PRINCIPAL’S REPORT NEWSLETTER N0.16 31ST MAY 2012

BETTER BUDDY DAY

Wow – what a great feature in

Tuesday‟s Herald Sun on page 52.

As you would know, Berwick Lodge

P.S. has

developed a

close

partnership with

the Alannah &

Madeline

Foundation – thanks are due to

Jodie Norton, our School Council

President and Debbie Cusack, one

of our Assistant Principals, for the

leadership they have shown in

building this partnership. Students at

our school are the Better Buddy

Student Ambassadors for Victoria –

quite an honour. Ben, year 6, and

Jackson, Prep, were featured in the

full page colour poster on page 52 in

Tuesday‟s Herald Sun. Grant, year 4,

is also an ambassador, though he

missed out on the photo. June is

National Buddy Day with students

all over Australia engaging in the

Better Buddy Handshake – a

symbolic gesture of friendliness,

respect, valuing difference, including

others and responsibility.

10th ANNIVERSARY OF

KAMBRYA COLLEGE

Last Friday I had the pleasure of

attending the 10th Anniversary

celebrations of Kambrya College as

a guest of Michael Muscat, College

Principal. I was very

impressed with the

progress Kambrya

College has made in

just 10 years –

having experienced

firsthand both the excitement and

challenges that face school

communities when starting from

scratch. They have much of which

they can be proud. As is the case

whenever I visit local secondary

schools, I was thrilled to catch up

with some of our former students,

speak with them and see how well

they are growing up. Principals

never tire of seeing their students

doing well. Michael Muscat is forging

strong links with schools in China

and we have agreed to meet in

Term 3 to discuss ways in which our

two schools can together capitalise

on our respective international

educational links and interest in

Asian Studies and LOTE.

Continued….

FRIDAY 8TH JUNE 2012

CURRICULUM DAY

NO STUDENTS REQUIRED TO ATTEND SCHOOL

DIARY DATES

Friday 1st June 5/6 Interschool Winter Sport (away)

Monday 4th June Berwick Secondary College Transition Program

Wednesday 6th June Power of One

Casey North Divisional Cross Country

Wednesday 13th June 5/6 Lightning Premiership

Thursday 14th June Prep Fire Safe Kids

Monday 18th -Wednesday 20thJune 5/6 Sovereign Hill Camp 5C, 6P, & 6W

Wednesday 20th - Friday 22nd June 5/6 Sovereign Hill Camp 5D, 5T, 6K, & 6N

Thursday 2nd August Australian Mathematics Competition

NOTICES DUE BACK

Friday 1st June Prep - 2 Swimming

Power of One

Tuesday 5th June Casey North Divisional Cross Country

Wednesday 6th June 5/6 Camp Balance

Thursday 7th June Somers Camp

3/4 Camp Rumbug Deposit

Friday 15th June Chocolates/ Money

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT COMTINUED….. . THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

We have survived our first week in our temporary administration facilities and there have been no big dramas -

we‟ll keep our fingers crossed! Thank you everyone for your support and patience in these somewhat difficult

times and thank you to those parents who have given us valuable feedback on areas that we could improve. Our

PA system remains our bogey at the moment – we have contracted a specialist technician to see what can be done

on a temporary basis.

He will be here on our Curriculum Day, Friday 8th June when the children will be away as he will need to

undertake quite a bit of testing of the system. Hopefully this will give us some respite from the inconsistencies in

the volume and quality of sound until the system is relocated and replaced in the school holidays.

UPDATE ON CHANGES TO THE EDUCATION MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE (EMA)

In last week‟s newsletter I explained the changes our state government is making to the EMA funding model for

schools and the impact this would have on our school. I also mentioned that Sue Peddleson, Principal, Gleneagles

S.C. and Vicki Walters, Principal, Fountain Gate S.C. were coordinating a campaign among local government

schools in protest at the cuts. You may have noticed in last weekend‟s Sunday Age, a feature article and editorial

that were very critical of these changes. This week Sue Peddleson has arranged for the Berwick News to cover this

story and I understand that in this week‟s edition the story is being profiled on page 1, complete with photos of 5

local principals in support of the campaign – Sue Peddleson, John Hurley, Jenny Scott, Kathy Sharp and me. In

addition, I have written an opinion piece on the issue, titled, „EMA funding cuts don’t add up’ which the Berwick

News is publishing. This issue is one which concerns us all very much and if you have an opinion on it, Cameron

Houston at The Sunday Age would welcome your feedback. His email address is chouston@theage.com.au

ENJOY

This is my last newsletter report this term as I will be on leave for the last four weeks of term. I am looking

forward to my overseas trip, and as I won‟t get the chance before the end of term – do enjoy the forthcoming

break and I look forward to seeing many of you at our first assembly next term.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Is our refurbishment project still on schedule to start on or about the Queen’s Birthday

weekend?

