Thursday 10th December, 2015

From the Principal - FINAL NEWSLETTER 2015

Grade 6 Graduation Tonight is a very special night for our Grade 6 students, they will be graduating! It is an exciting time where the children reflect on their time at Parkdale Primary and celebrate the end of their journey through Primary school. We hope all our Grade 6’s and their families have an enjoyable night! Contributions 2016 The contributions are an important part in enabling us to provide the best learning environment for the children at Parkdale Primary school. A discount applies if full contributions are paid by December 14th 2015. Please note: The Grade 5/6 Beach Swimming Program and the Prep - 6 Excursion levy must be paid by Monday 1st February 2016. All other contributions are due by Tuesday 1st March 2016. Parent Helpers’ Morning Tea We understand that not all parents were able to make it to the Parent Helpers’ Morning Tea on Wednesday. On behalf of the staff a huge THANK YOU to all the parents who have assisted in the school throughout the year. GATEWAYS Team Congratulations to the 5/6 Gateways Team (Anna S, Toby H, Alex B and Samantha H) who competed in the GATEWAYS State Finals on Friday. It was an amazing effort making it through to the State Finals. Fair Donations Thank you to all the families who made donations for our 2016 Fair. All donations are very much appreciated as all profits from the Fair go back into the school. End of Year Reports End of Year Reports will be sent out on Thursday 17th December, a slip will be placed in the envelope with your child’s teacher and grade for 2016. End of Year Assembly The end of year Assembly will be held on Friday 18th December at 12:30pm. Children will be dismissed at 1:00pm.

CALENDAR

December

Thursday 10th Grade 6 Graduation

Monday 14th

Transition Picnic 2015 & 2016 Preps

9.30 - 11.00am

Tuesday 15th 5/6 Excursion

Wednesday 16th

School Disco

Thursday 17th Talent Quest

Friday 18th

End of Term 4 Early Dismissal 1:00pm

Term 1, 2016

January

School Begins

Thursday 28th

Children in Grades 1 - 6

Friday 29th

Prep Children Begin

February

Friday 26th

Curriculum Day

From The Principal ……. Cont’d Camp Australia – Before and After School Care - Cancellation Information Families need to set up an account with Camp Australia. A flyer with all information is included in this newsletter. If a child is absent from school due to illness, the fee can be removed for the session. The family will need to contact the Camp Australia Customer Care Team to notify them of the absence due to illness. Booking cancellations which are not due to illness, we do require parents to be cancelling with 7 days' notice. Booking cancellations with less than 7 days' notice will incur the session charge, less Child Care Benefit and the Child Care Rebate. In the case that families attending the program are working on rotating rosters they will need to provide a letter from their employer to Camp Australia, this can then be added onto their account to ensure they are able to cancel within the 7 days with no charge. This relates to permanent contract employees. Coast Guard Rescue Vessel Goes Back To School On Monday 14th December the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard will be bringing their rescue vessel to Parkdale Primary School. After a brief talk at Assembly about the work of Coast Guard and water safety, each class will have the opportunity to have a look at the vessel and learn more about the Coast Guard’s role. Farewell and Good Luck Rosalie Smith Rose is retiring after 40 years in the teaching service. Rose’s teaching career began in 1976. She joined Parkdale PS in 1988. Rose has enjoyed a long career teaching across all year levels. Her career started as a Grade 2 teacher and has finished as an ICT teacher. We wish Rose all the best for the future. Kendra Berry Kendra is retiring after 37 years in the teaching service. Kendra’s career started in 1977 at Seaford PS as a Grade 1 teacher. She started at Parkdale PS in 1993. In 1995 she began her career as a Prep teacher and as we all know Mrs Berry dedicated most of her career as a Prep teacher shaping hundreds of children. We wish Kendra all the very best as she begins a new adventure. Michaela Patel Michaela has a position at Caulfield South PS next year. Michaela has been a Grade 3/4 classroom teacher this year. Her science talents were an asset for the Grade 3/4 team. We wish her all the very best. Tess Anderson Tess will be taking a year’s leave to take up a position at the International School in Singapore. She will return in 2017. Natalia Parada A huge thank you to Natalia who has been teaching in Prep L this term. She has been a wonderful asset to the school and we wish her all the best next year. 2016 New Staff We welcome our new classroom teachers: Nathan James, Ellie Dennis, Michelle Pieters, Katharine Tsoucalas and Ash Muir. Welcome also to Rachael Hibbins who will be Grade 1 support. We welcome back Taylor Glew and Emma Tait who will be sharing a Grade 2 class. Also returning: Bree Jamison who will take Performing Arts one day a week and Rebecca Taylor who will be Grade 4 support and Phys Ed. Denise Rankin will be taking up a part time positon as Library/ICT teacher. Tracy Richards takes on the Assistant Principal position.

