GHPS Life 

2022 VICTORIAN PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE

Due to the school holidays in April, we decided to combine the months of April & May for these awards. Students across the school have been working on different art projects, many of which are displayed in the office and library spaces. Whilst most photographs of the winning artworks represent finished pieces, the awards given to Years 5 & 6 are for works in progress.

We congratulate this months winners and they are as follows:

Students will be presented with their certificates as part of our school assembly on Friday 20th May.

Regards

Andrea Williams & Sarah Leach (VISUAL ART SPECIALIST TEACHERS)

Tyler B & Ally T (VISUAL ART CAPTAINS)

INTERSCHOOL SPORT 

Friday 20th May 2022

Greenhills VS Glen Katherine A – HOME

Green Parkways VS Hurstbridge – AWAY 

COMMUNITY SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS

SSV TeamVic Region Football (Soccer) Trials

Congratulations to Kristian A (6LR) and Stefan T (6BS) who represented themselves and Greenhills PS at the SSV TeamVic Region Football (Soccer) Trials. Both boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and gained an enormous amount from the experience, regardless of the result. Keep on kicking goals, boys!

If your child achieves something special (grand final win, most valuable player award, best and fairest etc.), please email me (jordan.daley@education.vic.gov.au) through photos and an overview of the achievement to post in Contact. It is important to celebrate and recognise such successes with the school community.

REBEL COMMUNITY KICKBACKS PROGRAM

Greenhills Primary School is involved in the Rebel Community Kickbacks Program

What can you do to help Greenhills primary School benefit from this program?

Staff, family and friends can link the school to their Rebel Active Loyalty Program account and instantly start earning credits.    

Thank you, 

Jordan Daley

CANTEEN

Hot dogs are available ONLY on Thursdays.  They consist of a skinless sausage, roll and sauce sachet for $4.

If you have completed the Parent Helper Induction Course and have a valid Working with Children's Check, you are welcome to come and help in the canteen.  It is for one hour only to help put the hot items into lunch bags and then help at the window for sales.  All welcome, including dads!

Thanks

Miriam

CONNECTING WITH YOUR KIDS - By Justin Coulson 

Most of us get a bit “judgey” when we see a parent staring at their screen rather than engaging with their kids at the park or the shops – or worse, in a restaurant. And if a parent publicly berates their child, it often sends shivers down our spine.

Even though we are almost all guilty of it from time to time, it’s like there’s some intrinsic mechanism inside us that loads up on guilt each time we see a parent do something that impacts or severs the connection that they share with their child. We know it’s a concern and we draw back from it – and then we remember we do it sometimes too, and the parent guilt sets in.

I think it’s because connection is not a luxury item. It’s an essential: for your relationship, for your child’s wellbeing, and for their future.

What does a positive connection between parent and child look like?

Life Education Learning Manager, Lisa Woodward, says that positive connections are all about love, caring, nurturing, and safety. “In a positive parent-child relationship, family members feel safe and connected to one another.”

“It’s also about being in the moment with your child”, adds Derek McCormack, Director of the Raising Children Network.“ It’s in a day-to-day setting, having quality time with your child whenever you can. Spotting the opportunities and making the time is really important.”

And from my perspective? We run our economy on dollars, and we run our relationships on connection. If there’s no dollars in the bank, we’re financially kaput. If there’s no connection in the relationship, we’re relationally broke.

There are great benefits

The benefits of positive connections between parent and child are significant and wide ranging says Woodward.

“Children learn and thrive when they have strong, loving and positive relationships with their parents and carers, and it’s the foundation for a child’s development physically, emotionally, and socially.”

Connection also helps develop important skills needed for a child’s future. “Strong relationships set the child up for success in their lives, they are more confident and resilient, better able to regulate their emotions, make friends and connections with others, and do better at school.”

Connections will change over time

As your child develops, your relationship with them will too. This is normal. “For example, your pre-teen might no longer want you around at the park with their friends, even though your child used to love playing there with you. This doesn’t mean that the connection is not still healthy and positive,” explains Woodward.

McCormack says one of the key principles of a positive connection is communication.

When your child is younger the opportunities for communication are really there any time you want but as a child grows you will need to look out for them more actively and make time for them.

“As your child becomes a teen, communication can be more of a one-way street and involve tuning into feelings and being a support for them,” he explains.

