PRINCIPAL’S REPORT NEWSLETTER N0.10 19TH APRIL 2012

WELCOME

I hope everyone enjoyed a great

fortnight break from school and

enjoyed the many days of fine

autumn weather. This is going to be

a very busy term and challenging in

some ways – our refurbishment

project will be commencing later in

May (more of that later), the annual

NAPLAN tests are undertaken and

we have our annual Year 5/6 camp

program scheduled for the last two

weeks of the term.

BER COMPANION PROJECT

UPDATE

It has certainly been a painstaking

process to date, but we now have a

relatively firm commencement date

for our refurbishment project to

commence.

Tenders for the

building work will

be let within days

and following a

month long

process, we

expect site works to commence on

or about Monday 28th May. The

project is expected to take four

months to complete, which will

result in a term 4 opening for our

refurbished main building. I will

provide you with all details of the

temporary arrangements for the

housing of our administration wing

during the construction phase

shortly. It is very satisfying to see

the fruition of our BER program

drawing closer.

FIRE SERVICES UPGRADE

REPORT

Work is proceeding smoothly on

this upgrade and it is expected to be

completed within 5

weeks. I must

congratulate GHD

on their

professionalism

with the project.

They are at pains to ensure that

everything runs smoothly, which it

is.

CHINESE CLASSES AFTER

SCHOOL

I am really pleased to say that these

classes will be commencing next

week at our school on Thursday

afternoons from 3.30pm to 5.00pm.

Parents of 15 students indicated

interest on behalf of their children

with 13 being able to participate on

Thursdays.

ANONYMOUS

CORRESPONDENCE

From time to time I receive

anonymous correspondence

concerning something to do with

our school. Earlier this week I

received one such letters. The

author of the letter identified

themselves as “a concerned parent”.

The contents of their letter raised

some interesting points and

criticisms. The letter concluded with

the following – “I wait for an answer

in the newsletter. A concerned

parent”

DIARY DATES Friday 20th April 5/6 Interschool Winter Sport (home)

Tuesday 24th April Cross Country Trials

Gr 1 & 2 Casey Safety Village

Thursday 26th April Gr 1 & 2 Casey Safety Village

Friday 27th April Gr 3 & 4 Melbourne Museum

Gr 1 & 2 Casey Safety Village

Friday 4th May Gr 1 & 2 Casey Safety Village

5/6 Interschool Winter Sport (away)

NOTICES DUE BACK Friday 20th April Cross Country Parent Helper Form

My answer to anonymous correspondence is to generally ignore it, unless of course it raises issues that might

properly be brought to the attention of the police. Obviously this letter does not raise any such issues. My advice

to people is to put your name to your views if you want to be taken seriously.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q.? What will happen to our 8 portable classrooms situated at the end of the

gymnasium when our refurbishment project is completed?

A.In the short term nothing. As these classrooms will be surplus to our entitlement for next

year, I will be requesting that the DEECD remove them. We will then landscape the area for

the recreational use by the children.

QUOTABLE QUOTE

‘The art of cherry picking is to confine it to fruit’

HENRY GROSSEK

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT CONTINUED…..

CANTEEN IS

ONLY OPEN

MONDAY,

THURSDAY &

FRIDAYS

LODGIE AWARDS

Amy 4Y

Maddy 3S

Brodie 4Y

Henna 4Y

Lachlan 4Y

Summah 3K

HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER?

Please ensure you let the school office know if you have changed address or updated mobile phones with new numbers.

This information alleviates stressful situations on students when they are ill and we cannot contact parents

Welcome back to all families

following the Term break. We

hope that everyone has had a

restful and refreshing break and

are looking forward to a busy

Term 2.

PREP ENROLMENT FOR

2013

We have commenced our prep

enrolments for 2013 and request

that existing families with preps

for next year contact the office

for enrolment

forms. For effective

planning

purposes it is

beneficial for

us to know

projected prep enrolments well

in advance. We also need to be

aware of students with special

needs who may require extra

support on their entry to school.

Families with queries regarding

this matter are encouraged to

make contact with us to discuss

the options available to provide

support. If you know of any

families with children starting

school in 2013 who wish to enrol

at Berwick Lodge Primary School

we would appreciate it if you

could ask them to contact the

school administration in order to

organise a tour of the school.

