Spring Gully Primary School, 104-110 Spring Gully Road, Bendigo, 3550.
“SPRING GULLY PRIMARY SCHOOL - A PLACE TO BELONG”
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Newsletter 5 – Thursday, 1st March 2018
Principal Awards – Grades Prep, One & TwoBillie R – Prep/1 Arthur / Rodda: for her positive attitude. Billie comes to school every day with a beaming smile on her face. Great work Billie!
Junayed S – Prep Floyd: Junayed has made a wonderful start to his schooling. He is always willing to have a go at new things and asks questions if he is unsure. Keep up the great work Junayed!
Jingjing R – Prep Haxby: for always being willing to give things a go and persisting when things are tricky. She always has a smile on her face and will work hard to complete great work. Well done Jingjing!
Owen P – 1/2 Greer: Owen has had a great start to the year. He is always listening, following instructions promptly and "having a go" at all activities within the classroom. Well done Owen.
Nazeef R – 1/2 McClellan: Nazeef has settled in well to Spring Gully Primary School. He comes to school with a friendly smile on his face and always tries his best when completing classroom tasks. Well done Nazeef!
Iris H – 1/2 Pesina / Rodda: for always being responsible for her belongings and displaying a happy attitude towards school.
Eoghan M – 1/2 Vernon: Eoghan has settled well into life at SGPS. He is a positive member of our class. VALUE TREE AWARDS
Friendliness: Tobias B, Carter B, Samantha C, Ben D-W
Personal Achievement: Sebastien B, Issy C, Torbey L, Logan McE, Samuel P Respect: Mikeeley H, Ezel K,
Responsibility: Emily E-C, Claire D Sports award
Luca S – Prep Haxby: for her enthusiastic participation in Physical Education and her outstanding sportsmanship.
Art Award
Amelia O’D – Prep Floyd: Amelia created lovely little finger people with gorgeous personalities. Congratulations Amelia.
Music Award
Teeka Y – 5/6 Staley: Teeka shows a great passion for music and is able to read, play and compose to a high standard
Principal: Mr. Francis Trezise Assistant Principal: Mr. Brett Parkes School Council President: Mrs. Fiona Martin
Grade 6 Urban Camp
5
thMarch – 7
thMarch
Book Orders due 7
thMarch
Parent Club Meeting
Thursday, 8
thMarch - 2.00pm
Our Values
RESPECT – Valuing self, all others, property and the environmentFRIENDLINESS – Interacting with all others in an open and welcoming manner PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT – Striving to be the best we can
TEAM SPIRIT – Working together so we can learn from each other and all do our best FAIRNESS – Being fair in everything we do
Diary Dates
2018
March
Monday, 5th – Wednesday, 7th
Grade 6 Urban Camp
Monday, 5th 6.00pm – 7.00pm Education & Development Sub-Committee Meeting
Wednesday, 7th Book orders due
Thursday, 8th 2.00pm Parents Club Meeting - Staffroom
Friday, 9th Division Swimming – Selected students only
Monday, 12th Labour Day Holiday
Wednesday, 14th School Photos
Monday, 19th
Thursday, 22nd 4.30pm – 7.30pm School Fair
Friday, 23rd National Ride2School Day
Monday, 26th 6.30pm – 7.00pm 7.00pm – 7.30pm 7.30pm – 9.00pm
Grounds/Landscape & Building Sub-Committee Meeting Accountability & Management Meeting
School Council Meeting
Wednesday, 28th 11.30am – 2.30pm Grade 3/4 Excursion – Chinese Dragon Museum Thursday, 29th 2.15pm 2.30pm Assembly End of Term 1
Term 2
April
Monday, 16th Term 2 commences
Every Week –
Wednesday and Friday 8.00am sharp- 8.30am - Grades 3-6 Early Morning Tennis
(commencing 14th March)
Tuesday and Thursday – Lunch time – Coding Club (even weeks commencing 20th February) and Chess Club (odd weeks commencing 27th February) (Grades 3-6)
Wednesday (Commencing 28th February) 3.30pm - 4.30pm – German Club (Prep-2) Friday 9am – Fresh Fruit Friday
From the Principal
Dear Parents/Guardians, School Council 2018
The nomination period for School Council positions for 2018 closed at the end of last week. This year we were looking to fill four Parent Members places and one Department of Education & Training (DET) Member places on School Council. With three parents nominating, I still have one Parent Member vacancy to fill. If you are interested in filling this position, please let me know. The one DET Member position will be finalised shortly.
