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JASON’S JOURNAL – The Principal’s Message With December next week it is hard to believe that the last month is already upon us, with still so much to work through before the end of our school year. All classes have been very busy and our Preps especially grow more confident and able by the day. What a remarkable year they have had! A number of events to mark in the family calendar are still to be held:
Year 7 Orientation Day / BLPS Pathways (Transition) Day: Tuesday 11th December
Christmas Carols Community evening: Thursday 13th December (6pm – 8pm)
TRRAC into Transition Time: Friday 14th December
Year 6 Graduation: Thursday 20th December @ 6pm
School Concludes: Friday 21st December @ 1.30pm
READING One of the key factors to improving student learning is reading; and more importantly, parents reading to children. The research is unequivocal in that children whose parents read to them on a regular basis are better prepared for school and are more likely to do well. A huge part of this is exposing children to a broad vocabulary. Children who are read to are not only exposed to a wider range of words, they are also exposed to how words are used in different contexts (e.g. homonyms like "bank" - river bank or financial bank).
(Also included in this week’s Lakeside News is an article from www.parentingideas.com.au – “Attention is the currency of relationships” - a reminder I include for parents about the importance of being truly present when you are with your kids – some advice that I will take is to switch off the television at home when listening to home reading with my son)!
As a school community, parents have every right to expect their child's teachers to be setting reading for homework; and at Blackburn Lake, every child is expected to read for homework every school day. If your child says they don't have any homework, rest assured they have opted to ignore the daily expectation of reading. Ideally, each student will be reading for enjoyment. The older and more independent each student gets, the more the onus is on the student to choose their reading material. The flip side to this is that teachers rightly expect that parents will be involved in their child's reading development. Reading to your child and hearing them read to you is crucial to their improvement. The role modelling done by parents is incredibly powerful and leads to good lifelong habits. The education of children is a partnership between the school, the child and their parents. Reading is the cornerstone of this partnership. If we, as a school community are to continually seek improvement, we all have a role to play.
PREMIER’S READING CHALENGE Over 100 Blackburn Lake PS students took part in this year’s Premier’s Reading Challenge, an initiative that promotes the importance of reading among students in Victorian schools and encourages families and parents to be more involved with supporting children’s reading in and beyond school. These children have been rewarded certificates for their involvement, with Oscar (3S) the lucky random winner of a $30 book voucher kindly donated to this initiative by Mitcham State Member Dee Ryall (“drawn out of a hat” at assembly last week – pictured). Well done to Oscar and all the children and families who took part in the Challenge.
No 37
29 November 2012
AEU INDUSTRIAL ACTION As has been mentioned, the Australian Education Union is continuing their campaign against the state Government to improve conditions within state schools. As no workplace agreement has been reached between the Government and the Union AEU, staff continue to undertake a variety of actions in their attempt to improve conditions in our schools. As you know, the AEU have asked its members to not write December reports in an attempt to demonstrate to the Government how many unpaid hours teachers work each week. Currently, teachers who work full time must attend for 38 hours a week, however all teachers at Blackburn Lake work much more than this; up to 50, 60 and even more, every week. Subscribing to the old adage that teachers have it easy and they “get 10 weeks holidays each year” is an unfair representation. Every holiday, whilst at school, I witness our teachers come and go, whilst others work from home to catch up on planning, assessment and professional reading. The bans on writing comments on reports unfortunately remains in force and there is now no prospect of comments being provided for the 2012 school year. Teachers at our school do not take this action lightly. I trust that the Government and the AEU will make some progress in resolving the current disputes, which follows a protracted negotiation period with the fire