Dear Parents and Caregivers

What a vibrant and busy place our school is! Since the last newsletter, the School Calendar has been full and our students and staff have been very active – both in and out of the classroom.

This week, I have had the privilege of attending two big events: 

Music Evening #2 was an outstanding showcase of our students’ talents. There was such a variety of the accomplishments of soloists, ensembles and bands on display, and we were treated to a ‘number’ from ‘Matilda’, ‘Revolting Children’! Who would have thought that our lovely students could transform into such revolting children? Good acting must be the answer! 

On Wednesday night, the Year 10 students had a wonderful evening at their Dinner/Dance. It was a joyful occasion with good food, energetic dancing and enjoyable socialising. Both students and staff had a ‘Good, good night’!

Last week, way up north, around Shark Bay, our Year 12 Outdoor Education students were on their Sea Kayaking Expedition. An experience of a lifetime!

Thank you to our hard-working and interested staff who make events like these happen.

Farewell
To those students and families who are leaving Frederick Irwin at the end of this term, we wish you all the best for the future.

We say farewell and thank you to the following staff members, who are at the end of short- term contracts:

• Mrs Sandra Guest – Home Economics
• Mrs Yvonne Leeson – Finance 
• Mrs Rene van der Merwe – Library

Farewell and thank you also to:

• Miss Hannah Chiang – Music, who will be pursuing new opportunities next term.
• Mrs Jade Crichton – Japanese, who is looking forward to spending more time with her family.
• Mrs Averil Evans - Digital Technologies, who has decided to retire and will be pursuing some exciting family commitments. 

All the best to our staff members who are on Long Service Leave either in Term 3 or for all of Semester 2:

• Mr Efrain Dayog – Mathematics (Term 3)
• Mrs Renee Goard – Year 6 (Semester 2)
• Mrs Katrina Wade – Year 3 (Term 3) 
• Mrs Angela Westwater – Year 1 (Semester 2) 

Annual Report
Please note that the School’s Annual Report (2020) has been published on the website under the ‘Our School’ heading.

Finally…

As we approach the winter break, I know everyone is extremely tired. Although not quite as fraught as last year, two lockdowns, news of more COVID outbreaks in the Eastern States and a border that can close quickly have brought some uncertainty to 2021 thus far. However, our school community has shown resilience and remained cheerful. 

In the context of our theme for 2021 – Hope – I offer this quote from the great Desmond Tutu: Hope is about being able to see the light despite all of the darkness. 

A particular thank you goes to our staff and students, those people we see every day on campus. Please have a rest! We look forward to welcoming you back next term, after our trial three-week mid-year holiday.

Kind regards

Kerry Robertson
Principal

Dear Parents and Caregivers

I can hardly believe it is time for the holidays already! This term has certainly flown by in a whirlwind of learning and extra-curricular activities. With Wednesday’s Music Assembly and the Kindergarten Mud Day we have finished Term 2 on a high note.

Holidays are wonderful times for students to relax and enjoy their family and friends. They are also an excellent opportunity for children to read, exercise and enjoy their hobbies. I hope that the weather will hold out to enable some outdoor time, engaging with natural environments and the beauty of our local area. It is important during the holidays that we help our children develop healthy ‘screen time’ habits. Balance is important in our lives. Children should not be spending all day playing on devices, watching clips or TV shows.

Recently we have seen the rise of TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram as entertainment sources for our children. Our tweens and teens, who have yet to fully develop their judgment ability and self-control, are swept up in the clever programming of developers that encourage them to look, read and post. Apart from discouraging the ability to focus or concentrate for extended periods of time, these Apps often allow children to post and say things that they would not do in person.

Apps such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram can become addictive for our children. They also allow for our children to be accessible to others twenty-four hours a day if we do not place safe boundaries around their use. Safe on Social gives parents some very helpful tips for managing the safe use of social media by our tweens (and sometimes younger) students. For some tips, try reading the article at this link https://www.safeonsocial.com/single-post/online-safety-tips-for-parents-to-keep-their-kids-safe-this-holiday-season 

Remember, all screen time is demanding of our direct attention. They demand us to focus on what is happening on the screen and ignore distractions, this exhausts our brains. Spending some time in nature will help balance this effect, as nature does not demand the same type of attention and instead creates feelings of pleasure.

During this holiday period, try setting aside some time for ‘screens’ and some time for other types of play and activities. It is important to include other activities that encourage positive family relationships such as playing board games, preparing food together, walks or creative projects in our holiday schedules. Do not forget it is OK for your child to be ‘bored’. Being bored helps children develop creativity, ingenuity and resilience, all very important traits for future learning.

