Important Dates

7 December: Year 6 Graduation

9 December: Whole School Picnic

9 December:  Last Day of School

1 February: First Day Back at School

From the Assistant Principal's Desk

I have seen the illustration below many times over the years as I am sure you have also. As the school holidays are fast approaching with lots of time to fill, reading and visiting the local library is a great free time activity. 

I want to encourage all parents to remember that reading is one of the best and most effective “bang for your buck" strategies that you can put in place to help your child. It is hands down the most effective, cheap and easy practise to help ensure that your children are successful at school and in later life. It is also an accrued skill. Kids that read the most, read the best. It can be taught and it is mastered through practise. Some students take longer than others to learn and that’s okay. Keep at it, don’t give up. Be encouraging and positive.  Celebrate small successes with your kids.

The research says that the number of ‘rare’ words that your child uses in conversation and in their writing is an indicator of school success. These ‘rare’ words are not learnt in common conversation but learnt through exposure to reading and written texts. 

To encourage their reading desire, take time to help your child find books that they are interested in. Check out all forms of texts with them. Don’t forget to look at comics, magazines, non-fiction and book series. Talk to them about what they are thinking and feeling about what they are reading.

If your child prefers eBooks help them access appropriate texts online. If your child doesn’t enjoy reading a book, try Audible. If your child is a struggling reader, read to them. Not only does it provide a vehicle for you to ‘talk’ into your child’s life about all sorts of issues that they may not meet in their daily life, it also provides a time of connection and pleasure with your children. As your children grow older, hold fast, don’t let that time spent reading together dwindle. Make it a part of your family routine. 

When you ponder the diagram below, it reminds us that small pockets of time add up if it is consistently applied. 

I take this opportunity to also wish you a blessed Christmas and a happy holiday. Stay safe. I can’t wait to see you all again in 2021. 

– Mrs Sue Yardley | Assistant Principal, Curriculum 

Update from Enrolments 

Students Not Returning in 2021

We understand that from time to time circumstances change which may result in a student being withdrawn from the College. The College terms and conditions state that a full school term notice in writing to the Principal prior to the withdrawal of a student must be provided. In default of such a notice, up to a full term's fee will be charged. Our full terms and conditions can be found here

If your child is not returning in 2021 and you are yet to advise the College in writing, please email our Enrolments Team at f.enrolments@carey.wa.edu.au as a matter of priority.

Enrolment Placements Available in 2021

We have limited vacancies available across our school in 2021. At this stage, Years 5, 6 and 9 will be full classes, however, we are still encouraging enquiries for these year groups.

If you have a friend or family member who may be interested in enrolling their children for 2021, please encourage them to contact our Enrolments Team on 6166 2205 or email f.enrolments@carey.wa.edu.au

2021 Fee Announcement 

We hope that our families have shared in the exciting news about our tuition fee announcement for 2021. The reduction in fees across some year groups is due in part to a change in Government funding for our Forrestdale Campus. There has also been a consideration made in light of the current economic climate. You can find more information here.

Annual Forrestdale Christmas Concert

On Friday 27 November, our School hosted the annual Christmas Concert. This is an event that the students prepare and rehearse for throughout Term 4 in order to bring music and celebration to their School community.

Christmas is a time of family, hope and, for many in this day and age, rejuvenation. It was the intention that this Christmas Concert would bring all of these things together as we invited our Forrestdale families to assemble in a relaxed environment to enjoy the magnificent talents of both our Primary and Secondary School students.

Parents and families were asked to bring their picnic rugs and their dinner to enjoy a lovely evening meal out on the grass before the festivities began. Forrest Coffee was also up and running to provide refreshments and delicious pretzels that kept guests coming back for more. Friends, family and staff then settled themselves in for the outdoor ‘Christmas in the Park’ style Christmas Concert. The space looked like a dream, with the scattered picnic blankets leading to the stage, all backdropped by a beautiful sky that faded from light to dark as the sun set over the performance. 

