Queen of Apostles School

We thank you Lord, for the courage and sacrifice of the ANZACS.

As we remember those who have fallen in battle, we give thanks to you, gracious God, for their great sacrifices in conflict and in captivity.

They gave their lives for peace and freedom.

Amen

Welcome back to Term 2. I hope the break gave your family a chance to slow down a little and enjoy some time together. There’s a great sense of energy around the school as we begin the term, and we are looking forward to building on the strong start to the year.

A couple of staffing updates to share. Mrs Perry will be taking Long Service Leave for the first three weeks of term. During this time, her Music and Art classes will be covered by experienced relief teachers. We look forward to welcoming her back in Week 4. Our Finance Officer, Reshma Fernandes, will also be on leave for the first five weeks of term. Caroline Hunnybun will be stepping into the role three days a week during this time. We thank Caroline for her support and wish both Mrs Perry and Mrs Fernandes a restful and well-earned break.

We are also very pleased to welcome Sharlene Epis to Queen of Apostles. Sharlene joins us as our school social worker and will be working with us each Monday as part of our pastoral team, supporting students in the social and emotional wellbeing space. We are excited to have her on board.

Our 70th anniversary celebrations continue this term, with a special Mass and Fun Fellowship Evening planned for Friday 22 May from 6:00pm. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate our history, and enjoy time with one another. All members of our community are warmly invited to attend. Please see the invitation below for full details.

This weekend we pause to acknowledge Anzac Day. As a school, we will hold a whole-school ceremony on Friday at 11:00am. Families are very welcome to join us. On Saturday, members of our Student Representative Council will attend the City of Canning Anzac Service with me, representing our school.

A reminder that Monday is a public holiday. Students will return for Week 2 on Tuesday 28 April.

Wishing you all a great start to the term.

Jesse Yock

Principal

I am delighted to be joining Queen of Apostles as the school Social Worker. My highlight so far has been the strong sense of community and genuine interest evident in every aspect of the school. I look forward to meeting parents over the coming months.

With the wellbeing of students as my focus, I offer confidential counselling to students and families in relation to any school-based issues. I provide support to students on issues concerning building resiliency, self-esteem, coping skills, friendship concerns, family separation/divorce, grief and loss, and social skills.

A signed consent form is required for your child to participate in counselling, however, I am always available to assist staff with general pastoral care and support. In addition, I am available to support parents in enhancing their children’s growth and development.

I look forward to working with you and wish you and your child every success for Term 2.

Sharlene Epis

BEd, MSW

sharlene.epis@cewa.edu.au

In Term 1, some of the Early Learning staff were lucky enough to attend a two-day workshop with Kath Murdoch, a consultant who works with educators around the world to develop and embed inquiry learning as a core strategy.

This was the beginning of an ongoing project aiming to empower us as teachers, to deepen our understanding and application of inquiry-based teaching in the classrooms at Queen of Apostles.

In the coming months we will be supported by Kath to elevate our class inquiries by helping the children to be aware of themselves as thinkers and self-managers, who are developing an open mind, and sense of curiosity about their world, and the skills to explore and make sense of it.

This is so important for children as it sets them up with some of the dispositions required to be successful self-motivated, resilient learners, with skills that can be used for all future learning experiences. It also encourages them to view their world as having endless possibilities and themselves as having the skills to discover these.

We are super excited to see where this leads us and the children, in their ongoing learning journeys, and hope that you will work with us to foster this genuine love of learning in the children.

ICAS is an online academic competition that gives students the opportunity to challenge their higher order thinking and problem-solving skills in English, Mathematics, Science, Writing and Spelling Bee.

ICAS results are in-depth and meaningful, and ICAS evaluates student performance against other competition entrants across the state and nation. The data reveals student strengths and weaknesses and can help you recognise and support your child's academic journey.

How to participate in ICAS

If you wish for your child to participate in ICAS this year, please go to the Parent Portal to register for your chosen subjects.

