PRINCIPAL’S DESK

Another term has come and gone and I believe both students and teachers are looking forward to a well-earned rest. Learning at Park Ridge Primary is a busy event and we are extremely proud of the effort both our students and teachers put into ensuring that optimal learning success is achieved. Of course, we expect that students will continue to read daily over the holiday period. A visit to the local Rowville Library might fill in a couple hours each week over the holiday period. Next term we begin another Preptastic program. Each Friday our new 2019 Foundation students will be attending to begin their transition process. We really value this program and all the benefits our new students gain from their involvement. PCA is looking for any volunteers who can give up some time on Friday afternoons to assist with catering. State School Spectacular Twenty-three students from year 5 & 6 participated in the 2018 Victorian State School Spectacular at Hisense Arena in Melbourne last weekend. This year’s extravaganza ‘With the Beat’ explored identity and belonging. More than 3000 students participated in the event. The girls have participated in months of rehearsals during lunchtimes and with students from other schools. The audience was thrilled with the performance of the students. The performance will be shown on Network TV at a later date. It is certainly worth a watch. Well done to all.

Digital Responsibility With the school holidays coming up next week, I am sure that our students will be

spending more time on digital devices. I am sure that this is not a bad thing, however, we need to balance time spent on these devices with other more physical and face to face interactions. Students need to build their social skills of personal interaction. They need to meet peers and have real conversations. Spending the day in their bedrooms and chatting online is not helping develop these skills. Students need to develop the skill of reading facial expressions, something online conversations does not foster. Most kids really are kind to each other online, but there is a minority using digital technology to harass and intimidate others. Bullying thrives on digital media because it can be done remotely and often anonymously giving bullies a reduced sense of the harm they’re causing. Cyberbullying can also be harder to avoid than traditional bullying, with no relief offered by the school bell. No single response will stop bullying but knowing how to support your child can assist. Parents can help

20 September 2018 Issue 29 Term 3 Week 10

IMPORTANT DATES Friday 21

September Monday 8 October

Wednesday 10 October

Last Day Of Term 3 - Students

Dismissed at 2:30pm

First Day Of Term 4

Division Athletics

Friday 12 October

Monday 15 October

Tuesday 16 October

Preptastic -

Week 1

Whole School Photo

Foundation Grandparents Afternoon Tea

2:15pm - 3:15pm

Year 4 Coonawarra

Camp Departs

Thursday 18 October

Friday 19 October

Tuesday 23 October

Year 2 Sleepover Year 4 Coonawarra

Camp Returns

Year 3 Robotics Incursion

Thursday 25 October

Friday 26 October

Wednesday 31 October

Year 2 Sealife Incursion

Halloween Disco

Preptastic - Week 3

PCA Special Lunch

SCHOOL VISION - ‘Preparing our students to develop the knowledge and skills that will help them become life-long learners who are successful and happy individuals who participate fully in

and contribute to our community and the world around us.’

Phone: (03) 9752 8555 Email: ridge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.parkridge-ps.vic.edu.au

Phone: (03) 9752 8555 Email: park.ridge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.parkridge-ps.vic.edu.au

their children enjoy being online by doing the following. 1. TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR DIGITAL LIVES The more you are aware of their online lives, the more likely they will be to talk to you, especially when something makes them feel uncomfortable. Make sure your children know they will be supported if they report something to you. Alternatively, make sure they have another trusted adult in their lives they can talk to. 2. DO UNTO OTHERS Encourage children to treat others the same way they’d like to be treated online. Discuss what it means to be respectful to and respected by others online. Be zero-tolerant to mean or rude behaviour. Make clear that mean behaviour is not okay at any time – online or off. 3. THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK Encourage children to think about content and the consequences of posting or forwarding something that might upset someone else. This also applies to not making hurtful or derogatory comments on someone else’s material. 4. PROMOTE POSITIVE BYSTANDER BEHAVIOUR Encourage children to support victims of bullying. Work together with your child ahead of time to come up with safe ways to stand up to online abuse if they see it happen. 5. TALK TO THEM If they’ve been cyberbullied, encourage children to stay calm and positive. It’s important for victims of cyberbullying to know that they’re not responsible for what’s happened. A reaction is often just what a bully wants to see. Not responding or retaliating can sometimes stop the cycle. 6. TAKE CONCRETE STEPS Help your child block the troublemaker responsible by removing them from your children’s online contact lists; show them how they can keep evidence by taking screenshots and saving them, or printing the evidence; report abusive behaviour on the digital platforms your child visits; talk to your child’s school; get to know your legal rights by visiting lawstuff.org.au; and, of course, if the bullying extends to threats of violence, inform the police without delay. 7. DO NOT RESPOND ON YOUR CHILD’S BEHALF Responding on your child’s behalf, like emailing the bully directly, or calling their parents, may further inflame the situation. 8. CONSIDER SUPPORT SERVICES There are free, confidential counselling services for young people such as www.headspace.org.au (for 12–25 year-olds) and www.reachout.com (for 14–25 year-olds). (Telstra Parenting Tipsheet – Tackle Cyberbullying eSmart) Student Awards Each week at our school assembly our specialist teachers rotate the responsibility of acknowledging students who impress over the month. Our Specialist Awards, this week, are for Science. Congratulations to the following students who have worked extremely well over the past month and for being interested, active and Year 3 – Ryan E for striving for excellence in Science

