Mansfield Primary School

Mansfield Primary School

Apollo Street, Mansfield 3722

Telephone 5775 2325

Fax 5775 1914

Principal: Paul Volkering

Assistant Principal: Hazel Bell

Email:

mansfield.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au

Website:

www.mansfieldps.vic.edu.au

Newsletter 7

21st May, 2015

IMPORTANT DATES:

22nd May Year 1/2 Swimming

program

Circle Time 2.45pm

26th May Musical Soiree 12R

5.30-6.30pm

27th May Musical Soiree

5.30-6.30pm

29th May Year 1/2 Swimming

program

School Assembly 3pm

2nd June Division X/Country Yea

5th June Report writing day. (No

students at school)

8th June Queens Birthday (public

holiday– no students at

school)

9th June Mount Buller Annex

commences

12th June Year 1/2 Swimming

program

School Assembly 3pm

15th June School Council Meeting

7pm

17th June Regional X/Country

22nd June School reports to go

home

22nd-25th June Parent teacher

interviews

26th June Last day Term 2 early

dismissal 2.30pm

13th July Term 3 commences

26th July Working Bee

EDUCATION WEEK.

During May we celebrate Education Week.

This year it seems to have crept up on us.

However, it is another great opportunity for

parents to visit the school during a relatively

normal week. Lots of parents, visitors and new

families are expected to visit the school this

week. A separate program has been sent home

to all families. So why not avail yourself the

opportunity and make a special effort to come

along and celebrate Education Week with us

at some stage this week. We’d really love to

see as many Mum’s and Dad’s come along as

possible. Check out the program in the

Courier and let your friends and family know.

CAMPS, SPORTS AND EXCURSIONS

FUND

The Victorian Government have unveiled a new

$148 million initiative to ensure all Victorian

students can take part in school trips and

sporting activities.

The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund

(CSEF) will run over four years and provide

payments for eligible students to attend

camps, sports and excursions.

Families holding a valid means-tested

concession card or temporary foster parents

are eligible to apply. $125 per year will be

paid for eligible primary school students, with

$225 per year paid for eligible secondary

school students. Payments will go directly to

the school and be tied to the student.

It is expected that more than 222,000

Victorian school students will directly benefit

from the Fund.

Applications to the Camps, Sports and

Excursions Fund are now open and will be

promoted via school newsletters and

websites. Further information will be sent

home as details of the application process

become clearer.

Friday 5th

June Report

Writing Day—

Pupil Free

Day.

Working Bee Dates;

26th July

13th September

25th October

Help out the school, it’s fun, it’s social,

it’s productive!!

REAL READING PROGRAM

As part of Education Week we are launching a new program

that will operate throughout Term 2 & 3 before school, not

unlike Jolly Joggers.

In order to provide some further “options” for students

before school in the cooler months, we are introducing the

REAL reading program.

What is REAL?

Called “Real” (Reading Early and Learning), students are able

to enter their classroom as soon as they arrive at school in the

morning, but not before 8:30a.m. The students must be

reading a book, nothing else! For each book they read, they

collect 10 house points. On completion of the book, they need

to be able to complete a short recount of the book. (Either

written or verbal….depending on Year level and book title.)

There are some simple rules relating to the “REAL” program:

The students:

1. Must be reading.

2. Can share reading with someone else. (e.g Parent /

Grandparent.)

3. Can write about what they are reading when finished

the book.

4. Can’t do anything else other than reading when in

classroom.

5. Must be silent. Can be in the Library if with a Parent.

6. Once inside they can’t go out until music starts, when

student lines up with classmates.

7. If caught misbehaving, student will be given a warning

and if behaviour continues, student is removed from

classroom/library and not allowed back in early for

remainder of that term.

As teachers are busy at the start of the day, they will be in

and out of their classrooms quite a deal, so we are putting the

responsibility on the students to observe the rules. The start

of day is important to everyone.