A. Yes!

QUOTABLE QUOTE

‘It’s quite ironic that of all the things we are best at finding – scapegoats invariably head the list’

HENRY GROSSEK

A REMINDER TO

FAMILIES THAT

FRIDAY 8TH JUNE IS A

REPORT WRITING DAY

AND STUDENTS ARE

NOT REQUIRED AT

SCHOOL.

NATIONAL BUDDY DAY

Tomorrow all students will

celebrate National Buddy Day. Our

school has been nominated as the

Victorian Ambassador School for

the Alannah and Madeline

Foundation Better Buddy Program.

In recognition of this day a „secret

handshake‟ has been created for the

children to share with their buddies

and was the focus of a poster, in the

Herald Sun on

Tuesday of this

week, featuring

two of our student

buddies sharing

the handshake.

To celebrate the

day we are asking our children to

wear purple and participate in a

range of buddy activities which will

include the sharing of the secret

handshake. We will also have some

special visitors from the Alannah and

Madeline Foundation and possibly

some media attention.

‘STEP INTO PREP’

Plans are well underway for our

Step Into Prep information evening

to be held on Wednesday 13th June

at 7:00PM. If you are aware of any

families with preschool children who

may like to attend this

evening, please encourage

them to contact the school

to register their interest.

Our existing families are

also reminded that we are

now accepting Prep

enrolments for 2013.

Enrolment forms may be

collected from the school office. If

you would like enrolment forms

sent home with a current student

please

contact the office.

PLAYGROUND CONDITIONS

With recent wet weather grassed

areas of the

playground have

become quite muddy

and at times we have

had numerous

students returning to class in a very

muddy state. We regularly remind

the students to be mindful of where

they are playing, and there are

occasions when we make the

decision to ban access to grassed

areas. Could you please reiterate

with your children the need to show

some common sense when playing

outdoors in Winter.

MICHAEL GROSE – INSIGHTS

This week we have included an

Insight Article from Michael Grose

entitled „Kids shine with tough love

parenting‟. This topic has been in

the news this week and we hope

that families will read and give

consideration to some of the ideas

within.

LYNNE BRENNER & DEBBIE CUSACK

ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS’ REPORT

Thank you to the 5/6 parents who have been paying for

the Sovereign Hill Camp.

The final camp payment is due by

Wednesday 6th June 2012.

Thank you

Jackie Pope

Event Coordinator

SCHOOL AWARDS

Congratulations to the following students who

received awards over the last week:

Matilda PW

Brianna PW

Isabella PM

Luke PW

Jordan PS

Thomas PW

Tyler PS

Max PM

Emelia PK Abdul PK

If you were unable to attend the Grade 3/4 Camp Information Evening last Wednesday night and you would like to be a parent helper, please collect an expression of interest form from the office. These forms are due back along with the Camp deposit payment by Thursday 7th June 2012. 3/4 Team

Teacher Strike

Parents will be notified next Tuesday regarding

the impact of the teacher strike that will be held

on Thursday 7th June 2012

Static Electricity On the Friday 25th May 2012, Grades

6W and 6K conducted experiments on

static electricity.

Aim: To see how static electricity

works.

Materials: Balloon, carpet (If needed),

head of long hair.

Predictions: I think that the balloon will

attract the hair after being rubbed on

your head.

Experiment: 1. Blow up the balloon to a medium size.

2. Rub the balloon on your head (or

carpet).

3. Raise the balloon slowly away from

your head, keeping it close to your head.

4. Observe.

Result: The balloon attracted the hair

because of the positive and negative

charges.

By Cooper 6W

Process of Change In Grade 6N last week students experimented with

white vinegar, bicarbonate soda and raisins to observe

and record the process of change. The students

successfully made raisins dance up and down in their

containers without touching the raisins! They can also

explain why this happens in scientific terms!!

Jack and Matt M (6N)

exploring the process

of change.

Jade and Shenelle (6N)

preparing to make

raisins dance!

Science Hits the Senior School

In recognition of Education Week last week the children in grades 5 and 6 focussed

on developing their knowledge around a science theme. The children thoroughly

enjoyed their experiences and have shared some of them with you here. It was such a

success that we are looking forward to the following sessions that these ones have

kick-started. Stay tuned!

Making Oobleck "On the Monday 28th May Grade 5D make

Oobleck. I thought it was really fun. We were split

into groups and I was with Alex and Meryn. When

we were making the goo,

Miss D put too much

food colouring in it. The

colouring stuck to our

hands and made them

green even though I had

washed my hands. When

I picked up a handful of

the Oobleck, it felt rubbery and gooey at the same

time. When I started to squeeze the Oobleck, it

went hard like a rock. But when I stopped squeezing

the Oobleck, it turned watery and gooey. The

Oobleck behaves like a solid and a liquid at the same

time."

