Message from the Principal
James Penson
Janine, Brad and I have been really impressed with the way our students have started the school year. We have had a special focus on Gahgook (Respect), and this is highly visible across the school. The way our students are lining up, greeting each other, looking after each other and setting up for success each day will really set the scene for a GREAT year ahead.
My photo of the week is a picture of 4SM’s class motto. The line “we are mistake makers who are always learning” really encapsulates the attitude, mindset and message that we want our students to develop. Writing a motto together is a very powerful way to make and grow connections. Why not try this idea at home? A family motto could be something that can be developed together around the dinner table and set up your household for success this year.
IMPORTANT DATES 2024
Here are some key save the dates for this year:
Tuesday 26th March – Student Agency Conferences (this is a School Council approved Variation to School Hours Day where students only attend school for the duration of their 15 minutes conference).
Wednesday 11th September – Student Agency Conferences (this is a School Council approved Variation to School Hours Day where students only attend school for the duration of their 15 minutes conference).
Wednesday 18th September & Thursday 19th September – Whole School Production. We have booked Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention for a day and evening show on both dates. Our Year 5 & 6 students will audition for the main cast roles and all classes will perform a dance as part of the production. Students in Prep – Year 4 will perform on one date (day and evening show) and watch the day show on the other date. We will keep you updated with more information closer to the time.
SCHOOL COUNCIL 2024
Thank you to Sam Redman, Adam Laws, Irina Fainberg and Matt Mooney for nominating and joining our School Council for the next two years. This year we will not host an election as the number of nominations in the parent member category equalled the number of positions available. Janine Hough will join as one of the staff representatives and we have two more positions to fill in this category.
They will join our existing members Rosita Zakaria, Jessica Barden, Katrina Purcell, Caroline Bennett, Donna Anderson, Brad Ryan and Victoria Harris. Our first School Council meeting will be held on Tuesday 5th March at 6.45pm in the staffroom. At this meeting, we will elect our School Council office bearers including our School Council President. We will also organise both the structure and membership of our sub-committees. The actual core work of our School Council is achieved via our sub-committees and we encourage parents to become involved with these each year. I will outline the role of each sub-committee and the meeting schedule after this first School Council meeting.
PARENT HELPER INDUCTIONS
All helpers at our school must complete this process each year.
We have a Parent Induction Session (face to face) this Friday 16/2/24 at 9am (staff room) or alternatively you can view the updated Parent Helper Induction Online Video which can be found on our school website. This means that you will be able to complete this process at a time that suits you.
Simply access our school website, click on the “For Parents” tab along the top menu and select “Forms & Notices.” At the bottom of that page is the link to the video and all the forms required as part of the induction process. Once you have watched the video, you will need to read, complete and sign three separate documents:
You will also need to provide our office with a copy of your Working With Childrens Check so that we keep our annual register up to date.
WORKING BEE SUNDAY 3RD MARCH
8.30am - 11.30am
Each term we host a school community working bee. Our focus for Term 1 is on developing a new garden area at the back of the admin building, next to the garden bed outside the Prep and Year 1 classrooms.
We would also really like to tidy up Curiosity Creek and some general weeding and cleaning. Looking after our school grounds is always a challenge and our working bee’s help to ensure that our school looks as great as the community it serves.
Please let us know you can assist by logging into CareBooking by Thursday 29th February. This will help us to plan out what we can achieve on the day.
Booking Code: JGU9L
If you have any garden tools, wheelbarrows etc. please bring them along.
All students that attend with their families will receive a $5 canteen lunch voucher.
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE, 8.30 - 11.30am!
MID TERM MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL TEAM
Communication is something that we continually work on and because our school is such an active place, we know how challenging it can be to keep up with everything going on. As such we host a “Mid-Term Meeting with the Principal Team” each term. These are held online via Webex which means that you can attend from the comfort of your own home. It also provides us with an opportunity to connect with parents and carers who are unable to attend on-site each week and say hello.
Our Term 1 Mid-Term meeting will be on Wednesday 6th March at 7.30pm.
I will send out the link before the day. The plan will be to outline some of the events and activities that are coming up over the remainder of the term and share some details about what we do at Greenhills Primary School. If there is any topic you would like us to cover, please let me know, james.penson@education.vic.gov.au. This will be an open forum and we will be happy to answer any questions you have and be very keen to listen to any suggestions and feedback you have.
SCHOOL TOURS (ENROLMENT 2025)
Next week I will start hosting school tours at 9.30am each Tuesday. If you know of anyone with a child ready to start school next year, please direct them to our school website or have them contact our school office so that they can join me on a tour and see what our school has to offer.
SCHOOL HOURS 8.45AM – 3.45PM
I need to remind parents and carers that our official school opening hours are from 8.45am through until 3.45pm each day. At times we have students who arrive well before this time and some who stay in the school grounds after that time. There is no adult or teacher supervision of students outside of these times and I request that you make the appropriate arrangements to ensure the safety and well- being of your child.
We are fortunate to have TeamKids available to provide before and after school care for those families that need it.
James Penson
Principal
