Parkhill Primary School Newsletter
Issue 24, Thursday August 15, 2019
Dear Parents/Carers
Our swimming carnival is approaching soon. The day will be split into two parts, with the Y3-6 Carnival in the morning and YF-2 in the afternoon. It is on Thursday 5th September. If you are keen and able to help please let me know (you can send me an email via brady.elaine.e@edumail.vic.gov.au). The Carnival is a testament to the program offered at Huntingtower and a great opportunity for the children to ‘show off’ their skills!
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING:
Anger or anxiety… often children who appear oppositional or defiant are struggling with anxiety. In young children anxiety can present as aggression, anger or defiance.
https://www.heysigmund.com/anxiety-or-aggression-children/
THREE WAY CONFERENCES:
Three-Way Conferences will be in week 7 this term, on the 27th and 28th of August. Some of the conference times are in the afternoon and some in the evening. In term 1 we ran a new model of Parent-Teacher interviews, that worked really well and received positive feedback across the school. This term we are keen to pursue the Three-Way Conference model with a change to the structure and focus of those meetings. You can choose an appointment within the following times: Tuesday (afternoon sessions) from 1:10pm – 4pm, and Wednesday (evening sessions) from 3:50pm – 7pm.You can book appointments with our specialist staff, too. See below for booking information and a letter will come home today.
LIBRARY REESTABLISHMENT GROUP:
Our library reestablishment group has been meeting through term 2 to plan how we go about getting our library back into play. We have recently carpeted the area and are now looking to cull our non-fiction stock. There are boxes and boxes of dated non-fiction texts. We are planning a working bee to cull the collection of any materials that are pre 2000. If you are able to help support the working bee please let me know – there will be a morning tea as thanks on the day.
Working Bee: Monday 2nd September from 9:15 am.
OTHER:
Toys at school
We would like your help in discouraging children from bringing lots of precious toys to school. Often children bring a favourite toy and it stays in their bag, or something for show and tell or to play with at recess/lunch. These toys are ok for children to bring to school – but please do discourage them from bringing precious things to school. At school things can get broken and lost and children become quite distressed and unable to focus on their day if this happens.
Policy links
Through our website you can keep up to date with our current policies. I would like to draw attention to our Bikes and Scooters policy: https://parkhillps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Bicycles-and-Scooters-Parkhill-Primary-School-Policy-V-2017-2.pdf
Many of you may be unaware of the rules around usage of bikes and scooter in the school grounds. The policy states that bicycles and scooters should not be ridden inside the school grounds between 7am and 6pm on school days.
I have noted recently that more and more children are riding after school around the asphalt – this is dangerous as our playground is a busy place with little ones running around. Please do respect this rule for the safety of everyone on the playground. Other lines within the policy refer to wearing helmets and ensuring that the bike or scooter is safe.
Drop-off
There is supervision on the playground from 8:45am, classroom door open at 8:50am. Many children are arriving at school very early. We strongly advise that children are NOT left at school any earlier than 8:30am.
See our Yard Duty and Supervision policy for more information. https://parkhillps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Yard-Duty-and-Supervision-Policy-1.pdf
Please do check out the calendar dates below for the terms events.
Have a wonderful weekend
Elaine Brady
Principal
Calendar of Curriculum Events
Monday 19 August - Book Week starts
Tuesday 20 August - March of the Fire Ants Incursion
Friday 23 August - Book Parade 9.15am
Tuesday 27 August - Parent Teacher Interviews
Wednesday 28 August - Parent Teacher Interviews
Thursday 29 August - Y5/6 Yakult excursion
Friday 30 August- Basketball Round Robin ( selected students )
Monday 2 September -Library Working Bee 9.15am
Wednesday 4 September - ICAS Science (selected students)
Thursday 5 September - Swimming Carnival
Friday 6 September - Division Athletics ( selected students)
Monday 9 September - Science Week
Tuesday 10th September - Evening Soiree
Thursday 12 September - Story Time
Tuesday 17 September - ICAS English (selected students)
Thursday 19 September - ICAS Maths (selected students)
Friday 20 September - Footy Day, Term 3 ends 2.30pm
Student of the week
F/1C - Mariam S
F/1S - The Whole Class
F/1T - Somo M
2/3M - Mia T
4D - Yianni T
4O - James K
3 Way Conferences Booking Information
National Science Week at Parkhill
Parkhill students enjoyed lots of moon-related fun this week as it was National Science week. Y2/3/4 classes made some Mad about Science in Schools glasses using 3D printing pens! Lots of writing about the moon! These F/1 students made some straw rockets – to take them to the moon!
