Table of Contents

editorial ....................................................................................................................... 1

sport ............................................................................................................................ 3

after school sport ...................................................................................................... 5

elc ................................................................................................................................. 6

performing arts .......................................................................................................... 8

jspg .............................................................................................................................. 9

dobsons ..................................................................................................................... 10

library ........................................................................................................................ 12

notices ....................................................................................................................... 13

Issue 4

March 26 2014

editorial

Parent Partnerships

In recent weeks, it has been really pleasing to see the number of parents involved in aspects of our Literacy program. Jenny Poliness has been thrilled to have in excess of 30 parents enrol in our Parent Helper Course to support our Reading Programs across Prep to Year 2. Last Thursday, we also had more

than 70 parents attend the session I ran regarding the development of strategies to support the acquisition of effective spelling skills.

Similarly in Mathematics, Colin Esdale and his team are currently recording a range of teaching strategies designed to support the children’s acquisition of number skills. Increasingly, we see these programs as

forging very important partnerships between teachers, parents and students. Your interest has been very encouraging and we hope that the strategies being shared serve to support your own and your children’s learning even further.

Whole School Photograph

On Monday, all of the Junior School and the ELC took part in the shooting of the whole school photograph

which will be a very special ‘keep-sake’ to mark the school’s 150th year. The last whole school photograph was taken in 2007 and is currently on display in the Junior School office.

Winter School Uniform

Parents are advised that due to the change in weather, winter uniform can be worn to school from this point onwards or from the start of Term 2. This also includes the wearing of the school blazer to and from school.

Junior School House Athletics

It was wonderful to see a huge crowd of family and friends supporting the children in their House Athletics Carnival last Friday. Thwaites House was successful after a long period of domination by Shaw

House! Children in all 3 Houses: Thwaites, Shaw and Sloan gave their best in a varied program of sprints, distance and field events. A huge vote of thanks is extended to our PE team of Paul Stephens, Kristie Cowan and Josh King. They were ably assisted by students from our Year 12 Health and Recreation

class. All Homeroom and teaching staff also made great contributions to the smooth running of the events. We would also like to acknowledge the work of Michelle Chapis and McLeans Services for their presentation of the oval and marquees. Thanks also to the JSPG for drinks, student icy-poles and the very popular coffee van.

Parent-Teacher Interviews

All parents are reminded that we will be scheduling Parent-Teacher Interviews on the final two afternoons of this term: Thursday 3 April from 3.45 to 8.30pm and Friday 4 April from 2.45 to 8.00pm. Interviews will be made available for all subjects with the exception of Year 4 Japanese. Homeroom Teacher interviews will not be scheduled separately as all Homeroom Teachers are subject teachers as well.

Parents have been advised that bookings will be made available on line at connect@clarendon from today. All interviews for Literacy and Mathematics classes and teachers will be held in the classrooms where the children have their lessons. Interview locations for other subjects will be made clear on connect and will also be on maps in the Junior School foyer.

Parents of children in Jaclyn Smith’s Prep S class have been advised that due to her graduation on Thursday 3 April, Jaclyn’s interviews will be scheduled on Wednesday 2 April using a booking sheet outside the Prep S classroom. Her interviews on Friday 4 April can be booked on-line as for other staff.

End of Term 1 Reports

Parents will receive end of Term 1 reports incorporating teacher subject comments, Homeroom Teacher

comments and Management of Learning indicators. All of this information will form the basis of the discussions in our Parent-Teacher interviews next Thursday and Friday.

Student Absence Procedure Junior School

Should a student not be attending school due to illness or other exceptional circumstances, a parent or guardian must ring the appropriate school office before 8.45am (or as soon as practicable) to advise the school, and this should also be supported by a written note upon return to school. Where possible, the

College recommends the making of dental, medical and other appointments outside of school hours to limit the amount of time a student is absent from class. It is a requirement of the Registered Schools Board that all student absences are reported to the College in writing.

When your child is marked absent from class without prior notice being received, you will receive an SMS

notifying you of this. We would appreciate your prompt reply to this message which is sent by 10am each morning.

Should a parent or guardian be aware of a circumstance that may require the absence of a student from school, prior notice to the Junior School office is requested. Any request for prolonged absence (e.g.

holidays outside of school holidays) should be directed to Chris Brown and a student leave request form is required to be completed detailing the classes that will be missed.