The Primary School students told the story of Jesus' birth through many brilliant and adorable musical numbers. The acting, costumes and choreography brought the whole piece together to tell this extraordinary story in an extraordinary fashion. The Secondary School students then performed a more mature, dramatic retelling of Jesus' life leading up to his crucifixion and the meaning of this sacrifice.  

The Christmas concert was the perfect way to celebrate the upcoming Christmas season and all that it represents. It was a joy to see the kids performing and having fun whilst their families watched on. 

– Mrs Eleana Barnett | Music Teacher

Year 5 Kalgoorlie Camp  

Our three-day trip to Kalgoorlie with the Year 5 students was an incredibly fun, rewarding and educational experience for all involved.  

We visited the Museum of the Goldfields which showcases the rich history of the city’s mining heritage.  Here we participated in a workshop to learn about what life was like in the Goldfields. We were amazed by the vault that contained samples of gold, an old bicycle and even a miner’s cottage. The museum also featured a memorial, a display for a photography competition (Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year) as well as an incredible view of the city from the roof. We were even lucky enough to get to explore the city centre where we set a challenge for ourselves to find the oldest building and also locate the famous statue of Paddy Hannan. 

Another place we were fortunate enough to stop off at was one of the first registered mines in Kalgoorlie, Hannans North Tourist Mine. Here we were able to have a go at panning for gold, a skill that we all hoped would make us into millionaires. The mine site also had many displays and interactive exhibits to explore. We loved climbing into real mining vehicles, completing a scavenger hunt activity and walking through the Chinese Gardens. 

The Super Pit Lookout was a real highlight for students and staff alike. It was incredible watching the mining trucks drive up and down into the huge pit. It was hard not to be amazed by its depth and size.  

Everyone agreed that although Kalgoorlie was a little more than a short drive away, it was well worth the visit! This camp was a lovely getaway before the final home-stretch of term.

– Mr Matthew Caporn | Primary School Teacher 

2020 Bush School Wrap-Up

At Carey Forrestdale we offer a unique learning experience for our students in the form of Bush School, a hands-on learning program that involves stepping outdoors as part of the curriculum. This concept has been in effect for decades, originating in Europe where incredibly positive outcomes on both the students’ learning and wellbeing were noted.

In a country as naturally beautiful and diverse as Australia, it seems like a missed opportunity not to take the classroom outside and explore the flora, fauna and our relationship with it all — especially considering how exceptionally lucky we are at Forrestdale to have the bush at our fingertips.

The children at Forrestdale go out for Bush School several times a week during Terms 2 and 3 and thus far, the response from our students, parents and teachers has been so exceptional that more of our staff are scheduled to be trained in Bush School by the end of 2021, expanding this program and its unlimited potential.

Allowing students to wonder and explore the wildlife is teaching them independent learning at an incredibly young age, something that will be invaluable during their continued learning development. The curiosity of our students is always encouraged and, while their teachers are there to educate, their natural surroundings will often provide the answers. Finding your own answers in nature is how confident, independent and curious minds are nurtured.

We can't wait to jump back into Bush School next year! 

– Mrs Clare Caddy | Pre-Primary Teacher

Filling the Playground Sandpit

On Thursday 5 November, the Kindy and Pre-Primary students, with the help of some incredibly generous parent volunteers, took on the mighty task of filling underneath the playground swing with fresh sand. The new sand was delivered in the morning and our parent volunteers kindly dug up beneath the swing in preparation. Then, with hefty wheelbarrows and little buckets in hand, the students began to transport the pile of new sand into the pit beneath the swing. While it may seem like a mundane activity, the students all found fun and exciting ways to move the sand and were thrilled by the important work they were doing. We even had a team of students in charge of using their multi-coloured plastic rakes to spread out the sandpile.

Whilst it may have been a task to tick off the to-do-list, it never felt like a chore. We had music playing, the sun was shining and as the teachers and parents can attest, the scene looked like the epitome of pure happiness and community. The ever-present giggles and toothy grins plastered on each child’s face was enough evidence to show that they would have happily moved sand all day long.

