Primary
is “exceeding expectations in all areas”.
Congratulations to the team of staff!
som the s
from
Parent survey Parent
Toe-tapping
survey
music report Can you help?
A recent survey of parents captured A
Students
recent survey
have beenof parents
captivated
captured
by the We are seeking support from the multi-
the value of being part of a local school the
enthusiasm
value ofand
being
fresh
part
ideas
of a of
local
music
school talented North Fremantle community in
community. community.
teacher Kelly Branch this year. Children these areas:
of all ages love the weekly classes which
Parent responses to the survey Parent responses to the survey • Website design and management
include singing in harmony and using
reinforced our position as a unique, reinforced our position as a unique,
• IT
inclusive & vibrant school community. musical instruments to enhance their
inclusive & vibrant school community.
performances. • Painting, carpentry and decorating
The results of the survey have
The results of the survey have • Native gardening/landscaping
contributed to a major ‘to-do’ list Our school choir performed beautifully
that has been compiled by staff and contributed to a major ‘to-do’ list
at the schools’ concert at Burswood this • Carpentry
parents. This includes:: that has been compiled by staff and
month. • Guest speakers for Play and Learn
parents. This includes::
• New music and art programs parent education in all areas of
• Intensive literacy & numeracy programs
• New music and art programs childhood development and preparing
• A plan to enhance and beautify the • Intensive literacy & numeracy programs for school.
school grounds, making the most of • A plan to enhance and beautify the If you have any skills in these areas
the natural leafy environment school grounds, making the most of and a little time to devote to your local
• Upgrading the library the natural leafy environment; community, we would love to hear from
• New art and music building • Upgrading the library; you. Please contact school councillor
(construction began this term) Rebecca Maddern on 9336 4848.
• Enhancing the school vege’ garden
• New art and music building
(construction began this term)
and incorporating it into lesson plans
• Enhancing the school vegetable
and opportunities for outdoor learning
garden and incorporating it into
• New office & meeting spaces for staff
ent
s
lesson plans and opportunities for
outdoor learning; and
mm • New office & meeting spaces for staff
t co • positive integration of al
ren ey
e pa urv year groups
g • a very caring nurturing
min
welco feeling
w arm, re
• osphe
a
ize
atm ll local s y proud
er
• all staff approachable
and helpful
• s m ar v
e
kids ol • wonderful loc
•theheir scho • great communi
of t
• active parent
• every child is
• diversity of kids
• my child feels safe
Sport report
North Fremantle students are a fit and active bunch. Tennis
lessons are held on site with a professional coach before
school on Wednesdays and Fridays. Our famous surfing
lessons are also on offer again this term as a morning wake-up
call for our kids at Leighton Beach with Surfing WA.
We also participate and compete in netball, football & athletics
as part of collaborative teams with other local schools.