Student leave request forms are found on the community pages on connect and are also available from the school offices.

Traffic Safety

After drawing attention to issues regarding traffic safety in and around the Junior School precinct, we have been advised that City of Ballarat Traffic Officers and Victoria Police will be in attendance at different times for the rest of term.

Day 10 Assembly incorporating the World’s Greatest Shave

At our last Day 10 assembly one of our parents, Zeta Locke, shaved her hair as part of the World’s Greatest Shave. Please see Zeta’s message below and continue to support this cause if you can.

My name is Zeta Locke and I am a mother of 4 daughters (eldest in 1W). Our family amongst many others has been touched by cancer, for this reason and for my daughters I am prepared to SHAVE my head for The World’s Greatest Shave - but I need YOUR SUPPORT. In addition to shaving my head my ponytail will also be donated to create wigs for those with cancer.

Chris Brown

Head of Junior School

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sport

What a day! The excitement of the Athletic Sports. The threat of torrential rain. What will happen? Who

will win? Shaw? Sloan? Thwaites? The day started with an exciting 80m dash by the Year 12 students. Too much testosterone was flowing and the boys took it way too seriously!

The excitement was building as the Year 4 students ran the torturous 800m race while the Houses were whipped into a frenzy singing the chants and dancing wearing top hats and cloaks, painted faces and crazy sunglasses. As the Preps were marshalled for their first real taste of competition the Year 2- 4 students set about creating their own history by participating in high jump, shot put and due to the absence of our long

jump pit, they embarked on a standing long jump. At the middle stages of the carnival the progressive scores were revealed and to many peoples’

amazement Thwaites, yes Thwaites, were in the lead. A recount was asked for but it was confirmed, Thwaites were in front followed by Shaw and close behind was Sloan. The rather large smiles on the Prep and Year 1 students’ faces were a highlight of the first session as

were the comments heard as the young athletes ran past their family and friends on the back straight of the 200 metre race. “I’m really puffed.” But those smiles remained. During the second half of the carnival the Prep and Year 1 students started their field events: bean bag throw, high jump and standing long jump.

The crowd had built up to a healthy size and there was standing room only. In fact it was difficult to see the action in the middle of the oval as the crowd milled around, buzzing. The 70 and 80 m sprints continued to thrill the crowd and the House leaders, with the help of the Year 12

students tried everything to get their team to win a few races as the chants could be heard echoing down Mair St.

At the completion of the electric 200m races for the Year 2- 4 students it was time for the all-important relays. The competition between the 3 Houses was close. Very close. In fact before the start of the Year 4 relay, the final race for the day, only 3 POINTS separated first and second. The hot favourites, the all-conquering SHAW, had to win to secure another trophy for the cabinet. But it was not to be. Thwaites came through with sheer determination to snatch the race and secure the Wanliss Athletic Trophy for the first time in years. In fact no member of Thwaites was even born when

they last won, and possibly their parents weren’t either. When the final results were announced there was pandemonium in the crowd and a tear was detected running down one proud parent’s cheek. House leaders (and this anonymous mother) were seen having

their photo taken kissing the cup. Allegedly security had to remove the cup from the handbag of this anonymous mother.

A massive thank you to all the parents, grandparents and friends who attended our Athletics Sports. The support from our wonderful school community is greatly appreciated by the students and staff as it makes the day even more special and enjoyable. Also, to Greg, our groundsman, and McLean’s Services for their ongoing assistance to get the oval into great shape after all of the trucks and works that have recently happened.

Thank you to Mr Chris Brown and the Junior and Middle School staff who performed a myriad of jobs from scoring events, marshalling athletes, attending the first aid tent (in luxury with a palm tree and banana lounge) and presenting ribbons.

The introduction of our Year 12 Sport and Rec students last year has blossomed under the guidance of Mr Brendan Peace. The Year 12 students came down throughout the week to meet students and participate

in classes. They also came to the Mair St campus after school hours to take photos and prepare the posters for each event. Their contribution has added an extra dimension to our sports and we look forward to this partnership developing further over the years.

Thanks you and WELL DONE YEAR 12!

On behalf of the Junior School Physical Education team we say a BIG thank you. Congratulations to all competitors and we will see you all next term at the Cross Country.