The holidays are times for our children to congratulate themselves for their good efforts during Semester 1, relax and re-energise ready for another full term of learning. I wish you and your family a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable break.  I look forward to hearing of all the adventures on the first day of Term 3.

Regards

Sue Youens 
Head of Primary - Meadow Springs 

Dear Parents and Caregivers

This semester has been a wonderful opportunity to make our parents and family members feel more connected to our community. I hope that everyone feels as though they have experienced this and look forward to Semester 2. The staff have worked so hard this semester to give our students rewarding learning experiences. Similarly, the students have worked so hard to engage and develop their learning. It is now time for a much-deserved break and I hope that all of our community members get a chance to spend time with their loved ones.

Bring Your Parents to School Afternoon
The Bring Your Parents to School Afternoon was lovely and we enjoyed returning to an event that has such a community atmosphere. The students were certainly excited to show their families their different learning environments, and it was wonderful to hear our talented choir sing at the end of the afternoon. I loved the chats I had with families as I barbequed, and want to thank everyone for making the event special.

Act Belong Commit
Our community has donated a tremendous amount of food for the Peel Community Kitchen. Mrs Sue Kirke has worked closely with the House Captains and Mrs Tracey Bain (Peel Community Kitchen Coordinator) to promote this wonderful food drive for those who are homeless or in need. The food has been delivered this week and we are very appreciative of our compassionate and generous community. Your support has directly helped those in need. It is wonderful that our Frederick Irwin community can support the larger community. I also want to thank Mrs Kirke and our student leaders for their passionate work and organisation. Having our student leaders involved in promoting service learning is important, and they have truly demonstrated their leadership skills this semester.

Phase 5
As Western Australia transitions to Phase 5 of the COVID-19 Roadmap, I want to remind our parents and family members that they are welcome to attend our school events. Having our parents on the school grounds during our events is so important and something we want to return to. Similarly, having parents or grandparents helping in the classrooms is also very important and special. I look forward to spending time with my loved ones on the break and wish everyone a blessed and safe time away from school. 

Noah Clark
Head of Primary – Halls Head Campus

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Recently I started including silence in our House Reflections. In the busyness of Term 2, with examinations for some, and darker mornings for all, it seems entirely appropriate to rediscover silence as a discipline.

I had rather thought this would be considered radical, and I started gently, with about a minute or so of silence in Chapel. There is something very powerful about being silent amidst hundreds of fellow students and staff.

As it happened, most students and staff that spoke to me afterward commented on how much they had enjoyed being silent and still in each other’s presence. Far from finding the silence confronting, being quiet together was new for most, but not at all unpleasant.

As a society, we have lost the capacity to be silent, and our lives are filled with constant noise. When I walk the dog in the morning, I can hear the surf on the beach, but much closer is the traffic noise, drifting voices in the darkness and the background noises of humanity. As the pressure for our attention grows, we increasingly give up the silence and exchange it for noise, constant and insistent.

It is only since the industrial revolution (a mere blink in the eye of history) that we have been subjected to the ubiquity of noise around us. Perhaps it is important to rediscover silence not just as the absence of noise, but as something worthwhile in its own right; a centering, calming return to our humanity.

Perhaps then we can rediscover ourselves and discover anew, the person that we are made to be. A human being, and not a 'human doing'.

Reverend James Tabor
Chaplain

Kindergarten 2023 
This term, applications for admission in 2023, particularly for brothers and sisters of existing students, will be considered for enrolment in Kindergarten at Frederick Irwin Anglican School, Meadow Springs and Halls Head.

Parents who wish their son or daughter to be considered for these years in 2023 should, if they have not already done so, submit an application as soon as possible.

If you have any queries please contact Mrs Jackie Smith at the School Office or email registrar@frederickirwin.wa.edu.au.

Term Dates 2021 

Term 4: Tuesday 12 October – Wednesday 8 December 

Term Dates 2022 

Term 1: Monday 31 January to Friday 8 April
Term 2: Thursday 28 April to Friday 1 July
Term 3: Tuesday 26 July to Friday 23 September
Term 4: Tuesday 11 October to Wednesday 7 December

Term 2 Fee Statements have been emailed to families and were due for payment by Friday 28 May 2021. 

Families who have not paid or made payment arrangements with the Business Manager by the due date should be aware that a late penalty of $55.00 (GST included) may be imposed. The School has BPAY facilities and we encourage parents to avail themselves of this.

To assist families to budget for their school fee payments, we also offer weekly, fortnightly, bi-monthly or monthly payment plans.  For further information, please contact the School Office.

If anyone out there is interested in helping out at our music and drama performances, as well as our upcoming musical, Matilda, we are seeking the assistance of volunteers for our Friends of Performing Arts group.  

These amazing people help out behind the scenes, sometimes making costumes and painting sets, but largely helping to organise the supper we provide at our performances.  