fighting, policing, nursing, public services and even fisheries departments. Families of students to receive an abridged report were distributed a letter from the AEU sub-branch last fortnight. All reports will still contain the important VELS ratings and progression points showing where your child is in comparison to other children across the state. On behalf of all staff members, we thank you all for your patience and support throughout these unusually protracted Agreement negotiations. I hope to see you at our whole school Assembly @ 3:00pm tomorrow to enjoy a performance from Prep B, celebrate November birthdays, acknowledge our ‘Students of the Week’, as well as certificates for Auskick participants, Regards, Jason Walker – Principal [email protected] thinking respect responsibility attitude care
2013 IMPORTANT DATES Tuesday 29 January 9.00 – 10.00am Uniform Shop Open in MPR
Thursday 31 January 9:00am Term One commences – all students begin
Tuesday 19 February 7.30pm Parents Association Meeting – Staff Room
Monday 11 March Labour Day Public Holiday
Thursday 28 March 2:00 – 2:30pm Assembly (Term 1 concludes - early dismissal)
Monday 15 April 9:00am Term Two commences
Thursday 25 April ANZAC Day Holiday Monday 20 May Curriculum Day
Monday 10 June Queen's Birthday Holiday Friday 28 June 2:00 – 2:30pm Assembly (Term 2 concludes - early dismissal)
Monday 15 July 9:00am Term Three commences
Friday 16 August Curriculum Day
Friday 20 September 2:00 – 2:30pm Assembly (Term 3 concludes - early dismissal)
2012 TERM FOUR DATES
Friday 30 November 9:30 – 10:30am Prep 2013 Orientation Morning (final)
Thursday 6 December 9.00-11.00am Parents Association Christmas Stall - MPR
Tuesday 11 December BLPS Pathways (Transition) Day Year 7 Orientation Day
Thursday 13 December 3.30pm – 4.00pm 6.00pm – 8.00pm
Last Uniform Shop opening for 2012
Christmas Carols Community evening
Friday 14 December TRRAC into Transition Time / Reports sent home
Thursday 20 December 9.30am-11.00am 11.30am-12.30am 6:00pm
CRE Concert in MPR - Prep – Years 2 CRE Concert in MPR - Years 3 - 6 Year 6 Graduation
Friday 21 December 1:00 – 1:30pm Assembly (final school day 2012 - early dismissal)
Monday 7 October 9:00am Term Four commences
Tuesday 5 November Melbourne Cup Holiday
Friday 20 December 1:00 – 1:30pm Assembly (last day of 2012 - early dismissal)
‘STUDENTS OF THE WEEK’ We congratulate the following ‘Students of the Week’ – to be presented at Friday’s Assembly
BOOK CLUB is due back with payment no later than next
TUESDAY 4 DECEMBER 2012
PLEASE NOTE - NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE PROCESSED
AUSTRALASIA MATHS OLYMPIAD COMPETITION 27 students in Year 5 and 6 have participated in the Australasia Maths Olympiad Competition with Chris Brown leading the group. It consisted of 5 separate tests, 1 per month from May to September. It was fantastic to see the determination and positive attitude of these students who were presented with many challenging questions that involved problem solving. Congratulations to James H and Flynn P who achieved the highest scores for Blackburn Lake Primary School and along with Kevin B, are in the top 25% of all schools that took part in the Olympiad Competition. Congratulations to all Year 5 and 6 students who took part! Stacey Clark Maths Coordinator
Principal’s Award Annabelle M – 4E Her wonderful homework creation of the ‘Skyhigh World Tour’ board game
Assistant Principal Andreas M – 5/6N Excellent research and an outstanding pr3esentation on the ‘French Horn’ – well done Andreas
Prep A Amber K Taking extra care with the presentation of her wor – excellent job! Prep B Sam M Great work modelling and explaining grouping equations in Maths – well
done Sam!
Prep E Ella H Writing a great letter to her class pen pal – well done!
Prep K Clinton S Doing a great job on his ‘Word Wheels’ and thinking of a lot of words
1/2D Matthew McW Great thinking during our Magnet Activity
1R
1S Leah B Improving her Spelling of high-frequency words this year – well done!
2D Lorcan McC Writing a very descriptive procedure on how to build a Billy Kart – it was brilliant!
2L Ellie L Being able to rapidly recall addition and subtraction number facts – well done!
2M Cooper S His ability to quickly find the solutions to division equations during speedy Maths
3A Elliot S Challenging himself to add more detail in his writing
3J Christian A Magnificent mental calculation strategies when multiplying
3S Lachlan W Fantastic team work at Taskworks - well done!
4E Shani M Excellent cable maze running at Taskworks
4K Jaques M Displaying a fantastic attitude towards all of his learning – keep it up!
4M Taylah D Completing some complex Maths problems using a Protractor - well done!