always Year 4 – Bella C for making positive contributions in Science Year 5 – Jue H for being an enthusiastic scientist who always gives his best Year 6 – Pria W for making positive contributions to science lessons Bucket Filler Award This week’s Bucket Filler Awards is awarded to Ryan C from F-06 for being a kind and considerate friend.

Mathletics Our Gold Certificates recipients for this week were Sophie W, Rhys W, Noah D’D, Max K and Georgia D

Literacy Award This week’s Literacy Award recipient is Angelina N for the amazing picture book you created. Your story was engaging and perfect for a primary school audience. Congratulations Book Fair We raised a total of $6,200, which is a fantastic effort! This enables each year level to purchase books for their own class library collection. Thank you to all the families who purchased books. Term 4 Students break up from school, tomorrow at 2:30 pm from their classrooms. Term 4 recommences on Monday 8 October. Students need to remember that Term 4 is ‘No Hat, No Play’.

David Mann Principal

Phone: (03) 9752 8555 Email: park.ridge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.parkridge-ps.vic.edu.au

Students of the Week - Week 9

F-06 Mel For working hard to improve his reading.

F-07 Ali Cartar

For making friends and settling quickly into his new school. For lovely manners and hard work in take away Maths.

F-08 Ethan Bella

For writing an interesting and informative report about kookaburras. For choosing challenging numbers for Pete the Cat’s Groovy Buttons.

F-09 Abby Ace

For her Act of Kindness this week and filling our buckets. For a fantastic term and making our classroom a better place.

1-11 Timmy For showing persistence and working hard on his Sweet Skittle Statistics.

1-12 Daniel For his consistent hard work in the classroom and kind and caring attitude!

1-15 Levi For having a growth mindset towards all areas of his learning, for setting himself challenging learning goals and working hard to achieve them!

1-16 James C For always helping his peers and sharing his ideas with the class.

2-17 Jayda For having a growth mindset when completing challenging tasks.

2-18 Peyton For showing the character strengths teamwork and persistence, to create a fantastic Scratch project about our integrated topic.

2-19 Charli F For being a positive learner and always being ready to learn.

2-20 Finn For including an interesting luring lead and a descriptive show-don’t-tell in his narrative.

2-23 Olivia S For starting school at Park Ridge with a very positive attitude.

3-21 Jacob S For applying a growth mindset when completing his maths learning on fractions. Great job Jacob!

3-22 Thareen For the amazing topic sentences that you have used in your exposition, they really wow the reader!

3-24 Cooper For being such a hard working, positive member of the 3-24 classroom!

4-03 Alani For developing her self-confidence and making regular contributions to class discussions.

5-27 Jess T & Ruby

For their impressive collaborative work on their non-fiction book.

5-28 Erin For doing an outstanding job on our reading portfolio task.

6-01 Luke For his sportsmanship and persistence during SEPEP Hockey and the Volleyball Round Robin.

6-13 Adam For showing great sportsmanship and leadership at inter school cricket.

6-14 Jessica For her pleasing growth on her Mental Strategies Post test. Your persistence is really paying off!

6-25 Sameen For showing outstanding sportsmanship during the hockey tournament in PE. Thank-you for encouraging and congratulating other people, including those on the opposing teams.

MONIES PENDING ON COMPASS

Year 6 2019 Canberra Camp 3rd Instalment due Friday 28 September

Year 6 2019 Jacket due Friday 12 October

Phone: (03) 9752 8555 Email: park.ridge.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au Website: www.parkridge-ps.vic.edu.au

OUT OF SCHOOL HOURS CARE

Before School Care operates between 7:00am and 8:30am. After School Care operates between 3:15pm

and 6:00pm. Application forms are available from the school office or the Out Of School Hours office (situated in the Wentworth Building). For all enquiries please contact the program directly between 7:00am and 10:30am or between 2:30pm and 6:00pm on 9752 9876 or via email at park.ridge.oshc@gmail.com

COMPASS Compass School Manager now has the facility to send out push notifications to iPhones, iPads and Android devices. To receive push out notifications and also access the other features of Compass School Manager, please

download the Compass App. If you have difficulty with downloading the Compass App or have any feedback about this new facility please contact the office. Please remember the Compass Website link is available on the home page of the school website. Please note, attendance approvals are now preferred via this method.

