Dear Parents

Centenary Open Day A wonderful celebration was held last Saturday by our great school community in celebrating 100 years of Como Primary School`s history. I would like to extend a huge thank you to our students, our hard working school staff and those wonderful parents who worked tirelessly to make the Open Day celebrations such a tremendous success.

Como Primary School Board Parent Representative 2017 Mrs Tracie McDougall will be stepping down from her position on the Como Primary School Board at the end of 2016. Tracie has been a long serving parent representative on the School Council and then the School Board and held the School Board chairperson`s position for numerous years. Tracie has been a wonderful advocate for Como Primary School and the Board is appreciative of her hard work in leading the Board, but most especially in overseeing the school`s transition to Independent Public School status.

A parent representative position on the Como Primary School Board will become vacant from the commencement of 2017. If you are interested in joining the Como Primary School Board for 2017, we ask that you complete a nomination form (available from the school office) and return it with an information paragraph about yourself for inclusion in election materials, should an election be required. Nominees are advised that meetings are held during the day, generally 2.00pm at school, on a Tuesday with two meetings held per term. Nominations close at 3.00pm on Friday 11th November, 2016. For further information relating to the role please visit on our school website: http://comoprimaryschool.wa.edu.au/ and find the Board’s “Terms of Reference”. Please hand your completed nomination form and information paragraph to the school principal.

Class student placement requests for 2017 Each year we provide opportunities for parents to make an educational request for the possible class placements for their child/children for the following year. A reminder that we cannot accommodate requests for specific teachers. If you would like to make an educational request for a particular class placement for 2017 then please forward this in writing and address your letter to the principal by Friday 11th November 2016. Late requests will not be accepted.

Composite Classrooms At the beginning of the new school year your child might be in a composite class. If your child is younger you may query - will my child be able to keep up? If they are older - will my child be held up? By “composite classes,” we mean putting two consecutive year-groups together in one class. Some of the overseas literature refers to multiple ages in the one class, such as you would associate with small country schools where you may find a bigger range of ages in the same class. Over the years composite classes have been a source of some controversy, with parents sometimes believing that their offspring will be disadvantaged in some way if they are placed in a composite class. The key to understanding composites is realising that growth is determined in stages and not magically by ages. Composite classes doesn't mean your child is an under or an over achiever. It doesn’t mean that they will get classwork that is either too hard or not hard enough. In any classroom children will be chronologically older or younger - their maturity, social needs, academic needs and behaviour are uniquely their own. Some need stimulating, some need greater opportunity to mature. Some have needs in certain areas, but not in others. An obvious example is that although all 7 year olds may be the same age, it is unrealistic to expect that they are all at the same level of ability in reading or in PE, etc. even if they are all placed together in one ‘straight’ class. There is no hard and fast rule that says a ‘straight’ class will meet a child’s needs any better than a composite class. Children all get there, the path may be different but the destination is the same.

Class Lists for 2017 Our leadership team and teachers will shortly be engaged in the process of forming class lists for 2017. The compilation of class groupings is a process involving many considerations. We deliberate on factors such as academic abilities, individual student needs, gender balance, social considerations, student relationships, friendship networks, parent requests and previous class placements/teachers.

Forming class lists is a difficult task for all concerned as occasionally regardless of the care taken someone may be disappointed. Parents are encouraged to have positive conversations with children in the lead up to 2017.

COMO PRIMARY SCHOOL Principal: Mr A. Malcolm

Telephone 9450 3112 Fax 9450 1004

Email: como.ps@education.wa.edu.au

http://comoprimaryschool.wa.edu.au/

Newsletter No. 31 – 27th October 2016

Honour Awards Honour certificates were awarded to the following students at our last assembly.

Leonard K Holly R Lily P

Lachlan E Amia H Rannia S

Amber C Andrew T Ethan C

Aleya O Caris B Seth A

Arfan M Saheli D

Assembly: Tomorrow’s assembly will be conducted by Room 4 Next week’s assembly will be presented by Room 2

House Points

Term Trophy Annual Shield

Forrest 117 Forrest 1363

Challenger 104 Canning 1339

Stirling 103 Stirling 1320

Canning 96 Challenger 1306

The Virtues Enthusiasm

What is Enthusiasm? Enthusiasm is being inspired – full of spirit. It is being cheerful and happy. It is doing something wholeheartedly, with zeal and eagerness – giving 100% to what you do. Being enthusiastic is being excited about something, looking forward to it. It comes from having a positive attitude.

Prefect Elections Voting for our 2017 Prefects will again be run by the WA Electoral Commission and involve Year 5 candidates making a 1-2 minute speech prior to the Year 4-6 students casting their votes. This will occur today at 1:05pm in our school hall. Parents are more than welcome to attend. Four students will be elected as prefects- the successful candidates being named at Speech Night on December 7th.

Southside PENHROS/WESLEY Swimming Challenge If your child is interested in participating in this fabulous event on Friday the 18th November please contact Maeve’s mum Jillian Manning (her contact details are available at reception). Have a go and have some fun!! It’s a great fun night.

