We warmly welcome back everyone from the Christmas/Summer vacation period and hope that your batteries are recharged and you are ready for the challenges ahead.
We would like to make special mention of new Principals to the District. Welcome to Canning, we look forward to working with you to better the outcomes for all students in the Canning District.
| Ray Knight - Wilson PS | Mark Watson - Kenwick School |
| Chris Hennessy - Dawson Park PS | Greg Thomas - Kelmscott PS |
| Marta Rotondella - Forrestdale PS | Stephen Lamont - Forrestfield PS |
| Shirley Duggleby - Edney PS | Wayne Walpole - Armadale PS |
| Megan Barnett - Neerigen Brook PS | Ted Nastasi - Bramfield Park PS |
| Bronwyn Jones - Beckenham PS | Patrick Bourke - Gooseberry Hill PS |
| Chris Leed - Belmay PS | Jean Henrickson - Armadale Ed Spt |
| Philippa Berkhout - Canning Vale PS | Leigh Nelson - Falls Road PS |
| Keith Svendsen - Kent St SHS | Cheryle Elphick - Lesmurdie PS |
| Stephanne Dann - Mundijong PS | Dianne Harper - Maddington Ed Spt |
| Paul Burke - Serpentine PS | Diane Tomlinson - Victoria Park PS |
| Vicki Sturgeon - Wirrabirra Ed Spt | Carolyn Pinkard - Maida Vale PS |
| Sheena Patterson East Vic Park Ed Spt | Helen Macri - Gwynne Park Ed Spt |
Congratulations to Simon Reid, Principal, East Maddington PS, who has recently learned that he is a finalist for the Principal of the Year Award. (Simon was unaware that he had even been nominated by his school community, let alone become a finalist, until last week when he received an invitation to the awards ceremony.) Congratulations also to Carl Sanderson, a teacher at Kensington PS, for winning a National Excellence in Teaching Award at both state and federal levels. These are highly prestigious awards and reflect on the recipients' excellent achievements.
Please note that it is crucial for accurate details about new arrivals to be collected on enrolment. This enables us to access the optimum funding level from the Commonwealth and assess the appropriate level of service to schools. This ranges from admission to an Intensive English Centre (IEC), differential staffing, specialist teacher appointment, ethnic education assistant allocation, to visiting teacher service. However, this all hinges on the eligibility of students for service. This is determined by the VISA number held by the student and the date they arrived in Australia (not the date they enrolled at school). Once this data is entered onto SIS it can be collected remotely for the ESL census - hence the need for accuracy. Photocopy and record the student's 3-digit visa sub-class number; enter their date of arrival into Australia, the language spoken at home and ESL Stage.* It is strongly recommended that the On Call Interpreter service is used to facilitate this process. The district based ESL Visiting Teachers can assist where possible. For further information and assistance please refer to the regulatory framework or call Penny James SAC ESL/ESD at Canning 9311 0531.
* Stage 1 students who have been in Australia less than a year and have enrolled within 6 months of arrival students who are entering their first year of compulsory schooling, either born in Australia or born overseas (this includes children who have attended pre primary)
Stage 2 students who have received no more than 2 years Primary, 3 years Secondary, 4 years Limited Schooling education in Australia.
Stage 3 students who have received ESL assistance for more than two years Primary, three years Secondary or four years Limited Schooling.
Please note that Challis SPER Centre has been renamed the Canning SPER Centre to better reflect its work across the whole district. Jeremy Singer is the Psychologist in Charge and Canning SPER is located at 40 Braemore Street in Armadale, phone number 9399 1144.
Due to the number of phone calls received at the District Office regarding this matter your attention is drawn to the broadcast fax dated 7 December 2004 from Paul Albert, Director General that details that students will have the day off and teaching staff are entitled to Easter Tuesday as a holiday with pay. As mentioned in the fax further advise regarding the operations of schools on Easter Tuesday will be forwarded to schools early this year. Please refrain from contacting the District Office as we have received no further information other than has been already sent to schools.
Attached is a contact list for all schools in the Canning District. Every effort is made to keep this list up to date, however If there are any changes required to names or contact numbers please email the necessary details to Bev.Caporn@det.wa.edu.au by COB Monday 7 February. A contact list including name, job title and direct dial numbers for all staff in the DO is also attached. Please ensure the security of both contact lists.
Information regarding committees and their membership will be sent out shortly.
Due to a decrease in enrolments at South Thornlie PS they have had to reduce the time of their art specialist. The teacher in question is looking for 0.4 FTE placement on Thursdays and Fridays. Please contact John Miles, Principal on 9459 4655 if you can assist.
The District Office has been given 500 Lever Arch files for use in schools. Initially there is a limit of 20 per school, if you would like some please contact Anna.Sinclair@det.wa.edu.au by COB Monday 7 February.