Four Weeks Already!

Events

As the expression goes, 'Time flies when you're having fun'. Four weeks in and so many wonderful events and learning experiences have occurred with many more to come. We have marked special milestones such as the '100 Days of Schooling' and our first ever participation at Wakakirri. The '100 Days' event was a colorful celebration by our Prep students, dressed as their favorite superheroes. How far our youngest members at TSPS have come in such a short period of time. Our Wakakirri crew (67 students from Year 3-6) performed alongside four other schools and received four awards for their efforts. Hours of rehearsals and practice after school, over an eight week period, resulted in a spectacular seven minute piece 'Carnevil' with incredible dance routines, lifts, acrobatics and amazing costumes, makeup and props, vividly bringing this dance story to life. A special shout out to Jen Stirk (Performing Arts), Jacinta Porter, Millie Carr, Genn Collier and Paula Hounsell for their leadership and a big thank you to all the families who supported the process and who came out in force to cheer on our students on the evening. Thank you from a very proud and grateful principal.

We have seen the running of a wonderful Athletics Carnival for the students in Years 3-6 and there have been quite a number of relevant incursions and excursions planned to support our Inquiry based learning. The Prep 'Discovery Play' based concept has been implemented in both Diamond and Ruby with excellent literacy skills (speaking and listening, reading and writing) being developed. On Wednesday we hosted a visit from 8 students and their chaperone from Costa Mesa in California. Our student leaders Scarlett Haynes, Mia Jakimoski and Jess Durbridge welcomed them and led them on a tour of the school and the visitors spent some time with our Prep students as part of their Play Based learning session. A buddy program, whereby Yr 5/ 6 students visit and work with our Prep students once a fortnight, has also begun with wonderful connections already being formed. As part of the National Tree Planting Day at the end of July, students planted hundreds of trees along the Federation Trail adding to the many trees planted last year in supporting the beautification along the trail just outside our school fence line. Within our school fence line, students began the creation of an Indigenous garden outside Ruby.I thank Werribee Toyota, City West Water, Cushman and Wakefield and Wyndham City Council for their support and generosity in the supply of trees, planting tools and financial assistance. Students continue to impress with their desire to support local community issues and I applaud the work being carried out by the Student Representative Council in the running of a "sleep out" on August 23rd. A number of students will spend an evening at school listening to speakers and reflecting upon how they can support vulnerable members of our local community. They are also running a food collection so any donations of non perishable food items will be gladly accepted to be donated to Vinnies who will distribute to members of our community in need. This is a wonderful initiative led and driven by our students and a number of teaching colleagues have also indicated their commitment to the event. As I always remind students, they can make a difference every day and they do not have to wait to be adults to do so. The sense of empathy, generosity and commitment to others is to be acknowledged and is inspiring. This week, ten of our student leaders also attended a 'summit' with Joanne Ryan, MP for Lalor and student leaders continue to present at School Council meetings once a term. We are trying to capture as many events as we can through image and mini movies and Lachlan, our technician is to be acknowledged for this work. We are going to create a space on a website to host our mini movies as well as continuing to share them on Facebook.

Last Thursday the students and staff celebrated 'Principals' Day' by spoiling Joel, Brianna and myself with wonderful acknowledgements. We were all very humbled and overwhelmed because as Principals, we are the ones who like to acknowledge, celebrate and recognise the wonderful members of our community. I love what I do. It is a joy to be part of TSPS and the greatest gift is working alongside our amazing students every day.

Communication and Feedback.

Our aim is to reach out to our community using as many ways possible to inform of events, learning support for families and to also gauge feedback. I do hope families have been accessing the Curriculum Newsletters being distributed each term providing families with an overview of the learning foci for students each term. Communication is vital to maintaining an effective home school partnership which I truly value. At times we do send home hard copy notes but more often than not as is the way of the world these days we utilise on line and social media as ways to connect and engage with our community members. This newsletter also offers a translation option for those member of our community who would like to access it in their native language. I would like to thank the families who provided feedback regarding the Parent Teacher Interviews in June. Sixty six responses were received, with many favorable responses and few a helpful ideas for future P-T interviews. Currently, 220 families within our community will have received notification to participation in an on line Parent Opinion Survey, initiated by the Education Department (across the state). The reflections that come from the feedback given by the families (randomly selected)are invaluable. Please take the time to complete this survey (10-15 minutes), if you have been selected. Support can be provided to families at school if accessibility to IT is not possible at home. Please see Lachlan, our technician if you would like to access IT and complete the Parent Opinion Survey at school. The closing date is August 26.

