Issue 20 – July 14th, 2016

Tuesday 19th July Parent Helper SessionWednesday 20th July Breakfast ClubWednesday 20th July State School Spectacular Rehearsal 1Wednesday 20th July Parent Helper SessionWednesday 20th July School CouncilThursday 21st July Year 4 – 6 Mindfulness in ActionFriday 22nd July Year 3 and 4 Hoop Time Basketball

PRINCIPAL REPORT

Hello everyone,

With great pride I’m writing to you as the newly appointed Principal of Whittlesea Primary School. I’d like to thank the selection panel and school council, chaired by president Josh Parks for their endorsement in my ability to lead Whittlesea Primary School into the future.

Throughout the selection process I outlined my beliefs and vision for our school moving forward. My commitment is to continue our school’s journey of continuous improvement. Under my leadership there will be a dedication and commitment to developing the talents and abilities of every child at our school. We will continue to embrace diversity and individuality, with a strong emphasis on academic achievement, core values and social and emotional skills.

Our school can be proud of the outstanding facilities, programs and personalised learning opportunities on offer. Over the recent years’ student achievement has improved significantly and Whittlesea Primary School has gone from strength to strength in most performance measures.

As Principal of Whittlesea Primary School I look forward to continued positive relationships with our entire community – working in partnership to add value to each and every child in our school.

Exciting NewsIn what has been a whirlwind start to the term, I can confirm that Whittlesea Primary School has secured 2 brand new relocatable buildings to replace ageing facilities currently onsite. This is a significant achievement with 4 classes relocating to brand new modern facilities in the near future. The new classrooms will be slightly larger and fully equipped with climate control and networking facilities, making for comfortable and modern learning environments. More details are to come, with contractors due to make contact with the school and inspect the site in the coming weeks.

CondolencesOur entire school community was shocked and saddened by the passing of one of our parents – Dee Christensen this week. Dee had a long association with our school, with 2 of her boys currently enrolled at our school. Our deepest sympathies go out to her family – particularly Josh, Tyson and Jack at this challenging time.

In response to the tragic news, we ensured that our network leader for psychological services was onsite Wednesday morning. In partnership with her and Whittlesea Secondary College, we endeavoured to support all the children in our school and will continue to do so in the weeks to come.

Counselling ServicesAttached to this newsletter is a flyer advertising the Open Minds Psychology services which we are able to provide onsite. Trained psychologists will be at school once a week to hold private counselling sessions with children across a range of issues. If this service will be of value to your child I highly encourage you to make contact on 8692-9949.

Until next week,

Ty HogginsPrincipal

JUMP ROPE FOR HEART FINAL UPDATE

An awesome effort by our whole school community to raise huge funds for the Heart Foundation! The final amount raised by the students of Whittlesea Primary School was -

$6,138.80A reminder that half of the funds raised is returned to our school to purchase sports equipment.  All thank you prizes from the Heart Foundation will be distributed in term 3.

Remember to stay heart healthy!

Kim Ferguson

WHITTLESEA PRIMARY SCHOOL ART SHOW

The Whittlesea Primary School Art Show will be held on Wednesday 14 September of this term, and we would greatly appreciate parent involvement in the coming weeks. If you are available Thursday afternoons from 2:15 and would be keen to help out please email whittlesea.ps@edumail.vic.gov.auThank you.

Danielle McDowellArt Teacher

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB

Issue 5 of the Scholastic Book Club has gone home today. Order and payment need to be returned to school by Thursday 21st July. If you would like to order online please use the online ordering system LOOP –

https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Register.aspx

SCHOOL CHAPLAIN REPORT

New Look Breakfast Club!

There is something exciting and new for our Breakfast Club. We are now part of the Victorian Department of Education and Training’s School Breakfast Clubs program. The Department is in partnership with Foodbank Victoria that has supplied us with a sizable stock of food: wheat biscuits, instant oats, UHT milk, canned fruit in natural juice, and baked beans. Foodbank Victoria is an independent not-for-profit organisation with more than 80 years’ food relief experience. Schools with an existing breakfast club organisation were strongly encouraged to participate in the program. For our part we will supplement the core foods with additional food items such as bread and fresh fruit, stuff that cannot keep for a long period.