You can do this in one of two ways:

1. Direct login link – faster!

Use this link to log directly into the shop and start registering:

https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/OYU794

2. Log in using the PPS code

Visit our shop and use our PPS code to log in:

Shop link: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/pps

PPS code: OYU794

To learn more about ICAS please follow this link:

https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas/

The Government of WA have amended the Working with Children Act last year with the changes implemented to better protect children. Catholic Education WA has mandated this process for all volunteers, including parent volunteers in schools. This includes parents who wish to volunteer at sports carnivals, in classrooms and at P&F events. Could we ask that all parents fill in the Volunteer Declaration (link) even if you have no plans at this stage to volunteer at school. Parents who wish to assist teachers on excursions will need to be on this list. Your information will be stored securely in accordance with CEWA’s Information Stewardship. We highly value parent volunteers' time and contribution to our school community and thank-you for taking the time to submit the form below.

Any grandparents that wish to volunteer in the classroom or assist in the canteen will need a Working With Children Check. Please note this does not include drop off, pick up or attendance at our Grandparents Mass and Morning Tea. Grandparents that would like to volunteer at school, please contact the school office and we can assist you in the process.

Celebrate the mother figures in your children’s lives with our Mother’s Day Long Table Breakfast.

You and your child(ren) will enjoy a full long table breakfast, including croissants, pastries, quiches, sweet treats and tea/coffee in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

Hosted by the P&F School Committee, secure your spot today. Tickets $10 adults, $7 children

Support Our Classroom Technology & Community Garden Projects

When you purchase an Entertainment Membership, you’re directly supporting our school community. Funds raised go towards classroom technology upgrades and the development of our community garden.

Get an Entertainment Membership for just $75 (12 months validity) and enjoy valuable savings cards across Australia, New Zealand, and Bali.

Save on everyday expenses, including groceries, fuel, dining, travel, shopping, and more, the benefits go well beyond the initial purchase—helping you save all year round.

You’ll also gain access to fantastic local offers across Perth, Fremantle, Rottnest, Swan Valley and the Southwest.

Special Limited-Time Bonus:
Purchase your Membership this April and go into the draw to WIN a Noosa getaway!

👉 Purchase your Membership and support our school: www.entbook.com.au/8325j6

Thank you for your continued support!

EXTRA BONUS: Every Membership goes into the draw to win an Antarctic trip (valued at $39,500).

Entertainment booklet

Check out the Entertainment booklet and discover more amazing offers included with an Entertainment Membership.

Savings Calculator

View the handy online Savings Calculator to discover how much you could be saving with an Entertainment Membership.

Event Highlights:

• Giant Creatures and Roaming Puppets

Encounter a 5m tiger, a falcon with a 10m wingspan, 3m angler fish and 2m flamingos as they roam the precinct

• Never-before-seen Animatronics

Marvel at a 27m Kaurna skink, 6m pandas, giraffes and foxes brought to life with lifelike movements – some showcased in Australia for the first time!

• Expert Talks and Live Wildlife

Meet live marsupials, birds of prey, snakes, lizards, turtles, and frogs. Hear from leading wildlife and conservation researchers

• VR Animal Adventure

Step into natural habitats through an immersive VR experience. Explore fossils and enjoy hands-on activities for all ages!

Event Details:

📅 8th & 9th May 2026

⏰5pm-9pm

📍Exchange Precinct, Curtin University

🌟Free Entry

Please see the attached our event flyer or click the link below for more information.

👉 Creatures on Campus Eventbrite

Feel free to come along before or after the show to explore our campus which will offer lots of fun and free events on the day!

Open Day 2026 | Murdoch University

Scan the QR code to register and we’ll see you there!

Term 1: Monday 2 Feb to Thursday 2 April

(Break from Friday 3rd April until Sunday 19th April)

Monday 2nd March - PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Thursday 2nd April - PUPIL FREE DAY - Interviews

Term 2: Monday 20 April to Friday 3 July

(Term break from Saturday 4th July until Sunday 19th July)

Monday 20 April - PUPIL FREE DAY

Monday 27 April - PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Monday 1 June - PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Tuesday 2 June - PUPIL FREE DAY

Term 3: Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September

(Term break from Saturday 26th September until Sunday 11th October))

Friday 21 August - PUPIL FREE DAY

Friday 25 September - PUPIL FREE DAY

Term 4: Monday 12 October to Friday 11 December