T THOMAS MITCHELL WEEKLY Web Site: http://www.tmps.vic.edu.au/

THOMAS MITCHELL DRIVE, ENDEAVOUR HILLS. PH. 9706 2254 Issue No. 5 February 27th 2020

Friday 28/2 Last Day for 2nd Chance Year 6 Autographed Windcheater Orders

Last Day for CSEF Claims to be returned to school

No Assembly

Tuesday 3/3 District Swimming Carnival – Noble Park Aquatic Centre

Friday 6/3 01B & 01C Excursion – Casey Safety Village

Year 3 & 4 Assembly – 2.40pm in Gym

Monday 9/3 Labour Day Public Holiday – Students do not attend school on this day

Wednesday 11/3 Divisional Swimming Carnival – Noble Park Aquatic Centre

03E, 03D & 03A Activity – Life Education ‘bCyberwise’ at TMPS

Thursday 12/3 03C & 03B Activity – Life Education ‘bCyberwise’ at TMPS

01A & 01D Excursion – Casey Safety Village

Friday 13/3 School Photos

Parents’ Club Morning Tea – 9.15am in Staffroom

No Assembly

Monday 16/3 Year 2 Activity – City of Casey Reducing Waste at TMPS

Tuesday 17/3 Year 3 Activity – RACV Safety Squad Program at TMPS

School Council Meeting – 7.00pm in Staffroom

Friday 20/3 Year 1 & 2 Assembly – 2.40pm in Gym

Young Leaders Day – Selected Year 6 Students

Tuesday 24/3 TMPS Cross Country Carnival

Thursday 26/3 Regional Swimming Carnival

Friday 27/3 Whole School Assembly – 9.00am in Gym

Last Day of Term 1 – School finishes at 2.30pm

Harmony Day

Tuesday 14/4 First Day of Term 2 – School commences at 9.00am

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Our School Council

Below is information about an opportunity for parents to broaden their understanding of how our school operates, and

to have a say about the education of your child at Thomas Mitchell – by becoming a parent representative on school

council.

School Council Elections – Call for Nominations Summary of Power and Duties of a School Council Within statewide guidelines, the major responsibilities of all school councils include:-

- Developing and monitoring the directions of the school strategic plan. - Establishing the goals and priorities of the school and determining its education policy. - Approving the school budget consistent with the school charter and maintaining financial responsibility. - Maintaining and improving the school’s building and grounds. - Reporting annually to the school community and Department of Education. - Making a recommendation to the Secretary for the Department of Education on the appointment of a school

principal. - Generally stimulate interest in the school. - Allow use of the school’s premises by community groups. - Approve all camps and excursions that are conducted overnight.

Role of School Councillors Parents and staff are elected to council to represent the interests of all parents and all staff and to ensure that the best outcomes for all students are achieved.

Composition of Thomas Mitchell Primary School Council Up to 8 parent members Up to 4 staff members (DET employees) Up to 2 community members (cannot be DET employees) 1 principal Total 15

School Council members are elected for 2 years. Each year, half the parent members and half the staff members stand down from Council. Parent members are also required to stand down if they no longer fulfil the parent status. They may however, complete their term (ie until March 31st) after their child/children have left the school.

Parent Members The following 4 current parent members’ term expires on 31st March 2020.

Maggie Chen Eligible to renominate Menaka Jasenthuhewage Eligible to renominate Amy Mather Eligible to renominate Shyamali Subasinghe Eligible to renominate

The following parent member has retired her role on Council due to her child moving to Secondary School. The position is a one year vacancy and we encourage parents to nominate for the remaining year. Amanda Khan Niazi (Treasurer)

The following parent member has resigned from Council, creating a one year vacancy. Nancy Magraby (Vice President) The following 2 coopted positions expire on 31st March 2020. Malathy Vivehawenthan (Mala is eligible to renominate as a parent representative) Anne Kankanige We thank Nancy, Amanda and Anne for their contribution to school council. Amanda and Anne are not eligible to renominate as their children no longer attend TMPS.

Current Parent Members whose term expires in 2021

Suthagini Subakaran

Nicole Walker

Parent Member Vacancies

4 X 2 year vacancies

2 X 1 year vacancy

Community Rep Vacancies

1 x 2 year

1 x 1 year

DET Employee Members

The following DET employee members’ term expires on 31st March 2020.