WELL DONE!!!

Classes of the Week ART F-09 We say “hooray for fish’ and our wonderful ink wash pictures.

MUSIC 6-01 For the creative lyrics they came up with for their hip hop song!

PHYSICAL

EDUCATION

2C Excellent sportsmanship and cooperation when aiming for the targets!

INDONESIAN 6-01 For doing a great job making their rubber band ropes.

SCIENCE 4C

5-27

For demonstrating a great understanding of electric circuits and showing good problem solving skills. Being amazing biologists who approached their new project with great enthusiasm.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION NEWS During the last week of this term and for the first 3 weeks of next term, all students will be participating in a gymnastics program in their weekly Physical Education lessons. Sessions are designed to be fun, active and safe. Students will participate in activities that are designed for their ability level. Activities are designed to foster the development of safe landings, body awareness, spatial awareness, strength, balance, flexibility and agility. Activities may include basic rolls (egg rolls, log rolls, forward rolls, etc...), cartwheels, swinging, balancing, jumping (both on the floor and on a mini-trampoline), and various strength activities. Could I please ask you to consider the following safety rules when sending your child to school on a day when they have P.E. Shoes and socks off - Students will be required to remove their shoes and socks just prior to the start of the session. During sessions students will be performing a variety of activities that require them to have their hands, their feet, or both on the ground. Shoes are removed at the start of the sessions for the safety of the other students in the session. Having your hand stepped on by a shoe hurts! Socks are removed as they slip on the mats (please do not wear stockings instead as these will have to come off to ensure your safety). No Jewellery / Watches / Badges - Necklaces can get tangled in equipment, watches often get caught and break their strap, etc... Long hair tied back - It's no fun to get your hair tangled around a bar or stuck in a trampoline spring. No Dresses Please! - Students will be performing activities that may involve going upside down. Students don't like having their underwear on show. For more information visit http://www.gymnastics4hire.edu.au/parent-info Thanks for your cooperation,

Mr Matt Davey Mrs Leah Docherty

WALK, RIDE OR SCOOT TO SCHOOL Every October, Walk to School encourages Victorian primary school kids to walk, ride or scoot to and from school. This year, Walk to School will begin the very first week of next term. Active travel options are a great way to keep fit and healthy, and can be heaps of fun. You could even meet up with other local families and walk together. If you can’t walk or ride the whole way, simply drive part of the way, and walk, ride or scoot the rest. Park Ridge has participated in Walk to School for quite a few years, and last year we were lucky enough to win. We received an amazing trophy and new scooter racks for the school. The only way we can win is by everyone

getting involved, so get your walking, riding or scooting shoes on and have fun!

Nastaha Searle Classroom Teacher

GARDEN CLUB NEWS On Tuesday, 18th of September, Park Ridge’s Environmental Group went to Stud Park to participate in the creation of Nature’s Corridor, a wicking bed project organised by Stud Park Management and the Knox Community Gardens Society. Ten students organised the scoria, sand, geofabric and soil layers, before creating signs and planting out our bed. It will be displayed at Stud Park for any interested parents to visit until the Stringybark Festival, when it will be part of the Zero Waste concept installation. Park Ridge will be lucky enough to keep our bed after the Stringybark Festival for

future use in our growing program. A big thank you to Alyssa Hardware and David Mann for helping get us all there on the day, and to Susan Laukens, Knox Community Gardens Society Inc. President, who organised and presented the material on the day.

Jessica Deans Gardening Coordinator

COMMUNITY NEWS

(We thank the following people for advertising in our School Newsletter, however Park Ridge Primary School does not endorse their products or services)

STUDENT BANKING Our School Banking program is a fun way for your child to develop the knowledge and confidence to handle their money, combining a savings Rewards Program with great activities throughout the year. If you would like your child to participate in our School Banking program please register your interest at commbank.com.au/

schoolbanking Student Banking Deposits are processed every Tuesday morning at 9:00am. Please don't forget to send in your deposit books. Thank you to the parents who have offered their valuable time to support this program.

Phone: (03) 9752 8555 Email: