Newsletter Edition 7 Wednesday May 14

th , 2014

Working Bee

Principal Report

NAPLAN This week across Australia Grade 3 and 5 children completed the National Literacy and Numeracy tests. In recent years we have not placed significant emphasis on the annual tests. We do practise working through test/questionnaire genre leading up to the NAPLAN to ensure the children are familiar and confident with reading and completing test/questionnaire papers. The NAPLAN is one measurement tool of many in our annual assessment schedule, used to provide feedback on student learning and our teaching. Like all of our assessment tools student achievement data is used to identify areas for improvement and to inform and drive future program planning and teaching. The NAPLAN also provides a ‘snap shot’ of student rankings state wide and nationally. The NAPLAN results will be available in October. Passport to Success - Leadership Morning Invitation You are invited to come on a journey to the best destination in the world, our school, Parktone Primary! Each of our special visitors will be given a passport, which will be stamped as you voyage throughout our school learning about our amazing 7 Habits. Our Beacon Team (Student Representative Council) will be holding a special bake sale to raise money for the Sanfilippo Children’s Fund. Our leadership event will culminate with the release of balloons to signify our willingness to continue on this amazing journey together. Please join us for morning tea afterwards.

Mothers’ Day Stall Thank you to the members of the Parktone Social Group. The stall was a great success. The gifts and prices were perfect. Over $2000 was raised from this ‘feel good’ activity, which has been put towards the purchase of our outdoor seating and tables. Amazing! Gardening

Lesley Fyffe is our school gardener. Lesley

continues to create gardens from dust bowls. She

is now working on the front side of the school, on

Robert Street. If you see Lesley in the yard please

stop and thank her for the time and effort she puts

in to make our school beautiful.

Student Led Assembly

The whole-school assemblies are led by the

students. On Monday the assembly ran really

smoothly as the students were more confident. Our

aim is to teach the children how to address large

audiences and to speak in public with confidence,

as leaders. Assemblies in Terms 2 and 3 are

scheduled for each Monday afternoon beginning at

3:15pm.

3/4 Class Restructuring Survey

On Monday a survey went home to the families of

children in Grades 3 and 4. We have the

opportunity to appoint an additional classroom

teacher and we want to know if the parents of our

largest grades would like to take up the opportunity

to have their children in smaller, non-composite

classes. The restructure would be: 3A with 17

students, 3B with 17 students, 3C with 17 students,

4 A with 21 students and 4B with 21 students. Next

week we will announce what the parents’ response

is, to the survey, and the plan of action, should the

overwhelming majority of parents want the

restructuring to go ahead.

Buildings Maintenance

Major funding has been used to upgrade the main

school building. Recently, gutters, eaves and facia

were upgraded. Look up and you will notice the

transformation. The student toilets are scheduled

for a major upgrade during the next school

holidays!

Three-Year School Review Process

Next term Parktone Primary enters into a whole-

school review process. The leadership team,

school councillors, students and external agency

representatives will review our past academic

performance and cultural development, based on

our last School Strategic Plan. By the end of Term

3 we will have created a rigorous and relevant

blueprint, which we will follow over the next three

years, with the aim to improve our teaching,

learning, academic performance and school

culture.

IMPORTANT DATES

2014

MAY

15

th

Year 1 Excursion

Royal Botanic Gardens

16

th

Interschool Sports Bye

19

th – 23rd

Education Week

19th

District Cross Country

21

st

Leadership Morning

Bake sale (Beacon Team)

School Tour

7.00pm

27th

Prep 2015 Tour 9.15am

28

th

Prep 2015 Tour 9.15am

29

th

Prep 2015 Tour 9.15am

30

th

Interschool Sport Mordy

(Away)

June 3

rd

PCG/BG/Ed 7.00pm

Year 2 Excursion Moonlight Sanctury

4

th

Footsteps P-2 9-10.30

School Council Projects

Last Term we managed to:

- Concrete the ground under the Prep Centre shelter

- Secure bench seating under the Prep shelter

- Constructed roof covering between the Prep Centre

and the shelter

- Installed new blinds to the Prep Centre windows

- Secure four tables and bench seating units outside

the senior school building

- Levelled the large mound that stood near the Prep

Centre

We wanted to achieve these milestones as early as possible

so our children could enjoy the new additions for most of the

year rather than waiting until later. Funds raised throughout

this year have been committed to these projects.