From The Principal ……. Cont’d Grades in 2016 Each year, constructing Grades is a task that is undertaken with the leadership group and class teachers. As a group we look at the numbers in each year level then systematically look at the various combinations. Class numbers will fluctuate from year to year; this is something that is out of our control. Our ideal is to have the lowest numbers in each year level as well as catering for the social aspect by trying to avoid spreading the children too thinly across a year level. As far as possible we prioritise low numbers in the junior years to give them a solid foundation and start in their education. Some of our reasons behind the 2016 structure: • In 2016 our staffing budget allowed us to create one extra grade. Our 5/6 classes were starting

at 32 so the extra class was created in this area • Our 2016 numbers in the 5/6 area are not evenly balanced. There will be a small cohort of Grade

6 students (too many for 2 straight classes but too few to split 6 ways) and a large cohort of Grade 5 students. To best cater for both cohorts we have created 4 classes of 5/6 and 2 classes for Grade 5.

The 6 classes will work as a 5/6 unit as they have this year. • For social reasons we have decided to operate straight Grade 3 and 4 classes, rather than splitting the cohorts 7 ways. For our larger class sizes extra support will be allocated in these areas.

Prep Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5/6 Specialists

Jackie Sell (Co-ordinator)

Mel Johnson (Co-ordinator)

Sally Murphy (Co-ordinator)

Emma Bourke (Co-ordinator)

Nerida McKenzie (Co-ordinator)

Leonie Haddad (Co-ordinator)

Visual Arts Sharon Clough

Caz Duff Steph Strong Ryan Hubbard Audrey Ulrich Dillon Hendricks

Jarrod Bainbridge (5/6)

Phys. Ed Cliff Anderson/ Rebecca Taylor

Clare Benns Andrea Strong Michelle Pieters

Nathan James Casey Blacklaw

Gareth Snow (5/6)

Japanese Mami Sherwood

Brianna Beglau

Ellie Dennis Taylor Glew/Emma Tait

Katharine Tsoucalas

Rebecca Taylor Grade 4 support

Lisa Coe (5/6)

ICT/Library Denise Wilkins/ Denise Rankin

Ash Muir Rachael Hibbins Gr 1 support

Andrea Smith (Grade 5)

Performing Arts Di Meek/ Bree Jamison

Sue Boreham (Grade 5)

From The Principal ……. Cont’d State Schools’ Relief - Year 7 Uniform Package Initiative Each year, State Schools’ Relief (SSR) provides tens of thousands of children with school clothing, shoes and other essential items. For the first time SSR has received government funding so that it can help more families needing financial assistance, and ensure no one is left behind. As part of the Victorian government’s uniform expansion program, every Year 7 (in 2016) government school student who is a recipient of the Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF) automatically qualifies for a free uniform pack. Eligibility requirements for CSEF can be found at www.education.vic.gov.au/csef What’s included in the uniform pack? The uniform pack includes all basic uniform items needed to start secondary school (approx. value $225):

Jumper x 1 PE shirt x 1 PE shorts x 1 For girls: a dress (or shorts or trousers x1 and a shirt x1 (long or short sleeve) For boys: shorts or trousers x1 and a shirt x1 (long or short sleeve).