Giselle Cassar and Jennifer Churcher

DET Employee Members whose term expires in 2021

Mark Reid and Tracey Etherington

Timetable for Elections

Notice of Elections and call for nominations – Thursday 27th February 2020.

Close on Nominations – Thursday 5th March 2020.

All voting completed (if necessary) – Thursday 19th March 2020.

Declaration of Ballot – Thursday 19th March 2020.

Nomination Forms

Nomination forms are available from the school office.

Student Badge Presentation

Last Monday, our school student leaders were presented with their badges by our local Member of Parliament,

Hon. Luke Donnellan at a whole school assembly. The presentation was followed by a morning tea for students, their

parents and Mr. Donnellan.

Parents Parking in the Drop Off / Pick Up Zones

Parents are advised that the City of Casey have said that they will be visiting the school to check on illegal parking, and

issuing fines. Please follow the sign in the parking areas.

Phone/Communication Device Policy

In the near future we will be introducing a Mobile Phone Policy that will require all devices to be locked up for the

whole time they are at school. This policy is mandatory for all Victorian Government schools. More details later.

John Hurley

Principal

Welcome to Zeynep 01C and Yusuf 03E who commenced at Thomas

Mitchell this week.

NOTICES SENT HOME THIS WEEK

Parents’ Club Morning Tea Invitation

Working With Children Check A reminder to all parents (and grandparents) about the need for all people

who help in the classroom, on excursions and camps or any other times

when adults are with children, they require a Working With Children Check.

These can be obtained by logging on to the Department of Justice website

www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au

Please remember to nominate Thomas Mitchell as one of your organisations

when applying. If you have any problems please contact the office.

Camps, Sports and Excursion Fund (CSEF) – Last Day for Application Forms to be returned to school, tomorrow, Friday 28th February. If you hold a valid, means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for $125 per

student attending primary school. Application forms and further information were distributed previously. Spare copies

are available at the office. If you have not yet applied for this fund, please ensure you do so by tomorrow, Friday 28th

February.

Year 3 In House Activities RACV Safety Squad Program to be held on 17th March:

Our Health Curriculum focuses on building student’s ability to identify and practise strategies to promote health, safety

and wellbeing.

The Year 3s will be participating in the RACV Safety Squad Program that aims to empower students to stay safe both at

home and on the roads. Themes covered include passenger safety, pedestrian safety, bike safety and identifying hazards

in the home.

Students will be given the opportunity to identify and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing. This

activity comes at no cost to students.

Year 6 Second/Final Chance to Order Autographed Windcheaters We are offering Year 6 2020 students a 2nd /final chance to order their own printed windcheater. The windcheater will

be available in NAVY only and will have the names of all year 6 students printed on the back of the windcheater in gold.

Order forms are available from the school office.

Please return orders to school with correct money by no later than tomorrow, Friday 28th February.

Choose your size carefully as we are unable to exchange. Absolutely no late orders can be accepted.

Canteen News

Fried Rice on our canteen menu is now vegetarian Fried Rice

$4.50

Thomas Mitchell Sport News

School Sport Victoria Trials

School Sport Victoria trials are now open online. These trials are for students who turn 10-12 years old by the end of the

year. The trials are designed for students who play at an extremely high level in AFL, soccer, netball, cricket and

basketball. Parents are responsible for registering their child online.

All state team information is available & nominations can be registered online via the SSV website

(www.ssv.vic.edu.au) using the Team Vic State Teams tab and selecting the relevant sport.

Please see Mr Gouge before applying, as there are limited positions.

Basketball and AFL Clinics

Over the next few weeks some classes will be involved in special clinics during PE classes. Year 1 and 2 classes have

participated in a free NAB AFL clinic run by an AFL Game Development Officer. The Year 4 students will participate in a 3

on 3 Community Hustle Basketball clinic run by Basketball Victoria personnel.

IAAF Kids’ Athletics Clinics

The Year 5 students will participate in a 4 week program run by coaches from Athletics Australia. The school received

special funding for this program via the Sporting Schools Program. We welcome these coaches who will bring expert

knowledge and experience to help train the students in readiness for the Athletics Sports scheduled later in the year.

Weekly House Points 2020

Have a great week in sport!

Tim Gouge

Physical Education & Sport Coordinator

Uniform Shop The Uniform Shop will be open on the following days during Term 1:

A reminder that all students are required to wear a TMPS hat while outside during Term 1.