Even though they were little hands, the statement is still true that many hands make light work, as it wasn’t long before the sand pit was full. No one wanted the fun to end, but at least the students can look at the fruits of their labour everyday when they go outside and reminisce on the fun they had!  

– Mrs Clare Caddy | Pre-Primary Teacher

Turtle-ology Incursion

Earlier this year, the billabong on our Carey Forrestdale bush block was cleared out by some very kind people. Lots of unsightly and dangerous rubbish was removed and the volunteers were surprised to discover a sleepy long neck turtle buried in the dirt. He was busy having his winter nap. Taking good care of our block and looking after its creatures is a high priority for us as staff here at Carey, and something that we believe we are called to do as good stewards of what God has blessed us with. 

On Tuesday 3 November, SERCUL (South East Regional Centre for Urban Landcare) gave a ’Turtle-ology' presentation to Pre-Primary, Year 1 and Year 2 classes.

Students learned all about the Eastern Long Neck Turtle's habitat, features, adaptations and threats. Students found out that turtles start out life all on their own, they don't even get to meet their mums! The mother turtle lays a number of eggs, buries them, then leaves them to hatch and grow up on their own. The children also learnt that foxes and heavy traffic on the roads are the two main threats to these native reptiles. Presenter Erin demonstrated how to safely pick up an injured turtle if we ever needed to rescue one. We learnt that these turtles breathe oxygen through their nostrils so they come up for air often, but prefer to stay in the water most of the time. Students asked many questions and enjoyed touching and inspecting the turtle shells. 

With the new vegetation recently being planted around the billabong, we are hopeful that it will soon become a lovely breeding ground for lots more of these beautiful native reptiles.

– Mrs Heidi Weir | Teacher

Year 1 STEM Innovation

In Year 1 STEM the children were asked to design a parachute. After delving into the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk and acting out the story, it was discovered that poor Jack couldn’t climb back down after the giant had put barbed wire all around the beanstalk. The only solution was to help Jack by building a parachute!

The children tried with trial and error until their parachute could float gently downwards, bringing Jack to the ground without the result of a broken neck or intense turbulence. With innovation and creativity, using any and every resource they could find, the students were able to build very clever parachutes for Jack.

– Mrs Nyree Summerfield | Year 1 Teacher

Primary Interschool Athletics Carnival

In Week 4 our Primary School students from Years 3-6 competed in the WACSSA Interschool Athletics Carnival — Division 3.

With the students competing all day across both track and field events, they were able to achieve individual successes including bronze, silver and gold medals. Whether they were medallists or not, all of their brilliant efforts are what eventually saw us take home the win!

Some of the student achievements across the different age groups included:

Year 6 girls - Bronze - Libby P

Year 5 boys - Gold- Imoh E

Year 5 boys - Bronze - Josh A 

Year 4 boys - Gold - Deshaun K

Year 4 boys - Silver - Tafara M

year 4 girls - Gold- Danika N

Year 3 girls - Bronze - Lucy M

Year 3 girls - Gold - Olivia S

On top of this, we also won four out of eight relays and the Grand Relay. What a triumphant day for our young athletes!

– Mrs Erika Gilbert | Primary Physical Education Teacher

Australian Maths Competition

Earlier in the year, on Thursday 30 July, we had 44 students from Years 3 to 8 participate in the Australian Mathematics Competition at Carey Forrestdale.  We recently received the results of this competition and are pleased to announce that we have had some tremendous outcomes!

The distinction winners were as follows:

Jayden M (Year 8)

Abel S (Year 8)

Raphael S (Year 7)

Selvaganesh K (Year 5)

We also had 17 students across all age groups achieve credits.

This competition was not easy and the perseverance it took for all of our students to power through each difficult and challenging question must be commended. Every student who participated should be very proud of what they accomplished and for having the courage to tackle this Mathematics Competition.