5/6C Minnie H A most imaginative narrative about Benjamin Franklin’s Visit to Blackburn Lake’
5/6M Jade F
Gabby McF
Continual improvement in her 10 x 10 times table grid – well done Jade!
Continual improvement in her 10 x 10 times table grid – well done Gabby!
5/6N Lila O’C
Sami W-H
Outstanding improvements in your work ethic, resulting in excellent test results in all areas – keep up the great work Sammi!
5/6S Jordan T
Ben M
Always challenging himself with algebraic equations in Maths
Showing great respect to his dance partner during graduation rehearsal
Music Maddy B – 1/2D Sharing her beautiful picture story book of ‘Peter and the Wolf!’ in Music
Italian Kaiden M – 1/2D
Bryn T – 1/2D
Knowing how to say pallacanestro basketball in Italian
Knowing the sport name La corsa the race in Italian
MAGICAL MUSIC MATTERS
JAMES H MUSIC CAPTAIN’S QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas has sold more records than Elvis Presley! Released in 2009, self-composed with David Guetta it won a Grammy award and is the most
downloaded song on itunes.
BLPS Carols night Don't forget to mark your diaries for the school Carols Night. It is on the 13th December from 6pm - 8pm and involves ALL students at BLPS. The class teachers are preparing items and the Ensembles and Choirs have already begun rehearsing. I look forward to seeing all our school community on the night.
Seussical CD FOR SALE!! Tanya B has been busy organising Peter B beautiful photos on to a CD for parents to purchase. They are $10 and have photos from both nights (as shown on the large TV screen in the School Foyer). It would make a great Christmas pressie, so get in early (we only have 300 disks).
To purchase these CDs: @ either before school (8:45am) or after school (3.30pm) - by bringing - correct money to the School Office.
SUPER SPORTS REPORT
“MORNING MOVERS”:
Just a reminder that MM has gone in “hibernation” so we won’t be “moving” on Tuesdays and Thursdays for remainder of 2012. However it will be back next year!!
HOOPTIME FINALS What a day! Our team worked very hard over a long, tiring day and should be very proud of themselves for getting so far. Unfortunately they didn’t reach the quarter-finals but 2 wins and 3 losses for the day was a terrific effort. Thanks to the parents who were taxi-drivers, barrackers and supporters of our team. Special thanks to Graham Porteous for coaching the team in Chris’ absence.
HOUSE SPORTS DAYS Arrangements are in place and our students are “in training” for our sports days. Teams are being selected and more practises will be undertaken before the day/s. Times/days are as follows: Wednesday 12 December Preps, 1, 2 9.00-11.00 Thursday 13 December Grade 3/4 9.00-11.00 Friday 14 December Grade 5/6 9.00-11.00 Please encourage students to wear “appropriate” sporting gear, in house colours, when they are competing. Phil Lumsden Sport Coordinator [email protected]
PARENTS ASSOCIATION NEWS
President: Andrea P Vice President: Lynne W Treasurer: Rebekah R Secretaries: Nicole R & Lisa C
So show your support for the PA and or drop us a line via the PA mailbox in the school Foyer or send us an email at [email protected]
Help needed from Prep 2012 Parents for next year’s ‘Tea and Tissues’ for Prep 2013 Parents Each year it is a tradition at the school that the previous year’s Prep parents host a 'Tea and Tissues' morning, after drop off on the first day of the school year. This will be on the morning of
Thursday 31 January 2013.
We need some current Prep parents to attend and assist on the morning (and provide advice, shoulder to cry on, and a friendly face to new parents at the school). If you can help, there is a sign up sheet on the Prep doors, or otherwise get in touch with Lisa C at [email protected] or call 0409 773 849, or Wendy M on 0407 797 774.
Christmas Stall MPR - Thursday morning 6 December Come along next Thursday morning to select some special gifts for your family and
friends. We have lots of fun Christmas novelty gifts, some beautiful items from Mozi (for the Mums), special gingerbread houses and after requests by multiple children at previous stalls, we have carnivorous plants for sale! Items will be priced from $1 to $10. Please bring your SHOPPING BAG so that your treasures get home safely. Thank you to the Helping Friends who have put their hands
up to help sell at the stall on Thursday morning. It would be great if we had some more people available to help for one shift or a few between 9-10am, 10-11am and/or 11am-12pm. Please contact Robyn on 0437 937 462 or Simone on 0422 624 630, if you are available for some or all of the time.
