Parkhill Primary School
Issue 31, Thursday 17 October
Dear Parents/Carers
What happened to the sunshine today?
I would like to share with you some staffing news regarding 2020 – we are at that time in the year where we are beginning to plan for next year and work through staffing, structures and class compositions.
I am so happy to announce that Carlie Eriksen will be returning to us in 2020 as our Performing Arts teacher, with Nalina Chandra stepping back into the classroom in a shared class arrangement with Andrea Crane. Liz Nevill will remain on family leave and Liz O’Meara will continue to teach in her place.
We have been working hard as a staff to develop our class structure for next year. With consistency, staff cohesion and curriculum in mind we will have to restructure the upper school to fairly distribute the students across our classes.
The model for 2020 will be:
3x F/1 classes
3x Y2/3 classes
3x Y4/5 classes
2x Y5/6 classes
A few things came out of discussions with staff that I would again like to share with you. Please be aware that curriculum structure won’t change. All core subjects are ‘standards’ driven by individual students’ needs, and are now levelled per year group under the Victorian Curriculum.
The classes will be complied as always, considering the balance of academic levels, behaviour and the social needs of the students within the year levels. Teachers meet children’s needs through a balance of explicit teaching, differentiation, individual conferencing, goal setting and feedback as they do currently.
As always I am very aware that any change brings some level of worry and many questions – I really do encourage you to come see Michelle or myself if you have anything you are unsure of. Often playground conversation is not based around correct information and gossip can build anxiety about issues that are not valid. Please do come and chat with me – I am readily available on the playground both before and after school most days, send an email or call the school.
At this point I would also like to encourage you to email through any preference you have for your child in terms of class placement. These thoughts should be based around your child’s learning needs and are not driven by their friendships – the children will as always be given the chance to voice who they want to be placed with. These submissions should be made as soon as possible as we are beginning to compile classes next week.
It is important to note at this point that we do try to honour most requests but there are no guarantees and I cannot place all students by parent request.
SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN:
During this term we are scheduled for our school review.
Before we embark on the review I would like to seek feedback from you in line with our Strategic Plan Goals. This feedback forms part of the self-review data that we use to scaffold our review.
Three key questions sit at the heart of effective self-evaluation:
How well are we doing?
How do we know?
How can we improve things further?
If you would like to contribute to the review please follow the link below and complete the survey.
https://forms.gle/nseQ47nGpqSh2ueH6
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING:
Let’s make our kids more amazing! With difference, equality, change, diversity, culture, progress, growth; with challenge such as friendships, learning, right and wrong, rules and challenge; trauma, disability and more… what do our kids really need?
OTHER:
Athletics Carnival:
We have our Athletics Carnival coming up on 19th Novemeber!! As always we are looking for helpers!! The day relies heavily on parent support for us to be able to manage all of the events – if you are available please drop me an email so I can add you to the list!
Many many thanks.
Photography and videoing
It has been noted that lots of you are keen to video and take photographs of your children during school events and assemblies – I completely understand and do the same thing of my own children. It’s great to gather the memories and share their successes with family etc. It is important to note that we do have families at school who do not want their children photographed and posted on social media. I know this is an ever increasing challenge and am mindful of the difficult nature of these things in this day and age. However we remind you at every event to be considerate and respectful with the content you record. You will see and hear the following statement regularly:
We acknowledge that you may wish to film your child in presentations. When doing so and sharing the content, please be considerate of others.
Please do check out the calendar dates below for the terms events.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Elaine Brady
Principal
Calendar of Curriculum Events
Thursday 24 October- Toys Over Time Incursion F/1
Friday 25 October - Y2 Sleepover
Friday 31 October - Y4 Excursion Arts Centre
Tuesday 5 November - Melbourne Cup Day - No School
Wednesday 6 November - 2/3L Excursion Eureka Tower
Thursday 7 November - 2/3M & 2/3G Excursion Eureka Tower
Wednesday 6 - 8 November- Dental Van
Friday 8 November - Color Run
Thursday 19 November - Whole School Athletics Carnival
Monday 9 December - Fun, Food & Carols
Wednesday 18 December - Y6 Graduation
Thursday 19 December - Y6 Big Day Out
Friday 20th December -Term 4 ends at 1.30pm
Student of the Week
F/1C - Andy L
F/1S - Justin S
F1T- Santanah A
2/3G - Holly L
2/3L - Elizabeth L
2/3M - Jasper W
4D - Vivaan M
40 - Isaac Havas
5/6A - Angela W
5/6CS - Tessa R
5/6H - Tyson H
5/6H WRITING
This week, students have been writing a narrative based on a picture prompt. They went through the writing process of planning, drafting, editing and peer conferencing. Their challenge was to create a piece that was no more than one page. This meant they had to think carefully about how they phrased their sentences. This is snap shot of what they came up with.
The two terrified brothers made their way towards the dark cottage that overlooked the murky lake. Robert held onto his top hat tightly, as the boat shook up and down like a rocking chair. Soon it crashed onto the sand. The two brothers stepped out and ventured towards the darkness.
Thomas
The water began to ripple, as if something was underneath them. The ripples turned into waves. Maggie focused on steering the boat towards the small house, but it was no use. Tammy looked back and gave a scream. Before they knew it they were both thrown out of the rickety boat by a humongous wave.
Odessa
The dark house sat neatly on top of a tall, steep hill, with a rocky path leading up to it! Jonathan was excited for the adventure, but on the other hand Benjamin was as scared as a snail getting picked up by a human.