– Mr Matthew Caporn | Primary School Teacher 

Horticulture Students' Veggie Patch 

Russell Montgomery and the Year 7 Horticulture Students planted a veggie garden early last year. 

Staff and students have watched the garden flourish over the months, it is a point of great admiration for those that wander around our outdoor spaces, especially due to the fact that it was all done by our very own students. 

Having a veggie garden and the process of creating one is not only for the benefit of having scrumptious greens at our fingertips. The planting of the vegetables provided an opportunity for our Year 7 students to work cooperatively within the parameters of a hands-on tasks. There was (and continues to be) an ongoing lesson in seasonality and life cycles as students can watch the vegetables change over time. The planting of the garden allowed them to understand the principals of ecology as well as the role of food in life regarding nutrition and health. It also provided a shared project that all of the students could celebrate in as they watched it prosper over time.

By having the students involved in the whole process of this garden, there was a built-in respect, and understanding for it which we expect will extend to the rest of our natural environment and give students a greater appreciation for our natural world. 

Thank you to our Year 7s and Mr Montgomery for introducing this beautiful and delicious addition to our campus.

Writer's Club 

"Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic” – Albus Dumbledore.

The Writer’s Club is a wonderful group at our School, it is designed for kids who love to write and need a place to refine their craft in the company of like-minded individuals. It is an encouraging environment to be a part of as all of the students build each other up, cheer each other on and help out however they can. Mrs Weir hosts The Writer’s Club in her classroom every Thursday at lunchtime; it is open to both Primary and Secondary School students.

Although it is the end of term, the Club will be back next year and it will be an exciting time for all involved (including new members) because in Term 1 of 2021 submissions are due for the Golden Pen Awards. This is a competition which requires students to submit a story meeting the theme, “Big and Small”. Winning entrants will win a cash prize of up to $500, festival book shop vouchers and a creative writing masterclass. It is not necessary for students to submit a piece, but if they are interested and want to give it a crack, this is a great opportunity.

So, what are you waiting for? Any student at our school could be the next Stephen King or J.K. Rowling, they simply have to take the first step and put pen to paper. Come on down to the Writer’s Club on Thursday’s if you have a love of writing and story-telling.

For more information on the Golden Pen Awards click here.

– Mrs Heidi Weir | Teacher

Pre-Primary Water Inquiry 

In Term 4 the Pre-Primary students took a deep dive inquiry into water. This process involved exploring the uses of water, water safety, water conservation and generally how water plays a role in our lives. 

Part of this inquiry saw the cohort venturing to Fremantle in Week 5. The students visited Cicerello's and received a presentation at the aquarium where they learnt about marine life and were allowed to touch some of the weird and wonderful creatures that lived in the aquarium. Following this educational session, the students went down to the beach to collect beautiful treasures that had washed up on the shore which they used to decorate sandcastles. This day not only provided a delicious fish and chips lunch, but it saw our students learn about the importance of protecting the sea and all the creatures that call it home. 

The biggest aspect of our investigation into water was undoubtedly our bridge building project.  For older students, researching is much easier and can simply involve a quick trip to google or flick through a book to get the answers, but for our little Pre-Primary students there has to be a more hands-on approach. Our students experimented with making bridges (working with straws, legos, blocks and boxes), they looked at photos of famous bridges and learnt how materials working together can make things stronger. They went through the entire process of designing their bridges, compiling materials and eventually building their structures which occurred on Thursday 19 November. Parents were invited to come in to assist their children in building the bridges and we even had a few Year 5 and 6 peer mentors some in to help out. The bridges that were made were marvellous with all of them taking on a different shape and style. Each student conducted a worksheet after the completion of this project to reflect on how their bridges were successful and how they could have been improved. 

To wrap-up our inquiry of water, we will be having a water play day on Monday 7 December which the students and teachers are all greatly anticipating. 

– Mrs Clare Caddy | Pre-Primary Teacher

Lost Property

As the end of the year draws near, please take the time to check lost property for any items that you may have misplaced. You will find lost property between the kitchenette and the Year 4 classrooms.

