31st October 2025
Dates to remember
Dates to remember – view live calendar on side panel of newsletter, website, or communication app.
Principal’s Report
Dear Parents and Community Members,
School Leaders – 2026
The end of Term 4 is always an exciting time for our Year 5 students as the selection and elections for our 2026 Student Leadership positions take place. Information about the various processes is outlined below. It’s important that everyone understands these processes so that discussions at home can support students’ understanding and confidence.
Year 6 Student Leaders are selected through a range of formats:
- Faction Leaders – Elected by their peers (Year 4 and 5 students) within each faction and staff, following an election speech at 1:25 pm, Wednesday 19 November.
- School Leaders – Elected by Year 4 and 5 students and staff after delivering an election speech at 8:50 am, Friday 21 November.
- Library Leaders – Selected by the library staff following a trial period during Weeks 6 and 7.
- ICT Leaders – Appointed based on a written application submitted to ICT staff by Friday, 7 November.
- Wellbeing Leaders (new role in 2026) – Students may nominate themselves by Friday, 7 November. Final selection will be made by the Student Services Team and teaching staff.
We wish all students the very best as they put themselves forward for leadership opportunities.
Successful candidates for all positions will be announced at the Week 8 Assembly on Wednesday, 3 December.
Gifted and Talented / Specialist Secondary Programs – 2027
If your child is currently in Year 5 (2025) and is interested in exploring alternative secondary pathways for 2027, please refer to the following links for more information:
Please note that Ashdale Primary School does not facilitate these application processes.
School Development Day
Last Friday, staff participated in a School Development Day focusing on enhancing our teaching practices in Reading and Comprehension. We explored the use of Pause Points—strategic moments during reading where teachers (and parents) stop to ask meaningful questions about the text.
As parents and grandparents, you can also use Pause Points at home. Try not to rely solely on recall questions (e.g., “What happened?”) but include deeper questions that encourage reflection, prediction, and analysis (e.g., “Why do you think that happened?” or “What might happen next?”).
This approach not only makes reading more engaging but also helps children develop stronger comprehension and critical thinking skills.
In the remaining sessions, staff continued their professional learning in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and explored the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in supporting curriculum delivery.
Regards
Tony Watson
Library News
Premier’s Telethon Challenge – Storytelling Competition
Last term, as part of the Premier’s Telethon Challenge, Ashdale Primary School participated in the Premier’s ‘Kids Helping Kids’ Storytelling competition. All students were invited to submit a short story, essay, poem or poster on the ‘Kids Helping Kids’ theme. Only one entry for each category could be entered by each school.
The stories chosen to represent Ashdale Primary School were written by Seraphina Babu Parore from LA16 for the upper primary category and Jisha Bhasvar from LA15 for the lower primary category. At the beginning of term 4, we presented them with a certificate to recognise their story writing efforts, on behalf of the Honourable Roger Cook MLA, Premier of Western Australian, and Richard Goyder, Chairman – Channel 7 Telethon Trust.
We were excited to receive news that Jisha Bhasvar’s story, The Helping Club was the winning entry for the lower primary category. Jisha received a trophy and her story appeared in The West Australian paper.
Holiday Reading Challenge Winners
Congratulations to LA32 who were the winners of the annual Holiday Reading Challenge for 2025. The students in LA32 earnt the most ‘book bricks’ for their class tower by collectively reading the most during the school holidays. For their reward LA32 will enjoy games and a yummy morning tea in the Library with our principal Mr Watson.
Congratulations to all the students who participated in this years Holiday Reading Challenge. It was a close race with LA8 only being 3 bricks behind our winning class. It was more competitive this year, special mention to the Kindy to Year 3 classes who, along with our winning year 5 class, were our biggest participants.
Want to have morning tea with Mr Watson next year? Start 2026 by earning ‘book bricks’ for your new classes tower by reading every day during our end of year holidays. Students will bring home a Summer Holiday Reading Challenge at the end of the term
Reading Academy
Reading Academy continues to be held in the library from 8.15am every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday morning. All students from year 1 up are welcome to come along for some extra reading time before school. We invite Year 1 and 2 students to bring along their Home Reader to read to a Year 5 or 6 tutor. We know that extra reading practice helps embed the sounds and repeat reading of books builds fluency. Plus its fun to read with an older student buddy!
Community Little Library
Did you know that Ashdale Primary School has a Community Little Library? Located outside the main Library door, this little house is full of pre-loved books for you to take home. Recently, we have had lots of wonderful books donated and it is overflowing with choices. Come check it out!
Enrolments 2026 Kindergarten to Year 6
For enrolments in 2026 Kindergarten to Year 6 - please visit our website Enrolments - Ashdale Primary School or collect an enrolment form from the office.
If your child/ren won’t be returning to Ashdale Primary School in 2026, can you please advise the office by email ashdale.ps.enrolments@education.wa.edu.au
Office News
School Voluntary Contributions (including P & C Contribution)
Have you paid the voluntary contribution $60/student and P & C Levy $40/family?
We encourage payments via the Qkr! app – this is a very simple and quick process and alleviates the need for busy parents to come into the office or send money in with students.
Instructions on how to download the App are available on our website from the link below or see the Qkr! Tip article below.
- Alternative payment methods (cash/eftpos/credit card) are available through the front office.
- Families may pay the Voluntary Contribution in instalments.
Legends
P&C News
A big shoutout to all the parents and students for making our last Ride2School Day last Friday such a hit! Our YourMove champion loved seeing so many students biking, scootering, or walking to school. We're pumped to keep this going and Ride2School Day in Term One next year is going to be just as fun!
The P&C host an annual morning tea to celebrate World Teacher’s Day and this year will be held on Thursday 6th November. Can you help us by providing a plate of sweet or savoury treats for our teachers to enjoy? If so, please pop your name down at the following link: https://signup.com/go/UkFpXgU
Don’t forget, our highly anticipated disco is coming up on Thursday November 13th! If you think you can spare some time to help our P&C, make this an awesome event for the kids, we'd love for you to sign up. Keep an eye out for details on our Facebook page.
Colour Run Update
Please be patient as we process the orders that closed on the 18th. Once they’re processed, they'll be shipped from over east to us, and we’ll need to sort them out ready for dispersing to students. We expect the prizes to be handed out to the kids in week 8.
If you dropped by to say hi last Wednesday at the Learning Journey event at our P&C stall, we hope you picked up some tips on reducing traffic around the school. We also hope you grabbed one of those cool activity books from YourMove for your child, along with a P&C pen or some bubbles!
We can't wait to see everyone again at our final P&C meeting for 2026 on Tuesday 25th November 2025 at 7pm in the staff room.
School Disco
🎉 Have you heard the latest? 🤫
🪩ASHDALE is gearing up for a P.A.R.T.Y! 🎤🎸🎧 Make sure to snag your child's ticket on QKR!
Ticket and KFC (YEAR 6 ONLY!) orders close on Monday, November 10th, at 6 PM! 🔚
📍 All the info you need is in the second picture!
📍 Just a reminder, unless you're volunteering, parents won’t be allowed in the undercover area!
VOLUNTEERS - Please sign up here https://signup.com/go/pNwyTvW
Community News
DoE SECURITY
Please help to keep our school safe! As part of our school community, we ask that if you see any unusual behaviour, evidence of theft or vandalism of our school outside of school hours, could you please contact school security on the number below.
Please do not approach any individuals, just contact security and they will investigate the situation or contact the Police. Working together will help protect our school.
9264 4771 (24-hour number) or 9264 4635
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