AXEDALE PRIMARY SCHOOL

“Excellence Through Endeavour”

High Street, Axedale 3551

Ph. (03) 5439 7232 Fax. (03) 5439 7575

Principal – Lex Johnstone

Email: axedale.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

NEWSLETTER No. 39 December 11th

2014

Important dates:

December 12th

– RE Combined Service – 1.45pm

16th

– Gr 6 Graduation Dinner

18th

– School Christmas Concert &

Picnic Tea

19th

– Last day of school 2.30pm finish

January

2015

27th

– Booklist pick up day

28th

– Teachers resume

29th

– Students first day of school

AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to our award winners this

week.

Prep/1 – Thomas – for completing a very

interesting project and model about

grasshoppers. Prep students did not have to do

this work but Thomas chose to do the task.

Prep/1 – Cooper – for working really hard in

all subjects on Friday and doing some very

good work.

Gr. 2/3 – Liam – for working well with Mr J

to read and research information about

‘follicles’ and then present this information to his class.

Gr. 2/3 – Jaeyln – for being a caring and helpful class

member.

Gr. 4/5/6 – Bridgit – for being a cooperative classmate

and assisting others.

GOLDEN BRUSH

The Golden Brush for last week was won by 2/3.

HOUSE TROPHY

The House Trophy this week was won by McIvor.

SPELLING & READING AWARDS

Well done to the students who advanced another level

with their spelling and reading words this week.

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

THANK YOU MORNING TEA Yesterday we welcomed many parents,

community members and visitors to our school

for a Thank You Morning Tea to acknowledge

the amazing support that a wide range of people

give to our school and our students.

As our school leaders, Jack, Maliqua and Ryan were able to share a few words of thanks as well as a long

list of ways in which our parents, volunteers and community members have contributed to the opportunities

that students in our school enjoy.

I would like to publicly acknowledge all those who contribute to our school in so many ways. While it is

probably not a complete list, the following areas have been possible through volunteer support.

Hearing reading every morning, buying fruit, cutting up fruit, helping on excursions, co-ordinating Mother’s

and Father’s Day stalls, organising the Golf Day, organising the Progressive Dinner, being on School

Council, being on the Finance Committee, coming to working bees, mowing & whipper snipping outside of

working bees, watering plants through the holidays, co-ordinating second hand uniforms, Library work,

painting brick building, contributing to Axedale Bush markets, cooking sausages, teaching guitar, attending

concerts to watch your children, helping with school photos, spreading mulch, bringing pets in from home,

selling raffle tickets, wrapping Christmas presents, covering books, catering for working bees, co-ordinating

Playgroup and completing head lice checks to mention a few.

Ian and Sue are local community members who hear reading in the 4/5/6 room every Tuesday. They were

keen to present an award at our Thank You Morning Tea to someone who has shown great improvement and

determination throughout the year. Congratulations to Jaidyn who was chosen by Ian and Sue to receive this

award.

AXEDALE COMMUNITY CAROLS

The Axedale Community Carols are being held tomorrow night in the Axedale Park. Proceedings will start

from 5.30pm with a free BBQ and a Magic Show from 6.00pm. The School Choir will be performing 3

songs at 7.00pm and any students who are there can then join the Choir on stage for four more songs.

Students don’t need to wear uniform.

A reminder that on the night, students must be in attendance with their parents and parents are responsible

for their own children whilst at the Carols evening.

2015 BOOKLISTS

An envelope with information about 2015, including booklists, excursion levy and family payments was sent

home last week. Booklists need to be returned today.

BREKKY CLUB

Next Thursday 18th

December will be our last Brekky Club. Pancakes will be on the menu for the 16th

and

18th

. Thanks to Ricky for coordinating the program and collecting items from Bendigo Foodshare. Thanks to

Ryan, Nathan, Josh, Cameron, Jack, Keely, Joce & Julie for their help in setting up over the last two terms.