Fundraising

I am pleased to share with the school community that the funds raised from our Carnival have been used to purchase thousands of dollars in reading resources( through the Fountas and Pinnell) and new shelving to store all our new resources. The library has a new feel with its re arrangement and re furbishment and with an abundance of new, inviting books for our teachers and students.

We were also successful in receiving a $5000.00 grant from the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden "Playground to Plate" initiative. We will use the grant to enhance our school community gardens further by adding more vegetable patches and trees in our orchard. We will also make purchases such as cooking implements, small hot plates and cooking utensils, aprons , cutlery and serving bowls, chopping boards, cook books and reference materials. This will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to grow organic produce and explore the world of food and cooking in their school setting.

Enrolments for 2019

I am currently working on predicted enrolments for 2019. The Prep enrolments for 2019 are steadily coming in. If you have children or know of families in our zone whose children are ready for Prep in 2019 please collect an enrolment pack from the office. I also need a definite indication if you know that your children will NOT be returning to TSPS in 2019. There is an online link https://bit.ly/2vNVGKd that you

can use to complete to let us know your intentions for 2019. A hard copy form has also been sent with your child if you prefer to complete it using pen and paper. Please return the form to the office. I thank you for your cooperation in this matter. A reminder that any families who are leaving the school in 2019 are required to complete an exit form.

Whilst on the subject of enrolments, it is with great pleasure that i introduce Ian Wren as the newly appointed Principal of the new P-9 school at Truganina East, named Doherty's Creek. He is based at our school as he prepares for the opening of his new school in 2019. He is currently taking enrolments from P-2 for 2019.

Early Arrival at School

I have addressed this concern previously. This morning more than 30 students were at school before 8.30, many arriving at 8.00 am. This is neither a safe habit nor a well being one for your child. It is not safe because children an not supervised until 8.30 am as the teachers who have arrived prior to this time are planning for the day's learning or in morning meetings. It is a well being issue particularly in winter as the weather is cold and can also be wet and wildly windy, like today. I did state recently that we had an emergency one morning in June that resulted in the fire brigade having to attend the school and it was disconcerting for us as a staff to ascertain the students who were at school. Children do not have access to learning spaces until 8.40 am when it is encouraged for them to come in and prepare for teaching and learning which commences at 8.50 am. Please consider out of hours programs such as the YMCA which is situated on our school grounds if your students do need to be at school before 8.30 am.

Curriculum Days<

Important Dates

Each Wednesday Science Enrichment Program at Hoppers Crossing SC (Select Students from Year 6 x 4)

9.8.18 Author Visit – Morris Gleitzman (Yr 5/6 Students)

15.8.18 Yr 5/6 Inquiry Guest Speakers -Business workers and owners speech sessions

16.8.18 Yr 5/6 Tea Party (Yr 5/6 students and invited guests)

17.8.18 Curriculum Day- Whole School

20.8.18 District Athletics (Selected Yr 3-6 students)

23.8.18 Homelessness Sleep Out (Student Leadership and Yr5-6 selected students)

27.8.18 Yr 6 Resource Centre Visit (All Yr 6 students)

28.8.18 Yr 5/6 Werribee Plaza Walkabout (Yr 5/6 Students)

29.8.18 Billy Slater Rugby Shield (Yr 5-6 selected students)

30.8.18 Father’s Day Stall -Whole School

31.8.18 Father’s Day Breakfast (Whole School)

31.8.18 Yr 1/2 Fairy Park Excursion (All Yr 1/2s)

6.9.18 Yr 5/6 Hooptime Basketball (TBC)

6 to 7.9.18 Year 1/2 Sleepover Garnet and Opal (H&J) Students

7.9.18 Love Your Locals Werribee Zoo Excursion (Green Team x 10 students)

13 to 14.9.18 Year 1/2 Sleepover Sapphire, Onyx and Opal (I)

10 to12.9.18 Year 3/4 Lady Northcote Camp (Year 3/4 Students)

17 to19.9.18 Year 5/6 Lake Dewar Camp (Year 5/6 Students)

21.9.18 Last Day of Term 3 Early Dismissal 2.00pm

Foundation

Zoo excursion