Click here for photos

Click here for photos

Click here for photos

Click here for photos

Junior School Physical Education Team Kristie Cowan, Josh King & Paul Stephens

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after school sport

Years 3-6 After-School Sport Program

Wednesday and Thursday Term 1 2014

Day Sport Team Coach Train/Comp Venue Session Time Transport

Wed Swimming

Zumba

Tee Ball

Years 3 - 6

Years 3 - 6

Years 3 - 6

ESDC/STEP

PRIL/KARS

EPPK/BURA

Training

Training

Training

SS Pool

Watson Hall JS

JS Oval

3.45 – 4.45pm

3.45 – 4.45pm

3.45 – 4.45pm

Bus to venue

PARENTS TO COLLECT

Bus from MS

PARENTS TO COLLECT

Bus from MS

PARENTS TO COLLECT

Thu Tennis Years 3 - 4 VERC/WILH Train Wendouree

Tennis centre

3.45 – 4.45pm Bus to venue

*Parents to collect

from venue

Paul Stephens

Years 3-6 Sport Co-ordinator

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elc

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of the term! The children in all the different groups have continued to work on their understanding about their own identity within the theme “All about me”. They

have engaged in many experiences and activities to develop their knowledge and understanding but also their ability to speak in front of a group and listen attentively to their peers. Please find below, a reflection for each of the groups on the past two weeks. Fire station excursion You might have noticed that for the three 4YO groups, an excursion to the fire station was planned for Week 9. These excursions have been moved to Term 2 to move away from the fire season. Dates will be

confirmed and a letter will be send out early Term 2. 3YO Kinder In the 3YO kindergarten programs, the children have enjoyed reading the series of Elmer stories by David McKee. These stories were about a very colourful elephant who wanted to be like all the other elephants

but who realises that he is special just the way he is. The children discussed how they are all different

and that’s what makes them all special too. The children have been identifying the front and back cover of the books and discussing what an author is. They have also been enjoying finding their names around the Room 3 Kinder room. 3YO Sessional In the 3YO Sessional program, the children decided that they would like to write some letters to their friends. They worked together to make a post box and then they wrote their letters and mailed them.

The children enjoyed looking in alphabet books and word books to get ideas. The children are beginning to understand that print conveys a message and that we write for different purposes. 3YO Extended In the 3YO Extended program, the children have been investigating shapes in many different ways. They have talked about how many sides each shape has, whether they have curved or straight sides and

where they see shapes in the environment. The children have constructed 3D shapes with magnetic

blocks, created pictures and patterns with wooden shapes and “Tap tap nail sets”, made rubber band shapes with geo-boards and played with a variety of different shaped blocks. 4YO Kinder The children in the 4YO groups have continued to explore their senses and learn about how each of our senses provides us with different information. The theme “All about me” has had them talk about their

teddy bears. The have been engaged in sharing many bear books and have been able to bring their favourite teddy or cuddly toy into Kinder. Two highlights for all the 4YO children have been “Going on a bear hunt” and the “teddy bear picnic”. We’re going on a bear hunt! During the past few weeks all the 4YO children have enjoyed listening to the story “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. During the many times they read the book, the

children enjoyed joining in with the repetitive text. The children used their knowledge of the story to

sequence the events and create a pictorial map to illustrate their understanding. Then each group had the opportunity to re-enact the story in the outside setting, to see if they could find a bear! The teddy bear picnic On Tuesday 19 and Friday 21 March, the children were invited to bring their favourite teddy bear (or cuddly toy) to Kinder. They started the morning by introducing their teddy to all the children in the class.

After introductions were made, the children set off to explore the classroom as usual, engaging in the many activities. During morning play the children were asked to bring their teddy to the drawing table and draw a true picture of their teddy. They observed their teddy carefully and drew its features. They then added colour to the picture. After a busy morning, lunch boxes were gathered and all the children set off to the Junior School oval for

a picnic with their teddies. After lunch was eaten, the teddies snuggled up for a snooze while the children listened to a story. When the children returned to the picnic blankets… the teddy bears had disappeared!