LOST PROPERTY - UNIFORM Lost Property was sorted out today. Items with names that are clear were returned to classes. First names only or faded unreadable labels were folded and left in the Lost Property Cupboard in the MPR. All items at the end of Term 4 will be thrown out or donated to and Op Shop. In future - please label all items with a SURNAME & INITIAL if you would like an attempt made to return items to your child’s class (the school computer system works on a student surname first, then Christian name only).
LAST UNIFORM SHOP OPENING FOR 2012 IS THURSDAY 13 DECEMBER
Uniform shop Open times in the Multi Purpose Room Kitchen area
Monday 3.30 – 4.00 pm & Thursday 9.00 – 9.30 am. *********************************
YEAR SIX 2013 - POLO SHIRTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP COST: $30.00
ALSO NOW AVAILABLE
NOTE: more sizes - GREEN SKORTS (girls) in Sizes 4 – 14 $30.00
Can’t get to the uniform shop? Remember you can print an order form from the school’s
website and submit the form with your payment to the PA mailbox in the school foyer. Your order will then be filled and sent home to you via your child.
LAKERS LUNCHES UPDATE Only three more Canteens for this year - Monday 3, 10 and 17 December! We are out of stock of Paddle Pop Chocolate Thick Shakes until next year but have plenty of other choices including Quelch's and Sunny Boys - which go down a treat in this hot weather. Happy lunching and see you at Canteen on Monday. Amelia, Anni, Mandy & Nicola - The Canteen Committee
If you would like assistance with your online account then don’t hesitate to call Flexi Schools Customer Service team on 1300 361 769.
School Banking is Wednesdays LAST DAY OF BANKING FOR 2012 The final day for saving for this year will be WEDNESDAY 12 DECEMBER 2012. REWARD ITEMS If you have 10 tokens saved you can redeem them for the following reward items:
Money box - choose from 4 characters (THERE ARE NO MORE SPEN money boxes) Booklight Pen Pod - metal case holder with 2 blue ballpens and 3 highlighters USB stick
DOLLARMITES ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATE Congratulations to the following students for their great saving this year: BRONZE Certificate for making 10 deposits: Brendan W SILVER Certificate for making 20 deposits: Ashleigh M, Grantham M GOLD Certificate for making 30 deposits: Ka Mon F *** WIN A MINI iPAD FOR CHRISTMAS!! *** Bank at school from Monday 19 to Friday 14 December and you could win 1 of 12 Apple iPad Mini's (RRP $369) just in time for Christmas! Your entry is automatic once your deposit is made through the school banking program Dig out those deposit wallets that have been hiding / lost. Keep banking if you have been banking every week. Get a head start on saving tokens for 2013 rewards, which include a calculator, a torch and MORE. Good Luck Supersavers! Thanks everyone for supporting the School Banking Program Regards Vickie L - School Banking Coordinator 0419 773335
SCHOOL PROGRAM Coming up Term 1, 2013. . .
OUR ASTRONOMICAL UNIVERSE Blackburn Lake Primary School
Can you read a planisphere? Can you find Crux at night or the Moon by day? Why did Tycho Brahe wear a nose of silver? Is there
life on other planets? Make your own Moonseeker. Create your own constellation, meet the Astronomers, make a pie pan spiral,
discover south from the stars of the Southern Cross like Charles Kingsford Smith and more! Challenge your left and right brain. It's
great fun for students from year 1 to year 6 who have qualified for WiseOnes
WiseOnes Application for 1st Term 2013 This program is available for all Grade 1 - Grade 6 children who have qualified for WiseOnes. The unit for first term commences week beginning Monday, 11
th February, 2013.