We recommend labelling your belongings as we attempt to sort and return any labelled items to their owners as frequently as possible, but please take the time to check the lost property for yourself just in case. In addition, please remind children to try and keep their belongings in their bags when they are not in use.

Absentees

If your child is going to be absent from school, please SMS 0429 796 628 or email f.absentees@carey.wa.edu.au including your child's full name, class, date/s of absence and reason for the absence.

– Student Services

Update from Accounts 

As we near the end of another school year, the Accounts Team is busy finalising 2020 accounts and getting ready for the new school year. In 2021, we will continue to use your existing direct debit details and payment frequency.

If you would like to change your bank/credit card details or the frequency of your direct debit payments for 2021, please send in a new direct debit form as soon as possible (but no later than 15 January 2021) to forrestdaleaccounts@carey.wa.edu.au.

This will avoid errors on your first statement of 2021 (to be sent late January) or dishonour fees from unsuccessful direct debits. Direct debit forms can be found on the Carey website, in the Current Parents section, or in the Accounts Office.

The Fee Schedule for 2021 will be sent out to all families shortly. You can use this to calculate the 2021 annual tuition fees for your family. 

Update from the Uniform Shop 

We're very excited that our new online Uniform Store is now available! The College has been working on this for a few months to make the process of purchasing uniforms easier. The website has a delivery option, enabling online orders to be shipped to your home.

Shop Online

An online account has automatically been created for all parents that have an email address on the school database.  Details on how to access your account have been emailed to families and are also available on the Webstore FAQ page.  

Stock Delays 

Unfortunately due to shipping delays as a result of COVID-19, we're still waiting for the white shirts and backpacks. These are not expected to arrive until mid January.  To receive an email notification once stock has arrived, please go to the new website and select 'Notify Me' on the relevant product.  

Opening Hours 

The shop is still open as per usual Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00am to 4:30pm, plus we have additional opening times at the end of this term. Shop now to avoid the rush in January!

Monday 30 November: 3:00pm-7:00pm
Wednesday 2 December: 3:00pm-7:00pm
Monday 7 December: 3:00pm-7:00pm
Wednesday 9 December: 3:00pm-7:00pm

Please note our last day of trading for 2020 is Wednesday 9 December 2020.

Upcoming Bunnings Sausage Sizzle — This Saturday!

The Bunnings Sausage Sizzle is happening this weekend on Saturday 5 December. We will be at Armadale Bunnings from 8am-4pm.

We have a very generous group of parent's who have volunteered their time to help out at the Sausage Sizzle and it would be amazing to see even more parents and families from our School coming by. This event is a fundraiser for Horticulture at Forrestdale , and if you have the time to come down and grab a snag, it would be a tremendous help. Every dollar raised will make a difference in bringing the projects within this elective to life. If you can’t make it, spreading the word to friends and family is another way you can show your support.

We hope to see you there!

Church Update

Join us at Carey Church this Christmas!

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to meet together as a community and celebrate 2020, and what has been a very interesting year. So let’s joyfully meet to sing and shower one another with gifts of compassion and kindness. Let’s worship with the company of heaven and all God’s people on Earth as we sing ‘glory to the newborn King’.

Friday 25 December | 9:30am in the Community Hub

For more information, visit our website. 

– Pastor Mark Lilley 

Youth Connect

Sadly, due to Coronavirus the Friday night Youth Program had to come to an end. However, our weekly Youth Ministry is still thriving in a different form. Youth Connect is now taking place every Thursday after school until 4:30pm. This weekly small-group gathering, led by our Next Generations Pastor Shelby O’Reilly, aims to empower our young people to be and make disciples. It is not only for those who already love Jesus and want to delve deeper into their relationship with Him, it is also for those who have a curiosity about Him and want to learn more about the Christian faith.

To join out mailing list and stay up to date with what Carey Youth has coming up in the future, contact Shelby O’Reilly by email here or call on (08) 6166 2204.

– Mrs Shelby O'Reilly | Next Generations Pastor