A note from the Acting Principal...

Welcome back to a new year. From what I have heard from our students everyone had a great holiday. I know the Summer holidays can be long but it is great if you have the opportunity to spend time with each other and your family.

I know I had a lovely time camping with my family and celebrating my daughter Serenity's 2nd birthday.

It is great to come back and see all the students happy to catch up with their friends.

Welcome to 2016

It has been a fantastic start to the school year! All the classes have settled well and have made a wonderful start. Everyone looks great in their school uniform. It has been great to see everyone arriving to school before 9:00am which ensures that students are part of the start of the day, are more settled, and don’t miss out on the important daily organisational information. Thank you to all parents for your support with this preparation for school. The Foundation students have settled in well and are enjoying getting to know each other . It can be a big challenge settling in to long days however they are all responding well to the structure and routine of school.

We also have a few new families and I thank the community for making them feel welcome. I would like to welcome our new students, Yael, Mia, Nevaeh, Myrah and Sarah.

Our school team in 2016

Our classroom teachers

F/1H - Miss Kirsten Henderson

1/2P - Mrs Dori Pattison

3/4N - Mrs Shem Nicol

4/5W - Miss Sarah Wrigglesworth

6W - Mrs Rebecca Wilson

Specialists

Art - Mr Andrew Coram

Japanese - Masae Sensei

Music- Ms Kimberly Campbell

PE - Mrs Tabitha O'Brien

PE Assistant - Connor Morton

Office staff

Business Manager - Ms Andrea Remington

Office Admin- Meagan Tustin

Educational Support staff

Claire Dean

Brenda Levay

Amy Montin

UFGPS OSHC

Amy Montin

New Staff

We have some new and returning staff in 2016. We welcome back Kimberly Campbell who will be taking Music. Andrew Coram is our new Art teacher and Kirsten Henderson is our new F/1 teacher. I know you will all make them feel welcome. We will introduce them over the coming weeks.

Our Values

This term we focus on learning about how to be organised and how to work together to create a classroom where everyone can learn. We have been focusing on learning about our school values and this week is all about Respect. Students have been learning, acting and talking about what respect looks like at school and in our community.

The other school values that we will focus on include Resilience, Teamwork and Integrity. Please find the time to talk to your children about what these values look like in your home.

Parent Helpers

All classes including specialists are looking forward to having parent helpers in their classes. Please speak to the classroom teachers and arrange a time that suits you to be part of the classroom activities. Parents are invited to join school council or PFA. Your assistance on these teams and at school events is welcomed and appreciat-ed. Please check the school newsletter for details of meetings.

If you are assisting in the classrooms you are required to have a Working With Children Check. Complete the application online at: www.justice.vic.gov.au Please provide a copy to the school office for the school records. If you are working in a grade remember to sign in at the office

School crossing

The council is currently doing an audit of school crossings. They will send representatives to count how many people cross at the school crossing. If we want to continue to ahve a school crossing at Upper Gully please support the school crossing by using it when your childre arrive and leave the school. Don't forget to say hi to Paul as you cross.

Children are vulnerable near roads so please ensure you show your child where to cross safely.

Sun Smart

Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School is a Sunsmart school. Students are required to wear hats from September to April. We have some great new reversible house colour hats available at the office for $10.

Visiting the school

Please remember that we need tyou to sign in on the ipad at the office and grab a visitor tag if you will be in our school grounds. Students also sign in and out to obtain an early or late pass. This is a part of our department requirements. Thankyou for your assistance with this.

Student Diaries

In 2016 all students will have diaries. These are a great way to communicate with your classroom teacher and to teach your child about being organised. Please use the diary to let your teacher now about any important information about your child.

100 Year Celebration

Planning is underway for our special 100 year anniversary. Please mark Saturday 30 April in your diaries as a day to keep free. We are looking at a fantatsic event to celebrate our school's history and to reacquint ourselves with people who have been involved in our school in the last 100 years. If you know of any past students or staff please have them contact the school so that we can send them an invitation.

Upper Ferntree Gully Awards

Student of the Week

Mathematician of the week

Writer of the Week

Specialist