Healesville Primary School
NEWSLETTER
Edition 15- Friday, 31st May, 2019
A Note from the Principal
Over the past few years Healesville Primary School has been developing our value of Respect. Each year the Year 4, 5 and Year 6 student participate in the Attitudes to School Survey. This survey asks questions about school life and their attitude to school. One section concentrates on Respect – Respect amongst students, students Respecting teachers and teachers Respecting students. I’m excited to relay results of the survey show that students at HPS believe that we have a culture of respect and that we value respectful people. We do, however, have a very small number of students not displaying this value and we are working with these students to instil a culture of respect. Currently, all students participate in Rock and Water sessions with teachers discussing concepts with their grades on a weekly basis. Friendly Schools and Families program is also providing staff with the framework to explicitly teach respect and our other values each week. Last week a small group of boys were having trouble playing and respecting each other while at recess and lunchtime. I spent two days with the boys talking about what a good friend looks like and how we should respect other people’s opinions. I was on yard duty this week and listened to how the boys were interacting with each other. It was pleasing to hear the respectful language and see the respectful nature of their play. Well done boys!
Professional Learning – Leading Numeracy
Yesterday and today Mr Kent, Mr Gamble and I attended the first two days of our Leading Numeracy course. One of our pre course actions was to ask students:
‘What they most like about Maths learning and Why?’
‘What they dislike or like least about Maths learning and why?’
‘What makes a good maths learner?’
‘How do they see themselves as Maths learners?’
It is fascinating to listen to the students on how they responded. A few responses were:
- "I’m good at maths because I practice It’s fun."
- "I like being challenged in maths."
- "I'm not good at maths so I hate it."
- "I like times tables I always try to find new strategies."
- "I’m in the middle so its ok"
Mr Kent, Mr Gamble and I will use these responses to spark conversations about building best teaching practice in Maths. I look forward to reporting back to you the next steps of our Numeracy Leading journey.
This week’s Friendly Schools and Families newsletter article relates to giving parents a rationale for the school’s response to bullying incidents.
Understanding the School’s responses to bullying
Bullying situations are often complicated and finding facts to define a clear account of the incident(s) can take a long time. Meanwhile the bullying can continue and in some cases get worse. Punishment for the behaviour may sometimes be used, however, this is rather like using ‘bullying to stop bullying’. The school priority is to stop the bullying and to try to reduce the chance of it happening again.
The key to stopping bullying is getting children to talk about what is happening and decide what to do to make the situation better for everyone. This approach is called the Method of Shared Concern and will be explained in the next edition of this newsletter.
It is very important children have an understanding of behaviours that are expected of them and that these expectations are consistent at school and at home. Teachers have been working on this in classrooms.
Friday 31 May
Whole School Disco:
Prep - 2: 5pm - 6pm
Years 3 - 6: 6:30 pm - 8 pm
Tuesday 4 June
Parents & Community Helpers (P.A.C.H.) Meeting 9am-10am - Staffroom
New members welcome.
Yarra Division Cross Country - selected students
Friday 7 June
Aussie Sports Expo - All year 5's & 6's
Saturday 8 June
Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
Monday 10 June
Public Holiday - Queens Birthday
Tuesday 11 June
Curriculum Day - Pupil Free Day - Students not required at School
Wednesday 12 June
Book Club due back
Wednesday 19 June
HUSHeducation Session 1- Years 5 & 6
Monday 24 June - Tuesday 25 June
Gifted Outreach Overnight Camp - selected grade 6 students
Wednesday 26 June
HUSHeducation Session 2 - Years 5 & 6
Thursday 27 June
Sovereign Hill - Years 5 & 6
Friday 28 June
Last Day Term 2
Monday 15 July
First Day Term 3
When I Grow Up
“Tonight on nine news a young man has been found dead in a dumpster. Police are unsure who it is or what had happened. Detectives are testing the body for DNA but it is yet to be found.” My eyes were glued to the T.V as I watch the news report hoping I might be able to defend this man for my new job. I'm a lawyer and I haven't had an interesting job… YET!
I keep watching the T.V with desperation but then a ring comes from my phone. I pick it up hoping it might be detective Walden. My hands are shaking and goosebumps go up my back as I pick it up, then……….. “Sorry Miss Walden, yes I know there is a lot of noise, yes I’m sorry, no I won't disturb you and fluffy again.” False alarm, it was just my neighbour Miss Walden, she's about 150 and thinks her cat (fluffy) is her 130 year old son. She is as old as an oak tree and as mean as a grizzly bear. I keep watching the phone and the T.V but no call. It's now midnight and I'm super tired so I go upstairs in pain and fall asleep. The next day I wake up in fright and a cold sweat. I just had a bad dream about my alarm and my phone!!! I answer straight away it's the detective and he wants to meet me at the morgue so I get in to my business suit and run out the door skipping breakfast.
I have now arrived at the morgue, as the little yellow light flickers I am greeted by a doctor, nurse and detective Walden. They then show me the body, it was so disgusting I threw up a little in my mouth. The doctor then said he had found one small hair on the victim's body and it was now being tested. Half an hour later another man came into the room with a smile on his face from ear to ear “I know who the killer is!" the man said, and showed us all a picture. Then the detective nearly jumped out of his pants. “Hang on a second! I would recognise that face anywhere! The number one suspect for Mr Cruel!”. We all nodded in disbelief so the detective told me to defend the victim and I said yes straight away.
The first day of the trial came and like most jury members they all looked extremely annoyed being taken away from their jobs. “I must say this is extremely convenient, the number ONE suspect for Mr Cruel is in this room, right now is it not, and the DNA found on Mr Lan’s body was yours!” I look at the judge, he looked impressed and then I swished my head to the jury and they looked impressed as well! That day it was nearly an open/shut case and I was very excited to make six million dollars. The next week went so quickly, before I knew it the jury was deciding GUILTY. The jury yelled at once and I had won the case.. yay! And Mr Cruel went to jail. His sentence was life in prison (which is sixty years) and he was very old already. I still remember the look he gave me, his black eyes piercing into me, his wrinkles moving and his mouth mumbling death….death…..death over and over. I made lots of money and everyone was happy.
By Laura H 5/6S
House Tokens
Canteen Menu
CAMP AUSTRALIA - BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE
If your child is unwell and unable to attend After School Care,
please call Stacey direct on 0405 440 885.
If you wish to enrol in Before and/or Afters School Care, you need to enrol via the
Camp Australia enrolment link below.
About Us
Email: healesvilleps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Website: www.hps.vic.gov.au
Location: Healesville Primary School, 2 View St, Healesville VIC, Australia
Phone: (03) 59624053
Facebook: facebook.com/healesvilleps