This “REAL” program will not suit all students and Jolly

Joggers will continue as well, but “REAL” does provide an

opportunity for those students who may want a quiet time to

read.

We would love to see as many Parents and Grandparents

become involved as possible, sorry,………no dogs or pets!

REPORT WRITING DAY

Mid-year reports go home later this term followed by Parent

teacher interviews. Teachers will be busy finalising reports on

June 5th before they go home to parents. Parents are

strongly urged to sign up for a parent teacher interview and

learn about what your child has accomplished so far this year.

WORKING BEE

Parents will be aware that we had our first working bee of the

year last Sunday, May 17th. We wish to thank the small but

nonetheless enthusiastic band of parents and helpers that

turned up and freshened up the school prior to the cooler

months. Attending a working bee is a positive way to show your

child that you care about their school. Thanks to those

families who did turn up and prepare the ground for the Pizza

Oven, the new playground edging, clearing out gardens and

sprucing up the whole school ready for Education Week. A

great effort by all.

NAPLAN

I’ve written before on this topic and I, like most educators,

don’t like the way in which the current program is conducted.

We have been unofficially advised that the NAPLAN program

will be fully on-line by 2018. Most families would know that

every day, teachers assess and test students both formally

and informally. This assessment by teachers culminates in two

formal reports every year, with further opportunities for

dialogue between your child’s teacher and you as a parent as

necessary.

Suffice to say that we appear to be stuck with NAPLAN and

until such time as the voice of educators is heard and acted

upon, we will have to continue to deliver the program to our

students. Of greater importance is understanding just how

talented and capable your child is in a whole range of

different learning areas.

HYGIENE IN SCHOOLS

Managing serious infections including colds and flu are

becoming a major source of concern for medical practitioners

and health authorities around the world. With winter just

around the corner, it is timely to remind everyone of some

simple hygiene measures that can make a difference.

Most importantly the Victorian Health Department

recommends a few simple steps along with good common sense

that will mean we reduce the threat of significant outbreaks

within our school and community.

1. Always cover your mouth when either coughing or

sneezing.

2. Use a tissue or handkerchief to clear the nose or to

cover your mouth when coughing

3. Wash and dry your hands thoroughly after going to the

toilet.

4. Never share food, food containers or eating utensils.

Parents are asked to share this information with their

children and to make sure your child has some tissues or a

handkerchief with them every day.

FOOD AT SCHOOL

Members of the Education Committee are working on the

development of a new Food Policy here at school. In the

meantime, parents are reminded to clearly label all food that

may be brought into the school for sharing. Birthdays and

other celebrations are often a time when food is shared

amongst a class. However, with more and more children having

some intolerance or allergies to different foods and additives,

we need to be much more cautious. Parents should label any

food that is brought into school clearly including date,

ingredients and name.

E.g.

Apple cake: Flour, mashed banana, lemon juice, baking soda and

salt, cream, butter and sugar. Date prepared 20/05/15 and

Name: Eliza Doolittle.

PARENTING IDEAS

This week’s Parenting Ideas focuses on emotional intelligence

in you as parents. Kids these days have a lot to deal with, but

so to do you as a parent and the parental journey can be highly

emotional. Your response to every situation either as an

12P At the moment 12P are writing stories. We are describing characters & settings. We are also working hard to write sentences with interesting opening words and phrases. Here are some

examples.

Josh Tanner – Occasionally, we go to Ballarat. Charlie Dobson - Inside a snowstorm there is lots of snow. Before long,

the road is getting slippery. Emma Witkiss– Foolishly, I played a joke on my big brother. Bravely, I

walked in the deep, dark forest. Imogen Garoni – Silently, I tiptoed into the next room.

Elsie Leatham & Ethan Peck – In the country it was very windy. People were told to stay inside. After a while,

people came out of their homes. Lyla Berry & Josh Tanner – In the after-

noon, it was snowing and windy. Ella Dowd & Sammy Andronikou – I saw the ice on the icy road. My cousin

is on the train that is on the slippery train track. Tyler Murphy & Billy Bryant - A monster clown and robots were roaming

around a haunted jail. Elise Kirley & Amelia Stevenson - It is old and nobody lives in it. It is scary

and broken. Billy Bryant – Happily, I played.