Ella
5/6 STEAM
In STEAM, the students in 5/6 have been exploring the concept of being an entrepreneur and planning associated with developing a new business. They have been given the challenge to come up with a product that they will pitch to the panel. This week students are learning about needs and wants and in order to sell a product it needs to be marketed at the right price and it needs to be something they want to buy. Students will market research their products by asking questions to the rest of the school to inform their design. Check out what they came up with.
Monash Waverley Division Basketball
Tensions were high and basketballs pumped for a day of excitement at the Monash Waverley Division Basketball tournament, held at Nunawading Basketball Stadium. Parkhill’s team of eight; Jamie, Nic, Jimmy, Isaac, Josh, Beau, Angus and Zac, worked well as a team against other primary schools in the area. We came third in our pool, winning one game against Mount View Primary School, but finally losing third place to Mount Waverley Primary School.
Congratulations to the boys for making it to the tournament and for their great comradery on the day. Many thanks to Sumi, Danni, Janneke for assisting with transport and scoring.
Andrea Crane
Y5/6 Teacher
Choir Connections
Term 4 of choir has started and we have many exciting performances we are working towards.
With a huge term ahead of us we ask that you please ensure that you arrive promptly at 8.10am for the start of the rehearsal. Students arriving late is not only disruptive but also means that they miss out on valuable rehearsal time. We thank you in advance for your support with this.
The events for term 4:
Choir Spectacular – Tuesday 12th November 6pm – 7pm (Choir students arrive 5.45pm)
This is an evening for everyone! The choir will be performing their full repertoire as well as a few surprise numbers. We will also be giving the audience a look inside what happens on a Friday morning in our choir sessions.
We welcome the family and friends of our choir students and the wider school community to come and celebrate with us. This is a great opportunity for our current foundation families who might be interested in joining choir next year to come and see what it is all about.
More details will follow in the lead up to the evening, but please reserve this date now.
Community Day Batesford Reserve - Sunday 17th November 2pm – 2.35pm
We have an exciting opportunity to perform at the Community Day at Batesford Reserve on the main performance stage. A notice will be coming home with all choir students this Friday for parents to confirm their commitment to the event.
We need these forms returned to the office ASAP so that we can confirm we have enough student numbers for the performance.
Fun, Food & Carols – 9th December
Fun, Food and Carols will be the final choir performance of the year!
We look forward to bringing some festive tunes to the evening and it is a fabulous event to celebrate all of the hard work of the students.
With, the 9th of December our final performance please note there will be no choir rehearsals on Friday 13th December or Friday 20th December.
If you have any questions please email kirsten@careermastery.net.au
Thanks
Marinda and Kirsten
OSH NEWS:
As we approach the end of the second week in term 4 we reflect on some of the awesome activities that have been going on at OSH Club.
In the holiday program we welcomed Devon Terry, Osh Club's new coordinator. Devon joins us from Sacred Heart Primary in Diamond Creek where he spent one and a half years' developing the program there and is very excited to be working at Parkhill.
A Little about Devon:
Experience: 1.5 years as coordinator at Sacred Heart Diamond Creek
Favourite Sport: Soccer
Favourite Activities: Anything that involves being out side and playing in the sun.
Favourite holiday destination: Italy (going in November)
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
With Devon joining Osh as the new permanent coordinator and our casuals; Victoria, Elise and Ifrah, we ran a very successful and fun holiday program. We are planning even more fun actives throughout the term program!
PFA News 17 October 2019
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
Parkhill Colour Run - ONLY 3 WEEKS TO GO. Friday 8 November 2.30pm
Our aim is to reach $12 000! So far, F1C is in the lead for donations!!!! To start fundraising for your child, sign up here https://www.chuffed.org/project/parkhill-colour-run and share the link with friends and family!!!!!!! The more your child fundraisers, the better choice in their prize of Lego or sports equipment!!! GO PARKHILL!!!!!
How to sign up:
To register go to: https://www.chuffed.org/project/parkhill-colour-run
2. Scroll down to Sign up as a Fundraiser link at the bottom of the web page to make an individual fundraising profile for your child.
NOTE: Chuffed.org only allows one child profile per email address, so please use a different email address for each child. If this is not an option, try setting up a profile for your family but you will only be able to assign your funds to one class if this is the case.
6. Share your child’s unique link to their fundraising profile with friends and family.
7. Donations can be made via credit card.
8. Your child’s profile is also editable. Go to the member symbol in the right corner of the website
Winning Class and Prizes:
Children will be able to earn a thankyou reward for their fundraising efforts (Get Active and LEGO) and there will be a special surprise reward for all children in the class that raises the greatest amount of money.
Depending on how much is fundraised, your child can choose one awesome prize from that category.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the office or Vanessa on 0439 356 931.
EMPTY SAUCE BOTTLES NEEDED for the Colour Run
The PFA is looking for empty sauce bottles to use for the Colour Run. These will be used to squirt out coloured dye and corn flour onto the students as they run past. Please hand them into the office.
COLOUR FUN RUN SIGN-UP - 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm
The PFA is looking for volunteers to help out with the running of the Colour Fun Run. Eighteen volunteers are required to set up the course and to throw the kids with dye and water and two volunteers are required to cut up oranges. Please sign-up! https://signup.com/go/yoUbhuZ
PFA meeting - Wednesday 30th October, 8pm
All attendees are welcome. The focus of the meeting will be the Colour Fun Run and Fun, Food and Carols!. Vanessa will be hosting the meeting so please RSVP to Nadine at parents.friends.secretry@gmail.com for the address.
CUPCAKE STALL - Wednesday 20 November
The next cupcake stall is on Wednesday 20 November. Please lock it in your diaries! If you are interested in baking some cupcakes, chocolate crackles etc., please email parents.friends.secretary@gmail.com
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