Greetings to staff, students, parents and community members and welcome to this edition of the school newsletter. I trust that you managed to escape any major damage from the recent storm that swept across the metropolitan area on Monday. Fortunately the school only received some minor rain damage to a couple of areas in the school that did not affect the teaching and learning program. Staff cars in the car park were not so lucky, with many of them sustaining hail damage as the heavens opened around 4.15pm and the drive home after our staff meeting was very interesting! HARMONY DAY Sunday, 21 March was National Harmony Day which was celebrated around Australia. Ardross Primary has a very diverse student population with nearly 50 different cultures comprising our 420 students. We celebrated Harmony Day yesterday with many different activities held across the school, culminating in the Harmony Day Assembly presented by Room 7. Unfortunately due to Mrs Bishop’s absence over the last two weeks and being on camp, some activities have not been completed and will be followed up at a later date. One of the main activities was to unveil our new Harmony Tile Mural. Keep watching this space for further information on its completion. STRANGER DANGER Very frequently I remind students, staff and parents about safely getting to and from school as I regularly receive emails from the District Office advising of incidents across the metropolitan area. I am extremely pleased to report that the messages are understood and followed as the following example illustrates. At 8.10am Monday morning I was advised by a concerned parent and Year 7 student that they had witnessed a young student walking to school when a car pulled up alongside, wound down the window and asked if the child wanted to “take a ride around the block”. The student duly got in to the car. The Year 7 student wrote down a description of the car, most of the registration number and a description of the student’s bag and came straight to my office. We quickly looked at some photos and identified a couple of students who fitted the description and made a few phone calls to parents to confirm student whereabouts. By 8.30am the mystery student had been identified, the circumstances of their arrival at school confirmed and parent contact made to ensure everyone was aware of the situation.
Congratulations to Jordan Zenke who was a very diligent student who alerted me to a possible situation - a sensational effort. The young student hopped in to his father’s car unbeknown to Jordan. A great effort all round. PREMIER’S SUMMER READING CHALLENGE The Premier’s Summer Reading Challenge was a great success with thousands of children participating across the State. The Challenge reinforces the efforts of teachers to ensure that every young person becomes a proficient reader. Congratulations to the following students who will be receiving certificates when they arrive for successfully completing the Challenge. Ray Nakanishi, Connor Major, Olivia Fereday, Catherine Cheng, Jamie Burkhill, Cate Major, Lucas Ho, Alden Bong, Rezvan Bakhshi, Jimmy Pae, Gabriel Ng, Taiki Nakanishi, Alessandra Ho, Anthony Haddad, Alex Crowhurst, Jane Pae, Serena Joppich, Su En Hia, Caleb Cheng, Hannah Burkhill, Michelle Ng, Isaac Ho, Eleanor Crowhurst, Isabelle Clark, Jeremy Cheng, Lucy Vandenberg, Cameron Tsang, Su Jyn Hia, Jolyon Fereday, Zachary Cheng and Joel Chee. What an outstanding effort!! BUSH DANCE Congratulations to the P&C who coordinated a wonderful start to our year with the annual community Bush Dance. The Bush Dance was attended by about 200 students and their parents, making for a great school community event. Many kids enjoyed dancing to the different Australian Bush dances and it was great to see Mums and Dads dancing with their kids too. A special thank you to Jacqui Young, Sharon Doubell and their helpers who organized the evening. It was most enjoyable. ASSEMBLY AFTERNOON TEA Due to the change of time of assemblies this year to Tuesday afternoons, it has been necessary to change the time of the meet and greet morning tea. If your child’s class is presenting the assembly, an afternoon tea will be held in the staffroom commencing at 1.45pm, where you can meet other parents from the class, talk with the Principal, and generally find out in an informal way what’s been happening around the school. Class contacts will advise you by either notes on the door or via your classroom teacher when your assembly is on. The first afternoon tea will be for Room 6 parents next Wednesday, 31 March commencing at 1.45pm.
