Christ the King School

Welcome to Week 8!

 

Last Wednesday, I had the privilege of accompanying our school choir to the UNDA Education Mass, in Fremantle. We were invited by a dear friend of mine, and our students and choir certainly did not disappoint. Under the direction of Mrs Jackie Carroll, the students sang beautifully and contributed wonderfully throughout the Mass. Parents, friends, and many staff from the Education Department at the UNDA were also present, and our students represented our school with outstanding manners, excellent behaviour, and enthusiastic participation. This was another fantastic opportunity for our students to be involved in our local community, highlighting the amazing work we are doing at Christ the King School! A special thank you to Mr Doug May for joining us and supporting the afternoon. The children enjoyed an icy pole, juice box, and afternoon tea afterwards, as a special treat! We are so proud of our students! Congratulations to Mrs Carroll! Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing with the choir and for encouraging our students to always give their very best! You made me very proud!

 

Athletics Carnival Week at CtK
It has been an exciting week at Christ the King School! Our Jumps and Throws Day for Years 3-6 took place on Tuesday 9 September, and our Athletics Carnival will be held on Friday, 12 September. Please ensure all clothing is clearly labelled, and that students are prepared with healthy food, water, and sunscreen. A reminder that parents are not permitted in the bays and lollies are not allowed. A huge thank you to Ms McLinden for her organisation of the 2025 CtK Athletics Carnival! We look forward to a fantastic day ahead and wish all our students the very best of luck!

 

Edu-Dance and Boogie Woogie Concerts
Our students have been thoroughly enjoying their Edu-Dance and Boogie Woogie classes this term. We are excited to showcase their hard work and talent in Week 9! Please check communication from your child’s classroom teacher for further details. We can’t wait to see our students shine on stage!

 

CtK Open Night
We are delighted to invite all families to our Open Night on Wednesday 17 September (Week 9), from 5pm–7pm. Classrooms will be open for families to explore the wonderful learning happening at CtK. The evening will also feature a sausage sizzle and bake sale hosted by our P&F, along with our much-loved Lego Exhibition in the library. We warmly welcome all families and friends to come along and celebrate our vibrant school community.

 

Kindy & Pre-Kindy Pick-Up
We kindly ask all Kindy and Pre-Kindy parents to closely supervise your child once they have been picked up and entered the quadrangle, as teachers are still completing work in their classrooms. Noise and movement outside can be distracting for students still learning. Please also remind your children that running in the quadrangle is not permitted, as classes are still in progress and teachers are preparing for the next day. Thank you for your support and cooperation with this matter.

 

Wellbeing at CtK

This term, Wellbeing Week offers a special opportunity to dive deeper into the principles of the Berry Street Education Model, a holistic, trauma-informed approach designed to enhance students’ emotional, social, and cognitive wellbeing. Rooted in understanding the impact of trauma and adversity, the model empowers educators to create safe, supportive, and engaging learning environments that promote resilience and positive growth for all students.

Throughout the week, we will focus on several key practices central to the Berry Street Model:

• Morning Circle: This is more than a simple gathering; it’s a powerful ritual that fosters a sense of belonging and community right at the start of the day. By sharing intentions, checking in with feelings, and practicing mindfulness, the morning circle helps students feel seen, heard, and emotionally regulated, setting a positive and calm tone for learning.
• Positive Primers: These intentional activities act as mental and emotional warm-ups, helping students transition smoothly into lessons by engaging their brains and promoting positive mindset shifts. Primers are designed to increase motivation, reduce anxiety, and prepare students to engage fully with their learning.
• Brain Breaks: Recognizing that young minds need regular pauses, brain breaks are short, movement-based or mindfulness activities that boost concentration, reduce stress, and support self-regulation. These breaks improve overall classroom engagement and help students return to tasks refreshed and ready to focus.
• Buddy Activities: On Friday, we’ll provide structured opportunities for buddy activities, encouraging peer support, cooperation, and friendship-building. These interactions help strengthen social skills, empathy, and a sense of connectedness, which are crucial for wellbeing and academic success.

 

By integrating these elements of the Berry Street Education Model into our Wellbeing Week, we aim to nurture a learning environment where every student feels safe, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential, emotionally, socially, and academically.