Henry Gove– That scallywag was on the look-out when he shouted, “Treasure!” Patiently, I waited in the waiting room for the doctor.

Lyla Berry– Occasionally, Mrs.MacMunn lets us have lunch early. Suddenly, I woke up in the night. Jett Kipping & Imogen Garoni – Trucks and cars are driving in a snowstorm.

Philip Manoglou – Silently, I walked into the sea. Sammy Andronikou – Happily, I played soccer all day.

Ella Dowd – Suddenly, a box appeared. Hungrily, I hopped out of bed. Tall, pointy & brown trees stood in the spooky wood.

Emma Witkiss & Hamish Yenken – In the morning, it was windy and lots of trees were falling down. Henry Gove & Philip Manoglou – Strong winds blew down the trees Amelia Stevenson – Softly, I cuddled my teddy. Suddenly, I woke up.

Hamish Yenken – Happily, I ran down the street. Cautiously, I went to the door. Elsie Leatham– Ben rushed to Jenny’s bedroom. “Ahhhh!” yelled Jenny

Tyler Murphy – Occasionally, my Mum makes a really weird soup that tastes great! Charlie Dobson – Lovingly, I hugged my Mum.

Mansfield Family & Children’s Centre Family Counselling & Parent Support

Children do not always have the language to express the

emotions they are feeling, sometimes they act out these emotions in physical and

inappropriate ways.

If you would like to learn more about how to teach your child helpful ways to express emotions

Please come and see us at:

10 Davies Street, Mansfield Phone 5775 8576

Mansfield Primary School Policies. These documents are accessible on the school website:

www.mansfieldps.vic.edu.au. Go to the ‘Resources and In-

formation’ tab and you’ll find Welfare, Curriculum and

Administration policies, as well as other handy documents

including lunch & sushi order forms, uniform order forms

and more! The website in general is a great source of

school information, and well worth a look.

individual or in relation to your child is key to your

wellness. I commend the attached article to you.

www.parentingideas.com.au

Emotionally intelligent parents don’t dismiss children’s

behaviour and allow kids to do as they please. There are

times that we need to focus on a child’s behaviour. A child

who is rude in public should be reminded in no uncertain

terms that poor manners are inappropriate.

However, there are times when smart parents need to look

beyond the obvious behaviours to get a good

understanding of what’s happening to their child, and to

help a child better understand and manage their emotions.

So what does an emotionally intelligent parent look like?

And importantly, what is the impact on kids, parents and

families of this approach?

Emotionally intelligent parents have the following five

attributes in common.

They will usually:

1. Listen more and judge less. There is nothing better

than being understood. Parents who operate from an

emotionally-smart mindset are more likely to listen to

their kids when emotions are high, trying to access what

may be going on, rather than clamping down their

behaviour or closing them down with well-meaning advice.

Impact: Better, more open relationships.

2. Accept strong emotions. Anyone who lives with

teenagers will know that emotions can run very high. They

can say the worst possible things to each other and, at

times, to you. Ten minutes after delivering a hateful

tirade they can be cuddling up to the person who was the

butt of their anger, frustration or anxiety. Emotionally

intelligent parents know that feelings need to expressed

rather than bottled up, and allowed to fester. They also

believe there is nothing so bad that a child can’t give voice

to in a family, however there are behaviours that are not

unacceptable. Impact: A healthy expression of emotions.

3. Focus on the present. Most parents are rightfully

future-focused. We focus on the homework that needs to

be handed in tomorrow; the washing that needs to be

done; the meal that needs to be cooked. That’s part of

everyday life. Children generally focus on the here and

now. That of course can be frustrating to a task-oriented

future-focused mother or father. However when we lower

our gaze we are more likely to pick up how kids are feeling,

and importantly help them understand and manage their

moods and emotions. Impact: Happier families and less

stress felt at home.