2015 CLASS STRUCTURE

As per presented last week, the grade structure for 2015 is as follows

GRADE TEACHER GRADE

NUMBERS

WHOLE

CLASS

NUMBERS

2015 ROOM

Prep Ms. Gaye Saunders Prep – 20 20 Mr. C’s current room

Gr. 1/2 Miss Michelle Blume Gr. 1 – 10

Gr. 2 – 12

22 Miss Blume’s current room

Gr. 3 Miss Michelle Mannes Gr. 3 – 12 12 Ms. Saunders current room.

Gr. 4/5/6 Mr. Steve Christensen Gr. 4 – 10

Gr. 5 – 7

Gr. 6 – 7

24 Brick building

ORIENTATION DAY

Tuesday was Orientation Day across Victoria. We welcomed all of our new 2015 preps to school for half a

day. This was their fourth transition session at our school. Students worked in their 2015 classes from 9.00 –

12.30. A BBQ was held for all students and parents attending. Thank you to Claire, Deb and Ricky for

cooking the BBQ.

Congratulations to our new Preps for having such a great day and to parents for their support

during the transition process.

SCHOOL CHOIR – LIGHTING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE

Last Friday our choir performed at the Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Rosalind Park. Over 1,000 people

were in the audience. They sang “Rockin’ Christmas” and “Feliz Navidad”. The Choir did an amazing job

and should be very proud of themselves. Thanks again to the parents for their support and Miss Blume for all

her work with the Choir.

END OF YEAR EVENING

Our end of year Christmas Concert will be held at school next Thursday 18th

December. Please put this

date into your calendar. From 6.15pm to start the evening, we will have a picnic basket tea or for those who

wish to cook, the BBQ will be available. Don’t forget to BYO chair.

Concert items will start from 7.00pm. Awards and acknowledgements will follow the concert from

approximately 8.00pm.

Students are asked to wear something ‘Christmassy’ on the night.

School finishes on Friday 19th

December at 2.30pm.

The School Bus will be dropping students off an hour earlier than normal on this day.

GRADE SIX GRADUATION - Tuesday 16th

December As per previous years, our Grade 6 Graduation Evening will involve a friendly game of ten pin bowling at

the Bendigo Dragon City Lanes venue before moving to La Porchetta for tea.

Parents are encouraged to be a part of the bowling as well as joining us for tea. School will cover the cost of

all the bowling and the Gr. 6 student meals.

The students are asked to begin working on a speech about their time at Axedale including good/funny

memories, highlights, things they will miss and things they are looking forward to. Students have

traditionally presented this speech to their fellow Gr. 6’s and the parents on the night.

Parents are asked to complete the slip at the end of the Newsletter with probable adult numbers attending so

that bookings can be confirmed.

PARENTS, VOLUNTEERS AND FUNDRAISING

Families are asked to contribute a non-perishable item to our Christmas Hampers (a box is in the

assembly space.) Tickets were sent home last week and are due back on Thursday 18th

December.

RELIGOIUS EDUCATION – CHRISTMAS SERVICE

Tomorrow Friday 12th

December at 1.45pm, we will be holding our annual combined

faiths Christmas Service conducted by Jenny McWilliam, our Religious Education

provider. Students in Prep - Gr. 3 who normally do Religious Education will be

involved in the Service, which will be conducted at school.

Grade 4/5/6 students who would like to be involved are most welcome and are

encouraged to attend. Students wishing to attend will need to bring the signed slip

included with the newsletter back to school by Thursday 11th

December.

OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOKS

Can parents please check at home for any school library books that all are now overdue and need to be

returned ASAP.

BENDIGO YOUTH CHOIR REHEARSAL

Choir students are invited to attend the Bendigo Youth Choir Rehearsals again next Wednesday 17th

December at St Andrew’s Church in Myers Street from 6 – 7pm to rehearse for the Bendigo Carols on

Sunday 21st December. Please let Miss Blume know if you can make it.

AXEDALE QUICKSHEAR

The Axedale Quick Shear competition will be on again next year in the Axedale Park.