In our 3D pen printing incursion (by mad science) everybody and when I say everybody - I do mean everybody, worked together. First we practiced triangles, when we were ready we did 3D glasses. Every pair worked together that shows unity. They even let us in at morning tea, lunch and/or afternoon tea to finish.
(Lily and Bella, 4O)
Y5/6 STEAM
Last week in Y5/6 we investigated the concept of permeable and semi-permeable membranes. Students first explored the concept of water movement through surfaces such as material, paper, plastic, foil and paper towel and then applied their learning to the concept of water movement through cell membranes.
Students conducted a gummy bear experiment, demonstrating how cells achieve osmotic balance, allowing water to move both in and out to achieve this. The gummy bear in the water solution absorbed water in an attempt to dilute the sugar content inside the gummy bear, while the gummy bear in the saturated sugar solution remained the same as it was already in balance with the saturated sugar solution.
Students were thrilled to see the growth in their gummy bears and wowed at the gain in mass and size over a 24-hour period. Isn’t it great to see gummy bears are useful for more than just eating!
Andrea Crane
Y5/6 Teacher
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day was celebrated on Sunday 4th August. To help recognise this day Parkhill students spent time with their buddies learning about the games played by Aboriginal children across Australia. In addition, students studied Aboriginal symbols and artworks and got their hands dirty producing some beautiful art works for our shared learning spaces.
Each of the artworks were inspired by Aboriginal symbols and painting styles and finished with a Parkhill flair. The artworks will be displayed in each building soon, swing by and check them out.
Andrea Crane
Y5/6 Teacher
Winter Inspired Free Verse Poetry - 5/6CS
I was shivering in my bed
It felt like I was frozen
I was desperate for heat
There were layers of snow in front of my door
By Aarayn
A cold misty night
Layers and layers all on me
But I still feel
The ice cold snow
By Yashar
A frosty shiver runs down my spine
I glance out of the frosty window
To see
The silhouette of many trees
Surrounded in fog
By Tessa
The ice cold winter strikes again
As the layers of fog fill the air
Snow is more than common in the streets
The roads as quiet as a library
Now the world is
A frozen ball of ice
By Minh
A freezing cold morning
White layers cover buildings
Cold strong wind blows
Covering town in ice and snow
By Angus
Miserable Monday mornings
Cold rain
Grey clouds
Blank mind can’t do poetry
By James M.
Swimming Update Y4 - 6
Tuesday 20th August is Y4-6 swimming safety day. All swimmers will need long sleeved t-shirts and pants to take part in the safety program. PJs or trackies and t-shirts are great for this purpose.
The Wellbeing Show
In a few weeks time Parkhill will be enjoying The Wellbeing Show. It will be a wonderful flashback to our show earlier in the year from Brainstorm Productions. The Wellbeing Show - well, I think you can figure out what that’s about! Here’s some more information https://www.educationalincursions.com.au/well-being-show/
Stargazing update
Intrepid stargazers, I know you haven’t lost hope that our event will still go on! We have in mind a date sometime in October, but we’ll let you know closer to the date. Winter hasn’t been helpful - washing away all the stars and clouding up the sky!
Mighty Migration Museum
This term has gone by so quickly for the Y5/6, especially with their interesting inquiry unit. They have been learning about migration, every single detail. The weeks have flown by as they worked diligently making graphs, writing recounts and researching about migration information. Some made up their character, whist others went back in time and dug up information about their ancestor’s migration story.
For their recount they either published or filmed their information which included the name, age, country of origin, year of migration, method of travel, push and pull factors, why Australia, how they were treated when they first came to Australia and changes to their way of life. Students also showcased their passport, a temperature graph, calculation of distances, time and time zones and population graph.