They were hidden and each child had to try and find their own teddy back. Once all the teddies were found, everyone went back to Kinder. Room 1 The children in Room 1 have engaged in many activities involving letters and the sounds they make. The

children enjoy singing the different Jolly Phonics songs for the letters s-a-t-i-p-n and have started to find these letters all around them! Many children point out the letters on the labels they see in the room, on their lunch boxes and on their clothing. Some children have started to paint the letters and activities using magnetic letters and white boards and cutting letters from magazines, have been popular. A discussion took place early week 8 in which the children thought about why they are learning the letters and their sounds. The children could not believe it when they were shown that with the letters

they had learned, they could already ‘read’ some words! Over the next two weeks the children will

consolidate the letters they have learned and continue to practise using them to ‘read’ words like sit, at, is, tap and tin.

Room 2 The children in Room 2 have been working hard in the sand pit. They have communicated and cooperated with their friends, forming and sharing plans and ideas. They have explored concepts such as cause and effect; volume, measurement, depth and weight and absorption and balance. This is all

evident through building dams and rivers, making sand pies and cakes as well as magic monster potions. Whilst inside the children have been ordering and sequencing numbers and singing five speckled frogs using the ‘special’ hand puppets. 4YO Sessional The children in the 4YO Sessional group have been busy preparing for the Teddy Bear’s Picnic. They have

been singing “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around” and “If You Go Down to the Woods Today”. The children discussed what to take on the picnic and how to carry it all over to the Junior School playground. The children offered ideas and talked about which idea would best solve this problem through

collaborative learning. The class have eagerly pursued their interest in number through a range of experiences. In the whole group the children were given a card showing a numeral one to ten or a card with dots one to ten. They

had to find who had the corresponding number and cooperate to collect the quantity of blocks for the numbers, listening to the ideas of others and offering their own. The children readily accepted this new challenge. They made discoveries about how numbers can be represented in different forms as they matched the numeral, the number of dots and quantity of blocks accordingly.

Click here for photos

Click here for photos

Click here for photo

Click here for photos

Click here for photos

Annie Jacox

Head of ELC

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performing arts

2014 has got off to an enthusiastic start, with many students returning to ensembles and lots of new faces too. Our first performance was at the 150th birthday celebrations, with the Junior Choir performing

some items in amongst some amazing talent from Middle and Senior school ensembles. It was certainly a great day out and a great opportunity to celebrate our heritage.

The choir’s next performance will be at the Uniting Church’s Harvest Service on Sunday 30 March. It is a

great opportunity to serve our local church community and to be a part of a service that causes us to reflect on the gifts we have and the gifts we can give others. Members are encouraged to return permission slips so that we have an idea of how many will attend.

Fiona Lyons

Head of Junior School Music

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jspg

Easter Raffle

Thank you to those who bought Easter eggs and left them at the office last week. If you haven’t donated as yet, more eggs would be greatly appreciated. The more eggs we have, the more children who can win the prizes. Raffle ticket books will be sent home with the children this week. If you sell them all and would like more tickets, please pick them up from the office. All tickets and money are due back to the office by Wednesday 2 April. The raffle winners will be announced and given their eggs at the final assembly for Term 1. Good luck.

Volunteer list

A number of parents have enquired how they can further help their children’s teachers. A volunteers list has now been set up, so when opportunities arise where staff would like some extra help, an email will be sent to all on the list. If you are available to help on that particular occasion, the teacher/s would be very appreciative. Some examples of where help may be asked for could be: laminating, contacting readers,

sorting readers etc. Parents who would like to be part of this please email your parent rep your name and you will be added to the list.

Cookbook

Please find below an overview of our progression with ‘Our Table, The Clarendon Collection’

We are on track with our business plan objectives according to the schedule to deliver the finished product for sale in October 2014.

Recipes have been selected, with the photography and styling progressing according to plan. The front and back covers have been photographed and Chris Brown has submitted his foreword for the cookbook. BLAD (Basic Layout and Design) is almost complete with only fine tuning to be finalised.

Sponsorship and advertising is progressing to schedule and the production team have periodic update meetings with the necessary administrative bodies from College including accounts.

All of this has been achieved through many hours of donated time by parents within the Junior School

Community who have engaged their professional skills towards producing our cookbook. A very big thank you to everyone involved. All your hard work is much appreciated and is enabling the cookbook to be produced with the only cost being printing. Our business plan is to gain enough advertising to be included tastefully and to cover ALL of the print cost. Therefore every cookbook sold will be 100% profit.

If any parent has a business or knows of a business, who may like to advertise, please contact Jo Dixon, Sally Howe or Jocelyn Goldsworthy (if you don’t have their contact details then you can get in touch with them by contacting the office). Jo, Sally or Jocelyn would be very happy to discuss the options that are on offer for you to consider.

