BERWICK LODGE PRIMARY SCHOOL Phone: 9707 1766 Fax: 9796 2198 E-mail: berwick.lodge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Visit our Websites : www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au, http://berwicklodgeps.globalteacher.org.au
NEWSLETTER N0.35
20TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
DIARY DATES Friday 20th November Monday 23rd November Tuesday 24th November Tuesday 24th November Monday 30th November Monday 7th December Friday 18th December Monday 1st February
12TH NOVEMBER 2009
NOTICES DUE BACK BY 20th Anniversary Fete 3:00-8:30pm Gr 1/2 Joffas Toonschool Gr 3/4 Joffas Toonschool Second Hand Uniform shop 2.30-3.15pm School Council Sub Comm School Council Meeting Last day term 4—1:30 finish First day term 1 2010
Friday 13th November Fete wrist band order Wednesday 18th November Gr 1/2 & 3/4 Joffas Toonschool Thursday 19th November Gr 6-2010 windcheater/t-shirt
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT PARENT REQUESTS FOR GRADE PLACEMENT In last week‘s newsletter I foreshadowed that I would be inviting parents who believe that there exceptional reasons that we should take into account when determining their child‘s grade placement for 2010. Of course this begs the question – ‗What type of parent requests for grade placement carry much weight? By exceptional circumstances I mean situations such as ‗my child has had the same teacher for the past two years and I believe my child would benefit from teaching diversity’, or ‘my child does not have a wide circle of friends and they would benefit from being placed with at least one of their closer friends’, or alternatively, ‘my child has experienced serious difficulties that remain unresolved, with a particular child in their grade this year and it would be in their interests to be placed in a different grade to that child next year’, etc. Requests such as asking for a specific teacher because you believe them to be an excellent teacher, or providing me with lists of children that you want your child to be placed with or not be placed with do not carry the same weight. The reason I say this is because in the past, when we have had more generous criteria for parent requests, we have been literally flooded with them – the peak number being 254! That creates an unworkable situation for us. My best advice to parents is for you to trust the judgement of our teaching staff – we put a lot of time in to the process of grade selection to create balanced and fair grades across the school. Inevitably some children will not end up with all or even
most of their close friends or their first choice of teacher. Dealing positively with those types of situations happen to us all on a regular basis throughout our lives. It‘s worth keeping in mind. Please note that if you have a grade placement request for next year, I need to receive it in writing by Monday 23rd November.
Within a week I received another phone call from my Regional Director, but this time there was alarm in her voice. She was informing me that the Education Department had received a formal appeal against my appointment from a different applicant to the one I had met at Dromkeen. My heart sank and I was on tenterhooks for the next fortnight as the appeal process followed its course. ECHOES FROM OUR FIRST 20 During this time I was not allowed to YEARS Looking back to this time in 1989, I recall have any contact with the school council nor attend any meetings of the new staff, an emotional roller coaster time for all of whom had already been appointed myself. It was in late October that I received a telephone call from our then by the Education Department under the old seniority system. At the time only Regional Director, Dr Jean Russell, informing me that I had been selected for the principal was locally selected via a merit based selection process. That was the position of principal of Berwick a hard time for us all! Lodge P.S. – in fact to be the founding principal! I was on a school excursion to I do know that the two colleagues to whom I have referred in this anecdote Dromkeen, a popular literature excursion venue for schools, at the time. have long retired, and of course I am still here! When I hung up the phone and turned around, I guess my facial expression said FREQUENTLY ASKED it all. The first person I spoke with was a QUESTIONS (FAQ’s) colleague from another school, also on a Q. Why have you stayed here so school excursion to Dromkeen. Their long? question to me was, ―Have you just won A. I really enjoy it. tattslotto?‖ After explaining my joy to QUOTABLE QUOTE the person, much to my horror they ‘Instant communication may quite informed me that they had also been an literally be at our fingertips, but quality applicant for the Berwick Lodge P.S. position. Furthermore, they felt that they communication still needs a good teacher.’ had a Merit and Equity case for an appeal. However, given that an appeal would simply mean that the position HENRY would be readvertised, they would not be taking that course of action. My relief GROSSEK was palpable, though the experience left me rattled.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’ S REPORT TOILET REFURBISHMENT PROJECT UPDATE Work has continued this week on the refurbishment of the toilets at the end of our main building. Currently the painters are working to complete their part of the project. Next week a new floor will be laid and the plumbers will commence refitting the fixtures and partitions. The children have cooperated well with the change of conditions. Following the completion of this part of the project refurbishment will commence on the gymnasium toilets.
other people. This issue also highlights the importance of parent vigilance in monitoring their children‘s use of computers for communication and social networking.
