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INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOL
17 December 2014
Issue # 20
A SCHOOL COMMUNITY GROWING TOGETHER SINCE 1915
Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members,
2015 Staff Changes
Most of you are aware of the staff changes for next
year, however, for those who are not, here they are:
Mrs Steph Mutch retires at the end of this school
year after a distinguished career and many years of
teaching with the DoE, including 12 years at PBPS.
Mrs Deb Hill and Mrs Tracy Lawton, who have both
worked extremely well as Education Assistants
throughout this year, leave us.
Mrs Leonie Cecich will be on Long Service Leave
for the year and Mrs Margaret Alderson will teach
music next year. Mrs Cecich has been an
outstanding music teacher at PBPS for the past 5
years.
Miss Jodie Craig will be on maternity leave for the
early part of 2015.
Miss Cathryn Brooks will teach Year 1 with Mrs
Tanya Wood.
2015 School Board
There are a number of changes to our School Board
for 2015. As announced at Friday’s Awards &
Graduation Evening, the Board will now comprise of:
Andrew Herden, Paul Reed, Ted Bucknell, Danielle
Della Franca – Parent members
Jon Elbery, Richard Babbage – Community
members
Michele Napper, Ruth Greenwood – Staff members
Derrick Ernst - Principal
Danielle Altinier (Co-opted Parent) and Elizabeth
Taylor (Co-opted Community member).
2014 National Opinion Survey
Thanks to those of you who completed the Parent
Survey. I received 32 responses (31%) which is a
commendable number. The Staff and Student
Surveys have also been completed. The feedback is
very positive in all 3 surveys and overwhelmingly
supports the school’s operations and effectiveness. I
will provide a detailed analysis of the survey results
early next year. A summary will also be presented
as part of the 2014 School Report.
2014 IPS Review Report
I still have not received the Review Report and now
will wait until early next year. The report will be
available for public reading on Schools Online.
2015 Pre-Primary Vacancies
We still have 3 vacancies in our PP class for next
year. Interested parents can call the school on ph
9293 8256 until Friday 19 December or from
Tuesday 27 January 2015 - Friday 30 January 2015.
2016 Gifted and Talented Programs
Applications for Gifted and Talented Secondary
Selective Entrance Programs are now open. For
children with exceptional academic ability and
creative talent, these elite Academic, Arts and
Languages Programs are designed to challenge
them to achieve at the highest level.
If your child is going into Year 6 in 2015,
applications are now open for entry into Year 7 in
2016. Limited places may also be available for
children going into Years 9, 10 and 11 in 2016.
2014 Awards & Graduation Evening
Applications close on Monday 9 February 2015.
Thank you for attending last Friday’s Awards and For more information and to apply visit
Graduation Evening. I hope that you enjoyed the det.wa.edu.au/giftedandtalented.
choir, class items, awards presentation, graduation
2015 Scholarships to help families with children
and Santa.
I was very proud of all of our students who behaved in secondary school now available
extremely well during the evening, performed The DoE co-ordinates scholarships that provide
beautifully and most of all thoroughly enjoyed financial support to eligible children in secondary
schools to help with their studies.
themselves.
To me, this evening is the highlight of the year and Applications for a number of these scholarships are
last Friday, in a beautiful setting, it was a great time now open for next year and close on Wednesday 31
of celebration for the Pickering Brook School December 2014. Further details and application
forms are at http://det.wa.edu.au
Community.
241 Pickering Brook Road, Pickering Brook WA 6076
Phone: 9293 8256
Email: pickeringbrook.ps@det.wa.edu.au Website: http://www.pickeringbrookps.det.wa.edu.au
17 DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE 20
PAGE 2
I am honoured to be the Principal of Pickering
Brook Primary School
Thank you for your support of the school and for the
great job that you are doing bringing up your
children.
To the families leaving our school, thank you for
being part of this wonderful school community and
thank you for all that you have done for PBPS. Enjoy a safe, relaxing and happy Christmas and
prosperous New Year.
Best wishes for the future.
Best wishes
Well, that’s it for this newsletter and this year. What
Derrick Ernst
a year it has been - busy, productive, challenging Principal
and lots more. Above all, it’s always enjoyable
here.
TERM DATES FOR 2015
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
28
29
30
January
January
January
-
Admin Staff commence
Staff Development Day
Staff Development Day
Monday
Monday
Thursday
2
2
2
February
March
April
-
Start of Term 1
Labour Day Public Holiday
End of Term 1
Friday
Monday
3
6
April
April
-
Good Friday (During Holidays)
Easter Monday (During Holidays)
Monday
20
April
-
Staff Development Day
Tuesday
Saturday
Monday
Monday
Friday
21
25
27
1
3
April
April
April
June
July
-
Start of Term 2
Anzac Day
Anzac Day Public Holiday
WA Day Public Holiday
End of Term 2
Monday
20
July
-
Staff Development Day
Tuesday
Friday
21
25
July
September
-
Start of Term 3
End of Term 3
Monday
28
September
-
Monday
12
October
-
Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
(During Holidays)
Staff Development Day
Tuesday
Thursday
13
17
October
December
-
Start of Term 4
End of Term 4
Friday
18
December
-
Staff Development Day
241 Pickering Brook Road, Pickering Brook WA 6076
Phone: 9293 8256
Email: pickeringbrook.ps@det.wa.edu.au Website: http://www.pickeringbrookps.det.wa.edu.au
PAGE 3
17 DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE 20
Diary Reminders Term 4
Thu 18th
December
Last day of Term for
students - Free Dress Day
* NO GOLD COIN DONATION
Mon 2nd
February
First Day of Term for
PP-Yr6
Tue 3rd
February
Interm Swimming Lessons
PP-Yr 6
Wed 4th
February
First Day of Term for
Kindy
2015 BOOK LISTS
REMINDER
To ensure delivery of your
Book Orders
before the start of Term 1 2015
orders must placed by this
Friday 19 December 2014
MERRY CHRISTMAS
&
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
FROM ALL THE
STAFF AT
PICKERING BROOK
PRIMARY SCHOOL
BEST WISHES TO THOSE
STUDENTS AND
FAMILIES WHO LEAVE
US & SEE YOU IN 2015
TO EVERYONE ELSE
XMAS LIGHTS BUS TRIP
A big THANK YOU to everyone who attended the
bus trip last Saturday. It was a great evening
and we had a lot of positive feedback.
We raised $1025.00 which included donations
from many people. This money will go directly
to Ang Serey Primary School in Cambodia to
buy much needed school resources.
17 DECEMBER 2014 ISSUE 20
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