1st Freeman 450

2nd Perkins 350

3rd Fraser 300

4th Bradman 300

Every Tuesday afternoon between 3.00pm to 4.00pm:

3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st March

Every Friday morning between 8.30am to 9.30am:

28th February

6th, 13th, 20th & 27th March

Health Centre News Medications:

For any new families to our school who may be wondering how to arrange for medication to be given to your child,

please note the following:

All medications must be checked into the office or given directly to the Nurse in line with TMPS policy. This will ensure

your child receives the correct dose of their medication at the required time. Medications are not to be given to class

teachers or sent in your child’s bag. This includes any short-term medications, as well as any medication your child may

be regularly taking, such as Ventolin. If your child is diagnosed with Asthma or Allergies, please ensure you provide the

necessary Management Plan, prepared and signed by your GP, along with current medication.

Foods:

Due to the number of children diagnosed with life-threatening allergies, we ask that parents not pack the following

foods in their child’s lunch/snack: Peanut Butter, Nutella, All nuts/tree nuts, Eggs & egg products (mayonnaise)

Spare clothes:

With our younger children (Prep – Year 2), we ask that you pack spare clothing such as underpants, trousers & socks in

your child’s bag. It is not uncommon for children to have toileting accidents when settling into a new environment and

change of routine. Having a change of clothes readily available makes any “little accidents” less stressful for the

children. It is also an expectation that the children are able to change themselves if they do have an accident).

As always, please pop in and see our Nurse, Robyn, should you have any concerns or wish to discuss any issues.

Lost Property We’ve had a few items of lost property handed into the office lately. Have you lost a

camera, a Bluetooth ear piece or a pink tricycle? If so, please contact the school office.

Playgroup The school offers a Playgroup for 0-5 year olds each Wednesday morning from 9.15am – 10.30am

during the school term in Room 18. Please note change of day from last year. We ask for a gold

coin donation to participate and for parents to please bring a nut free snack for their child/ren and

water.

It is a great opportunity for local families and parents of children attending our school and for your

young children to meet other children who may be joining the school in the future. Please feel free

to bring a friend along, or if you know someone with younger children who would like to join this group, please let them

know. Fun activities include: playdough, painting, pasting, stories, music, singing and games.

Parents’ Club

Parents’ Club Morning Tea On behalf of Mala Vivehawentha, Amy Mather and Nicole Walker, parents are invited to attend a morning tea with our

Parents’ Club on Friday 13th March at 9.15am in the staffroom.

A flyer has been sent home today to all families with further information.

We look forward to meeting you.

Donations Needed For Easter Raffle The Parents’ Club are in the process of organising an Easter Fundraising Raffle.

We will be relying on our families donating items to make this a successful Easter Raffle. No donation is too big or too

small, whatever you can. Suggested items eg : easter eggs, chocolates, biscuits, lollies etc. Our Parents’ Club will make

up a range of hampers for the prizes. Lots of donations will result in lots of prizes.

Donated items can be dropped into the school office during school office hours, 8.15am to

5.00pm and should be delivered by Monday 23rd March. Raffle tickets will be distributed

later this month once we have received enough donations for this fundraiser.

We thank you all for your support in helping us raise funds for the school, which benefits

our kids.

Community News Ace Foundation – Free Glasses

ACE Foundation offers free glasses to all primary school students in the City of Casey if they are required. Forms are

available from the school office. For further information, please phone 0459 520 010.

Lyndale United Football Club

Junior pre season

Children aged 5 and over welcome. Come and try on Tuesday 3rd March at Lyndale Secondary College, Cnr

Gladstone Rd and Halton Rd, Dandenong North between 6.00pm to 7.00pm.

Cathy-Lea Dance, Music and Drama Works

Performing Arts training for all ages and abilities. For further information, please phone 9704 7324 or visit the following

web page www.cathy.lea.com

Rowville Football Club

Meet the coaches, make new friends and learn new skills in a fun, safe environment.

U8, U9 boys and U10 girls are invited to our preseason training sessions on Sunday 1st and Sunday 15th March at Seebeck

(bottom) Oval, Stud Road, Rowville between 9.00am to 10.00am.

For further information, please contact Rach G on 0474 221 934 or email rachgee76@bigpond.com