4. Use rules rather than their moods to determine

discipline. Some parents discipline according to their

moods. If they feel good then they give children plenty of

lenience. If they are feeling bad then they pick their kids

up on every little thing. It’s better to stick to the family

and house rules; that makes you more predictable, which

kids really crave. Impact: More consistent parenting

5. Develop a language around feelings. A family

develops a vocabulary around the things that are

important to them. Kids in a sport mad family will

inevitably have a rich vocabulary around their chosen

sport. The same holds for emotional intelligence. Families

that truly value building emotional smarts will develop in

kids a rich palette of words that will help them describe

how they feel. This vocabulary will inevitably stay with

them for life. Impact: Better relationships later in life at

work and in their own families.

Many parents struggle in the area of helping children

understand and manage their emotions because we’ve

never had any training in it. We didn’t learn it from our

parents, and more than likely haven’t learned it at work.

Emotional intelligent parenting can be learned. At

Parenting Ideas emotional intelligence is central to the

work we do with parents. We know first-hand that kids

who have parents versed in Emotional Intelligence are

more likely to raise kids with the skills to be happier,

enjoy better relationships and experience more success

at school.

Sincerely,

Paul Volkering

Principal

Families

enjoying Open

Classrooms

during

Education

Week

JOLLY JOGGERS IS ON, SO PUT ON YOUR RUNNING SHOES….. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Meet at the bus shelter at 8.30am. Great way to warm up on cold mornings!

The Food Garden Group, averaging 6-7 parents each Thursday (& some enthusiastic students), has been busy on the lower terrace vege gardens. We have put in pathways to stop the weeds, pruned the fruit trees, dug in some sheep poo, added some mulch, cleaned up the compost bays, planted some seedlings & a green manure crop. We plan to construct a poly tunnel over the bottom bed to grow some seeds and to keep planting winter crops. Materials have either been gener-ously donated or purchased from Murphy Fresh Tomatoes, Snowgum Nursery, Mansfield Produce & Pet Supplies, The Produce Store, All Terrain Cycles, and local farmers. At last Sunday’s working bee the pizza oven area was cleared & prepared ready for construction (between 1/2 portable & St.John’s) & the compost bays at top terrace vege gardens were tidied up. We are also planning a school-cooked lunch using some of the produce we are growing in the school garden at the end of term 2. Stay tuned for details! Feel free to come and help on Thursdays – we’d love to see you there! Look out for SMS & app messages sent out at the beginning of each week. Thanks to everyone who has given up their time to help in the garden. Megan & Clarissa.

Mansfield Primary

School Food Garden

BOOK CLUB ISSUE 4

Scholastic Book Club Issue 4 has been sent home with

your child today. This issue is due to be returned to

school by Friday 29th May. Please return any orders to

the book club boxes located outside the school library by

this date. If you are paying by cheque please make the

payment out to Mansfield Primary School. No late orders

can be accepted.

FOR SALE 720's navy pants Size 14, 1 pair

Heavy cotton navy pants Size 10, 2 pair. Size 14, 2

pair. All $5 ea

2 Stirling T-Shirts with writing, size 10 & 12, both

Free.

Contact Nicki on 0409219667

Positive Parenting Telephone Service

This Program is offered to parents, grandparents & carers of children aged 2 – 10 years

Our ten week program aims to assist you to:

*Develop a stronger and more positive relationship with your child/children *Manage everyday behaviour problems *Set rules & limits *Teach new skills *Developing behaviour strategies Through our service you will receive a workbook and weekly phone calls with a parent educator. All of this can be done from the

comfort of your own home at a time that suits you.

Interested? For more information or to enroll phone

FREECALL 1800 880 660 ENROLMENTS TAKEN ALL YEAR ROUND

Start now and make a positive start last a lifetime

This service is funded by Department of Human Services Victoria

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