Quote of the Week “Keep your face to the sunshine and you can never see the shadow.” – Helen Keller As long as you are looking on the bright side of things you will be ignoring the not-so-good things in your life. What you give attention to grows, so if you are focusing on what is wrong in your life you will just get more of it to focus on. But if you focus on what is right in your life, what makes you happy, what you are grateful for, and why things are so fantastic for you, you will only get more of the same to be happy and grateful for. Some days are easier to face towards the sunshine than others, but it is always there, you just have to try harder during hard times. Have a great week everyone. George Danson Principal

AFL Art Competition "One Team, One Goal - Celebrating Diversity" The competition is open to all students in government and non-government schools and there are great prizes up for grabs, including a $5,000 grant for schools and tickets to AFL games. Primary school students can enter by creating a poster that reflects the themes of multiculturalism, teamwork and respect, with the winning entry to be featured in the AFL Football Record. To find out more information and to enter visit http://www.education.vic.gov.au/oneteam BE QUICK - ENTRIES DUE BY MAY 23

PSG News Hi everyone, It’s been a busy couple of weeks, and the highlight would have to have been the Mother’s Day stall held last week. The children were wonderful as they made their way through the decision process – tough moment for some! Many thanks to the fantastic Grade 6 students who helped on the stall. There are a couple of future salesmen in that class! The stall has raised over $2,000 for our school. This is a massive achievement that the whole school community should be proud of. A notice went home last week asking for parents to volunteer to become their child’s class rep. So far, we have filled half of the roles, but still need more! There’s not a lot to do in this role – it’s as detailed as you make it! Officially, you are the social coordinator for your class for the year. We ask that you organise at least one social function each term, either just for the mums, just for the dads, for the kids, or for all of the families together. If you are interested, please contact Marianne Kirk on Marianne.Kirk@ap.o-i.com Have a great week from the Parktone Social Group

If you were wondering why the gum tree in the front of the school is looking so colourful, well Kristina Kazas, Eleftheria

in 5A’s mum yarn bombed on Monday. Thank you to all those who have knitted pieces over the past

months to provide the school with such a colourful display of

Yarn Bombing. Thank you to Kristina for your hard work wrapping the tree!

MORDIALLOC NEIGHBOURHOOD HOUSE

Term 2: April 22 – June 27

TAI CHI – Tuesday: 1.30 - 2.30pm

ART FOR PLEASURE –

Wednesday: 9.30 -11.30am

It’s not too late to join in

. Enrolments taken during the term.

For further information or to make a booking,

please phone: 9587 4534

Back to work opportunity

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TAKE HOME A BIG BROTHER OR BIG SISTER Give your children the wonderful opportunity to have an international big brother or big sister by volunteering to host one of our exceptional international students arriving in Australia in July 2014 for their 3, 5, or 10 month programs. Our international students from France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Spain and Colombia will live as a local, attend a local secondary school, arrive with their own spending money, and comprehensive insurance cover, all arranged by Southern Cross Cultural Exchange. You choose the nationality, the gender, the duration and the interests of the student that you feel is the best match for your family. Visit us at www.scce.com.au, email scceaust@scce.com.au or call us toll free on 1800 500 501, request our international student profiles, and capture the spirit of family and friendship!

Genevieve Eyre Program Coordinator Southern Cross Cultural Exchange Tel: (03) 9775 4711 Toll-free: 1-800-500-501 Email: liaison@scce.com.au