How can parents apply for the packs? The 2015 CSEF recipients can apply for a pack from 1 December 2015 by contacting the secondary school where their child will attend. Secondary schools are required to make applications on behalf of parents at www.ssr.net.au/schools. Parents who missed this year’s CSEF applications or were ineligible in 2015, can apply in 2016. The 2016 program will be promoted via school newsletters and websites. What if parents have already purchased their child’s uniforms? Eligible parents who have already purchased their child’s uniforms for 2016 are entitled to a winter package available next year. Can parents who are ineligible for the Camp, Sports and Excursion Fund or, who have children in other year levels receive assistance from SSR? Yes. Applications for parents requiring financial assistance for uniforms, text books or shoes are encouraged to apply via the regular SSR services – www.ssr.net.au/schools. SSR only responds to requests from schools (not from parents directly). Parents are encouraged to talk to their school Principal, Assistant Principal or Student Welfare Coordinator about their situation and they will assess their eligibility. Terms and conditions Only CSEF recipients are eligible for the uniform packs. Each student is eligible for a single uniform pack. A voucher is dispatched electronically to the school, uniform shop or uniform supplier on approval. The school will provide the voucher to the parent/student to present at the uniform retailer (and not at SSR). The order is valid for 75 days from date of issue. Once expired, a new application must be lodged. Expired vouchers cannot be redeemed. Each voucher specifies the individual items funded by SSR. No change to the items can be made unless through the school. Changes made in store will not be honored by SSR. The maximum voucher value is $225 and any short fall will not be covered by SSR. More information Parents: For CSEF application details please visit www.education.vic.gov.au/csef

Leanne Bradney Principal

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

PREP Time has flown and Christmas is almost here! There are still a few exciting things happening during the next week though. Monday is the Prep/Kinder picnic. You are welcome to join us at Gerry Green Monday morning.

Don’t forget Portfolios will be presented to parents on Tuesday at 3pm. Please meet your child in their classroom at this time. If you are unable to make it, please let your child’s teacher know.

There is also the Disco on Wednesday and the Talent Quest on Thursday. These are events run throughout the school day and are just for the children.

Thank you for all the donations for St Vinnie’s. You have all been very generous. We are still collecting, so please donate if you would like to.

Tomorrow is the last day of reading. We will pass on the reader bags to next year’s teacher, however, we will send home the reader covers for cleaning out and recovering.

Thank you to all of the wonderful parents helping in the classrooms this year. We have greatly appreciated it. We hope you and your gorgeous children have had a fantastic year! We have thoroughly enjoyed our year.

We wish you a safe and holiday!!!

GRADE 1 The Grade Ones are eagerly counting down the days until the Talent Quest (Thursday 17th) and of course the Christmas holidays!

Last Thursday we had our fantastic excursion to the Melbourne Museum, where the students were enthralled with the different exhibits and marvellous mini-beast displays!

A huge thankyou to our amazing helpers for the day and to the Grade 1 students, who behaved brilliantly, making it a great day for everyone involved.

This week we have been working on revision of past CAFÉ focuses and students have enjoyed improving their fluency by ‘backing up and re-reading’ each page with greater expression and ensuring they remember to pause for full stops and commas.

Students had their last Maths lesson for the year today and next Monday will be the last day for take home readers. Please ensure any readers go into your child’s reader folder so that they can be returned before the end of the school year.

Thank you to those families who have sent in their gift giving presents already and a reminder to everyone that they need to be wrapped, named and brought to school before Monday 14th December.

Grade 1 …. Cont’d Finally, a huge thank you to all of our amazing parents who have helped throughout the year. We are so grateful for your endless support. It was lovely to get the opportunity to thank some of you at yesterday’s morning tea! GRADE 2 Transition Day was an exciting and positive experience for our Grade 2 students this week. Many questions were answered and nerves eased! The children came back to their classrooms feeling very excited about starting grade 3 next year!

Our CAFÉ focus this week is, ‘Comprehension: Summarise the text’. Children have been learning to summarise a text by retelling the most important points or main events in sequence. This is a very important comprehension strategy and one that takes a while to master, so lots of practise during home reading will be beneficial.

A very big thank you to all of our parent helpers this year! Your time and effort has been very much appreciated by both the children and staff.

Reminders: Grade 2 Fish & Chip lunch is on Monday. Could children’s Kris Kringle gifts please be brought in by Wednesday. Thank you. YEAR 2 ICT REPORTS Ausvels differentiates between P-2 and years 3-6 in ICT. Therefore the highest grade that a child in Year 2 can achieve is C - Working at grade level. There are some children who are working above this level and this will be noted in the comment section. smith.rosalie.j@edumail.vic.gov.au GRADE 3/4 The students enjoyed transition day and spending some time in their new areas as well as learning about the expectations and changes they can expect for next year.