Olivia and Ally
Y5/6
Parent Survey forms due back
Our school is conducting a survey to find out what parents think of our school. The Parent Opinion Survey is an annual survey offered by the Department of Education and Training that is conducted amongst a sample of randomly selected parents. It is designed to assist schools in gaining an understanding of parents’ perceptions of school climate, student behaviour and student engagement. Our school will use the survey results to help inform and direct future school planning and improvement strategies.
Approximately 30 per cent of parents will be invited to participate in this year’s survey. All responses to the survey are anonymous. This year the Parent Opinion Survey will be conducted from Monday 22nd July to Sunday 11th August.
The survey will be conducted online, only takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at any convenient time within the fieldwork period on desktop computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones. The online survey will be available in a range of languages other than English. These include: Arabic, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Chin (hakha), Hindi, Japanese, Somali, Turkish, Punjabi and Greek.
PFA News 15th Aug 2019
Committee Members
Office Bearers:
President: Vanessa Cowley
Vice President: George Andrakakos
Treasurer: Sumi Sundram
Secretary: Nadine Phillips
Committee Members:
Shadow Treasurer: Fiona Crellin
Communications: Eva Conley
General Members:
Jason Van Lint, Elle Delmee, Mark Havas, Lisa Jacobson, Wendy Douglas, Janneke Storteboom, Leanne Knight, Kylie Touloupis, Donna Edwards, Katrina Battle
If you would like to be on our email distribution list and receive communication and minutes from our meetings please email parents.friends.secretary@gmail.com
Father's Day Wrapping Bee - Friday 23rd August
It is almost time for the Father’s day wrapping bee. Join us in the hall from 11:15 am and get a sneak peek of all the goodies the students will choose from. Please sign up via this link https://signup.com/go/bQtQiUN It won’t take long!!!
Father's Day Stall - Friday 30th August
Join us and watch your little people purchase a gift for their special someone. It’s a joy to watch and a highlight on the Parkhill Calendar. The signup to the event will be on our facebook group and in next week’s newsletter. The stall will open at 8:45 am to ensure that the Y6 students participating in the basketball competition have an opportunity to purchase something. The gifts will range from $1 to $10.
Please email Nadine at parents.friends.secretary@gmail.com with any queries.
Cupcake Stall - Wednesday 4th September
The next cupcake stall is on Wednesday 4th September. Please lock it in your diaries! If you are interested in baking some cupcakes, chocolate crackles etc., please email parents.friends.secretary@gmail.com
PFA MEETING - Wednesday 11th September - 8 pm
All attendees are welcome. The focus of the meeting will be the Colour Run. Vanessa will be hosting the meeting so please RSVP to Nadine at parents.friends.secretry@gmail.com for the address.
Remember to say "Parkhill Primary School" when shopping at these stores!
Remember to say “Parkhill Primary School” before you pay at Bakers Delight Ashburton, Chadstone, Oakleigh and Oakleigh Links to have 5% of the sale go towards our school!
The school's 4-digit code is 5565.
Ritchies Community Benefit Card Program
Ritchies' Community Benefit Card Program donates a percentage of the money spent in store to your
nominated school or charity. The Parkhill Community helped us earn over $400 in 2017.
Here’s how it works!
Ask for your free Ritchies Community Benefit Card at your nearest Ritchies supermarket or liquor store.
Enter the name of the community group that you would like to be the recipient of a donation from Ritchies.
Your Ritchies Community Benefit Card will be issued and can be used, immediately!
Rebel Community Kickbacks Program
Under this program, Parkhill Primary School can earn 5% of your purchases at Rebel Sports as an in-store credit to spend on our school sports programs. You can sign up in store.
Parkhill Primary School currently has $380 credit to spend on sporting equipment at Rebel so as you can see it all adds up!
Parkhill Primary School
Email: Parkhill.ps@edumail.vic.gov.au
Website: www.parkhillps.vic.edu.au
Location: 4A Parkhill Drive, Ashwood VIC, Australia
Phone: 03 9807 2239