Because of the shortness of first term, the unit will run for 8 weeks (of the 9 weeks available) beginning: Feb 11, 18,
25, March 6, 11, 18 and 25, April 15 and 22.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. I wish to enrol my child in the unit "Our Astronomical Universe" commencing week beginning Monday, 11
th February,
2013. I give permission for a copy of this slip to be handed to the WiseOnes teacher. Child's Name ______________________________________ School: ___________________________________
Date of Birth ________________________ Class (2013) ________
Parents' Names ________________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________
Phone: BH _____________ AH _______________ Mobile _______________ Email: ___________________
My child has already qualified for WiseOnes YES/NO I would like a free test for my child YES/NO. I would like my child to be tested with a fuller assessment to qualify for WiseOnes (assessment cost $200 inc GST). Please send this slip and payment of $220.00 on Wednesday, 6
th February, 2013. As we are a non-credit
business, children will not be accepted into the program for the term unless the fees and enrolment form are returned by the above date. If paying by cheque please make it payable to “Blackburn Lake Primary School”. For further information please contact Pat Truscott on 9326 6441 or Mobile: 0407 313 657. NB: Due to the Government increase of teachers’ wages, please note the new cost of the program.
COMMUNITY NOTICE BOARD Any advertisements in this newsletter are in no way endorsed by Blackburn Lake Primary School
FOR SALE - CANTERBURY GIRLS UNIFORM 1 x blazer size 12 to 14; 2 x size 8 to 10 school dresses winter; 1 x size 12 to 14 school jumper; 1 x size 12 skirt; 2 x size 14 shirts sports; 1 x sport jacket water proof; 1 x long sleeve jersey; 2 x size 8 to 10 polo tops. I would like to say that all clothing is next to new; my daughter was there for only one term as we relocated - prices are negotiable. My contact is 0423833424 or email [email protected]. I am willing to come to you or other arrangements can be made. much appreciated Sherrin Giffening.
Junior Naturalists Juniors Group of FNCV Inc
The group meets at 7.30 pm on the
last Friday of each month (except
Dec) at the rooms of the Field Naturalists Club of
Victoria Inc, 1 Gardenia St Blackburn 3130.
NOVEMBER MEETING - Fri 30 Nov @ 7.30pm ‘Frogs’ Speaker – Gerry Marantelli DECEMBER EXCURSION – Sunday date tbc ‘Moonlit Sanctuary’
For further information & bookings contact: Clare Ferguson 8060 2474 or
email: [email protected]
BLACKBURN LAKE
SANCTUARY
Meet @ the Visitors Centre Central Rd Blackburn 3130
December – just enjoying the bushland & a rest! Wednesday 9 & Friday 25 January School Holiday Programs please see website for details & bookings essential
ALL WELCOME! For information: email:
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~blsac Or Education Officer 9262 6211
Players wanted for 2013. REGISTRATION DAY SUNDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2013 11.00am - 1.00pm
at Morton Park Central Road Blackburn. Blackburn Junior Football Club is now seeking players for our 2013 season. We have vacancies in all age groups but are particularly interested in hearing from:
new players who would like to play in our Under 9s (i.e. born 2004 and 2005)
girls (born 2001 to 2004) who are interested in playing in a girls’ only competition
The Club has developed close ties with the local Blackburn, Blackburn Lake and Laburnum Auskick centres with most of our players coming from these centres. Further most of the boys and girls at Blackburn, Blackburn Lake, Laburnum and St Thomas’ primary schools who play football, play at Blackburn Football Club. So you know if you are playing at Blackburn you are playing with your mates. Blackburn Football Club is a family based club where the emphasis is on player participation, development and fun. Our Under 9 teams are based on schools so that players can be with their friends. New players are encouraged to send their details (name, DOB, and phone number) as soon as possible to [email protected] to receive a registration pack.
For further information: Visit - www.blackburnfc.com.au Email - [email protected]
The Blackburn Football Club 2012 – 425 junior players and growing. Michael Johnson President Blackburn Junior Football Club
School Holiday Fun at the RSPCA! Calling all animal lovers! If you go crazy for cats, dote on dogs or want to have some fun with farm animals, then the RSPCA Junior Holiday Program is the place for you!
3 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East VIC 3151 Website: www.rspcavic.org P: 03 9224 2286 / F: 03 9889 8912
EDITOR’S NOTE!
We do not normally include commercial advertising in our Lakeside News by community request.
The Principal has approved the inclusion of the advertising above due to a ‘bonus scheme’ offer from
Lunar Drive In of ‘fundraising vouchers’ to be used by our school at any time.
There are 13 vouchers altogether of various levels of savings on an outing to the Lunar Drive In.
