Queen of Apostles School
Term 4 Week 6 - Thursday 16 November, 2023
Loving God,
As we come to the end of Term 3,
we give thanks for the learning, friendships, and growth we have shared.
Bless our students, staff, and families with rest and renewal over the holidays.
Keep us safe in our travels and joyful in our time together.
May we return refreshed, ready to continue our journey in faith,
striving always to show kindness, respect, and love in all we do.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Farewell
As I prepare to conclude my time as Principal of Queen of Apostles, I find myself reflecting on the past five years. It has been a privilege to lead this community and to walk alongside our students, staff, and families on the journey of faith and learning.
Navigating the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the most significant challenges we faced together. I am proud of how our community responded—with resilience, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to ensuring our students continued to learn and thrive. The strength of our staff, families, and students during that time was inspiring.
I also take great pride in the many positive changes we have seen across our school. From the development of our 3-Year-Old Kindy program, which has provided such a strong foundation for our youngest learners, to the significant improvements in our school grounds, our facilities now better reflect the welcoming, vibrant, and future-focused learning environment we strive to provide.
I would like to extend my thanks to Mrs Jennifer Anderson, our Assistant Principal, for her forward thinking, dedication, and commitment to achieving the very best for our students and families. Her leadership has been invaluable in helping guide our school forward. I know Jennifer will do a fantastic job in the Acting Principal Role in Term 4.
To our incredible staff—thank you for your hard work, professionalism, and commitment to nurturing the hearts and minds of our students. Your dedication is the foundation of everything we do.
I am also deeply grateful to our School Advisory Council and the Parents & Friends Association for their ongoing support, wisdom, and generosity. Your partnership has been vital in shaping the direction of our school and fostering a strong, connected community.
Finally, to the families and wider community of Queen of Apostles—thank you for the trust you have placed in me and for your partnership in nurturing the faith and education of your children.
As I move to St Maria Goretti’s Catholic Primary School next term, I do so with pride in what we have achieved together at Queen of Apostles. May the school continue to flourish and remain a place of faith, learning, and love.
Congratulations
I would like to congratulate Mr Jesse Yock on his appointment as Principal of Queen of Apostles School commencing in 2026. He is very excited about starting at the school and is looking forward to getting to know the community. I am meeting with Jesse tomorrow morning for a handover and to show him around.
Kindy and Pre Primary Athletics Morning
Kindy & Pre-Primary Athletics Morning
Tomorrow morning at 9.30am the Kindy and Pre-Primary classes will be having their athletics morning on the Annexe Oval. They will be involved in running races and relays and it promises to be great fun. See you there!
Holidays
I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. I hope you enjoy some quality time with your families in the beautiful spring weather. Term 4 begins on Monday 13th October for staff and students.
Three Week Mid Year Break from 2027
Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) has announced that, starting in 2027, all 150 schools under its jurisdiction will adopt a three-week break following Term Two. Further details about this change are now available, and a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for our school community can be found in the school news section below.
As more information becomes available to schools regarding this change it will be provided to families. Please note that this change is set to commence in 2027 with no changes to the 2026 school year.
Kindy and Pre-Primary – Races and Relays Day
Friday 26th September 9.30am - 10.30am on the School Oval
Students participate in a variety of running races and team relays.
No points awarded, just a morning of fun and exercise.
Includes opportunities for parents to join in some relays too.
Canteen Volunteers
Our canteen manager, Sharon is in need of assistance on Thursday and Friday mornings. If you can spare an hour or two on either of these days, please see Sharon. A reminder that the Volunteers Form will need to be filled out if it hasn’t already been submitted this year. Due to Child Safety regulations, only parents can volunteer in the canteen – friends or grandparents require a Working With Children Card.
Volunteering
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. If you filled out the form last year you will need to do it again this year. 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.
Term dates and Pupil Free Days
Term 1: Wednesday 5th February to Thursday 10th April
Friday 28th February - Pupil Free Day
Monday 3rd March - Public Holiday (LABOUR DAY)
Friday 11th April - Pupil Free Day - Parent interviews
Term 2: Tuesday 29th April to Friday 4th July
Monday 28th April - Pupil Free Day
Monday 2nd June - Public Holiday (WA Day)
Tuesday 3rd June - Pupil Free Day
Term 3: Monday 21st July to Friday 26th September
Friday 22nd August - Pupil Free Day
Monday 25th August - Catholic Day (School closed)
Term 4: Monday 13th October to Friday 12th December
Day of AI Australia
Day of AI Australia has a Families Toolkit, which provides families with students from Years 1 - 10 with practical guidance and conversation starters to navigate the evolving landscapes of AI together.
The family toolkit includes an AI primer for parents and caregivers, where information is broken down into a range of topics with links to external resources.
It includes conversation starters and activity ideas for parents to facilitate with their children at home.
There's also information on the importance of developing a family tech plan, with links to external resources and templates.
And , finally a glossary is included for parents and caregivers to use.
The link to the website can be found here: https://dayofaiaustralia.com/families-toolkit/