 

Important Reminders – Student Absences & Late Arrivals

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students, please take note of the following procedures:

1. Reporting Absences

All student absences must be reported to the school office by 9am via one of the official channels:

• Website: www.ctk.wa.edu.au
• Phone: 9487 9900
• Email: admin@ctk.wa.edu.au

While informing the classroom teacher is appreciated, it does not meet the official attendance requirements.

2. Late Arrivals – After 8.40am

If your child arrives after 8.40am, please sign them in at the front office. This ensures:

• Accurate attendance records
• Their safety in case of emergencies

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and well-organised school environment.

 

Communication Guidelines at Christ the King

At Christ the King, we deeply value the strong partnership between home and school. Parents and carers play a vital role in supporting their child’s learning, and clear, respectful communication helps ensure we’re all working together to provide the best possible experience for our students.

If you need to discuss anything related to your child, we kindly ask that your first point of contact is always your child’s class or specialist teacher. Our teachers will also reach out directly to parents and carers as needed, regarding any school-related matters.

To help maintain a healthy work-life balance for our staff, we ask families to keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Teacher Availability: Teachers are not expected to respond to Seesaw messages or emails after 4pm. Each teacher has set their “work hours” on Seesaw to help ensure consistency across the school.
• Response/Reply Time: Unless the matter is urgent, please allow up to 48 hours for a reply. Teachers are not required to respond to messages on weekends or during school holidays, so please be mindful of this.
• Part-Time Staff: Please note that part-time teachers are not expected to respond on days they are not working.

Our staff are dedicated professionals who have family, personal commitments, and responsibilities outside of school hours. We appreciate your understanding and ongoing support in respecting their time and wellbeing. Thank you for helping us maintain a positive and respectful communication environment at CtK.

 

Will Your Child Be Returning to Christ the King in 2026?

We are pleased to share that Christ the King School continues to thrive, with many year levels currently at capacity and waiting lists in place for families hoping to join our school community. To assist us with planning for 2026, we kindly ask that if you know your child will not be returning to Christ the King next year, please notify the Administration Office as soon as possible, via email. This information allows us to offer places to new families in a timely manner and support a smooth transition for all students.

 

Congratulations!!

Congratulations to Evie Bath, Charlotte Millett, and Ava Chiappini on their outstanding achievements in the Interschool Public Speaking Competition. Our students worked diligently to prepare and deliver their speeches, speaking with clarity and confidence. A special mention to Evie and Charlotte for reaching the Preliminary Finals. Well done, girls – you have made us very proud! Huge thanks to Mrs Doecke for providing our students with this wonderful opportunity.

 

Upcoming Dates to Note

Week 9:

🗓 Tuesday 16 September – Boogie Woogie Parents and Families Dance Sessions

🗓 Wednesday 17 September – Edu-dance Concert GOLD classes in the hall at 2.15pm and Open Night at 5pm – 7pm

🗓 Thursday 18 September – Edu-dance Concert RED classes in the hall at 2.15pm

Week 10:

🗓 Monday 22 September – Year 6 Camp, Year 4 Excursion, Year 2 Excursion

🗓 Thursday 23 September – Year 6 Camp

🗓 Wednesday 24 September – Year 6 Camp

🗓 Thursday 25 September – Year 6 Reflection Day & Last day for students and staff

🗓 Friday 26 September – PUPIL FREE DAY for all students!

Please be advised that Friday 26 September, 2025 is a Pupil Free Day and marks the final day of Term Three. Term Four will commence for all students on Tuesday 14 October, 2025.

 

Staff Profile

Our amazing Year 6 leaders, Tessa and Bailen, will be conducting interviews with our staff throughout the year to help us all get to know each other better. This week, they interviewed Mrs Gauci, our wonderful Year 5 Teacher. Please read on to learn more about Mrs Gauci below:

How long have you been teaching for?
25 years.

Have you had another job before teaching?
Yes – When I was at high school I worked at a pharmacy and I worked at Mazzucchelis and I also did a lot of tutoring.

 What are some of your strengths?
Very positive, passionate, I’m able to see the good in others, I’m inclusive and building relationships.

What’s your passion?
To make every child see their worth, to love who they are and know that they are enough.

What’s your favourite school value?
Respect.

What are your favourite sports?
I love watching my girls play netball and I love watching Freo.

Do you have a pet?
Yes – A Spoodle called Teddy!