I would like to sincerely thank Jessica Herdman and Kim Ross for nominating to be first-time School Councillors and I welcome them to School Council. I would also like to thank Ronald Lowe for renominating. Council members can be approached if you have issues, questions or concerns that you would like brought to School Council’s attention. They carry out their role in a voluntary capacity and their support of our school is greatly appreciated.
The current composition of our School Council is listed below:
Executive Officer
Francis Trezise (Principal)
Lote award
Sammi K – 3/4 Muscatello: for excellent participation in class activities. Jade S – 5/6 Staley: for timely completion of her work. Well done!
Spring Gully Primary School, 104-110 Spring Gully Road, Bendigo, 3550. DEECD Employee Electorate
Chris McClellan Daniel Lidgett Parent Electorate Fiona Martin Ronald Lowe Trinity Sanderson Sue Gentry Nicola Dunnicliff-Wells Kim Ross Jessica Herdman TBC
School Council Summary
Our February School Council meeting was held on Monday. Many items were discussed and ratified, including:
A Framework for Understanding Poverty PD - Curriculum Days
We had a very successful two days with Nairn Walker. In total, 200 people attended from 10 different educational settings, including Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Specialist Schools. As a school, we will shortly begin to process this information so that we can best support all students and families.
2017 Annual Report
The purpose of the annual report to the school community is to inform parents and the wider school community of the school's performance outcomes and its efforts to progress improved student achievement, and to
meet legislative and regulatory requirements under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 and the National Education Agreement 2008.
Schools are required to submit a school annual report to the Department by 30 April each year. Enrolments
We currently have 385 students enrolled at our school. The school meets all requirement from the Department regarding class sizes.
Staffing News
We have temporarily appointed two new Education Support staff this year. Charlotte Aburrow and Nathan Francis are filling these positions. These positions will need to be advertised in the coming weeks.
Jenna Brewer will be taking Maternity Leave at the beginning of Term 2. Evelyn Hartney will increase her teaching load from 3 days to 5 days per week. This is a great outcome for the students and I appreciate Evelyn’s willingness to do this.
COMPASS
During 2017, we introduced COMPASS as a Student Management and Learning system. Over the next twelve months, we will continue to implement all modules available through COMPASS.
COMPASS Pay has just been set up and will now be used for permissions and payments. As detailed through the newsletter last week, Chronicle has also just been made available to parents.
Painting Maintenance
Programmed Property completed a number of painting tasks during the January holidays, as per their contract with us. They were willing to complete work in the BER buildings, which were not part of the original contract, rather than waste our money on the junior building.
Capital Works Project
Brett and I have devised a draft decanting strategy that we discussed with School Council and our staff. Our aim is to minimise disruption to our students wherever possible. Some proposed changes are detailed below.
Capital Works Project - Draft Decant Strategy
I have provided a few details about different aspects of the school that you may be interested in. Please feel free to talk to me regarding any aspects of this upcoming project. These are still somewhat of a draft until our next site meeting on March 13. Fences are scheduled to be erected in approximately 3 weeks. Once erected, provisions will be made so that you can access the office in the usual way during Stage 1 of the build. More details will be provided as they become available, particularly in relation to stage 2.
· Physical Education – some equipment will be placed into each classroom for the children to borrow, due to the need to repurpose the existing ‘sports borrowing shed’.
· LOTE – Mrs Woodward will continue in her current location during Stage 1. During Stage 2, she will conduct LOTE lessons in each classroom.
· Music – Mrs Hopman will conduct music lessons in the Northern end of the staffroom during Stage 1. We will source some portable dividers to create a small classroom that includes access to the TV but doesn’t encroach on the staff facilities i.e. fridges, kitchen, etc. During Stage 2, it is likely that Music will relocate to one of the new Junior Classrooms.
· Art – Mrs Leed will relocate to the BER building (Western end of the central shared space) during Stage 1 and 2.
· Assembly – These will take place on the basketball court during Stage 1 and 2.
· Camp Australia – Camp Australia is likely to share the central space of the BER building during Stage 1 and 2.
· Admin - Judy, Wendy, Brett and I will relocate to the Eastern end of the BER building during Stage 2. · Library – The Library will stay where it is during Stage 1. Further discussions with Gen, and all other
staff, will take place to determine its location for Stage 2.