The program encourages teachers and support staff to attend regularly, either to help out or to simply interact with the students in a non-classroom setting. Parents, guardians and relatives can be involved in the breakfast club as well through providing support or simply attending to observe and understand how it works. Our school has a Volunteer Policy for this to work smoothly, and you do not need to volunteer every time. A few parents are already involved, and in future may take the lead in cooking speciality dishes. Students for their part may learn new cooking skills. These are things to explore.

It has been great to have Gordon, one of our ES staff, join us each week last term to teach students Backgammon. This is has been a timely addition to the table games we provide. So, we are providing new and different food this term (alongside the usual) and would love you to share the word around and come and be involved.

Peter Ackland - school chaplain

EXCURSION LEVY 2016

Thank you to the families who have paid the $70 levy for their children.

If you opted to pay this levy in two instalments please be advised that the second instalment of $35 was due on Friday 10th June 2016.

Excursions/Incursions are planned for most year levels this term. Please make sure to check if you have made payment for your child. These activities are based on user pays and we would like every child to be included.

If you are unsure whether you have paid please contact Donna Gray at the school office.

NEWS FROM SCHOOL COUNCIL

Our school council is looking at developing a master plan for future growth of our facilities at Whittlesea Primary School.  If you have experience and skills in architecture, engineering or construction in general please contact the school on 97162140 or whittlesea.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au. 

SCHOOL BANKING

School Banking is every Tuesday. Please contact the Office if you would like a school banking pack to be sent home for your child.

CANTEEN

The canteen service provided by Metro Canteens operates every Friday. Families are able to place an online order up until 11:30pm on Thursday each week. You will need to set up an account through – www.flexischools.com.au

LOST PROPERTY

Please remember to write your child/ren’s names on all uniform items. We have a lot of unclaimed uniform in our lost property that does not have names written on them so we cannot deliver these to the students. Please check your child/ren’s jackets and make sure that they belong to them, we do have children who are missing their bomber and fleece jackets which are named. Lost property is located under the park bench on the side verandah of the office, please feel free to come and have a look through it. Thank you.

CAR PARKING

The Church kindly lets our school families use their car park. Please reverse park, and keep to the actual car park area. Driving beyond this is not permitted. Also, please do not use the disabled car park in the church car park or in the staff car park unless you have a disability permit, we do have parents that require the use of this space. Thank you.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Did you know WHITTLESEA PRIMARY SCHOOL HAS A MARKET?

Why not come!

Our market is held at the College on the third Saturday of the month and is run by the Whittlesea Secondary College and Primary School Chaplaincy Committee to raise money so both schools can have a chaplain – Peter Ackland at the primary school and Eva Natsis at the college.

It is the committee’s main fundraiser and needs your support as a customer and even as a stallholder. There is a good range of stalls including craft, homemade cakes and jams, fresh fruit and veggies, nuts and dried fruit, clothes, DVD’s, plants, dog supplies, gifts and of course enjoy a BBQ sausage or hamburger with a coffee.

The next market is on 20th August. The smaller car boot sites are $10 with the regular stall sites being $20. Just line up at the gate around 7am if you would like a spot. If you have any enquiries please ring 0419 357 395. Check out our facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/saturday.community.market.whittlesea

Certificate III in Education Support (Teacher's Aide) -CHC30213 - July 2016

This qualification will give you the skills and knowledge to provide assistance and support to teachers and students in a range of educational settings. This includes early childhood education, as well as Primary, Secondary and Special schools.

Graduates work as education assistants/teacher aides and support workers (working with children with disabilities)

Enrolments now being taken for July 2016 course.Starting: 29th JulyDay:  Fridays 9:15am to 3:15pmDuration: 24 sessions, 2 workshops + 100 hour practical placement.Cost: Concession: $180, Full: $900, Fee For Service—Conc.: $2,685 (limited places) + Service & Amenities Fee

For more details please ring PRACE on 9462 6077 or visit our website: www.prace.vic.edu.au