Our excursion to Cheltenham Park was fantastic. It was a nice way to finish off the year as a 3/4 group.

We finished off Maths Groups this week and are wrapping up the year in other areas too. We will start sending work home throughout the next week.

Next week we have the Disco and Talent Quest.

Thank you very much to all our students and parents for making this year so amazing! We have all had a wonderful year with your children and wish them all the best for next year.

Have a safe and relaxing holiday.

Congratulations to our AR Certificate recipients: Annelise W, and Damian F.

GRADE 5/6 What an exciting week! Leadership speeches have been completed by our grade 5 students and the Grade 6 students have their Graduation ceremony this evening.

The students will be informed about School Captain and House Captain Leadership roles for 2016 next Monday.

In the meantime, the children have been sharing their Migration projects which have revealed a plethora of interesting information about how their ancestors came to live in Australia.

We are all looking forward to going to MSAC next Tuesday. The Grade 6 students will, of course, finish the year with their special morning at the beach on the last day.

We wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy Christmas. Good luck to all the Grade 6s for next year and we look forward to seeing Grade 5s in the New Year.

COMMUNITY NEWS PRE-CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY PROGRAM Monday 21st December. 8.00am—4.30pm Gymnastics, trampolining, Christmas craft and more. BYO Lunch and water. Fruit supplied for morning and afternoon tea. Cheltenham Youth Club, 126 Woodlands Drive, Braeside. 9590 9300. $95 / full day. $45.00 / half day. Bookings Essential Sunset Serenades An evening of live music, dancing and barefoot Bowls. $40.00 per ticket / 2 for $75.00 17th January, 2016 at 5.30pm. Black Rock Bowls Club, Fern St., Black Rock. www.trybooking.com/JQQE SCHOOL BANKING School banking is finished for 2015. Please do not send along the children’s bank books next week. Check next year’s Focus for the 2016 commencement date.

HAVE A FUN FILLED

SUMMER!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

LOTE 2B For amazing work on Oshogatsu (New Year) cards.

Prep B Lucia H. Josh P.

For using great expression while reading in class. For great effort in writing his letters and working on not reversing ‘b’ and ‘d’.

Prep C Indiana M. Emma Y.

For doing an excellent job as classroom monitors.

Prep D Tyreace G. For trying so hard to write on the lines during our writing sessions this semester.

Prep L Holly A-H. Poppy S.

For being a most amazing classroom helper. Thanks so much Holly. For being an amazing reader. Great expression.

Prep R Liam G. For an amazing job on his end of year spelling test.

1A Rayne W. Oscar G.

For great writing including capital letters and full stops. For improving his handwriting.

1J Oscar G. Isaac N.

For excellent handwriting. For always smiling and being eager to help.

1M Archie S. Ryan D.

For much improved effort on writing tasks. Impressive. For impressive reading skills. Well done.

1S George B. Dante C.

Being a kind and caring friend to all classmates. For his brilliant listening and wonderful enthusiasm during our excursion.

2B Jack T. Will H.

For being a happy, honest and friendly Parkdale PS student. For playing fairly and making everyone feel included.

2H Leif S. Bianca M.

For his hard work on his spelling tests. For her consistent effort on her spelling tests.

2M Olivia F. For a great effort all year to learn her weekly spelling works.

2R Daniel G. Sam H.

For excellent participation as a ‘Wild Explorer’ at the Zoo.

3/4B Aimee C. For working diligently on her self assessment and always trying her best.

3/4H Zara G. For her dedication inside and outside the classroom.

3/4M Joel McC. Neve J.

For high effort across all curriculum areas. For an outstanding attitude to learning and leadership tasks.

3/4P Ana K. For showing great resilience and bouncing back.

3/4S Flynn H. For always being a caring and enthusiastic member of our class.

3/4U Joanna K. For her magnificent flower-pot made from recycled materials.

5/6C All of Gr. 5/6C For being such an awesome class to teach this year.

5/6H Eden P. For his positive and helpful attitude in the class.

5/6S Jack W. Mitch R.

For his cheerful laughter that brightens up our classroom For working hard on his fantasy narrative.

ICT 34S For fantastic work in ICT sessions all year.

Congratulations to our Stars of the Week