NEWSLETTER N0.11
PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
UPDATE ON OUR PREPS I am thrilled to report to you that our Prep children have settled in really well this year. We are now into second term and the feedback I receive is very positive indeed. In reporting this news to you, I do emphasise that this is not a surprise. For many years now our Prep staff has done outstandingly well in ensuring that the transition to school for Prep children is successful. Parent support is so important to the success of children’s first year of schooling, and we have this in bucket loads. From my perspective, it is very heart warming to see so many smiling and confident young faces at every Monday morning assembly
– just one indicator of how well the Prep children are doing. WET DAY PROGRAM No-one likes having a wet day program, but of course there are days when we have no choice but to keep the children inside. Lately we are having more of them. The children are engaged in supervised free time activities whilst inside. We do try to allow the children even a short time outside if at all possible – just to freshen up. Sometimes this is not possible and your child may come home having been indoors all day and feeling a little frazzled. It’s worth remembering.
26TH APRIL 2012
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q. What is the school doing about the uneven concrete paths? A.The lifting sections of concrete paths do cause us headaches. In the first instance we paint such sections with a bright yellow paint strip making them more visible. As our budget permits we replace such sections, grading the ground to ensure that the paths are again level. QUOTABLE QUOTE ‘If you really want to lead a happier life, then view ‘happiness’ as a transient state rather than as an entitlement.’
HENRY GROSSEK
DIARY DATES Friday 27th April Friday 4th May Wednesday 9th May Friday 11th May Wednesday 23rd May
Gr 3 & 4 Melbourne Museum Gr 1 & 2 Casey Safety Village Gr 1 & 2 Casey Safety Village 5/6 Interschool Winter Sport (away) Mother’s day Stall St Margaret’s Netball Competition Fun Maths Activity Day
NOTICES DUE BACK Friday 20th April Tuesday 1st May Thursday 3rd May Friday 4th May Thursday 10th May Friday 11th May Monday 14th May Friday 18th May Wednesday 6th June
Cross Country Parent Helper Form 5/6 Interschool Winter Sport Mother’s day notice St Margaret's Netball Competition 5/6 Non Participation Forms 5/6 Camp Forms Social Club Books Fun Maths Activity Day Year 7 Transition Forms 5/6 Camp Balance
SCHOOL BANKING The School Banking program includes an exciting Rewards Program designed to encourage children to get into the habit of making regular saving. Every time your child makes a deposit at school they receive a silver coloured Dollarmites token. The first token will be received upon the first deposit at school. Once your child has individually saved 10 tokens they can redeem them for an exclusive Dollarmites reward item. Students will have lots of fun saving their tokens for these cool rewards items. School Banking is also a great fundraiser for our school. The school receives $5 when children make their first deposit at school and a commission on every deposit made through the School Banking program. Taking part in School Banking is easy. If your child has an existing Commonwealth Bank Youthsaver account they can start banking straight away. They just need to bring their deposit in every week using their Dollarmites deposit wallet. If your child has misplaced their Dollarmites deposit book or deposit wallet, they can request a new one from either the local branch or contact the School Banking Co-ordinator. If your child does not have a Youthsaver account, you can open one at any Commonwealth Bank branch, no forms to fill in! Alternatively, if you are an existing Commonwealth Bank customer with access to NetBank you can apply online. Another option is to download a paper-based application form from commbank.com.au/schoolbanking. Please note this option may take up to 2 weeks before a Dollarmites wallet and deposit book is sent to your home address to start banking at school.