If you would be willing to help out at any of these, your assistance would be greatly appreciated.  Please email Jenny Crutchett, Head of Performing Arts, on jenny.crutchett@fias.wa.edu.au and she will pass your details on to the coordinator of the group.  

You can feel it as soon as you walk in our school gates. It might mean different things to different people but, for most students, it translates as a feeling of the strong connection to the school or being proud to represent the school and the values it stands for. While school pride may feel like an elusive quality to define, it is a key ingredient for student and staff success. 

When students have pride in their school, it gives them a sense of ownership which sets in motion a range of positive behaviours. 

School pride is not only an important part of building a successful school community, but in establishing the credentials of the school in the public domain.  If our school is well regarded, this is better for the students who attend it! 

We believe that the wearing of the Frederick Irwin uniform promotes and symbolises pride in our school, and it is for this reason that 'wearing our uniform with pride’ is part of our School Policy. 

Quite simply, we expect that students will comply with the dress requirements and that valuable school time will not need to be diverted to following up on breaches of school uniform policy. 

As a school, we fully endorse the Department of Education’s recognition of the benefits of the school uniform for students attending Frederick Irwin. These include: 

• Promoting the safety of students through easier identification;
• Keeping the cost of clothing within reasonable limits for parents;
• Assisting students to learn the importance of appropriate presentation; and
• Being suitably groomed is part of the process by which students learn to engage with employers and the community.

Please see below the Uniform Shop Hours for 2021 and additional information related to blazers and uniforms for 2021. 

MEADOW SPRINGS CAMPUS

HALLS HEAD CAMPUS

Additional Opening Hours During School Holidays

Some Helpful Uniform Reminders to Start Term 3
We politely ask you to support our Uniform Policy, ensuring that hair is appropriate, out of the eyes, free of product and conservative. Girls with longer hair will need to tie it back, using school green or black elastics. Earrings must be silver or gold studs, or small sleepers. Sport shoes must be predominately white (until the end of Year 4), without the inclusion of fluorescent colour. It is important that we maintain our high uniform standard, and hope to establish this from the beginning of each term. Please refer to the School’s Uniform Policy for more detailed information. 

Please remember that the only appropriate hats in Primary are a green school slouch hat or green school legionnaire’s cap. Students without the correct headwear will be unable to play out of cover. 

• Kilt length – this should be on or below the middle of the knee; when kneeling the bottom of the skirt should touch the floor.
• All secondary school boys should be wearing a compulsory plain black leather belt with their winter trousers.
• Blazers to be worn from Year 7 – they are to be worn to and from school and during the day if required.
• Scarves worn to school must be the Frederick Irwin Anglican School knitted green and gold scarf with the formal winter uniform only (from Year 3).
• Tights – Primary girls wear the cotton 70 denier tights. Secondary girls wear the shiny 70 denier tights/stockings. (The cotton tights are a little sturdier for the Primary girls to wear).
• Primary boys – if they are wearing the winter grey shorts, they must wear knee-high school grey socks; if they are wearing winter grey trousers – they can wear short or long school grey socks.
• Clothing items that are faded or damaged will need to be replaced.
• Rain jackets – all Primary students should have a yellow rain jacket in their bags; from Year 4, students are permitted to have the option of a green rain jacket if they either want one or have grown out of the yellow jacket.

Lost Uniforms
Please be mindful that all items of clothing MUST have your child’s name on them; this will not only reduce the risk of lost items, which result in additional costs for families, but items can easily be returned.

Can you all please check your children's uniforms for names; if the item is not yours, please return it to the school office as soon as possible, where we are able to give the item to the correct child; if you know the child please pass it on to the owner.

Exchange or Refunds on New Uniforms Items. 
We are always willing to exchange or refund new items purchased if they are the wrong size or if a parent has changed their mind. However, these items need to be:

• Returned with the original purchase receipt Still have the original tags attached or in packaging
• Be unworn/clean, as when purchased
• Un-laundered

Any item that is marked in any way, whether it has been worn or not, will not be accepted for a credit or exchange for a different size or item. Your co-operation in this matter would be appreciated. There is no refund on any second-hand items.

We are excited to announce that tickets for our school performance Matilda, the Musical, are now on sale!  

Matilda is the story of an extraordinary girl who dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.  Packed with high energy dance numbers and catchy songs, this musical will appeal to the smallest and oldest in every family!
 
To book your tickets visit www.frederickirwin.wa.edu.au/matildathemusical They are selling FAST!  

Both Meadow Springs and Halls Head campuses were highly excited to welcome parents to the campus on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 June.

Parents explored the school grounds with their children and took time to view their work and explore the classroom. The students were very excited and the day ended with a sausage sizzle for all attendees plus a choir performance at Halls Head.