PREP TRANSITION 2010 Next Tuesday we commence our Prep Transition Program for the students enrolled for 2010. Week one of the program consists of a child focused tour of the school including a visit to the current prep classrooms. The children will be in transition groups that have been put together based on their CHAIN EMAIL CONCERNS kinder groupings. They will remain in these groups for Weeks We have recently received correspondence from a parent two and three to experience activities in the art room, music expressing their concerns about children emailing chain letters room gymnasium and ICT centre. In Week four the children to their friends. The family concerned recently received such will be placed in their 2010 class groups for an orientation an email that contained graphically inappropriate content that session in their classroom for could be very distressing to a child. Unfortunately today many 2010. similar emails are in circulation. At our recent Cyber Safety Parent Information Evening Greg Gebhart spoke about these LYNNE BRENNER & DEBBIE emails and the concerns that they raise. He also indicated that CUSACK these emails are generated by organisations intent on collecting personal information by tracking where the emails have been sent. His advice to families was to train their children to delete these emails and not to forward them on to
ANNIVERSARY FETE NEWS WHITE ELEPHANT STALL Just a friendly reminder that we are still collecting unwanted goods for the stall until Thursday 19th November. All items must be clean and good condition. No electrical or clothing items. A PFA member will be available everyday to help with large items. WRIST BANDS Orders due Friday 13th November for $15.00 unlimited rides. Wristbands available on the day are $20.00 STALL HELPERS Allocation of Stall helper notices will be sent out this week. Please let the office know if there are any changes needed. Thanks PFA
ART NEWS Urgently Needed! Do you have any old photos of your children at Berwick Lodge with friends, at sports days, camps, excursions that you would be willing to hand in so we can add to our 20th year Photo Board for our up- coming fete next week? Even if you have older children who were once past students and are able to dig up photos from many years ago, that would be great! Please bring them in an envelope A.S.A.P to the Art Room, labelled with name and grade, so we can return them. Thanks! A big thank you to Ben S 2P‘s dad, Matt for donating many larger art smocks that will be great for our grade 5/ 6 students to use! A reminder to all Grade 5 / 6 students to bring photos to add to your Time Journals next week! Have a good week! Jo Zammit and Julie McLeod Visual Arts Teachers
SCHOOL AWARDS Congratulations to the following students who received awards over the last week.
Phillip PO Zach PC Blake PL Jacinta PT Zac PT Kyle PT
Leah PO Nelia PC Leah PL Elma PT
COMMUNITY NEWS National VHS video camera—includes carry case, 2 batteries, battery charger, connecting leads and instructions,. excellent condition. Canon electric portable typewriter, typestar 5, display panel, great for children, excellent condition. Plastic bottles with lids—1ltr, unmarked 4 bags of 150 bottles. Photocopier—Mita DC 1855 with metal cabinet, recently services, includes 2 tone cartridges, A3 and A4 trays and dust cover. Phone Lyn on 9707 2728 for inquiries. FREE
High School Musical Short Course Dance Classes Starting Thursday 19.11.09 6 – 9 Years 4pm – 4.45 pm 4 Weeks $25 Per Child Charisma Dance Centre 106 High St ( Masonic Hall ) Berwick Bookings Essential Email charismadance@bigpond.com or PH: 9889 2022 Every Booking will receive a $20 Discount off our Dance and Karaoke Birthday Parties
UBBC Crèche Enrolments for 2010 At the Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre Crèche (UBCC Crèche), enrolments will be taken the week of November 30th. Our registered 1 child care crèche has everything that your child will need. Places are available from 6 weeks to school age and you can drop children off for a couple of hours or a full day. Our flexibility means your flexibility - our hours are 8:30am to 4:00pm and you only pay for what you use. The staff at our centre are highly qualified and experienced childcare workers. The environment is relaxing and safe, where the children play amongst the native surroundings of Upper Beac. Please feel free to drop by and pick up an enrolment pack, say hello as our hidden gem is waiting for your child now. Enrolments close Friday 11th December
St. Michael‘s Church is holding a parent only meeting for all families who have a child in Grade 2 or above this year and who wish to make the Sacrament of Reconciliation in 2010. The meeting is on Wednesday November 18th 2009 at St. Michael‘s Church. There are two session times available: at 1.30 pm or at 7.30 pm. Attendance to this meeting is a pre-requisite to enrol your child in the Reconciliation Program. Enrolment forms will be given out at this meeting. Please contact the Parish Office on 9707 1355 to confirm the session you are attending.
Casey Hockey Club Purpose: Hook in2 Hockey is Australia's national recruitment program and is designed as a fun and safe introduction to the sport of hockey. When: Eight week program commencing : Wednesday 18th Nov., 25nd Nov, 2nd Dec 9th Dec 2009 Wednesday 3rd Feb, 10th Feb 17th Feb 24th Feb 2010 Times : Grades Prep to 3 5.30p.m to 6.30p.m Grades 4 to 6 6.30p.m. to 7.30 p.m Where: Berwick Secondary College, Manuka Road Berwick (Mel Ref: H7) Cost: $50.00 Booking: For Further Information & Bookings: Jeff Reidy: Email: jefreidy@bigpond.net.au Telephone:5941 5492 Mobile: 0407 511 206
Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre Crèche. 10 – 12 Salisbury road, Upper Beaconsfield or call us on 5944 3484 or crèche@ubcc.org.au
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