By Amy 5D

Static Electricity As part of Education Week, 6K and 6W investigated

protons and electrons and static electricity. Amongst

many other things, the students of 6K and 6W

discovered that when you rub a balloon on your head/

hair, the contact between your hair and the balloon

allows electrons to be transferred. This is known as

the triboelectric effect. Coby, a student from 6K said,

“I really enjoyed the activity. It was fun and I learnt

lots of new things…”

Mark from the same class

commented, “It was fun

and fantastic! I would

really like to do these

activities again.” Reece

and Matt from 6K

echoed the same thing

and Ebony humorously

concluded with, “It was a

„hair-raising‟ experience!

It was both very exciting

and funny!”

Mr Kelly

In this photo, Callum and

Liam from 6K demonstrate

the triboelectric effect.

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

Changing Flowers

Aim- The aim is to find out what would happen to a white flower if you put food dye in the water it is in.

Hypothesis- My prediction was that the flower would change colour.

Equipment/Materials White flowers

Water

Cups

Food colouring

Method

1. Fill each cup with water.

2. Add 5 drops of food colouring to each cup of water.

3. Place a flower in each cup of water.

4. Leave the flowers overnight.

Observation- After leaving the flower overnight I went to see the flowers and they had turned green. Wow!

Conclusion- At the end of the experiment my prediction was right. The flower had changed colour, this is

because the flower needs water so the flower drank the water with the food colouring and then the flower

changed colour!

By Kayla Weber

Oobleck

On the Friday 25th May, 5C

made Oobleck for Education

week and it made a real

mess but we all enjoyed it

happily. We all got into

groups and made Oobleck.

When we started mixing it felt revolting. It was

very smelly too. When we

picked it up and squeezed it

the Oobleck became hard but

we let go, it trickled down

our hands. We also got to

pick a colour, which were

red, blue, green and yellow.

We all thought it was fun but in the end there was

a lot of mess!

By Tharushi 5C

On Wednesday 23rd May 5T had a Science Day! On the

day we participated in lots of interesting experiments.

One of the experiments was Oobleck. Oobleck is a

green goo that is a replicate of quicksand. We put a nail

in the Oobleck and it sunk straight to the bottom like

quicksand. Then we played around with the Oobleck and

afterwards our hands turned green. I had a lot of fun

playing around with Oobleck and I hope we can do it

again! Science is fun and is a very interesting topic to

learn. I hope we can learn more Science in the future!

Brodie 5T

On Wednesday 23rd of May we had a Science Day. We

did lots of cool stuff like making Oobleck, making

quicksand and Chocolate Crackles. Oobleck is very fun

to make. The instructions are easy to follow. When I

hold the Oobleck it turned from a solid to a liquid. We

learnt that Oobleck is a unique substance which is both a

solid and a liquid. After that we made Chocolate

Crackles, it was fun. We did this in small groups. We

used copha which was a solid, we melted it and it became

a liquid and then when we mixed it with the rice bubbles,

it turned into a solid when it hardened. Then we got to

eat and it was DELICIOUS and chocolaty. Science is very

fun and cool. I love to do science with all of 5T!

Suvi 5T

Teach Your Child the Following Types if Thinking (Self-Talk)

Setting Goals: It is good to do my best work.

Planning my Time: It is good not to waste time. It is good to be on time for

things.

Listening Carefully: It is important to listen to my parent and teacher extra

carefully when he/she is explaining something important.

Take Care of Things: „I need to put things in their proper places. I need to

clean up and be neat.‟

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Q: What do Britney Spears, Guy Sebastian and Chris-

tina Aguilera have in common?

A: They all started out singing in their local choir.

Free Trial Rehearsal

Berwick Youth Choir

5-11 year olds 4.30-6.00pm, 12-20 year olds 5.30-7.30pm

Valid for any Wednesday in Term 2, 2012

Why join the Berwick Youth Choir?

It provides a fun and educational environment for kids

aged 6 to 20

It has a strong musical training program

Affordability and great value for money

Many performance opportunities

The Berwick Youth Choir rehearses in the beautiful, historic

arts hub of The Old Cheese Factory in Berwick on

Wednesdays from 4.30pm.

For more information contact the Manager, Fiona

Seers on 0408 515 699 or

admin@berwickyouthchoir.com.au

NARRE WARREN-BERWICK BLUE LIGHT

DISCO

BERWICK LEISURE CENTRE,

MANUKA ROAD, BERWICK

SATURDAY 2nd June 2012

For Students in years 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8

only

Times 6:00pm to 10:00pm

COST: $10.00

Any enquires to Narre Warren

Police Station 9705 3111