How to achieve positive connections

“Positive connections are based on time together, being present, and building trust and respect”, says Woodward. For example:

Make moments together matter

Booking in “quality time” doesn’t guarantee positive, bonding time. We may have the best intentions but sometimes these special times will not work out the way we had intended. Often the best conversations happen in the car, at bedtime, or when doing things side by side, like washing up or walking the dog. These moments give you the chance to communicate positive messages with smiles, laughter, eye contact, hugs and gentle touches.

Tune in to your child

Tuning in to your child and thinking about what’s going on for them shows them that you care about the things that matter to them, which is the basis for a strong relationship. This could be noticing what your child is doing and commenting or encouraging them. For example, with younger children it might be talking about the Lego creation they are building, or the picture they are drawing.

Nurture trust and respect in your relationships

Be available when your child needs support, care, or help. For example: giving them a hug when they fall over. Stick to your promises. If you’ve agreed to help them with a school assignment, make sure you follow through.

Value your child and their opinions. This could be showing interest in the things that interest them. Or listening without judgement when they express an opinion different to yours.

Label emotions and listen

Let’s say you notice your child seems upset, instead of saying – “Are you ok?”, try something like “I notice you seem a bit down – do you want to talk? Or maybe we could just hang out for a while and watch a show together.”

In closing

To a child, love is spelled t-i-m-e. That connection helps on a personal level but also by teaching key skills such as communication and resilience.

It’s important to remember that the connection will change and evolve as children do. But at the heart of it all is communication and that your child feels safe, secure and respected.

OSHCLUB NEWS

Dear Parents and Guardians,

What’s on @ Greenhills OSHClub?!

We’ve been having some great fun at OSHClub these past couple of weeks with tonnes of craft activities, brain teasers, and getting outside whenever we can. Children have made god’s eye wool crafts, clay creations, loads of colouring and drawing, painting, and Mother’s Day photo frames.  We’ve done a lot of code breakers and challenges this week, testing our knowledge, and we’ve been getting active with games outside like “jump the river”, “knockout”, “marker’s up”, soccer, and kick to kick. We’ve a tonne of other fun stuff planned, so make sure you book today!

Club Fun! 

Our clubs have returned THIS WEEK! On Monday afternoons we have “Mini MasterChef's”, where children will get the chance to make (and then eat) some tasty recipes; Wednesdays feature “Art Attack” Club, which includes getting our hands dirty with some special art activities; and, on Friday afternoons, there’s “Get Active” Club where children will participate in a different team-based activity. This week we regrettably weren’t able to run our cooking club due to electrical works in the kitchen, but the art club saw children celebrating autumn by decorating colour diffusing paper leaves, these look so bright and colourful and are a great addition to the OSHClub space! On Friday children will be participating in a game of soccer together (weather permitting). If your child(ren) would like to participate in these clubs, please book them in via the iParent Portal or by contacting us on 0437 928 183 or greenhills@oshclub.com.au. 

New Staff!

Last week saw Melissa Ong join Greenhills OSHClub as a new educator. Melissa has completed a Bachelor in Primary Teaching and is looking forward to providing a fun and engaging environment for all of the children attending. She enjoys watching movies, playing boardgames and listening to music, and she has a beagle named Cash!  Please feel free to drop by and introduce yourselves to Melissa!

I Spy With My Little Eye!

Greenhills OSHClub has some fun STEM-based activities starting in the afternoon to help children to grow their curiosity and engage in kid-friendly science! During the “Eye Spy” campaign, children will make “swimming spaghetti”, conduct a soundwaves experiment, “grow” some ice”, and make an apple volcano! If your child(ren) would like to participate in these awesome activities, please book them in via the iParent Portal or by contacting us on 0437 928 183 or greenhills@oshclub.com.au. 

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If you need to make a booking, please do so through the iParent Portal or contact the service on 0437 928 183 or greenhills@oshclub.com.au. 

Greenhills OSHClub is open 6:45-9:00am for Before-School Care, 3:00-6:30pm for After-School Care and 6:45am-6:30pm for Vacation Care/Pupil Free Days. 

OSHClub Service Phone: 0437 928 183  

OSHClub Service Email: greenhills@oshclub.com.au

Coordinator: Megan Statham-Danckert  

Educators: Jordan Martin, Jorja Sullivan, Melissa Ong

OSHClub Head Office: 1300 395 735 or oshaccounts@junioradventuresgroup.com.au 

All families must be enrolled to attend the service, remember this is FREE!! Please create an account online at www.oshclub.com.au. All bookings and cancellations can also be managed via the iParent Portal. 

STUDENTS OF THE WEEK

Term 2 Week 4 - Presented at assembly Friday 3rd June 2022 

HERE ARE THE SUPERSTARS FOR THIS WEEK!