The response from Junior School families in submitting recipes was phenomenal, although this has left us with too many to all be included in the book. As a result we have limited the recipes to one per child. The remaining recipes will however be made available periodically through the Echo so that they can all be shared within the College community.

Please click here to view this Echo’s recipe

Class catch ups

Preps – All Preps and their families are invited to again enjoy a school holiday get together. This is a great opportunity to mingle and get to know other families and catch up with those missed during the

busy school term. Wednesday 16 April, Lakeview Hotel. Serving from 5pm onwards. $5 per head for all you can eat pizza. Please RSVP by Friday 2 April, with payment to any of the following Prep Reps Marissa, Melanie, Sarah, Kate, Stephanie or Nicole.

Michelle Ward

JSPG President

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dobsons Ballarat Clarendon College has an onsite uniform shop run by Dobsons. A percentage of every purchase is returned to the School. Dobsons also sell second-hand uniforms on behalf of parents. A donation will be given to the Parents and Friends for each sale of second-hand uniforms. Parents can take second-hand uniforms into Dobsons to be sold. Alternatively second-hand uniforms can also be sold online at www.uniformswapshop.com.au

Location and contact details

The Uniform Shop is located at 1425 Sturt Street, Ballarat. The Uniform Shop is in the building in front of the Girls Boarding House adjacent to the Tennis Courts.

Telephone: (03) 5330 8305

Email: bac@dobsons.com.au

Normal Trading Hours (during School Term)

Tuesdays 1.00pm – 4.30pm

Wednesdays 8.30am – 11.30am

Fridays 1.00pm – 4.30pm

Extended Trading Hours (end of Term and School Holidays)

Thursday 3 April, 2014 - 1.30pm to 5.30pm

Friday 4 April, 2014 – 9.30am to 5.30pm

Tuesday 15 April, 2014 – 1.30pm to 4.30pm

We also offer individual fitting appointments. Please contact Leanne on (03) 5330 8305 during Trading Hours or via email bac@dobsons.com.au to arrange a suitable time.

Winter Uniform

A full size range of Kilts and Pinafores are currently available.

King Island Polar Fleece

Orders are now being taken for King Island Polar Fleece.

Payment Facilities

EFT and Credit Card facilities are available. You can also apply, in store or online, for a Dobsons Account. Credit Card Authority forms are available at the Uniform Shop. Cheques are not accepted.

JSPG, Parents & Friends and 1920s Club Merchandise

We have various items for cash sale on behalf of the Junior School Parents Group, Parents & Friends and 1920s Club. The items available include Organisational Bags, Parents & Friends Caps and Rowing Caps.

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For buying and selling your child’s requirements for Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels visit

www.uniformswapshop.com.au

Buy and sell: uniforms, books, sports equipment, instruments, camera and film, art supplies, electronics, CD and DVD’s.

All sales assist YOUR School community and The Alannah and Madeline Foundation.

Easy to navigate, easy to buy, easy to sell. 24 hour access to goods.

No commissions - 100% of money received by the seller.

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library

Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge 2014

The 2014 Victorian Premiers’ Reading Challenge has begun! If your child is interested in participating in this year’s challenge please download the consent form from the Junior School page on

Connect@Clarendon and return the completed the form to the library or Kate and Penny at reception. Your child will then be allocated a login so their reading can be recorded on the Challenge website. If your child participated last year their login details will be the same and they can start recording their books here http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/events/prc/Pages/students.aspx.

If you have any questions about the Challenge please contact me.

Scholastic book fair – Term 2 Come to our Reading Oasis book fair! The library is holding another book fair and this year it will be held:

Thursday 1 May 3.00–5.00pm Watson Hall The more a child reads, the stronger reader he or she becomes. Strong reading skills are essential to a child’s success in school and life. Our Book Fair encourages this success by offering students access to

great books at affordable prices. Children are more likely to read books they personally choose. The wide variety of choices offered at our Book Fair ensures that there will be something for everyone! Thank you for supporting out Book Fair! Every purchase benefits our school with great new books and resources from Scholastic.

Please note: Payment on the day is required. Cash/EFTPOS/Credit Card payments accepted.

Michelle Thomason

Librarian

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notices

Performing Arts Social Evening

Click here for information

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