Issue 2 –7th February, 2020

PRINCIPAL REPORT Hello everyone,

During the week we hosted our welcome event with a

free performance by Sam Riddle. The afternoon

concert was an opportunity to bring together our

community in a relaxed atmosphere. A huge thank you

to Sam for performing and joining a selection of our

senior students for a basketball skills clinic earlier in

the afternoon. Our students enjoyed both aspects of

his visit. Thank you also to Craig Milner for connecting

us with Sam and to our amazing staff who assisted

with setup and pack up as well as the sausage sizzle and

activities.

Library Update

This week I would like to provide an update on our newly designed library.

Classes will begin using the space regularly next week. To date we have

added a number of quality books to our catalogue, fully repainted the walls

and added an array of new furniture. In addition to this we have also added

new computers, an interactive screen and a compactus storage solution.

As a result of this work our senior students have access to a modern and

purpose designed space for discovering literature, developing research

skills and working

collaboratively.

The last touches

are being added to

the library with the

addition of more

books, a feature

rug and window

blinds.

Through this

improvement

project we are

demonstrating to

our students that

we value literacy

and their

achievement in

this key area.

CALENDAR FEBRUARY

February 11 Swimming Squad Training Foundation Info Night: 6pm-7pm

February 12 Foundation Assessment

February 13 Swimming Squad Training

February 14 5/6 Interschool Sport Round 1

February 18 Meet and Greet Swimming Squad Training

February 19 Foundation Assessment

February 20 District Swimming Carnival

February 21 5/6 Interschool Sport Round 2

February 25 Foundation Teddy Bear Picnic

February 26 Foundation Assessment

March 4 Breakfast Club Begins

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Wishing the following

children a very Happy

Birthday!

7th February

Nathaniel 01P

Mason 03M

8th February

Lachlan 06S

10th February

Lulu 05R

11th February

Lillian 01D

Oscar 01F

Penny 04P

12th February

Brody 03W

Mason 06M

13th February

Charlie 03M

By providing access to quality literature in a welcoming and comfortable space our students have

every chance to succeed. You can also promote a love of reading through modelling a similar

commitment at home. Emphasising the importance of home reading will lead to better outcomes in

the long term.

Until next week,

Ty Hoggins

Principal

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL REPORT

Hello everyone,

It’s hard to believe we have completed our first full week for the school year;

having hit the ground running with our whole school community event on

Wednesday. It was a lovely sunny afternoon and great to see so many families

come along and support the performance by Sam Riddle.

This week also saw the start of our specialist program and in particular, the new

Arts program lead by Miss Amy Walsh. As outlined at the end of 2019, this year’s

Arts program will embrace visual art, music, dance and drama.

To start the year, all students will be creating a mini monochromatic self-portrait. These self-portraits

will be used to create a mural with the theme ‘Every Face has a Place’.

Our completed school mural will look similar to this.

Following the completion of this project, in semester one, students in Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 will

study visual art, with a specific focus on the elements. Students will develop their fine motor skills

through painting and drawing with particular emphasis on colour, texture, shape and line. In Years 3-6,

students will participate in a performing arts program, with a specific focus on dance, choir and rhythm.

In semester two, Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 students will swap to a performing arts program and

Years 3-6 students will engage in visual arts. We are looking forward to watching our students develop

their artistic flair throughout the year.

Thank you to our House Captains who have embraced the Community Leader role for the start of the

school year; they have been a great help to our new office staff.

The Whittlesea township will once again host its annual Country Music Festival this weekend; fingers

crossed for great weather, maybe I’ll see you there.

Best wishes for a wonderful weekend with your family

Rae Gittos

Assistant Principal

CANTEEN NEWS

SCHOOL CHAPLAIN REPORT

Peter Ackland - School Chaplain

School History 1916 – The Honour Roll

My last school history article described the annual school break up of 1915.

Thomas Jobling [1908-1924] was Head Master over a school of around one

hundred pupils. I have been sourcing old news articles from that time. The next

news article I found reported on the unveiling of the school’s Honour Roll. We still

have this same Honour Roll fixed to our office reception wall for all to see. Other honour rolls from

local schools that have been closed down can be found in the entrance way of the Whittlesea Library.

We still have ours.

On page 3 of Friday 2 June 1916 in the Evelyn Observer was a report on Whittlesea State School

celebrating Empire Day (Wednesday 24 May) with the unveiling of an Honour Roll listing 28 past

pupils of the school who had volunteered for the Great War.

“The proceedings opened with the children saluting the flag

and repeating the patriotic formula.” The children sang "O

God our Help," "Australia Will Be There," and "Rule

Britannia". Headmaster Thomas Jobling then explained the

meaning of Empire and “urged the children to be diligent

and attentive at school, so as to grow up into worthy

citizens of the Empire.” There was frequent applause. The

Rev. D. Bruce, school chairman, drew aside a Union Jack

flag to unveil the Honour Roll and he read out a prayer for

the enlisted men. The ceremony concluded with the

National Anthem and lots of cheering for King, Empire and

the men on that roll.

In addition, the Evelyn Observer news article reported that

“over 100 young men from Whittlesea district had enlisted,

and 250 from the whole Shire.” The article also stated that

S. Smith on the honour roll had been killed in action. The

wooden frame construction was described thus: “The

Honour Roll, which is of highly polished Australian

Blackwood, is in Gothic design. A pillar stands on each side,

and the top comprises wattle blossoms with leaves and two rifles worked into picturesque relief. The

inscription reads: Erected in honour of the pupils of this School who served the Empire in the Great

War."

School history to be continued.

SCHOOL BANKING

School Banking starts next Tuesday, the 11th March. This

year the Dollarmites are taking the children on a Treetop

Savings-themed Adventure with all-new Treetop Saver

Rewards.