Newsletter 24 March 2010 Issue 4 COMING EVENTS Wed 24 March School Council 7.15pm Fri 26 March Faction Swimming Carnival Yrs 4 - 7 Mon 29 March Japanese Study Tour School Nurse - Kindy 1 Kindy 1 Family Afternoon Tea Rm 11/12 Viewing Port Folios Rm 16 Viewing Port Folios Tues 30 March Assembly Rm 6 Kindy 2 Afternoon Tea Wed 31 March Interschool Swimming Carnival Thurs 1 April Last Day of Term Tues 20 April Students Return to School for Term 2 Harmony Day Stranger Danger Bush Dance Assembly Afternoon Tea
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Tree Removal School Review Independent Public Schools
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Swimming Carnival Chaplain News P & C News Canteen Roster & News Uniform Shop News Community News
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Page 2 TREE REMOVAL Unfortunately the large Marri tree has dropped its second major limb in six months, shattering several tiles and making a mess of the undercover area. Luckily this event happened overnight, as it could have been very dangerous if students were sitting there. The area directly under the tree has been cordoned off for safety reasons. After examination of the tree, especially the areas where the limbs have fallen, it was decided that it caused too much of a risk to students due to the age and condition of the tree. Subsequently the tree will be removed over the coming holidays. In consultation with the Environmental Committee a new Marri tree, already 3 metres high will be replanted near the vicinity but away from the undercover area that will grow and prosper over the coming years. Should you have any concerns about the tree removal don't hesitate to come and see me. SCHOOL REVIEW Over the weekend our school server was down, requiring our UPS to be replaced. Due to our entire computer network being out, Mr Neil Darby, Director of Schools was unable to complete the School Review process. I am in the process of renegotiating a suitable time for Mr Darby to visit and see our wonderful school. INDEPENDENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Department of Education are calling for expressions of interest for the next round of IPS. Applications close on 27 April. The School Council will be discussing this topic at tonight's meeting and will provide the school community with more information as soon as possible. If you would like to know more about IPS schools then you can go the Department’s Schools and You website or use the following link. http://www.det.wa.edu.au/ schoolsandyou/detcms/navigation/ unlock-your-schools-future/independent -public-schools/introduction/
SWIMMING CARNIVAL A separate note has been sent home with students in Years 4 - 7 outlining the arrangements for the faction Swimming Carnival this Friday, 26 March at Melville Aquatic. Good luck to all students who participate for their faction. Thank you also to the parents who have volunteered to assist on the day. As amazing as it seems, there is only one week left of school. Term One
concludes on Thursday, 1 April with second term commencing for students on Tuesday, 20 April. Thank you to all staff, students and community members for another great term of teaching and learning. Andy Holmes Principal
CHAPLAIN NEWS Blue Skies Program Blue Skies is a bereavement program for 8 – 12 year olds who are grieving the death of a parent or primary caregiver. It is run by Silver Chain in partnership with the Joondalup Health Campus and is free of charge. The next workshop will be run over Monday, 12 April and Tuesday, 13 April at Scarborough Surf Life Saving Club. If you would like more information please contact Belinda Hughes (9242 0289) or Shelly Skinner (0416 344 024) between 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
Foster Carers Needed Children need special care and guidance. Wanslea Foster Carers provide care for children between the ages of 0 – 12 years. As a Wanslea Foster Carer you will change the life of a child forever. You will be paid a tax free subsidy, receive support in the form of home visits and access to training and peer support groups. Can you open your home and heart to a child in need? If you are interested, please call Wanslea Family Services on (08) 9245 2441 or check out
www.wanslea.asn.au
Fiji Fundraiser Ardross Primary is looking for your support in providing donations to the Galoa Primary School in the south of Fiji. We would like to send a one off donation of school supplies to help these kids get a better education. Currently they have very little teaching resources or supplies for students to learn. Donations will be picked up by a WA local community member who will be taking them over at Easter time. Please support this worthy cause and hand your donations in by Monday, 29 March. These are the items we are after; stationery, pens, pencils, sharpeners, exercise books, old text books, story books etc. Bec Thomas
CHAPLAIN
HONOUR CERTIFICATE WINNERS
At this week’s assembly the Honour Certificate winners will be:
Room 18 Kota Takeuchi, Gabby Adamson. Room 17 Julia Florenca, Travis Crane, Bailey Nicholson. Room 13 Jing Cai, Kane Cole. Room 10 Juyoung Yoon, Osian Robertson, Matthew Lupi. Room 9 Jeff Zhao, Lucy Wiese. Room 8 Phoebe Goldrick, Zali Nash. Room 7 Jeremy Landsdell, Ning Wong. Room 6 Ciara Thompson, Ryan Garvey, Caira Lua. Room 5 Jenna Raus, Lisa Chia, Leo Zhang. Room 4 Katherine Dumas, Alex Gray, Kenta Yokote. Room 3 Matthew Blazevic, Juliette O’Keefe. Room 2 Daniel Raus, Elizabeth Bae. Room 1 Dylan Harrison, Stephanie Lu. Pre-Primary (Room 16) Tia Harken, Anke Tamsen, Anna Peryer. Pre-Primary (Room 11/12) Milly Lupi, Asher Beebe.
Japanese Luke Rule, Jonan Zhu.
