Principal's News
End of the School Year Approaches
2017 is fast approaching its end and it has flown in what seems like a blink of an eye. It has been a wonderful year of teaching and learning for all of us.
Term 4 has been just as busy as students continue to grow academically, socially, physically and emotionally. We pride ourselves in providing a holistic approach to developing happy, healthy and resilient students who work hard to achieve their personal best. And this continues right through to the end of the year. Learning does not stop as we wind our way through December.
This term has been filled with many exciting activities and events that provide students with real life experiences that give them contexts to enhance their learning but also invites our wider community to join us in this partnership of "raising the child as a village".
Events
Bike Education
Recently our Year 3 /4 students undertook a two week Bike Education program. This program helps children develop the skills they need to ride safely and independently on roads and paths.
The program involves a mix of practical activities conducted off-road (in the school grounds) and on-road (on local roads) together with classroom activities. The students had a wonderful time as they learnt basic skills and developed their confidence. I thank the teachers in Yr 3/4 for engaging our students in this vitally important safety program.
Colour Fun Run
What a tremendous event this proved to bit. The weather was hot and dry but the students had an amazing time running the obstacle course and getting soaked and covered in all the colors of the rainbow. The atmosphere on the day was one of joy, hilarity, high energy and comraderie as students, teachers and parents joined in the fund raising event. A huge thanks to Lee Jarvis and the PE crew who set up and ran the event. Many times during the day I heard the catch cry "Best event ever!" Next year will be bigger and better again.
End of Year Concert- Reach for the Stars
On Friday December 1, we held our end of year concert. The theme focused on our school values of Respect, Excellence, Acceptance, Collaboration and Honesty. The story followed the journey by Linda's Angels to recover the stolen pencils and bring them back to TSPS. All our students participated in the performances (P-2 in the morning, Yr 3-6 in the afternoon) singing and choreographing their way through the story line with enthusiasm and energy. It was wonderful to see to use of multimedia which added extra effect and supported the performance. I thank the many parents who braved the very inclement wet weather (a stark contrast from Tuesday's Colour Run heat) and came along to support their children. Again echoes of "Best performance ever" could be heard throughout the day. Sadly the inclement weather didn't allow our family picnic to take place. I do appreciate it would have been difficult for some parents to attend due to work commitments. Planning for next year's performance will begin early in 2018 and we aim to host it in the evening to allow all families to attend.
Parent Helpers Morning Tea
On Friday, it was our pleasure to host the Parent Helpers 'Thank You' Morning Tea. It is well known that the home school partnership is incredibly important and that research shows that when parents and carers are actively engaged in their children's learning, that students do well at school. Parents Helpers support us in so many ways. Some of these include actively engaging in the classroom, assisting with Reading, Science and PE activities, banking, attending excursions and supporting sporting events. We are incredibly grateful and appreciative of the time that is volunteered by our wonderful parent helpers.
Stockland 'Shop for Schools' Promotion
A huge thank you to all our families who supported this promotion during October. On Friday, Heidi Flaherty from Stockland, Point Cook Town Centre, presented the school with a cheque for $2505.63. These funds will all go into purchasing new resources that will enhance our students' learning.
Currently, TSPS is one of three finalists in the Tarneit West Village’s ‘Thoughts that Count’ Christmas giveaway. Shoppers are asked to vote for their favourite finalist by spending a minimum of $10 in any of Tarneit West Village’s stores and uploading their receipt to Tarneit West Village Facebook page or Tarneit West Village. By voting, you will also put yourself in the running for a $2000.00 gift card. The more votes, the larger share of the grant the winning community group will be awarded. The promotion ends Sunday 14 January.
Events Still to Come
Whilst there are only 3 weeks left before we farewell the 2017 school year, there are still a number of significant events to take place. Currently our Year 3/ 4 students are on camp at Lake Dewar and our Yr 5/6 students will head up on Wednesday. Learning in the great outdoors is such a powerful way for students to develop skills of resilience, team building and collaboration, problem solving and decision making as they gain confidence in having a go at things they may not otherwise have experienced.
I thank the teachers who are attending the camps ( 24/ 7 commitment). I know the students will have a wonderful time and return home with great stories of their accomplishments and adventures. For those students not attending camp, a great non camping program has been organised back at school.
Swimming is also underway for our P-2 students. For the next fortnight, students will have the opportunity to develop confidence in the water. Learning to swim has many benefits for children. It’s great for their health and well being, it enhances their self esteem and importantly teaches them a respect for water. As the warmer weather approaches, it is important that children are safe around pools, near rivers and at the beach. A reminder to us all that whilst we want our children to independent and confident, they must never be left unsupervised. Thank you to the PE department for its organisation of this vital program.
Graduation
On December 19, we farewell our Year 6 students as they graduate from Truganina South Primary. This is a particularly special graduation as many of this cohort of students were part of our initial Prep student intake in 2011. It will be a wonderful evening as we celebrate their achievements and wish them well as they begin their new chapter of schooling as secondary students.
Family Picnic Day
On Thursday December 21, all our families are invited to join our students and teachers for a family picnic lunch between 1.00 and 2.00 pm. Families are encouraged to bring along a special lunch to share with their children (fish and chips, picnic food, Subway- whatever takes your fancy really). Come and spend an hour with us as we wind down for the end of school year.
Around our School
Our new LED signage has been installed and messages and images will be up and running by the end of this week. This is another way in which families can be informed as to events and important notices as we proudly add this facility to our avenues for keeping our community informed: newsletters, Website, Compass, Facebook.
Crossing the Road Safely
I continue to remind everyone to please model correct and safe use of the crossings that border our school. I make no apologies for asking parents to wait as their students are asked to walk to the nearest crossing. I do not want to imagine the thought of a child being beckoned across the road by a carer only to result in a dreadful accident. Please be the adult and model responsibly. I thank the WALK2School working party and Ray White for organising the banners at the front of both our school fence lines reminding everyone that there are allocated 2 minute drop offs zones in place.
Thank you
To the members of School Council, Kirsten Duncan, Rhonda Velkovski, Aaron Parsons, David Gibilisco and Brianna Morelli (along with Joel Riddle, Michael Laird, Heather Johnson, Virginia Jowett) for your support and guidance in this important governance work in the running of our school. I have put in motion action to grow out school council membership next year and I look forward to hearing from parents who would be interested in being on Council, early in 2018.
To Cass Beckman for her incredible leadership of the Carnival Committee and to the parents who joined our last carnival meeting. Please mark this event in your diaries for March 23rd 2018 (3-7pm). It is going to be a huge spectacular, much bigger than any previous meet and greet evening. This will be our version of a mini Royal Melbourne Show, with rides, amusements, lots of food, entertainment, market stalls and showbags. It will an amazing carnival, drawing our school and wider community together under the banner of "Embracing Cultures, Celebrating Diversity".
To Michael Laird for the excellent production of our 2017 Yearbook, a complete collection of our wonderful 2017 school year. All communities have made contributions through articles and images. Such a comprehensive recollection of wonderful moments and memories, milestones and achievements from this past year. A wonderful keepsake.