Thank you to all parents and caregivers who took time out to spend time with your children and experience their school day and classroom. It was lovely to see the happy faces on both children and adults!

Thank you to all families who donated items to the Peel Community Kitchen.  The House Captains assisted Mrs Kirke to pack up everything in order for them to be picked up. 

The Peel Community Kitchen were extremely grateful for the donations they received, and it is a credit to the generosity of Frederick Irwin Anglican School families.  

As part of Reconciliation Week, different year groups across both campuses took part in a range of activities.

Year 2s at Meadow Springs celebrated the success of First Nation peoples. They started the week by reflecting on what an Acknowledgement of Country means, read the story Stolen Girl and had meaningful discussions about the Stolen Generation. Each day they learnt about amazing indigenous Australians. 

To conclude Reconciliation Week 2021 the students headed to their bush setting and made sand maps of Australia, demonstrating their understanding of land features and place names in both English and First Nation language.

At Halls Head Campus, Kindergarten to Year 2 students were lucky enough to have local leader, George Walley, visit them. As part of his visit, he sang the song that most of the students sing in class, ‘Wandjoo My Friend’, which he also wrote. The students were fascinated and asked many questions about being Aboriginal and what it means to George.

It was wonderful to see students from both Primary campuses learning and understanding the importance of Reconciliation Week.

The Year 12 Outdoor Education students had an amazing time at their final camp to Shark Bay for their Sea Kayaking Expedition.  

The students enjoyed the experience, and a big thank you to teachers Sheldon Miguel, Daniel Harrop, Karen Watts and Kevin Watson for their assistance.  

Thanks to the Mandurah Squash Club, the Meadow Springs Primary students got to try out the game of squash on the inflatable squash courts.  

The students had lots of fun and got to experience the fast sport of squash in a safe environment, it was great to see everyone giving this sport a go! 

The Kindergarten students from Meadow Springs had so much fun getting dirty as part of International Mud Day. 

The students jumped into puddles, slid down muddy slides, made mud pies and generally had an amazing time getting very dirty! It was wonderful to see the parents getting involved and enjoying the mud almost as much as the students. 

It has been a busy few weeks in the VET space at school with students completing Work Placements and TAFE courses.  Years 11 and 12 students have attended TAFE Taster courses in Construction, Plumbing and Community Services.  These courses are a great opportunity to get a feel for a specific industry and gain a few Units of Competency.  Students have completed White Cards, Occupational Health and Safety, Working at heights (2m) and Provide First Aid. 

Other students have taken the opportunity to complete some Work Placement within the Mechanical, Retail, Locksmith, and Construction Industries.  Bricklaying and Concreting proved interesting with some of our recent weather.  A small group of students are utilising the holidays to complete work experience and Work Placement in Electrical, Mechanical, Childcare, and Retail.  We wish them all the best for their placement. 

As a school community, we thank TAFE and the different businesses for giving our students these opportunities.

Peta Sattler
VET Advisor

On Wednesday, Primary and Secondary Rose House students celebrated their House Day, commencing with the Eucharist held in the Rush Chapel, plus earlier that day they had a delicious breakfast of hash browns, egg and bacon muffins and hot chocolates for students.

Primary students joined the Rose Year 12s and House Leaders, for an extended games lunch, which included face painting, tug-of-war, sack races, soccer, and dodgeball.

Years 8 to 11 also enjoyed a tug-of-war competition! A big thank you to all who helped organise the day including Mr Winter (Head of House) and Mrs Paton (Rose Coordinator Primary).

What a great day!

On Wednesday 23 June, the Year 10 students got to celebrate the term at their Dinner Dance.  The evening was held at Mandurah Greyhounds and students and teachers had a fantastic time!  

Thanks to everyone who helped make this night amazing! 

At the recent West Coast Eagles versus Richmond blockbuster, four Year 6 students experienced something very exciting! 

Levi Appleton, Oden Holm, Ryder Glossop and Patrick Rekman were selected to represent North Mandurah Junior Football Club and play in the middle of the ground at half-time, in front of over 50,000 people! 

The boys got to experience getting prepared in the Fremantle Dockers change rooms and running onto the oval at half-time, under lights, to play against a team from Morley.  It will be a night they will remember for a long time as they also watched the Eagles win by four points in an amazing game.

As part of our 30 Year Celebrations, a number of Alumni have volunteered their time to take part in our 30 Year Videos.  Class of 2019 Alumni, Travis Wightman, created these wonderful videos. 

Please take the time to view them.  The most recent video is from Class of 2019 Performing Arts Prefect, Persia Najafzadeh.  We have some from students who graduated in 1996 and even our oldest serving staff member since 1991!