From the Principal

District Swimming 

Congratulations to Matt and Jayden who competed in the Warrandyte South District Swimming Carnival at Tintern on Monday 22 February.  Jayden came 1st in both the 10 year old boys freestyle and breaststroke. Matt came 2nd in the 11 year old boys freestyle and 1st in the backstroke.  Both boys went on to compete in the Division Swimming Carnival at Aquanation on Monday 1 March.  

Around the classrooms

Join me on a walk around our classrooms this week.  There is plenty of action in each classroom.  

The Ants go marching two by two.

Last week it was ANT WEEK in Foundation. We became scientists and went on an ‘Ant Hunt’. It was so much fun! We found lots of ants in our playground and used magnifying glasses and different books to find out lots of information. We learnt that an ant has six legs and three body parts – the head, the thorax and the abdomen!  

Phonics learning in Grade 1

Last week the Grade 1 students were learning about the vowel a and the sounds it can make. Students brainstormed rhyming words that have an /a/ sound in them like cat, mat and sat. They then participated in hands on spelling rotations that allowed them to work on their fine motor, rhyming and spelling skills as well as being engaging and fun! Students made the words out of magnetic letters and pipe cleaners, and investigated what happened when they changed the beginning sound. 

Curriculum Day

Just a reminder that next Tuesday, 9 March is a Curriculum Day.  Students are not required at school on this day.  Camp Australia are running a full day program for families who need care for their children on this day.  Check out the Camp Australia page in this newsletter and register now for the program.

Parking

A number of families have expressed concern about parents parking in the "No Parking" zone on Panfield Ave.  There is space for two cars to drop their child off and then keep driving.  Parents are not allowed to walk away from their car to deliver their child to the gate.  They can jump out and get a school bag out of the car, but then must drive on. The P with a cross through it tells us that you are able to park briefly, kiss and drop your child, collecting a bag from a boot if necessary.  The S with a cross through it shows that you cannot even park in that space, this is clearly identified on the ground with a yellow painted line.  Maroondah City Council patrol the crossing area regularly and will photograph your car and then send you a bill in the post.   

Library books

The generous donation of our school families has enabled us to commence regular, monthly purchasing of new library books for our beautiful new library space.  Each month a selection of recently published books by Australian authors are purchased and processed.  These books are a feature of classroom visits to the library and at the end of the month are able to be borrowed by students for in class work, or to go home. 

New take home books

Thanks to the donation from families through our Library Fund we have been able to purchase books for students to take home to read with their families.   New resources coming your way soon.

Building update

Over the last few weeks contractors and landscapers have been busy completing the last of the four retaining walls, ramps, steps and rock work.  The landscapers are due to finish tomorrow and then Grove, the building company, return to finish off works like the astroturf, complete skirting of the Learning Centre, complete concrete paths, planting and complete any defects in the building.  Following this work, our landscapers return to prepare for asphalting, and then the asphalt arrives.  All of this work is expected to be completed by the end of the school term.  Check out these updated photos from around the school:

NAPLAN

National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) 2021 will be conducted in May this year for all Grade 3 & 5 students.  The assessments include writing, reading, conventions of language and numeracy.  The Grade 3 Writing is a handwritten task with all other assessments conducted online.  If you have a child in Grade 3 or Grade 5 you will have received today information provided for parents about the testing.  Marnie Ross and Karen Hunsdale are coordinating the delivery of these assessments in their classrooms for all students.  

WANTED: Woolworths Discovery Garden Pots

We are collecting any unwanted Discovery Garden pots that Woolworths are currently giving away with a $30 purchase in their store.  These plants will be potted and planted in our Kitchen Garden, or prepared for sale at our Fun and Food Fair later in the year.  If you, or any member of your family, have these pots (and do not want to use them in their own garden), please send them along with your child to school.

Kitchen Garden

We are also keen for other donations for the garden.  If you have any items to donate to the school please send them along with your child or drop them in at the office off Panfield Ave.  Items may include (but are not limited to):

• Old packets of seeds
• Half empty bags of potting mix, no longer needed
• Empty seedling trays that we can use to plant in
• Empty plant pots (small to medium)
• Old terracotta pots that are not longer needed at home
• Odd seedlings or potted plants, that you do not want
• Stakes, climbing frames
• Egg cartons
• Unwanted small hand tools.