Walking to School Bus We have a group of amazing parent helpers leading us on the Walking School Bus! This Friday, please join us at the following points and paths. Parents are able to drop their children off at the following times and intersections, and our Walking School Bus will be there to pick them up. Please make sure you can see the Walking School Bus before leaving your child at the stop**** Our parent volunteers will then walk with them to Como. South Bound (led by Hitomi Cant and Liz Lefebvre) We will start at 8.15am: Gardner Street + Coode Street Intersection The bus will leave at 8.20am: Coode Street + Comer Street Intersection The bus will leave at 8.25am: Coode Street + Preston Street Intersection North Bound (led by Craig Pilatti) 8.10am: Parents can drop their children off at the corner of Henley and Canning near Cafeli’s Café (there is a safe no through road with less traffic). The bus will then walk to the intersection of Robert St and Henley Street. 8.15am: Robert Street + Cale Street Intersection 8.20am: Robert Street + Saunders Street Intersection 8.22am: Saunders Street + Labouchere Road Intersection 8.25am: Labouchere Road + Greenock Avenue Intersection Please come and join us this Friday for a healthy and fun way to get to school and reduce the number of cars driving to and from Como!

PMP Roster Monday 31st October Steph Sofield Marwa El-Ayashy Tezza Sain

Jenny Mather Natasha Chatto Monique Turner

Kensington PCYC OSHC Closure

Please be advised that Kensington PCYC OSHC (BSC & ASC) will remain closed from 24th to 28th October inclusive, because of renovations at the service. All the parents of the children attending our service are

informed of these well in advance.

Centenary We would like to thank these businesses for their sponsorship of the Como Primary School Centenary

Celebrations. Please support them whenever possible.

P & C News P & C Fundrasier The final P & C Fundraiser for 2016 will be held on Saturday 26th November in the school hall. Bring along your family and friends! Don’t miss out on Masquerade Madness, get your tickets quick. Please clearly label an envelope with your name and number of tickets and place (with the correct money!) into the P & C box in the Front Office. Kellie and Emma.

Canteen News This Friday, we will be selling Banana Smoothies for $1.50 each (counter sales only/no pre-order available). Thursday Special: We are also

pleased to bring you our first special for the term! Next Thursday, 3rd November, we are offering: - Homemade Butter Chicken, served with vegetables and rice (no gluten, dairy or nuts) AND - A Fruity Dream (homemade soft serve with real fruit). Please note, the 'Apple Crumble' flavour will contain some butter in the crumble topping. The Watermelon & Orange flavour is dairy free. Both Fruity Dream flavours contain egg. Order forms are coming home this week. Orders must be submitted by Tuesday, 1st November at 9am. Please return your order and the correct money to the canteen or front office. Helpers needed: If you can spare an hour for our next special, between 9am - 1pm on Thursday 17th November- we would love to hear from you! We also need more support on Wednesdays and Fridays. If you can help for 1-2hrs, once or twice this term, please see Justine at the canteen or get in touch! The Como Cookout could not operate without support and we thank our most recent helpers: Angela Paddick, Ingrid Meyer, Chantelle Ranuaro, Ina Buman, Glenice King, Elizabeth Della Franca and Tess Harris. A big thank you to Steph Sofield and Christie Manuel, too, for coming in last week to make more homemade icypoles. Our homemade icy treats are certainly popular with the kids! Our next Canteen Committee meeting has been moved to Friday the 4th November at 1.30pm. All are welcome! Any concerns, queries or feedback - please contact us. Kind thanks, Justine (Manager) & Emma Rose (Canteen Coordinator) ph.0400 441 655.

Canteen Roster

Friday 28st October

Window 8.15 – 9.00am Ingrid M & Jenny R

Canteen 10.30am – 1.00pm 11.30am – 1.00pm

Steph Sofield Ina Buman

Wednesday 2nd November

Window 8.15 – 9.00am Tess Harris

Canteen 10.30 am – 1.00pm Chantelle Ranuaro

Friday 4th November

Window 8.15 – 9.00am Angela Paddick & Om Kenyon

Canteen 10.30am – 12.00pm 11.30am – 1.00pm

Glenice King Helper needed

Student Banking Friday is School Banking day and I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow at 8.15 outside the uniform shop. Lydia H

Uniform Shop Roster

Friday 28th October Monday 31st October

Heather, Paige S & Hana N (Bank)

Heather, Hiroko, Rose P (Bank)

COMMUNITY NEWS

Watkins Southside Swimming Watkins Southside Swimming runs Swimming Lessons and Squads at the Wesley Pool. Lessons are available from 4 years of age and we run up to squad training level that operates year round. Please e-mail nickandlee@iinet.net.au to register your interest for Term 1 2016. January Vacation Lesson enrolments are also now open – online enrolment forms are on the website. For more information visit the website www.watkinssouthsideswimming.com.au or phone. 9368 1470.