 

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

Mrs. Sabrina Reardon
Assistant Principal

 

A Message from our School Nurse – Ms Andrea Mangan

Spring has sprung but this does not mean Flu season is over. It does mean that Hay fever season is here to join us as well. Because we have had several reported Influenza B cases here in CTK it is important to please see some recent information from local news sources giving you an idea of what’s currently happening and hopefully this will encourage you to please ensure hand hygiene at home, please keep your children home if unwell. I would like to take this opportunity to ask parents/guardians that if you have not made me aware of any allergy or asthma plans to please let me know asap. I cannot help your child effectively if I do not have up to date information.

 

Flu Surge and Hay Fever Vigilance in Perth Schools

• Just this past June, WA recorded over 10,428 confirmed flu cases, more than double compared to the same period last year—marking what health officials describe as the worst flu season in a decade. Sadly, a young child’s death has also been reported this season The West Australian.
• The majority of cases continue to be among children, with Influenza B notifications soaring ninefold compared to last year—already over 8,000 cases as of May BSN Australia9News.
• Health experts strongly urge vaccination—particularly for children—to reduce severe outcomes and help alleviate health system demand 9NewsThe West Australian.

 

High Pollen Season Ahead—and Why It’s a Concern

• Perth is heading into a season of increased pollen levels, driven by dry winter rain followed by warm, breezy weather. This creates a “perfect recipe” for hay fever and asthma flare-ups The West Australian.
• Thankfully, our city now benefits from the Perth Pollen Count and Forecast Service, launching real-time data and forecasts to help allergy sufferers plan ahead research.curtin.edu.auABC.
• Perth Pollenpollenwatch.info.

 

What This Means for Our School Community

Area of Concern	Why It Matters	Safety Advice
Flu Among Students	High paediatric flu rates, low vaccination uptake, serious health outcomes.	Strongly encourage flu vaccination; monitor for symptoms like fever or cough; keep unwell students at home; reinforce hygiene and mask protocols as needed.
Hay Fever & Asthma	Rising pollen may trigger symptoms that mimic or exacerbate respiratory illnesses.	Track pollen forecasts; prepare allergy management plans (including inhalers/action plans); keep extra tissues, antihistamines available.
Overlap Risks	Allergy symptoms may mask early signs of flu or RSV.	Educate staff to distinguish between allergy flare-ups and viral symptoms; consult parents promptly if symptoms escalate or don’t respond to usual treatment.

 

Ms Andrea Mangan
School Nurse

 

 

 

Messages from the P&F President – Mrs Suraya Correia

Firstly, a huge THANK YOU to all of the amazing people who so kindly volunteered their time last week to help run the Father’s Day Stalls. We hope that all of the special blokes in our CtK Community enjoyed the special gifts, and that they had a lovely day filled with lots of love and quality time.

Unfortunately, due to the horrid weather we received last Friday, the Father’s Day BBQ had to be cancelled. We had a huge number of people who had already rsvp’d, and to make it up to you we are offering all of the Dads and Male Caregivers a FREE Sausage Sizzle and drink on Open Night! As this is still a fundraiser, it will not extend to the children and grandparents and we thank you for your understanding.

The Annual Open Night Sausage Sizzle will be happening on Wednesday 17th September and we desperately need helpers to serve on the night. It will be split into 2 sessions (5-6pm & 6-7pm) so you would only be helping for a little bit and then will have the other half to spend with your kids exploring the school. If you can help out please jump onto the hub and sign up via the volunteer link. If we do not get enough volunteers, we will unfortunately have to cancel the Sausage Sizzle.

We will also be having a Baked Goods section at Open Night, so we are asking for baked good donations to sell on the night. If you can help us out and whip up (or buy and pretend you made 🤣) something yummy, please drop it off to the canteen on Wednesday 17th September at 8:15-8:30am OR 2:30-3pm.

Musical Bingo tickets are now ON SALE! It will be a night packed with fun and a lot of laughter after the half time entertainment from our very own Peter Rowsthorn! There will be a bar to purchase drinks, raffles, silent auctions and the 2026 CtK CAR BAY auctions that you wont want to miss! We have a few tables left to fill, so if you want to come and join in the fun, jump on the hub to purchase your tickets. Individual tickets are also available to purchase for a seat on an open table.

Have a wonderful weekend CtK!

Suraya 🙂
P&F President