Tours for prospective families

will commence next week.

SAVER PLUS

We have recently received some

information regarding a “Super

Saver” scheme which is run by

the Brotherhood of St Laurence

in conjunction with the ANZ

bank. This is a savings and

financial program that teaches

money skills to people on lower

incomes and encourages them to

build savings to help pay for their

children’s education. Participants’

savings are matched $1 for $1

(up to $500) and the money

saved is used to pay for

educational items such as

uniforms, books, excursions and

camps. To be eligible you must have:

A child attending school, or be

intending to attend vocational

training yourself in 2012

A current Centrelink Health

Care Card or Pension

Concession Card, and

Regular form of paid employment

(yourself or partner)

Parents who have previously

taken advantage of this program

have provided us with very

positive feedback.

If you are interested in further

information regarding this

scheme please let the office know

and they will pass on the relevant

contact details.

MICHAEL GROSE

PARENTING IDEAS

This week we have included

another interesting

article from Michael

Grose entitled 25

Great Parenting Ideas.

This flyer provides

practical tips for parents that we

encourage families to read and

give some consideration.

Parents are reminded that they

can access Michael’s website at

www.parentingideas.com.au

BABY NEWS

Yesterday we received exciting

news from Vanessa and Andrew

Stephens about the

early arrival of their

son Declan Andrew

Stephens (4 pound 5

ounces). In spite of his unscheduled

arrival Declan and his mother are

both well. On behalf of the

school community we would like

to congratulate the Stephens

family and we look forward to a

visit from Vanessa and Declan in

the future.

CANTEEN

We wish to remind all families

that from the commencement of

this term the canteen will

operate on

Mondays, Thursdays

and Fridays only.

There will be no

canteen on Tuesdays or

Wednesdays. .

LYNNE BRENNER

& DEBBIE CUSACK

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT

Confidence means believing you can do it. It means not being

afraid to make mistakes, to try something new, or to express

an opinion

2013 YEAR 7 TRANSITION NEWS

This term is a busy term for transition to secondary school for our Year 6 children. All Year 6

students will be bringing home application forms for secondary school tomorrow,

Friday 20th April 2012.

Please read the information carefully before completing the application form.

All forms MUST BE RETURNED to your child’s class teacher

BY FRIDAY 18th MAY 2012.

If details are incorrect on the top part of the application form please contact the school office to

update your information. Any queries can be directed to Mrs Sue Naismith, Rm 24 or by phone on 9707 1766.

Many local secondary schools hold Information Evenings for prospective families at this time of the year.

All Grade 5 and 6 parents are strongly encouraged to attend these information sessions to find out about their

local secondary schools.

Berwick S.C is holding their Information Evening on Tuesday 24th April 2012 at 7pm in the

Performing Arts Centre.

Kambrya S.C is holding their Information Evening on Thursday 26th April 2012, 6.20pm - 7.30pm.

BUSINESS ADVERTISING

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general cleaning needs

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Other services: Vacate clean-up/ready for sale

For bookings & enquiries contact Steve 0411 752 279

$1.00 from each booking goes back to BLPS.

Plus $1.00 to Royal Children's Hospital

COMMUNITY ADVERTISING

COMMUNITY ADVERTISING

THEMES SECONDARY EDUCATION

MAGAZINE

This magazine provides parents with

Secondary Education options and Open Days

information.

These magazines are available from the school

office.

FOR SALE Nike footy boots - Brand new

Size 1

Cost - $25

Please call Tina on 0431 607 978

“Berwick Flames is a basketball organisation that is focused on core values that include

family, friendships and fair play. We exist to promote healthy competitive competition whilst maintaining our

core values. We focus on our kids playing, practising, while growing physically, mentally and socially”.

Registration for Winter Season is now open at

Berwick Flames Basketball Club Winter Season starts Saturday 14th April 2012

All are welcome!

For more information please looks at our website:

www.berwickflames.com

LOST PROPERTY There are three pairs of glasses handed in to the office last term. If there is anyone

that has misplaced their glasses please come to the school office for collection