Page 3 P & C NEWS The Bush Dance on Friday night was a huge success thanks to Jacqui Young and Sharon Doubell who did a magnificent job. Thank you to the families and staff members who came along. It was great to have a purely social event for the whole school community. The money from the chocolate egg fundraiser should be returned to school by the end of next week. Delia would like to thank everyone who took part for their support. Any families still wishing to make a donation instead of selling boxes of chocolates should also return this via the bucket in the office. This will be the only chocolate fundraiser this year, as it takes the place of the Freddo Frog and natural Snakes Fundraiser we have completed in previous years. Traditionally this has been a whole school fundraiser in which all families have taken part. Once we know how much the P&C will need to spend on the new buildings to ensure they are fit working environments complete with air conditioning, we will again begin the process of debating where we would like to spend any remaining funds. I will certainly keep you info rmed as to whe n tho se discussions will take place. We still need a Vice President and a representative to attend School Council meetings. Please consider if you may be able to spare a little time to fill these vacancies and let the office know. Jessica Williams President CANTEEN ROSTER Fri 26 Mar
Mon 29 Mar Fri 1 April
Iris Whitelock 9 - 11.30 Filomena Dalais 9 - 1.15 Julia Schortinghuis 9 -1.15 Boudene Van der Merwe 9 - 1.15 Sharon Doubell 9 - 1.15 Leanne O’Sullivan 91.15 Hwa Bong 11.15 - 1.30 GOOD FRIDAY
CANTEEN NEWS Winter Menu Starts in Term 2 This Friday and next Monday, will be the last days of the Summer Menu. The new Winter Menu will be sent home with all families in the first
week of Term 2. The Winter Menu will be in operation for both Terms 2 and 3 as usual. Please ensure you throw away your Summer Menu after next week! Corn Cobs Grown at School!! Limited supply UNTIL sold out! Super Sweet beautiful freshly boiled Corn with melted butter! Yummo only $1.50 this Friday and (possibly Monday) only. Swimming Carnival Lunch Changes This Friday Years 4-7 will be involved in the swimming carnival. As the carnival starts at 12 noon, Year 4 - 7 students will be unable to order lunch through the canteen. Please remember to pack your swimmers their lunch! Normal lunch ordering for Kindy to Year 3. Recess will be provided for all years as usual. Good luck to all participants in the carnival! Volunteer Roster In the Term 2 holidays I will be producing the Volunteer Canteen Roster. If you have any specific shift requirements for Term 2 please advise me via email on pchurchill8@bigpond.com. The roster will be sent early in Term 2 via email or your oldest child if you do not use email. Thanks. Order Bags We are still offering the Sticky Beak Lunch Wallets for sale. This popular item is still only $10 and we would love to see sales continue. Remember the new prices for paper bags are (1 bag 10c, 10 for 60c, 20 for $1 or 50 for $2).
Pauline Churchill UNIFORM SHOP NEWS Winter Uniform Orders It is now time to place orders for your children’s winter uniform. Included in the newsletter is the winter uniform order form. Order forms along with payment must be placed in the bucket in the office by Friday, 30 April. We have a small amount of winter uniforms in stock at the moment so orders that are received early should be filled straight away; orders that are received later may have to wait several weeks depending on stock available. Cheques can be made payable to Ardross Primary School P & C. EFTPOS is available in the office. Please include EFTPOS receipt with order form. Winter skirts and sports skirts are no longer part of the Ardross Primary
School uniform. They still may be worn at school but once stock has run out at the uniform shop they will no longer be available for purchase. Should you have any queries please call Laura Brickhill on 0417904084. UNIFORM SHOP 30 March 9.00 - 9.30am 20 April 9.00 - 9.30am
♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣ COMMUNITY NEWS ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS ARE COMING! Entertainment books will be available for purchase next term. Keep your eyes on this space. At only $65 this fantastic book can pose big savings for a family in today’s economic climate. Order forms will be available early next term and books will be available mid May. Don’t buy elsewhere - support your school and raise money for your children! Any enquiries 0438 364 236
call
on
Tracy
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THE SMOKE ALARM COMPANY Don’t Be A Fool this April 1 Embrace National Smoke Alarm Day! April 1 every year is National Smoke Alarm day and the entire community is encouraged to check they have hard-wired smoke alarms fitted, that alarms are in full working order and new batteries are fitted if required. The Smoke Alarm Company 0405 696 748. www.smokealarmco.com.au. ST DAVID’S CHURCH Cnr Bombard & Simpson Streets, Ardross Children’s Easter Event St David’s Church are running an Easter craft event for Primary aged school children. There will be Pony Rides, Crafts and games. Come along and enjoy the fun from 4 – 6pm Saturday, 27 March. Gold coin entry and refreshments available.
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For further information please contact the Church Office on 9364 1718 or speak to Jessica Williams on 9364 2015.