We will be seeking volunteers to help out on the day, remembering that part of the profits from the day are

given back to the school. With the event being on at the end of the holidays, we will need to do some

organising of volunteers over the next few weeks. This was a great community event last year, bringing

many new people into our town. Keep an eye out for further details.

OUTSTANDING MONEY

Family financial statements with outstanding money owing to the school have been sent home. Can these

amounts please be finalised in the next few weeks to allow us to complete our school budget for next year.

Our EFTPOS machine is available for these payments using credit or debit card.

FRESH FRUIT FRIDAY

Friday 12th

December – Susie McGrath

Tomorrow is our last Fresh Fruit Friday for this year. Thank you to all our volunteers for their continued

contribution.

TERM DATES 2014 TERM DATES 2015

Term 4: 6th

October to 19th

December

Term 1: 28th

January (Teachers resume)

29th

January (Students) to 27th

March

Term 2: 13th

April to 26th

June

Term 3: 13th

July to 18th

September

Term 4: 5th

October to 18th

December

MICHAEL GROSS PARENTING RESOURCES

Our school is a member of www.parentingideas.com.au

This week’s attached article is “Reading your child’s report”.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

When I was 5 my mother always told me happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me

what I wanted to do when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment

and I told them they didn’t understand life – John Lennon.

Lex Johnstone

Principal

CLASSROOMS

PREP/1 PROJECTS

Prep/1 presented their projects to their class and to Grade 4/5. Every child did a magnificent job and they

should be very proud of their efforts. Thanks parents for your help.

PREP/1 HOT DOG NIGHT

On Friday the 5th

of December it was Hot Dog night. It’s a

night when the Prep/1s get to stay at school and go to the

Axedale public park. We had dancing competitions. We had hot

dogs for tea. We had a movie raffle. My movie got pulled out,

we watched it. My movie was “Tom and Jerry”.

By Meg

PREP/1 SPIDER HEAD BANDS

Yesterday students in Prep/1 had a task to

make a spider head band. They were given a

picture and two pieces of cardboard. The

students then worked by themselves and you

can see from the photo how creative they

were in completing the task.

KRIS KRINGLE

Grades 2-6 will be holding their Kris Kringle on the second last day of term, Thursday 18th

December.

Children will be drawing a classmates’ name from a hat next Monday 8th

December.

Kris Kringle limit is $5.

GRADE 5/6 PREPARATION FOR PUBERTY

Yesterday the Grade 5/6 students participated in a ‘Preparation For Puberty’ session with school nurse,

Andrea Scott.

The purpose of the sessions was to

explore the physical and emotional

changes of puberty and included sexual

development, the process of fertilization

and development of a baby, and

discussion regarding general aspects of

health, including relationships and body

image. Once we got past some initial

giggles, the students asked responsible

and mature questions and got a lot out of

the session. Well done kids.

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Grade 6 Graduation Evening

Family Name: __________________________________________________________

We will / will not be attending the Grade 6 Graduation Evening on Tuesday 16th

December at the Dragon

City Bowling Alley and afterwards for tea at La Porchetta.

Number of adults attending with Grade 6 child.

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RELIGOIUS EDUCATION – CHRISTMAS SERVICE – GRADE 4/5/6 STUDENTS

Family Name: _______________________________________________________

I give permission for my child/ren to attend the annual combined faiths Christmas Service on Friday 12th

December at 1.45pm to be held at school.

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________________________________

COMMUNITY

Bendigo’s Summer in the Parks ‘Play in your park’ – January 2015

There are over 40 free community events taking place in the Greater Bendigo region over summer.

In January, the Greater Bendigo community will have an opportunity to participate in ‘play in your park’ which will involve interactive activities for the whole family, facilitated by Kelly Sports.

For more information about the locations and what days and times ‘Play in your park’ will be running during January visit www.bendigosummerintheparks.com

The Healthy Together Bendigo Kids Club

The Healthy Together Bendigo Kids Club is held each month at the Bendigo Community Farmers Market. Kids Club starts from 11am and activities may include cooking or processing food, planting seeds, food art and games.

For more information please visit www.bcfm.org.au