· Drum Lessons – Dave to stay where he is during Stage 1. More consideration to be given to his location during Stage 2.
· Parking – We anticipate that normal pick up and drop off routines can continue during Stage 1, however we will need to develop some temporary plans for Stage 2.
· Bike Rack – We are currently identifying the best location for the bike rack during construction.
I’m looking forward to work beginning on our school. It’s a very exciting time! Preps now full time
It is now expected that Prep students will attend school on Wednesdays with yesterday being the last Wednesday off. If Prep students are particularly tired then please talk to your child’s teacher about possible options/solutions. We don’t want to make school a difficult experience for our preps!
Early School Finish End of Term
Term 1 concludes on Friday, 29th March. Students will be dismissed at 2.30pm. An assembly is scheduled for 2.15pm on the Friday and students will be dismissed from the assembly area. Term 2 commences on Monday, 16th April.
Labour Day Holiday
Students are not required at school on Monday, 12th March due to the Labour Day Holiday.
Francis Trezise Principal
Spring Gully Primary School, 104-110 Spring Gully Road, Bendigo, 3550.
From the Assistant Principal
There is no safe number of days for missing school. Every day counts.
Cyber Topic of the Week:
How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Subjects
In a world where even little kids learn about horrific subjects, it's important for parents to put things in perspective, field questions, and search for answers together.One of the toughest jobs of parenting is talking to your kids about difficult subjects. It's hard enough to explain when Mr. Teddy Bear gets eaten by the washing machine. Or how their bike got stolen at school. It feels impossible to put into words the really big issues, such as violence, racism, drugs, and other weighty topics. But in the age of cell phone notifications, streaming video, and 24-hour news coverage -- when even little kids are exposed to really serious stories -- it's important to face this challenge head-on. Addressing the tough stuff makes your kids feel safer, strengthens your bond, and teaches them about the world. And when you show them how to gather and interpret information, ask questions, and cross-check sources, they become critical thinkers. It's always sad to confront the issues the world hasn't been able to solve. But by investing our kids with knowledge, compassion, and strong character, we can give them all the tools they need to make things better.
To continue reading this article, please visit: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-difficult-subjects?utm_source=Edu_Newsletter_2018_02_27&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly Extra-Curricular Programs at SGPS in 2018
Our school is proud to offer a number of before school, after school and lunch time programs in 2018. The variation of different activities available to students includes: Early Morning Sport (2 days per week), Guitar Group, German Club, Choir, 3/4 Dance Troupe, 5/6 Dance Troupe, Coding Club, Chess Club, Special Art, Advanced Art and Kids Club. Thank you to the staff who have dedicated their time to provide these programs & activities for our students. School Photo Day 2018
Did you receive an envelope with your child’s unique ‘shot key/code’ on it? This envelope has instructions about how to order your child’s photos. If you would like a family photo taken, please collect a family photo order form from the office & return it by Photo Day. See the repeat notices for information about School Photos taking place on Wednesday, 14th March.
Compass – FAQ……so far
Where is the newsletter when I receive a notification on Compass?
The newsletter is attached to the newsfeed. Scroll to the bottom and you will see a paperclip icon indicating an attachment has been included.
Does the Compass app allow me to access all the features in the Parent Portal?
No. The app is handy but has some limitations. Via the app you can: access the newsfeed & calendar, submit and view absence information and access your child's Semester Reports. Later, you will also be able to view Learning Tasks. To provide permission and pay for excursions you need to login to your Parent Portal account via a web browser or select ‘Open in Browser’ mode on the app.
Why are parents begin asked to provide permission and pay for excursions, camps, sporting activities, etc via Compass?
When permission notes and payment is due for these kinds of events it requires a significant amount of administration work for Wendy and Judy. Using Compass to electronically pay and provide permission is significantly more efficient and cuts down on paper and most importantly – time.
Week 4 of Term 1
96% total school wide attendance
98% school wide attendance (not including absences relating to illness or medical)
Is CompassPay replacing QkR?
Yes, QkR is no longer available to use.
Brett Parkes Assistant Principal
parkes.brett.b@edumail.vic.gov.au
General
Library News
Gen Rodda Librarian
Active Travel News
WoW Wednesdays
Remember to Walk or Wheel yourself to school on Wednesdays! We did our second HandsUp! count yesterday, and again 3/4 Garmey had the biggest proportion of active travellers – great work team! Grab your walking shoes or your wheels next Wednesday for your class!
