Term 1 Issue 2 2024

Our Vision

Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we near the end of another term, it's hard not to reflect on the wonderful experiences and achievements our students have had over the past weeks. From enriching activities to celebrating our diverse community, it's been an eventful time at WESC. 

One highlight of the term has been the enthusiasm with which our students have embraced the swimming program. Over the past two weeks, they've dived into the pool with eagerness, honing their skills and enjoying every moment of aquatic fun.  It's been heartening to witness their  progress  and                                                                joy in participating. 

Capturing the essence of our vibrant school community, we recently engaged Razoreye to conduct a photoshoot. These captivating images will feature prominently in our business plans, annual reports, website, and social media platforms like Facebook. If you haven't provided photo permission for your child, please note that they were not included in the photoshoot. 

Wednesday saw us celebrating Harmony Day—a beautiful occasion to honour the rich tapestry of cultures within our school. Students and families came together, sharing traditional foods and stories, fostering understanding, and strengthening bonds across our diverse community. 

As we bid farewell to this term, we also bid adieu to some cherished staff members. Sophie, Jaime, and Cassie will be embarking on the journey of motherhood, and while we'll miss them dearly, we wish them all the best as they embrace this new chapter. We eagerly await their return in due course. 

Lastly, on the final day of term, we have a special event lined up—the official opening by the Honourable Dr. Buti. It promises to be a momentous occasion as we gather to celebrate our remarkable school facilities. If you'd like to join us, please ensure you're seated by 8:50 am, as the event will commence promptly at 9 am.

Warm regards,

Carmen Lopez

Principal

Student Wellbeing Officer

Speech Therapist

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

I'm excited to introduce myself as your new Speech Pathologist here at Westminster Education Support Centre! My name is Helena, and I'm thrilled to be joining this wonderful community. With eight years of experience in the paediatric community disability sector, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for supporting children's communication and social skill development. 

You can find me here every Thursday, where I'll be working closely within the classrooms, providing tailored support to teachers and students. Additionally, I'll be hosting engaging parent workshops, aimed at empowering you with the tools and techniques to further nurture your child's communication skills at home. 

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or to learn more about the workshops and support sessions I'll be offering. Let's work together to create a supportive and enriching environment for every child at Westminster Education Support Centre. 

Warmest regards, 

Helena Challis  

Speech Pathologist 

Koorlangka 4

What a fantastic start to 2024! Our PP/Year 1 students have made an exceptional start to their learning journey at Westminster ESC.

We have been learning a lot about classroom structure and getting to know the new routines and teachers in our class. Some of our focuses this semester include engaging in shared reading and nursery rhymes, communication such as requesting, counting, identifying shapes and colours, and learning to take turns with friends.

On Mondays, the students are learning lots with Mrs Kanakia. In Health, we are learning all about our bodies by identifying parts of the body and where they are located. In HASS, we are learning about different celebrations and cultural events.

On Tuesdays, we visit the Independent Living Centre where the students build on their life skills. We have been engaging in cooking and so far, students have enjoyed cooking toast, playdough and demonstrate enjoyment in cooking. After each meal they have cooked, the students are able to enjoy it and eat it – if edible.  One of their favourite foods to cook is Toast.

In music, the students are exploring different instruments and how to use them. It is lots of fun exploring different instruments and the different sounds these instruments make.

In Science and Art, the students are exploring living and non-living things and investigating different materials to use for artwork.

We have had lots of fun building on our fine motor skills through play dough, threading and using tongs.

We can’t wait to continue to watch the students learn, explore and flourish at Westminster ESC.

News from STEM

The STEAM program has got off to a great start this year with the opening of our new room “The STEAM Hub” in the old T1 demountable. Mrs Hall is running the science program with a focus on Biological Science. Mrs Deans is running the art and technology program, also on the theme of plants and animals.

It has been wonderful to see the students so engaged in learning about living things during science lessons. They have been looking at insects, life cycles and plant and animal environments. This has been reflected in some of their beautiful art works. During digital technology lessons we have been developing our coding skills and programming our range of robots.

Harmony Day

Our school was buzzing with excitement as we came together to celebrate our diverse community. From the mouthwatering smells of delicious food kindly brought in by the parents and showcasing cultural costumes from around the world.  It was a day filled with colour, laughter and unity.

As we wrap up this amazing celebration, let's keep the spirit of harmony alive in everything we do. Together, we can make our school an even more inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.

A huge shoutout to all the students, teachers, and parents who helped make Harmony Day a success. Your enthusiasm and creativity made all the difference!

Official Opening Ceremony

Government Student Payment

The State Government has introduced a new initiative to help with cost of living pressures for families with school-aged children.

The new WA Student Assistance Payment will provide parents and carers with a $250 payment for each secondary student, and $150 for each primary school student or kindergartener. You will need a valid WA Student Number (WASN) to be eligible for the payment. Please see attached important information on where to find your child’s WASN.

The payments will be available through the ServiceWA app from the start of Term 2 (April 15), and we encourage you to use the coming weeks to set up your ServiceWA account and digital identity.

Further information is available at wa.gov.au/servicewaapp.
Visit education.wa.edu.au/wasap for information on eligibility and how to claim.

Noongar Seasons

Bunuru

February the 1^st is the first day of the Noongar Season Bunuru.

Bunuru is full of hot and dry days during Feb-March and haven’t we felt it already over the last month.

Traditionally the Noongar families would meet along the coast or near waterways where its cooler and to fish.

Bunuru is also when the Jarrah, Marri and Ghost Gum trees are in full bloom with their beautiful white flowers on display.

Merit Award Winners

PBS

All Abilities Footballers

Code Camp

Uniforms

Voluntary Contributions

Voluntary Contributions - Kindy to Year 6

$30.00 – Per Student

Schoolzine

School Board Members

Important Dates