CANTEEN IS ONLY OPEN MONDAY, THURSDAY & FRIDAYS
ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT SIGN WRITER WANTED As part of our upcoming refurbishment we are looking for a sign writer who would be able to redesign several signs around the school which indicate the location of areas within the school grounds. If there is a family in our school community who would be interested in assisting us with this task, could they please contact the office and let us know. ACMA PRESENTATION Are you concerned about your child’s use of social media and online activities when accessing technology such as computers and mobile phones? Would you like information to support their online safety? During this term we are offering a series of workshops to address these and other important issues related to children’s computer and phone usage. These workshops are being conducted by a representative from the Australian Communications and Media Authority and will take place on Monday25th June. Student workshops will be held for Years 5 and 6 classes during school time, the staff will
participate in a Staff Meeting PD session and a parent workshop will be conducted at 7:00pm. We encourage all families to mark this date in their diaries. Further information will be sent home closer to the date. WOOLWORTHS EARN & LEARN SHOPPING INCENTIVE PROGRAM Following on from the success with our involvement with last year’s Woolworths Earn and Learn Program we have again registered to participate in this incentive. Last year the school received materials to support the Lego program in our school. The Earn and Learn Program will commence early next month and families who shop at Woolworths can collect points from Wednesday 9th May. This year the shoppers are encouraged to collect stickers which are then put onto a card that is forwarded to the school when completed. Further information will be available via the media and our school newsletter. WELLBEING INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES This week we have included a flyer with the newsletter. This provides information about a program called ‘Growing Great
Kids’. It is an opportunity for parents and carers to discuss experiences, ideas and strategies to make parenting easier and fun. The program operates on consecutive Tuesdays for six weeks, commencing May 1st. There is no cost involved but bookings are required. Please see the flyer for contact details and further information. SOMERS CAMP FOR YEARS 5 AND 6 STUDENTS We had an overwhelming response from families expressing an interest in their child attending the 2012 Somers Camp. Unfortunately we were not able to offer a place to all interested students and consequently undertook a ballot process for selection. All children who returned their forms will have received notification today regarding their attendance or non attendance at the camp. Should we have a family decline a position that has been offered we may be able to accommodate some of the students who have missed out on a place. If this is the case families will be notified at the earliest opportunity.
LYNNE BRENNER & DEBBIE CUSACK
HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER? Please ensure you let the school office know if you have changed address or updated mobile phones with new numbers. This information alleviates stressful situations on students when they are ill and we cannot contact parents
2013 YEAR 7 TRANSITION NEWS All Year 6 students have now received their Applications forms for Year 7. Please read the information carefully before completing the application form.
All forms MUST BE RETURNED to your child’s class teacher BY FRIDAY 18th MAY 2012. If details are incorrect on the top part of the application form please contact the school office to update your information. Any queries can be directed to Mrs Sue Naismith, Rm 24 or by phone on 9707 1766. Many local secondary schools hold Information Evenings for prospective families at this time of the year. All Grade 5 and 6 parents are strongly encouraged to attend these information sessions to find out about their local secondary schools. Kambrya S.C is holding their Information Evening on Thursday 26th April 2012, 6.20pm - 7.30pm. Timbarra S.C. is holding their information Evening on Wednesday 9th May 2012, 7.00pm - 8.00pm. Fountain Gate S.C. is holding their information Evening on Tuesday 1st May 2012, from 7.00pm
Casey Safety Village Excursion Grades 2FR and 2G went to Casey Safety Village. Here is what we learnt. On Tuesday 24th April we went to Casey Safety Village. We learnt about the fire triangle. It has heat, fuel and oxygen in it. By Charlize and Whitney 2FR We went to Casey Safety Village. Our favourite part was when Kylie taught us if you get caught in a fire you should stop, drop and roll and it will put out the fire because it takes the oxygen away. By Olivia and Taylah 2FR On Tuesday 24th April at 9.30 am we went to Casey Safety Village and it was raining. We couldn’t ride the bikes because of the rain. We went inside and learnt about fire safety and crossing safety. Our favourite part was when the fake fire came out. By Zac A and Joshua H 2FR
SCHOOL AWARDS
Congratulations to the following students who received awards over the last week: Ben PS
Matilda PW Matilda PM Jacob PS Sebastian PM Luke PW
3/4 SCIENCE ROTATIONS THANK YOU TO ALL 3 & 4 STUDENTS FOR THEIR EFFORT AND BEHAVIOUR DURING THE 3/4 SCIENCE ROTATIONS LAST TUESDAY 24TH APRIL 2012
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COMMUNITY ADVERTISING
LOST A Berwick Lodge PS Buttoned sweater , with the name of Spike, if found could you please return it to Mr Whitehead in Rm 18.
COMMUNITY ADVERTISING FOR SALE 6x4 Blue Felt Pool Table: comes with variety of Cues, Cue Stand, x 1 Set of Balls, x 1 Set of Competition Balls. $700.00 Beech/Grey office desk: ‘Empire’ brand with round end 90cm W x 290cm L $180.00 2 door cupboards: x3 beech 800 W x 410 D x 890mm H $120.00 White Board: comes with or without stand 1500mm x 1200mm $50.00 All Enquires please call Kellie 0407 329 122 THEMES SECONDARY EDUCATION MAGAZINE This magazine provides parents with Secondary Education options and Open Days information. These magazines are available from the school office.