Independent travel
When should I let my child walk/ride to school independently? And how will I know they’ve arrived safely? They're common concerns parents face, once their kids reach 9 or 10, and want to go by themselves or with friends. Like many parents, I initially followed mine (at a good distance) to check they'd arrived, but soon learned to trust they’d make it.
If you don't have that luxury, check out the Independent Travel guide at Bicycle Network's Parent Portal https://www.bicyclenetwork.com.au/rides-and-events/ride2school/parent-portal/. Scroll down for this handy resource that guides parents through the steps towards independent travel.
National Ride2School Day – Friday 23rd March
Spring Gully Primary School will be joining schools all over the country on National Ride2School Day – save the date!
Spring Gully Primary School, 104-110 Spring Gully Road, Bendigo, 3550. Active Travellers of the Week: Leander & Isander P
Nicola Dunnicliff-Wells (Active Travel Co-ordinator)
Parent Club News
Next Meeting – 2pm Thursday 8th March 2018 in the Staffroom
We held our AGM this morning with all positions being declared open. The following positions were filled: Samantha Purden - President, Jennifer Kurz - Secretary, Belinda Smith - Treasurer, Jennifer Kurz and Kirsten Burns share the role of Publicity Coordinator, School Fair Representatives for 2019 (both roles) remain unfilled and open. We have a returning General Member Kirsten Burns and new general member Mhairi Campbell. Thank you to Mr Trezise for attending.
Easter and School Fair are fast approaching with only 21 days until our Fair. Over the coming weeks we will be sending home raffle books, colouring competition picture, cake stall requests and requests for Easter raffle donations so please keep an eye out for these coming home. More information to follow.
We are still looking for more volunteers to help with Fresh Fruit Friday and it only takes half and hour on Friday morning. We would love to see some Prep parents coming along this is a great opportunity to meet other
parents. If you are a casual helper please remember to pop in and check to see if your help is required.
Isander and Leander love riding to school along the bike path with their Mum. “It’s fun and you get to go to parks while you’re riding,” says Isander. Leander says they want to get healthy by riding. “We go to the park and climb trees and do dizzy whizzies on the swings.” The boys often see bats and kangaroos when they ride their bikes up to the oval.
Coles Sports Vouchers promotion ran double points last weekend so we hope you collected your vouchers! We collected our vouchers from our store and have done two counts this week. With a massive 4,840 vouchers for Week 3! This is a fantastic result for our school, can’t wait till next week to see what we get. Just a reminder that we have a box at Coles Bendigo Central but if you shop at a different Coles please pop them in the box at the office.
Repeat Notices
From the Assistant Principal
School Photo Day 2018
School photographs will be taken on Wednesday, 14th March. Key information for families: - Photo envelopes, required for ordering will be sent home tomorrow.
- Each envelope has a unique ‘online shot key’ which identifies the individual student to the photo company.
- Family photograph packages will also be available, please collect your family envelope from the school office.
- There is the option to order photo packages online, however you will need your child's ‘online shot key’ number that is located on the envelope you will receive. If you are ordering photos online, orders for these photos must be placed before photo day to ensure your child’s photograph is taken.
- If you are unable to order online, please complete the details requested on the envelope, enclose correct payment and return the envelope to school on PHOTO DAY.
- For families that require more than one order of the same photo or package, the unique ‘shot key’ will need to be used when ordering online, i.e. an order for mum and an order for dad. If ordering an additional package via the office, a second envelope can be collected from the office and the ‘shot key’ can be added to identify the student and the order.
Specialist Staff Information
German News
After School German Club
COME AND TRY GERMAN CLUB ON WEDNESDAYS AFTER
SCHOOL - Starting on Wednesday, February 28th
German club is for students and parents who would like to participate in some fun activities whilst learning a bit of German language and culture. There is generally no cost.
It is for junior students (Prep to Grade 2) and consists of games, songs, stories, and cultural activities. Students must attend with an adult. Other siblings (younger or older) and grandparents are welcome.
German Club is held in the German classroom in the library after school on Wednesdays from 3.30-4.30pm. The teachers are Felicity Woodward and Rohan Daenke.
Felicity Woodward Languages Teacher
General
Community News
Spring Gully Primary School, 104-110 Spring Gully Road, Bendigo, 3550.
